RevidgeBlue

The season's a day old and Im already sick to death of highlighting the chronic lack of firepower in the squad. I was starting to think I was living in a parallel universe with many others saying "Nah, we'll be ok., we only play with one striker, so we've got enough, we just need another midfielder who can double up on the RHS and more centre back cover!" Feel somewhat vindicated after yesterday, we were even more toothless than I expected. Actually thought West Brom were pretty poor, a really good side would have put us well and truly to the sword. At least two half decent strikers needed to supplement the likely output from Ohashi and Gueye imo plus a decent RW to replace Dolan. Not even sure if LW is satisfactory either tbh, De Neve looks miles off the required standard (very strange signing) and I still have the same view on Kargbo that I had within the first 30 mins of watching him play that he has pace but negligible end product. The manager worries me greatly. Has assembled a very unbalanced squad and when are we going to see this high intensity pressing football he allegedly favours? Yesterday couldn't have been more slow and pedestrian if you'd tried and whenever we picked up the ball in the opposition half yesterday the ball invariably went sideways and backwards a couple of times. Great in press conferences but on the basis of the 13 competitive games we've seen from him I think we're being sold a pup.

In my view not, but, there's an offshoot of Kentaro HSH based in Middlesbrough run by a former Kentaro guy Craig Honeyman which has clearly had heavy links to the Club up until recently especially when Mowbray was here. Think they represented him as well.

Your knowledge of the Club is more or less unrivalled Parson therefore I find it very depressing that you're seemingly so accepting of mediocrity (or worse). Why is it " no disgrace" to finish in the lower half of the table? If you're happy with that there's no point carrying on, might as well turn the lights off and lock the gates for good. As you're well aware we've competed and finished far better than that in the pre Jack days albeit under better but much poorer owners and dare I say it, better managers.

Why what's he done other than overhit several crosses?

Not wanting to have a go at you in particular, but can we stop this boring shite about "It's all the ref's fault" - season's barely any hour old. Are we going to have to put up with it all season again? We look absolutely horrendous. That's why we're losing.

Yep, whoever would have thought it?

Nothing whatsoever wrong with their goal. Should have had a pen for the Ohashi incident.

Bit better last few mins but as others have said need to get Gueye on with Ohashi, Kargbo on for De Neve and figure out some way of getting some worthwhile service down the right. We could play until this time next week and not score from open play with this formation. Edit: Looked like a pen on Ohashi though.

Yayyy.......Tronstad touches the ball after 35 mins as well.

Toth again. Christ. Vital interception from McLoughlin. Already obvious we need to play Ohashi off Gueye I'd say.

Oh do give over.

Not a popular opinion on here but I maintain that Toth is significantly worse than Pears. Bugger: 1-0 already. Only lasted14 mins - same as Ismael's first six or seven games.

Bit disappointing. Was hoping to see Wharton starting. Was also hoping to see Kargbo starting over De Neve and no Hedges. The one thing I am hoping is that Henriksson is a massive improvement over (edited) Cantwell Sticking to my pre match prediction of a 2-0 defeat.

This.

Id be quite surprised if he even knew what was in the message. Probably said "Send them a nice message or something" following which some underling at Ewood has cobbled something together using AI.

Nothing concrete as yet, people speculating given the contract situations of the last two and the fact Cantwell has been described as "fit" but "not ready" and left out of today's squad. My own view is we haven't signed Tavares and Henriksson and been strongly linked with Baradji for them to sit on the bench.

Fuck me, that was a non sulking and motivated Cantwell last season? 😵

Neither Leonard nor Cantwell strike me as being Ismael type players, i.e. big strong powerful athletes. I'd really like Leonard to make it, he has a lot of ability imo but he's 21 now and there's only so long you can give him before you say it's not going to work. I agree though, for financial reasons alone you'd have thought the Club would be eager to give him the chance to impress

Edit: Miller has beaten me to it and explained it. Sadly I think it's clear where the blame lies and frankly the Club aren't going to look a gift horse like that in the mouth if they can get away with it.

Sorry to labour this point, but, (if it was him) how could O2G write up a completely inaccurate and/or misleading version 1 in the first place, and secondly, IF version 1 was circulated to the other Forum members bar GM for approval before being sent to the Club, how could they confirm them as being accurate but then also confirm Glen's amended version as being accurate when he (rightly) kicked off about it?

Are you feeling ok? Lol. 🤣🤣

For me we'd be much better served firing off Cantwell and using the saving to tie down Travis.

But never shows it. He's no heart.

Do we think they've even realised the potential problem from an ESC standpoint? From a fan's perspective I've also wondered how long it will be before we field a side without a single English or at least British starter? I do think that if that happens it chips away at the bond or connection between players and supporters a bit.

Ah it's here again, opening day of the season, 54th full season of following the Club, the nervousness, the excitement surrounding a new season, the new players, fairly new manager, the anticipation of wondering whether this season we can actually ...... (Gramophone needle scratches across the record) be "sustainable" for another season. 🤨 Anyhow with Cantwell out Id like to see us being positive with either Ohashi behind Gueye or Tyjon behind Ohashi, Kargbo starting ahead of De Neve and no sign whatsoever of Hedges anywhere. Doubt it will happen. Hope everyone going down has a good day.