It was always going to be a tough opening fixture. Regardless of their investments, their first game after promotion, new stand open, crowd well up for it etc was bound to give them a lift. It's a disappointment not to come away with a point but we'll be better when Sordell and Church have bedded in properly. I share the concerns about our midfield today. Pritch and Callum wide is fine, but Gower and Hughes together in central midfield lacks pace and creativity.
I see Oxford had a very good away win at Pompey, so they'll be a stern test on Tuesday too.
This season will, like the last one, be full of ups and downs, twists and turns, excitement and despair. Maybe we will get one or two more arrivals during August to give us another lift. One thing I know for sure, with SCP and the lads, we will always get 100% commitment.
Switched off twice. Couple of awful performances. Midfield was awful. Jackson has to Come back.Pritchard can not beat à man nor cross and never has been able to.
To be honest, I was more gutted when Brum equalised in the 95th minute in last years opening game.
One thing to take from today is that unless we are playing a very defensive 4-5-1, the two pensioners shouldn't play together in the middle of the park.
We move on to Tuesday, where I fully expect CP to make 11 changes to the starting lineup. Let's hope that a few players (Green and Stephens in particular) lay down a marker. There are starting places to be had in midfield if they want them.
Switched off twice. Couple of awful performances. Midfield was awful. Jackson has to Come back.Pritchard can not beat à man nor cross and never has been able to.
Switched off twice. Couple of awful performances. Midfield was awful. Jackson has to Come back.Pritchard can not beat à man nor cross and never has been able to.
I'm glad to hear I'm not alone in doubting Pritchard's ability. OK, he has improved, but I don't see him as being good enough for an ambitious Champs team. Gets knocked off the ball too easily, makes too many misplaced passes. Charges around a lot and can get "stuck in", but often he's doing it to try to win back possession that he himself lost. Have thought the midfield generally is weak for at least a full season - you know what I think of Stephens. Defence I think is basically OK, but by your accounts Bournemouth's first goal was a schoolboy error - unmarked header at the back stick from a corner. Sounds exactly like the one we gave away at AFC Wombles in pre-season. Still, I think Chrissy will learn from all that. Chin up - Millwall lost too!
Hope that a 3 of Gower/Hughes/Jackson in centre midfield isn't too immobile. If only Stephens had made the step-up last year (we'd probably be £2m better off).
Long season ahead, and this shows that like last season, our games tend to be close affairs.
Powell interviewed at some length on BBC Radio London. No complaints at all about Pritchard's red card. Repeated his hope to recruit "one or two" new players.
So Pritchard is this seasons scapegoat. Brilliant. :-(
'Scapegoat' is merely name-calling. People on here are giving their honest and considered opinions. If you don't agree with them, try posting you own views.
So how did Simon Francis do then? Did we rip him a new one, like so many people were predicting? From the commentary it sounded like both he & Harry Arter had decent games.
Comments
I see Oxford had a very good away win at Pompey, so they'll be a stern test on Tuesday too.
This season will, like the last one, be full of ups and downs, twists and turns, excitement and despair. Maybe we will get one or two more arrivals during August to give us another lift. One thing I know for sure, with SCP and the lads, we will always get 100% commitment.
One thing to take from today is that unless we are playing a very defensive 4-5-1, the two pensioners shouldn't play together in the middle of the park.
We move on to Tuesday, where I fully expect CP to make 11 changes to the starting lineup. Let's hope that a few players (Green and Stephens in particular) lay down a marker. There are starting places to be had in midfield if they want them.
A fool you are.
Long season ahead, and this shows that like last season, our games tend to be close affairs.
Same. Will never learn.
Powell out etc etc
Sounds like D'urso didn't help our cause.