My article yesterday on reality was really focussed on progression.
What I mean by that is have seen a large number of inbound transfers, a lot of people felt TC would play cruyff style total football (not myself) and we heard how TC had analysed games, players and weaknesses and impressed our management so much they hired him.
Have we seen progression from last season in terms of our style of play and our impact on opponents?
I thought Bolton game we got forwards more but style, formation, tactics were pretty much same as last season and Preston, Fulham felt same as last season.
I would expect new manager to show an instant change to his style.
For me this is a season of transition (I know some will say anything less than promotion is a failure) but TC needs time (at least a season) to find his right formula here, my question is, are we seeing a progression/difference from last season?
Progression
posted on 17/8/17
Maybe Viera will be played only after transfer window shuts? Just a thought.
posted on 17/8/17
Agree with your first, longer post here Sheldon.
Jonty, you work with young athletes and I am confident you are well versed in the issues of over extending them. Perhaps he has been carrying a slight knock, perhaps TC knows what he has in him and wanted to see what the rest can do. I expect him to play on a regular basis and have been gushing over him since he broke through. I also have first hand accounts that he is a lovely kid!
posted on 17/8/17
I agree with LIW. Phillips and O'Kane do not play well together or apart. Last season told us we needed a new midfield. That should be our starting point this season. We have Klich, Anita, Saiz, Pablo, Vieira, Roofe, Alioski and Dallas. There are 4 internationals in there and all of them offer more than O'Kane and Phillips.
You don't need to be a genius to figure out if you play the same midfield as last year, you will likely get the same results.
I have said earlier and will say it again, TC worries me.
posted on 17/8/17
Orta worries me,not TC
posted on 18/8/17
TC picks the team, Jonty.
posted on 18/8/17
What has that got to do with being worried about Orta?
posted on 18/8/17
Nothing to do with Orta. My point was that TC is choosing a midfield which has 3 players from last season in it. They weren't good enough then, so what makes him think they're good enough now? Why does he not play Anita or Vieira in front of the defence? When will Klich even get onto the bench? How can Phillips old his place when he has fumbled through the last two games?
Of course, TC sees the players every day, but what we are seeing so far on the field is pretty poor value for the money we have invested.
posted on 18/8/17
I'm not disagreeing that there are problems with our midfield, I thought that was pretty clear from the article.
I don't understand why you have an issue with someone being concerned about Orta.
posted on 18/8/17
No issue with you being concerned about Orta - my issue is with TC, and the players he puts out on the field. I know you are really positive about him, but I'm not feeling it at this end of the planet. A win at Sunderland would help, though.
posted on 18/8/17
Orta is being judged on opinion from his time at Boro. His signings, he himself, are still too early to judge.