From the two games you've seen, not much of a sample I will freely admit, how good do you think we are? I'd say about mid to lower half of the table standard. Not in danger of relly, as there are clearly worse squads out there, but will be found lacking against better opposition, especially away from home where draws seem the best outcome possible. In a word, struggling, but not desperate.
As for the type of footy, I wouldn't say it's the continental game we envisaged when GH took over. How I miss him now, after months of heavilly criticising him; Eck does that to a person. It's a sort of functional football designed to do a job, but with not much elan. It may secure us safety, but it ain't gonna threaten the top half teams, who may only have as much firepower as us (or less) but use it more effectively, with more potent play and tactics.
Your views?
How good are we?
posted on 22/8/11
Good enough for me to put Bent in my fantasyteam
posted on 22/8/11
It's a good start. If we'd lost both matches we really would be in dire trouble. But it's too early to know how things will go. Think Eck has got the players performing well as individuals. The question is how strongly they play as a team when up against tougher opposition. Last season we got a good result against each of the top teams; will we do the same this? Don't know.
But then, how good do we need to be? Most of the other teams are being very cautious about spending, and not bringing in the players they would like to. Outside the top four, Liverpool and Bolton are likely to have improved. I'm not convinced by Sunderland. Both Everton and Spurs play above they're weight but may have problems in continuing that. Stoke will continue to be difficult, without really being better. Wolves may improve, but from a low base, likewise WBA, from a higher base. And so on.
So, from what I've seen so far, taking the opposition into account, I think we're a top half team. We might even scrape top six. But you're right about there being no evidence of the sort of football GH was aiming for, which in the medium term might not only get us into Europe but could get us doing OK there. And be a joy to watch.
Whether that's down to McLeish himself, or the cards he has to play with, is the question. As I said earlier, at least he's got the players producing. With Gabby's superb goal (glad he's back), Bent still poaching (off a Petrov drive, no less) and even Heskey hitting the target, it can't be all bad. And it is early days.
posted on 23/8/11
Low base Wolves at home over the week-end, this will be a good barometer of things to come for both sides.
We will attack from both flanks and through the middle, you will defend and counter attack, smother midfield as that is the big eck way.
Should be a good tactical battle, very difficult to pick who the top west midlands side will be this year, all three will be at least mid-table or even better this time around.
posted on 23/8/11
Mac, you cheered me up a bit, I was a bit despondent at first. Ok, let's hope for the best, and hope that Eck was being honest about what he said when he took over.