A Difficult Week

[Beefymcfc]

I knew it would be difficult against Stoke with their new style of play under Hughes but we now turn to the Plzen game before seeing in the Derby at the weekend.

What are peoples thoughts, can we go to both and get something?

I'd be happy for a draw at Plzen as long as we do the same for each away game and win our home. That'd give us a healthy point score and ensure our participation in the next round.

As for the Rags, I'd take a point again as it would ensure they don't pull away from us.

What are your thoughts?

[Ted Hughes]

We saw a glimpse of what Yaya can do further forward.

Give him & Fernandinho some protection, & let them loose.

If that means only one striker, in order to balance the team, then so be it.

[ashton287]

If anything this weeks game is the only win I'd expect on the road in the CL. A win there and then a draw and loss plus 2 wins at home should see us through.

But honestly I would rather win the derby than get through the CL group. We are nowhere near good enough to win the competition so I don't see the point in playing in it. Would rather put our efforts into a cup we could actually win, if we get an easy draw we might have a shot at the league cup atleast.

[Moonchesteri]

If anything this weeks game is the only win I'd expect on the road in the CL. A win there and then a draw and loss plus 2 wins at home should see us through.

But honestly I would rather win the derby than get through the CL group. We are nowhere near good enough to win the competition so I don't see the point in playing in it. Would rather put our efforts into a cup we could actually win, if we get an easy draw we might have a shot at the league cup atleast.

It's a long season and everything but can't really disagree with this to be honest.

[Dunnylad]

We need to put a decent shift in with Champions League as our coefficient needs to improve so we aren't in groups where we're the third best side (at least). Today's match had a starting lineup that almost hinted at Champions League being more important than Premier League.

Stoke is a tough place to go and another clean sheet shouldn't be ignored no matter how many "ifs" or "whats" you throw at the match

[Beefymcfc]

If anything this weeks game is the only win I'd expect on the road in the CL. A win there and then a draw and loss plus 2 wins at home should see us through.

But honestly I would rather win the derby than get through the CL group. We are nowhere near good enough to win the competition so I don't see the point in playing in it. Would rather put our efforts into a cup we could actually win, if we get an easy draw we might have a shot at the league cup atleast.

I have the same thoughts too. I know we need to be in the CL and do well but we don't really have the pedigree to win it yet, do we?

Priority for me is to prove in the PL.

[Ted Hughes]

If anything this weeks game is the only win I'd expect on the road in the CL. A win there and then a draw and loss plus 2 wins at home should see us through.

But honestly I would rather win the derby than get through the CL group. We are nowhere near good enough to win the competition so I don't see the point in playing in it. Would rather put our efforts into a cup we could actually win, if we get an easy draw we might have a shot at the league cup atleast.

I have the same thoughts too. I know we need to be in the CL and do well but we don't really have the pedigree to win it yet, do we?

Priority for me is to prove in the PL.

I am just watching what the Count gets up to.

I don't believe he thinks that today's team was anything other than a desperate measure. The reason I am inclined to think that, is because we have seen Ferguson do the same on occasion, & sometimes drop points by putting out quite ridiculous sides .

I recon the Count thinks this 1st game is key to our whole survival in the competition, then comes the derby, so he's just reconing we can stay in the title race & get better as the season progresses, but the Champs Lg is here right now.

If he genuinely thought today's team was the best one to win the game, I would then think he wasn't upto the job at all.

I recon he sees this game v Whateverthefucktheyrcalled as worth a forune & that possibly his job depends on it, as we won't qualify if we lose. He has got results away from home with inferior teams to ours, sometimes just nicking a point being ok, & got teams through. That's his priority this weekend imo.

I'm not saying I'm convinced he will get the team playing as he wants later in the season, but I do think he believes that & is planning accordingly.

[Beefymcfc]

If anything this weeks game is the only win I'd expect on the road in the CL. A win there and then a draw and loss plus 2 wins at home should see us through.

But honestly I would rather win the derby than get through the CL group. We are nowhere near good enough to win the competition so I don't see the point in playing in it. Would rather put our efforts into a cup we could actually win, if we get an easy draw we might have a shot at the league cup atleast.

I have the same thoughts too. I know we need to be in the CL and do well but we don't really have the pedigree to win it yet, do we?

Priority for me is to prove in the PL.

I am just watching what the Count gets up to.

I don't believe he thinks that today's team was anything other than a desperate measure. The reason I am inclined to think that, is because we have seen Ferguson do the same on occasion, & sometimes drop points by putting out quite ridiculous sides .

I recon the Count thinks this 1st game is key to our whole survival in the competition, then comes the derby, so he's just reconing we can stay in the title race & get better as the season progresses, but the Champs Lg is here right now.

If he genuinely thought today's team was the best one to win the game, I would then think he wasn't upto the job at all.

I recon he sees this game v Whateverthefucktheyrcalled as worth a forune & that possibly his job depends on it, as we won't qualify if we lose. He has got results away from home with inferior teams to ours, sometimes just nicking a point being ok, & got teams through. That's his priority this weekend imo.

I'm not saying I'm convinced he will get the team playing as he wants later in the season, but I do think he believes that & is planning accordingly.

Whatever the reason, we cannot lose this game mate. A draw away from home puts it in our own hands.

As you know, the problem is that players don't get the chance to gel with the constant rotation and it's better to give a player at least a run-out to keep his legs straight.

I'm confident of a score at Plzen but I'm not confident in our play.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

I would definitely not take a point next weekend. We have to win. Simple as.

[Blue Since 76]

I would definitely not take a point next weekend. We have to win. Simple as.

Agree with that. At least a point on Tuesday and a win on Sunday or we can start looking forward to the league cup before October.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Everything so far in the premier league is very interesting.Liverpool look a very competitive side and we'll see how they do when the balance of the side changes with Suarez back soon. Spurs look a good attacking side but will they all gell?We will see when they play better sides.

Chelsea have looked very good at times and even today v Everton but they are losing.The scum have played 2 decent sides and failed to score in both of them. And City have looked poor in 3 of the 4 league games and nothing special Imo in the other one.

It's very early days yet even if there are some worrying signs.I think we need a booster and an away win on Tuesday fits the bill nicely.Let's face it they are the whipping boys in the group so we need to show we mean it this year in the CCL.AS for the derby I am a pessimist by nature and would take a draw now as we are playing so poorly and I don't see a complete change in one week.

Overall let's give the manager time to get his best team and best plan of playing.It will come.

[Beefymcfc]

Is DDD a reasonable ratio for what we've got? I say that I would be happy but that is just based on how we've played. In reality, our team should be doing better and winning aginst Plzen. The Rags, I would suggest we could beat them but you never know, it's their Derby game now.

[Cocacolajojo1]

We saw a glimpse of what Yaya can do further forward.

Give him & Fernandinho some protection, & let them loose.

If that means only one striker, in order to balance the team, then so be it.

This should be it yes. I would be very depressed to see our mouthwatering strike-force not be fully utilized but I certainly think we have a team better suited for a one-striker line-up, at least for the time being. And Jovetic isn't necessarily a striker so there's that.

[Ted Hughes]

We saw a glimpse of what Yaya can do further forward.

Give him & Fernandinho some protection, & let them loose.

If that means only one striker, in order to balance the team, then so be it.

This should be it yes. I would be very depressed to see our mouthwatering strike-force not be fully utilized but I certainly think we have a team better suited for a one-striker line-up, at least for the time being. And Jovetic isn't necessarily a striker so there's that.

We potentially have loads of games to come, where (if we get our shit together defensively) we could sometimes even play Jovetic plus two strikers, so they should all get plenty of games over the season.

Right now, when we are struggling, I don't think it would be such a backward step to start a game with one striker & an attack minded midfield but with one player looking after the centre backs.

[City64]

We were toss versus Hull at home but won ..... a better team than Hull would have beaten us that day.

We were toss versus Stoke away ..... we didnt lose , a better team than Stoke would have beaten us .

I hope Plezen are turd or were in trouble !

[AG7]

We were toss versus Hull at home but won ..... a better team than Hull would have beaten us that day.

We were toss versus Stoke away ..... we didnt lose , a better team than Stoke would have beaten us .

I hope Plezen are turd or were in trouble !

We have frankly been woeful the last three games ... I should go watch that Newcastle game again as well and see really how well we were and how poor they were to have maybe given a false illusion of us being something extra ordinary. They were after all down to 10 for more than half of the game, and we were playing at home, first game under new manager too.

[aaron bond]

Is DDD a reasonable ratio for what we've got? I say that I would be happy but that is just based on how we've played. In reality, our team should be doing better and winning aginst Plzen. The Rags, I would suggest we could beat them but you never know, it's their Derby game now.

Based on how we're playing, 3 draws this week would probably be a good outcome, as I don't have a lot of confidence in us at the moment.

However, the reality is we need to win in Plzen to give us a chance of qualifying.

My fear in the derby is that RVP and Rooney will exploit our shoddy defence, and the huge gap we often see between defence and midfield. Without Kompany and Barry, we look extremely vulnerable at the back and if Pellegrini thinks a Garcia-Nastasic partnership is the answer, then we have a nailbiting week ahead of us. Hopefully Kompany will be fit, and Lescott can partner him.

[Breks]

I knew it would be difficult against Stoke with their new style of play under Hughes but we now turn to the Plzen game before seeing in the Derby at the weekend.

What are peoples thoughts, can we go to both and get something?

I'd be happy for a draw at Plzen as long as we do the same for each away game and win our home. That'd give us a healthy point score and ensure our participation in the next round.

As for the Rags, I'd take a point again as it would ensure they don't pull away from us.

What are your thoughts?

Take a point in both games, your standards are way too low. 3 points in both games and nothing else should be satisfactory.

[Beefymcfc]

I knew it would be difficult against Stoke with their new style of play under Hughes but we now turn to the Plzen game before seeing in the Derby at the weekend.

What are peoples thoughts, can we go to both and get something?

I'd be happy for a draw at Plzen as long as we do the same for each away game and win our home. That'd give us a healthy point score and ensure our participation in the next round.

As for the Rags, I'd take a point again as it would ensure they don't pull away from us.

What are your thoughts?

Take a point in both games, your standards are way too low. 3 points in both games and nothing else should be satisfactory.

My standards are too low, have you seen our last 3 games?

[Alex Sapphire]

We were toss versus Hull at home but won ..... a better team than Hull would have beaten us that day.

We were toss versus Stoke away ..... we didnt lose , a better team than Stoke would have beaten us .

I hope Plezen are turd or were in trouble !

We have frankly been woeful the last three games ... I should go watch that Newcastle game again ....

go watch last season's performance against (11 man) Newcastle if you want a real guage

it's here: extended highlights from OS