I think we’re genuine dark horses

I’m not saying we’re going up, but I don’t think the playoffs would be the miracle the bookies believe it would be. Unlikely, but I wouldn’t bet my house against it.

I think our style of play goes a lot deeper than just pressing high, winning the ball back and breaking, which is how the media describe it. Something I’m really excited about is our defence - and not because I think they’ll keep a special number of clean sheets.

I’m excited because our defenders are all confident and appear silky with their feet, but more importantly because they’re all very strong, very quick and crucially they can all dribble.

The ball-playing defender or ‘footballing centre half’ is usually seen as someone with confident feet and who can pick a blinding pass. I think we’re cultivating a very different approach to the modern defender.

Look through some of our transfer showcase videos and you’ll see how something we’ve identified is the willingness of a defender to win the ball in our own third, turn on a sixpence and then bomb out of there leaving 3 attacking players for dead. No blinding pass, just sheer determination, athleticism and dribbling skill.

The space this can expose is tremendous. Attacking players are slow to react, and before you know it we’re half way up the field and the 7 they have left behind the ball are all panicking unsure of who to mark.

I think we’re in for a very exciting season, and if we finish 23rd I look forward to being bumped in May.

 

I predict 12th place. Stendel to leave in mid January.

 

That’s a worry for me, but I’m going to enjoy it while I can

 

I’d still absolutely take 21st

We’ll have a bump soon, how such a very young squad get over that will be telling.

Also some huge clubs in this league and crowds they won’t have seen before. Some will react positively, but some could freeze too

 

Nope - don't buy any of that.

Against Fulham we had a few hairy moments with defenders behaving like John Robertson out of necessity rather than choice. They did it well.

S'abart it.

 

Keeping Daniel is key now. We've hitched ourselves so firmly to his bandwagon I shudder to think what will happen when he leaves.

 

I think the thing that pleased me most about last week. Was they didn't sit back and kept on taking the game to Fulham. Last time out in the championship we were backs to the wall for large parts of the ends of games and invariably conceded late on. Cost us quite a few points. I see so much enthusiasm at mo . I just hope they don't let themselves worry when a game is lost and carry that worry over to the next game. ( If we lose that is )

 

He will leave. That is a given.

 

'Reckon the club should buy the Garrison and give him lifetime free drinks, might tempt him

 

I think we ought to put a blue plaque up outside it "Daniel Stendel drank here May 2018 to ------ " with an electronic display counting the date.

 

Genuinely excited about our chances this season.
It will certainly be exciting and eventful.

 

If we avoid relegation it will be a minor miracle. Let’s not run away with ourselves.

 

I’ve gone for an emotional hedge and backed us to get relegated at 5/2. If we stay up happy days, if we succumb then I’ve a few quid to soften the blow.

 

Plankton

 

Based on what? Two years ago we nearly stopped up with an even more inexperienced team, a whinging Head Coach who was desperate to leave and a cat impressionist. This team and coach have far more talent and enthusiasm. Like for like,this team now is better than the team we had at the start of the '17/18' season.

 

If he were to leave could we do worse than give Dale Tonge the chance?
Seems to be fitting in nicely.

 

Plamkton? I've been called worse.

Why do you think a bet makes me Plankton? 40 odd years following my home town team home and away.

Love to have a pint with you before the Charlton game.

 

I think that's the eventual succession plan

 

Never understood anyone that supports a team. Gambling on misfortune. Played hell up with mate who gambled on us to lose once. I understand your logic. But couldn't bring myself to do it. But also a silly bugger. I won't bet on us to win for fear of putting the mockers on.

 

Based on the fact that we have just assembled a brand new team with little or no experience of either playing at this level or playing together. I think we have the advantage that this is a pretty mediocre league at the moment but anyone expecting anything but a difficult season may be disappointed. Given you have barely seen any of our current team play how can you possibly know that. If he team we came up with was a good League 1 team whether this is a good championship team only time will tell. No one in this team is as good as Conor for example