Some honest observations....

[CornholmeClaret]

It’s a funny game sometimes isn't it?

I wouldn’t say we’re playing fantastically well so far. But after 10 games we’re top of the league.

Despite it not being great to watch at times, I would say I think Parker is a decent tactician, and his game preparation is clearly 100% better than VK's ever was.

As early in the season as it was, I said to my dad after the Luton game he seemed to have them well scouted. He’d clearly identified weakness on the right side of there defence, as he had our lads placing balls in between the right full back and centre half all game. Then Leeds was a different challenge, he seemed to know we wouldn’t have loads of the ball so had us playing on the break, using Koleosho's pace to stretch them. There was evidence of it again yesterday, playing Laurent seemed to give us more of an edge in the midfield. Which brings me conveniently to my first observation.

Laurent has to be one of the first names on the team sheet. His physical presence is a real asset, and his positivity with the ball gets us up the pitch a lot more. At 500k, he was a bargain. I would rather have Hannibal in the midfield rather than Cullen though, I just think he is technically a better footballer and going back to my point on Positivity with the ball. For my liking, Cullen is a little too negative with his passes, he has to much of a habit of wanting to go backwards. Hannibal and Laurent gives us more of an attacking mind set from the middle of the park.

Secondly, I'm afraid yesterday proved that there is no room for Foster in our team. I just can't help but think he is just not physically up to the challenge of the division. It just doesn't stick with him up top. Plus, for some one who is supposed to be our main number 9, one goal in nine/ten games is just not a good enough goal ratio at any level. It looked better yesterday with Flemming up there, and although he isn't an out and out striker. He gets himself involved a lot more physically, and I believe if he continues putting the work in, some goals will come. Having said that, with Lyle's injury and lack of other forward options, two strikers have got to be a priority in January. As good as our position in the league is now, the goals drying up has got to be a concern. It puts more pressure on the midfield to be scoring more than the average midfielder would be usually expected to.

The other thing that is helping us though, is our defence looks solid enough. At this level, I can't see us conceding a lot of goals. Again, without doing anything overly fancy, Egan-Riley and Esteve seem to be forming a decent partnership. Despite getting some stick (From me as well at times tbh) I think Egan-Riley will be ok for the Championship. He is growing into the CB role.

[alfinyalcabo]

A good read and summing up CC..😎

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Pretty much echoes my own thoughts C_C. Well said sir.

[army88]

It’s a funny game sometimes isn't it?

I wouldn’t say we’re playing fantastically well so far. But after 10 games we’re top of the league.

Despite it not being great to watch at times, I would say I think Parker is a decent tactician, and his game preparation is clearly 100% better than VK's ever was.

As early in the season as it was, I said to my dad after the Luton game he seemed to have them well scouted. He’d clearly identified weakness on the right side of there defence, as he had our lads placing balls in between the right full back and centre half all game. Then Leeds was a different challenge, he seemed to know we wouldn’t have loads of the ball so had us playing on the break, using Koleosho's pace to stretch them. There was evidence of it again yesterday, playing Laurent seemed to give us more of an edge in the midfield. Which brings me conveniently to my first observation.

Laurent has to be one of the first names on the team sheet. His physical presence is a real asset, and his positivity with the ball gets us up the pitch a lot more. At 500k, he was a bargain. I would rather have Hannibal in the midfield rather than Cullen though, I just think he is technically a better footballer and going back to my point on Positivity with the ball. For my liking, Cullen is a little too negative with his passes, he has to much of a habit of wanting to go backwards. Hannibal and Laurent gives us more of an attacking mind set from the middle of the park.

Secondly, I'm afraid yesterday proved that there is no room for Foster in our team. I just can't help but think he is just not physically up to the challenge of the division. It just doesn't stick with him up top. Plus, for some one who is supposed to be our main number 9, one goal in nine/ten games is just not a good enough goal ratio at any level. It looked better yesterday with Flemming up there, and although he isn't an out and out striker. He gets himself involved a lot more physically, and I believe if he continues putting the work in, some goals will come. Having said that, with Lyle's injury and lack of other forward options, two strikers have got to be a priority in January. As good as our position in the league is now, the goals drying up has got to be a concern. It puts more pressure on the midfield to be scoring more than the average midfielder would be usually expected to.

The other thing that is helping us though, is our defence looks solid enough. At this level, I can't see us conceding a lot of goals. Again, without doing anything overly fancy, Egan-Riley and Esteve seem to be forming a decent partnership. Despite getting some stick (From me as well at times tbh) I think Egan-Riley will be ok for the Championship. He is growing into the CB role.

Imo Saturday Egan Riley and Esteve were poor Esteve let the centre half go for a free header that they should have scored and Egan Riley’s positioning was poor on numerous occasions in fact they got away early on from a ball over his head.

Egan Riley’s distribution is good however but I’d take Wiorral back in a breath- organiser who sticks his head in when it matters.

You lot are so OTT about foster it’s incredible- last time I’m saying he needs a partner to play with / off you only had to watch him for Africa to see his movement and pace with another up top is how he needs to play for us.

Wether Parker works that out is another matter

Our midfield is full of quality and yet we left a real bit of quality on the bench imo anyway - Laurent is a proper bargain in my eyes but Parker needs to sort out Hannibal’s position he’s too good to sub.

Lastly Koleosho needs utilising as a proper winger there are many who criticise because he gets caught in possession but if he didn’t do what he does we’d have another JBG !

We need to play balls in behind for him to run onto mix it up a bit so their defence can’t push and close the space making it harder for us / him to build momentum- let the ball do the work is a phrase that stuck with me from my youth and it’s still prevalent today.

Sarmiento is similar in that he’s positive in all he does looking forward just like koleosho please - please - please don’t knock the going at people out of them even if it doesn’t work.

[mnrht]

Lots to agree with there Army

[kritichris]

You're obviously fully supportive of Foster army but equally you criticise the midfield which is doing a job, although not ideally, it's swings and roundabouts, though the midfield is performing better than our front line on balance. Defensively we are sound, we just need a striker or better still, a striking partnership.

[army88]

You're obviously fully supportive of Foster army but equally you criticise the midfield which is doing a job, although not ideally, it's swings and roundabouts, though the midfield is performing better than our front line on balance. Defensively we are sound, we just need a striker or better still, a striking partnership.

Chris I never lie about what I see - and tbf I said our midfield is full of quality but we are so slow in transition that I feel it will cost us in games eventually.

I posted re Cullen that he’s quality but slows play down too much for me at the minute, I asked for Lauren before because we seem more solid with him playing and he played very well Saturday tbh.

As for Foster I can see people s frustration Chris but I won’t write him off when he hasn’t had a fair chance at least in playing in a two up top for a few games.

The centre backs on Saturday could have cost us 3 times at least ( they didn’t ) but if they had there would be some on here shouting for their removal now - I didn’t ask for that but I did say what I watched but others say I’m wrong and we werr solid.

At the end of the day it’s just opinions and we are all entitled to them - we are a relatively new team tbh and maybe Parker is searching for the best formation - starting line up and system to play and it may take a while.

I just refuse to write players off when they actually need the opposite

[The Bedlington Terrier]

I'm amazed we got Josh Laurent for only half a million quid, proper bargain was that!

No way Jose will we be keeping hold of Maxime Esteve, he's the best centre-back in the EFL by a country mile.

Going back one again to Foster, I have said a million times before there is a footballer in there somewhere, but for some odd reason Turf Moor does not suit him. Benny McCarthy goes into raptures about him, I wish someone would listen to Benny and shake a good sized bag of shekels our way and take him off our hands.

[army88]

I'm amazed we got Josh Laurent for only half a million quid, proper bargain was that!

No way Jose will we be keeping hold of Maxime Esteve, he's the best centre-back in the EFL by a country mile.

Going back one again to Foster, I have said a million times before there is a footballer in there somewhere, but for some odd reason Turf Moor does not suit him. Benny McCarthy goes into raptures about him, I wish someone would listen to Benny and shake a good sized bag of shekels our way and take him off our hands.

Esteve has the makings of a very good centre back BT agreed but he’d do better staying here and learning of worral and Egan over the next 12 -18 months - he’s quick and reads the game well but at the minute is weak and does let players go when he really shouldn’t ( an older head at his side he’d really develop I think - I read he’s like a sponge and humble so there’s hope for the lad and us ).

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Esteve has the makings of a very good centre back BT agreed but he’d do better staying here and learning of worral and Egan over the next 12 -18 months - he’s quick and reads the game well but at the minute is weak and does let players go when he really shouldn’t ( an older head at his side he’d really develop I think - I read he’s like a sponge and humble so there’s hope for the lad and us ).

Word is a £22 million offer is already on the table for a New Year deal. Beyer won't be back but Worrall and Ekdal will be, so a taxi is on order.