01 Aug 2019 01:21:47
Lots of debate whether we are stronger or weaker than last season. that's not the big issue here as its we were a surprise package last year until Christmas. Then we got found out. Teams set up successfully to play against us and we had no plan b.
We don't have that element of surprise and haven't acquired any new talent bar Costa to help really this season.
So we have to be more than bloody excellent week in week out or Bielsa has to have something up his sleeve to achieve anywhere near, let alone better what we did last year. Can the players do it? Can the staff do it?
We will see very soon. MOT.

1.) 01 Aug 2019
01 Aug 2019 07:48:32
Phil because of some of the great young players who will all be a year stronger ( Clarke, Roberts, Harrison, Shackleton, Davis, Stevens, Bogusz, Edmondson, Gotts, Mcalmont, Kun ) plus Costa, we will be better in all areas except for one key area which will be our Achilles heel and derail our promotion challenge . CENTRAL BLOODY DEFENCE!

2.) 01 Aug 2019
01 Aug 2019 08:34:42
Did we get found out? Barring the final disaster we were typically getting about 65% possession and 25 shots on goal right to the end of the season. If we had got found out that would mean people learned how to stop us playing which simply wasn’t the case. We need to convert more which I think we will with Costa and the new Harrison. But agree with RHC the obvious problem is CB - had we strengthened there I would be very confident.

3.) 01 Aug 2019
01 Aug 2019 09:39:02
Conversion rate was poor at best! I’d still like to see a decent striker and a CB, if we don’t do that then I fear we fall short again but probably shorter, if we do get them in then I feel it’s in our own hands.

4.) 01 Aug 2019
01 Aug 2019 10:35:30
Animal,

I definitely agree with that statement. From the matches I saw I don't think we were "found out" once. Even the final Derby game we were not "found out".

I just think our conversion rate became worse and worse as the season progressed. If anything/ one was "found out" it was the technique of our centre forwards. Defences read how both of them played and coped with that one area well enough

A cleverer centre forward, or a centre forward who is hugely dominant in one area (Gayle-relexes, Carroll-aerial, Sharp-poaching) would have seen us promoted by a street.

5.) 01 Aug 2019
01 Aug 2019 11:19:36
I would say we was found out defensively as I keep banging on about we were poor against poor teams attacking we were our own problem and not found out but defensively we were massively found out or found wanting

Just like wengers arsenal it was either class or a joke we need more grit fight and ability to play bad and get points I fear we have gone backwards not forwards.

6.) 01 Aug 2019
01 Aug 2019 15:50:41
Of course we were found out!
We lost games! Lots more than first half of season.
We never scored masses all season and I agree we couldn't put the ball in the net but the hard truth is we lost games after xmas.
Teams let us play with the ball all day long on the half way line. It didn’t trouble them. They packed their defences more.
Bermo is right as they hit us quick when they won the ball capitalising on our defensive weakness. Just like 10 man Wigan!
Our whole football slowed down 2nd half of the season. Even in the last few mins when losing we were knocking it around on half way.
The first half of the season we were a surprise and bloody awesome.
Yes i agree this year we need a CB and CF and really hope the kids step up this season.
As always excited for Sunday and MOT ALAW.