It’s almost here! The big kick-off is just a week away, and a visit from London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur awaits us at the Boleyn Ground next Saturday. Despite tours of New Zealand and more recently Germany, I cannot help but feel the side is not prepared enough for the new campaign, and feel as if we could do with at least a couple of more weeks worth of preparation.
In terms of transfers, the club has undoubtedly done superbly thus far this pre-season. Youthful, prosperous signings with a lot of potential are refreshing to see, particularly in a Sam Allardyce side, and I am looking forward to seeing the likes of Aaron Cresswell, Diego Poyet and Cheikhou Kouyate in Premier League action. New boy Mauro Zarate impressed during the New Zealand tour, and the reported £12m signing of Ecuador international Enner Valencia is one that certainly excites me. Despite all the positives, results on the two tours were far from good enough, and despite claiming to be undergoing the implementation of a new, more free flowing system, in my eyes, the performances in New Zealand and Germany provided us with much of the same drab, dull tactics we have become all too familiar with.
It’s recently become apparent that the board have become a lot more involved and decisive about transfer business but ultimately, the side’s tactics and starting XI lies with boss, Sam Allardyce. If supporters had criticism of last season, and if these pre-season performances are anything to go by then sadly, I fear this coming season may bring more of the same – stubbornness, and an unwillingness to adapt and change to a ‘plan B’.
In terms of the opposition, under new management from ex-Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino, I fear the North London side will be a real force this coming season and will prove difficult opposition next Saturday. Despite being yet to make a real ‘marquee signing’, consistency and a settled side will serve Spurs well, and I predict a successful season for them this coming campaign.
Nonetheless, I am thoroughly looking forward to getting back to the Boleyn Ground for the start of another year, next weekend. I’m hoping to see our new creative players utilised and given the freedom to show what they can do, but quite frankly, am preparing myself for another 10 months of Kevin Nolan ‘pulling strings’ and Mohamed Diame playing out wide. Come on you Irons.
We are going to get spanked – but it may wake up the Directors
Totally agree – Spurs will beat us. We now have a good squad, with quality players. Our only weakness is BFS – a manager who only knows how to play one way. Maybe the 2 Davids have bought the new boys in to attract a decent manager in 6 games or so, when we will be sitting at the bottom on the league.
True, I think I have sussed the 2 Davids plan.
From the Blogs we are still looking for another 4 more forwards.
So we will have so many forwards in the squad – 14 out of 22 – and BFS will have to play 3 each game cos there won’t be enough defenders and midfielders – it might work ?
Just waiting for BFS to play both keepers at once! Shame we’re not structured like an American football team as he would make a fantastic defensive coach, any thing past the half way line is not his business. His whole managerial career is based around a fit on form Nolan unfortunately Nolan is way past his best as is BFS. Just waiting for our chairman to wake up and bring in a quality European manager who knows 21st century football, got my sleeping bag ready for the new season !
I’m dreading the Spurs game because I can see them turning us over quite easily.
We’ll start with our usual formation of Carlton Cole up front on his own with Nolan just behind. Long, hopeful balls up to Cole will be the instructions to our centre backs in the hope one of our midfielders can get on the end of a flick on. This will inevitably fail because our two wide midfielders (most likely Jarvis and Downing) will be pushed back by the opposition and not allow them to support the hapless Carlton Cole.
After 60 minutes of dreadful football where we’ll find ourselves 2-0 down with just one shot on goal (off target), Allardyce will take off Cole and replace him with Zarate, but actually keep the same formation with the little Argentine playing up front on his own. This will of course achieve nothing and we’ll end up eventually losing 3-0.
In his post match comments, Allardyce will blame the defeat on the “new attacking style” he’s been instructed to implement by the owners. The loss of Andy Carroll will also be wheeled out as an excuse (again) and not forgetting the usual dig at the fans for getting on the players backs. Zarate will no doubt be used as a scapegoat by Allardyce. He’ll use Zarate as a pawn in his “don’t sign players I don’t want because I’ll play them out of position to piss you off” dig at the owners. In a nutshell, he’ll blame the dreadful display on everyone but his own one dimensional, should be left in the dark ages, tactics.
This will be the story for the first 5 or 6 games of the season until eventually the owners realise Allardyce is not up to the task asked of him, which was to bring a more exciting, attacking brand of football to The Boleyn.
I of course could be completely wrong and we’ll end up playing some fantastic football against Spurs, making it 4 wins in a row against them. Now wouldn’t that be wonderful? I somehow doubt it though and can see ourselves looking for a new manager come October.
I think we will get beaten next week by a spud side looking to avenge the results from last season.They will also will be looking to impress their new gaffer.As for the new signings I do believe they have been made to make us a more attractive side to tempt a new manager