| Are we a better team this season? 09:20 - Sep 16 with 6242 views | Snipper |
I honestly think we are. We have good strength in depth this season in defence and midfield.
We haven't got a proper No9 in the sense of an out and out goal scorer, but we seem to have an abundance of players in the hole, or who love to attack from midfield.
We have two proper fullbacks who both know how to defend and attack. They're the closest I've seen to being like Bardsley & Wilson as a pair of fullbacks.
We also appear strong in central defence with some decent back up.
Michael Beale has done a great job in his few months here.
If he has luck with injuries this season, I see no reason why we can't trouble the top six.
Exciting times ahead. |  | | |  |
| Are we a better team this season? on 09:24 - Sep 16 with 3554 views | daveB |
far too early to say, 4 games ago we were struggling to break down Rotherham and looked like a team who might get relegated but on paper I think this is a stronger squad than last season who if they avoid injuries to key players could go close to the playoffs again |  | | |
| Are we a better team this season? on 09:24 - Sep 16 with 3547 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
In hindsight yeah.
I wasn’t complaining when we signed Austin though. A lesson to be learned. |  | | |
| Are we a better team this season? on 09:36 - Sep 16 with 3500 views | lightwaterhoop |
We have a much more creative,thoughtful and interesting head coach than last season.That much looks pretty definate. |  | | |
| Are we a better team this season? on 09:42 - Sep 16 with 3469 views | sprocket |
We were a good team last season but kept our best players and added astutely. Better IMO and although I said this last season and will almost certainly regret saying it again....I think we will go close this season.  | | | |
| Are we a better team this season? on 11:07 - Sep 16 with 3382 views | dmm |
I'd also say yes we are a better team, both individually and collectively. We'll have to see until, say, the end of next month to more accurately gauge how much better we are, but I'm beginning to think about updating my expected final league position. |  | | |
| Are we a better team this season? on 11:20 - Sep 16 with 3352 views | WestonsuperR |
If everyone is fit from both teams then it is close, possibly this seasons team being marginally better. My worry is lack of striker options and cover for certain positions such as LB. To go from forward options of a more in form Dykes, Austin and Gray to an out of form Dykes, Bonne and Roberts is a worry, I don’t see Roberts as an out and out striker more a ‘10’ |  | | |
| Are we a better team this season? on 12:56 - Sep 16 with 3231 views | bosh67 |
Potentially and I think it is because although I always enjoyed watching Warb's team play I feel that the team this season knows it's positions better and how to close down in groups and units. It all feels a bit better organised so far. Famous last words but enjoying Beale's approach. Think he may be the gem we have needed. |  |
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| Are we a better team this season? on 13:01 - Sep 16 with 3220 views | terryb |
| Are we a better team this season? on 09:24 - Sep 16 by daveB |
far too early to say, 4 games ago we were struggling to break down Rotherham and looked like a team who might get relegated but on paper I think this is a stronger squad than last season who if they avoid injuries to key players could go close to the playoffs again |
On the other hand, we outplayed & should have beaten a side that have only lost once in the league this season! Perhaps the result is better than it is being given credit for?
We are playing better in some games than we did since this year started, but I don't think we have yet reached the consistency of 2021. Maybe we are better than last season, but not as good as early 2021? | | | |
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| Are we a better team this season? on 13:03 - Sep 16 with 3215 views | Northernr |
About the same for me. The team hasn't changed that much, the shape is different but Dieng, Dickie, Dunne, Field, Johansen, Dozzell, Chair, Willock and Dykes was the team last year and is again this.
There has been a significant improvement at full back - if we'd had these two in the team last year I think we'd have gone very close.
But whatever we thought of Austin and Gray going from Austin, Gray and Dykes to Dykes, Dykes and sort of Roberts is weaker. |  | | |
| Are we a better team this season? on 13:04 - Sep 16 with 3214 views | NorthantsHoop |
Defensively we look better, also Johansen looks fit this season, which he didn't to me for most of last season. Chair has got his mojo back and Willock is delivering goals. Hopefully we win tomorrow and can keep up momentum on return from international break. Still think we are a mid table team, if we are going to push for top six then home form needs to improve, been our achilles heel since coming down in 2015. |  | | |
| Are we a better team this season? on 13:05 - Sep 16 with 3205 views | simmo |
It's Willock & Chair seemingly going up a level, but otherwise it's just having real modern full backs. Appreciate Wallace for the 6-9 months (out of 3 years) that he was available and playing well, but a big part of having to play a back 3 was not having legs or athleticism anywhere on the pitch, especially there.
Laird and Paal can support attacks and have the ability to recover without needing a CM to constantly fill in behind them, it also gives us an extra midfielder so Chair/Willock, etc can stay higher. I think full back has become arguably the most important position in football for teams that want to play progressively and we've done brilliantly to get the 2 we have and in Paals case, settle them so quickly. |  |
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| Are we a better team this season? on 13:11 - Sep 16 with 3177 views | BushRanger82 |
We exited the first cup competion, at the first hurdle, to a league 1 side.
I'd hold off the exciting times ahead feeling, if I were you. |  | | |
| Are we a better team this season? (n/t) on 14:36 - Sep 16 with 3062 views | francisbowles |
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| Are we a better team this season? on 14:41 - Sep 16 with 3053 views | francisbowles |
Saturday will be a good early indicator of whether we can follow up a good away win. Lack of travel will help but Stoke have an extra day's recovery.
If we pass that test then we have to show we can cope with three in a week on a regular basis.
We have options in midfield and central defence, when all fit, so we should be able to rotate from time to time in a few positions without much loss of quality.
Need the strikers to start chipping in with a goal or two and luck with fitness in the goalkeeper and full back positions. | | | |
| Are we a better team this season? on 14:49 - Sep 16 with 3032 views | PunteR |
Laird and Paal have made a big difference it seems. Agree with Daveb it's too early to tell if it's a better team than last season.
Up to January last season we were playing well. Having Deing ,Willock and a fit Johansen on the pitch helps. |  |
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| Are we a better team this season? on 15:10 - Sep 16 with 2972 views | Northernr |
Looking forward to the mood on here Monday if we happen to get done 2-0 by Stoke... | | | |
| Are we a better team this season? on 15:19 - Sep 16 with 2938 views | Doudou87 |
I'd argue most championship teams would complain about not having a 15 goal a season striker. | |
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| Are we a better team this season? on 15:21 - Sep 16 with 2922 views | Wilkinswatercarrier |
You could tell during the pre season game against Palarse we were better. I wasn't a fan of Warburton at the end, to slow and too many touches.
Now we are improving every game. We will be up there at the end of the season, injuries permitting. | |
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| Are we a better team this season? on 15:22 - Sep 16 with 2920 views | TheChef |
Was chatting to a couple of work mates earlier talking footy, the Brentford fan asked me what has changed since Warburton left.
Had to think hard and in a way not much - Warbs went largely because of the disconnect with the u23s; but then Beale hasn't really used them much either. I suppose we have recruited a bit better (e.g. Paal) but still a bit reliant on loans (Laird, Timmy, Balogun). Main difference is Beale being more flexible than MW, the players not passing the ball to death and happy to go for goal from distance. |  |
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| Are we a better team this season? on 15:24 - Sep 16 with 2919 views | ed_83 |
One admittedly good win against an underperforming Millwall side hasn’t changed my opinion about the current squad: we look marginally stronger than last year on paper (better fullbacks, depth at midfield and centre back, Dieng staying fit and Johansen Willock and Chair all hitting form) and we’re capable of some really high quality football, but we’re still inconsistent and mentally fragile.
I think Beale’s target from the beginning of the season - stay in touch with the playoff places until the new year, then peak at the end of the season, still feels like the right one. Not expecting this team to go up, necessarily, but I definitely think we’re capable of improving on last season. | | | |
| Are we a better team this season? on 15:26 - Sep 16 with 2910 views | kensalriser |
We can be and will be if we continue to improve. Injuries or the lack will dictate this season, as they did last. Hopefully we'll have better luck on that count. |  |
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| Are we a better team this season? on 15:42 - Sep 16 with 2869 views | Malintabuk |
Agree with most it is too soon to tell
The lack of a striker is still a worry for me. Read on here we have scored what 8 goals from distance, I honestly feel that we can't always rely on that..... teams will soon come up with plans to stop that and that is where we will need a "sniffer"
We do seem to be a lot fitter and we have mastered the high press which did seem to elude MW
The full back are a revelation for me. They have been like a breath of fresh air.
In the dark days of Jan onwards we had a situation where players like Thomas and Willock was asked to be WB....... shudder
The championship again is pretty average and lacks standout teams which I think is a good for us. String a few results together and you can easily get into the top 6, it's staying there that is the trick
Give our start a 6 out of 10 whereas last year we started more 7 5 out of 10. | | | |
| Are we a better team this season? on 15:50 - Sep 16 with 2851 views | Toast_R |
Defence and Midfield I think so, attack certainly not but as the midfield is currently chipping in with all of the goals so far it hasn't noticed.
Considering how sporadic the first half of the season is going to be, I think our lack of depth won't be exposed until the crazy second half of the season much like it was last year. |  | | |
| Are we a better team this season? on 16:00 - Sep 16 with 2810 views | kensalriser |
| Are we a better team this season? on 15:42 - Sep 16 by Malintabuk |
Agree with most it is too soon to tell
The lack of a striker is still a worry for me. Read on here we have scored what 8 goals from distance, I honestly feel that we can't always rely on that..... teams will soon come up with plans to stop that and that is where we will need a "sniffer"
We do seem to be a lot fitter and we have mastered the high press which did seem to elude MW
The full back are a revelation for me. They have been like a breath of fresh air.
In the dark days of Jan onwards we had a situation where players like Thomas and Willock was asked to be WB....... shudder
The championship again is pretty average and lacks standout teams which I think is a good for us. String a few results together and you can easily get into the top 6, it's staying there that is the trick
Give our start a 6 out of 10 whereas last year we started more 7 5 out of 10. |
At the risk of being a crashing bore by referencing Taarabt again, but how well did other teams' plans to contain him go? Look at Willock's goal v Millwall: three oppo players around him and he still threads the ball into the goal with seeming ease (his ability to do that without blasting the ball is uncanny). If they double or treble up on him that will just leave space for the likes of Chair and Roberts to exploit.
Of course we would be scoring more goals with the likes of a peak form Austin but as we don't have that player we have to cut our cloth accordingly. | |
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| Are we a better team this season? on 16:02 - Sep 16 with 2808 views | sparkey |
| Are we a better team this season? on 15:42 - Sep 16 by Malintabuk |
Agree with most it is too soon to tell
The lack of a striker is still a worry for me. Read on here we have scored what 8 goals from distance, I honestly feel that we can't always rely on that..... teams will soon come up with plans to stop that and that is where we will need a "sniffer"
We do seem to be a lot fitter and we have mastered the high press which did seem to elude MW
The full back are a revelation for me. They have been like a breath of fresh air.
In the dark days of Jan onwards we had a situation where players like Thomas and Willock was asked to be WB....... shudder
The championship again is pretty average and lacks standout teams which I think is a good for us. String a few results together and you can easily get into the top 6, it's staying there that is the trick
Give our start a 6 out of 10 whereas last year we started more 7 5 out of 10. |
6/10 is harsh. Beaten Watford & Millwall away, Middlesbrough at home. All deemed very difficult games (even if they're not exactly flying at the moment). Against Rotherham we were extremely unlucky to not get 3 points and they've only lost 1 game this season. Blackburn we were sh1t but was Beale's first game and they were flying at the start of the season.
7.5/10 start for me. | | | |
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