Dean Coneys boots

It’s not entirely without merit though, an article on BBC last month showed that getting a good start in first ten games is crucial to survival in premiership. Teams that start slowly have traditionally struggled to catch up. what worries me is that a loss to Arsenal turns Watford into a must win. Lose that and we really are backs to the wall. And whilst bad records don’t ultimately mean much- successful teams don’t tend to accumulate them! let’s hope the new boys bed in fast and turn things around

Heart says Norwich pip it/ head says a spanking…

I am thinking it a reasonable supposition that two sides yet to register a single point and rooted to the foot of the table are not exactly flowing with optimism and must have a few doubts nagging at them.

First goal is going to be huge given that both sides are bereft of confidence. I wish I felt more optimistic but this has ACN written all over it…

Not sure that is fair. I could point to numerous windows when our club didn’t plug an obvious gap- so it’s not as if past history was on the side of those who were optimistic

Fair credit to the board. Those two signings have turned this into a very solid transfer window indeed- perhaps the best I can remember on paper. Bravo Webber two days have totally plugged the gaps. My bad for doubting! Don’t know much (anything) about Normann but hope he is the CDM we are crying out for. Kabak is a huge signing for us- marquee.

Excellent news - well done Webber

Actually all I have found on Normann online suggests he is a box to box midfielder…

What patronising drivel. Actually the first goal, whilst primarily the fault of Brandon Williams, saw Gibson in no mans land. Neither CB had a great game. Most every pundit concerned with the club, and the manager himself, has stated we need a CDM. So how you say it isn’t so important is beyond me! Gilmour wasn’t blamed by me - but he is struggling as a square peg in a round hole. Unless he gets a fighter alongside him we won’t see what he is good at. I never disputed that our squad has more depth- indeed check my posts and I have said I am impressed with the signings. However I have also stated concern that we have gone for lightweight youth up front instead of muscle in the middle. I stand by that. maybe it is you who doesn’t watch the games. As nothing I have said here is particularly controversial. And as for not being the same- we certainly seem to have the same issues. Look at the goals against column then the points accrued if you need help with this.

How is it idiotic to point out that we haven’t learnt lessons when we are bottom with a huge goals against deficit, glaring holes in the starting XI and now on a dismal run of 14 games without a point in this division. sure the fixtures were grim - but that doesn’t mean we just roll over. A better performance yesterday but still zero points. When are we allowed to be concerned?

My worry with “we were promised a bumpy start” is that we can’t really afford one. Let’s not forget when making comparisons with 2 seasons ago - we broke lots of horrid records for our worse ever finish! We don’t need to match that but vastly improve on it- and, at present, I don’t see it happening. Because we are still lacking physicality and trying to play our way out of trouble with skill which leaves us vulnerable- the more skilful top sides play us off the park whilst the less skilful bottom sides bully us off the ball. I hope I am wrong but- as stated above - it looks like we will be the worst performing promoted side AGAIN!!

Only that last season we actually started a lot brighter than this. We had a real go at Liverpool and only tailed off later, this time we already look like the low morale easy pickings of the second half of that season. Hope I am wrong but I now make that 13 games on the bounce at this level without a single point.

Couldn’t agree more- it’s the drum I’ve been banging loudly. Losing our two best players left us playing catch up before we could even think of improvement. Two steps back and one forward for me- and defence and CDM should have been the priority - not signing fast youth

So instead of entering the debate- and showing what has been addressed in a counter argument - you just go for an ad hominem attack coupled with an assurance all will be well but without any argument as to why. You don’t really understand how debate or discussion forums work do you?

Webber stated we would learn lessons and that he wouldn’t send Farke out without a gun this time. So my question is- what lessons did we learn and what has been done to address them? Because from my vantage point we haven’t learned a flipping thing. Still lacking physicality in midfield, still trying to play a championship defence in the premiership, still stubbornly sticking to formation and style that doesn’t cut it for bottom half team, etc etc Bottom line it all looks so similar to the last premiership campaign, we don’t seem to have learnt very much at all,

We haven’t improved the starting XI from last season - we have not addressed the lack of physicality that was evident in the last premiership season- it’s no surprise we are therefore struggling.

And next we have an Arsenal side that will be angry and licking their wounds…along came Norwich…

That aged well…

How many premiership games on the bounce without a single point? It must surely be a record or close to it…😟

It’s going to be a looooong season

I think there is a good argument for dropping Rupp and putting Gilmour in his place- then asking Sorenson to drop into Gilmours.

I’m not questioning his talent or his place in the team. I am arguing he is being played in the wrong position and that the glaring need for a cdm able to step up to the level is obvious

Gilmour is an excellent footballer/ however he is a kid and therefore lightweight. He is therefore totally wrong for the holding cdm role - he needs to play alongside a Tettey/skill type player who will do the graft so that he can then dictate the tempo.

Sorenson was a cdm protecting back four - Gilmour is not. We play a flat midfield with gilmour and no real cdm or 10. Formation shifted in significant way due to personnel

What a roller coaster of emotions. Two batterings for us and then a trouncing by us. Anything but boring…not sure we can make many judgements yet beyond the fact it won’t be dull. I do however think tonight was proof positive that our system demands a CDM