Game 1: QPR 1 WBA 3 (10.08.24. Andersen)

Wouldn’t have EDB nor Andersen in my first team never mind both of them together. Not been impressed by either. EDB looks like he should be decent but has never made his mark when given a chance and Andersen just looks really ordinary and a touch out of his depth.

Goals wins matches, we don't score goals.

No fan of his but I would start Colback given our squad. Bookings aside I think he’s worth a place. Again, no fan, but I’d start Smyth before Andersen. Nothing happens with Andersen but Smyth does at least occupy the fullback and may even get a decent cross over one day. I get your point about another youngster but I wouldn’t be against trying one - what do we get from EDB? I’d like to see two up top tbh.

For me we are very thin yet again.

Just my opinion.

Lack of goals a problem again.Lack of creativity.Lack of pace.

I find the term Ginge inflammatory and far right, I’m going to bubble anyone that use it you nazi scum.
It’s strawberry blonde ninja

Alan: I hear what you are saying but for me Smyth is just a sub - we need our attacking players to do more than occupy the fullback. Andersen doesn't impose himself as much as we need but he is at least capable of delivering a decent ball on occasion. He is also getting chances and do think he will start to score more. Unlike Smyth he does at least have technique.


Stanley: surprised you are dropping Dunne. He is now capt is he not? And being used in the club's social media a lot. He was excellent back end of last season and has been one of our few good performers last couple of pre-season games. Obvs all about opinions but one of the first names on the team sheet for me at the moment. If Santos has to start Sat I'd probably play him right side of midfield in place of Smyth and put Andersen central. Re Fox: stand to be corrected but think he is injured?

Funny how we all have such different takes on the team - but guess that's the beauty of message boards!

I would be surprised tho if that is how Marti sees it. Obvs we will find out Sat but I strongly expect Dunne to continue at right back. Until we strengthen in attacking positions I wouldn't be surprised to see players being played out of their natural position a bit - eg Santos as he was a bit pre-season. Longer term suspect he is first back up and Cannon is basically fired...

So do I!

Purpose here is to post our preferred teams 

Oops - forgot all about Varane! He definitely replaces Colback in my team above.

Nardi in goal

Dunne Cook JCS Paal
as last season.

Varane Colback Santos Field
Midfield a bit of a problem no Chair.

Frey Celar
2 up front at home.

I know we would lack width but keep it tight and hope we nick a couple🫣

Still think it will be a very hard season

We still need to strengthen and we have

No strength in depth e we were lucky with

No injuries last year won’t be so lucky this year

We need 2 more wingers and another No 9

I strongly recommend both, West. I consider each a Godsend, and am so pleased I discovered them. And, used alongside another fitness regime, lifting weights and cardio, they really help you adapt as you age. I think Pilates and yoga complement each other, being very different. Both work on building your core strength, and differently target joints and tendons. Especially knees, hips, shoulders and back. And helping build all around flexibility and strength. I do Mat Pilates, not Reformer, which makes use of a machine, and most gyms offer classes. Yoga takes very different forms, such as Ashtanga, Hatha or Iyengar, fast or slow. The trick is finding which one you like. Since the pandemic, many yoga studios closed, so the quality of teaching in gyms has really improved, and it's just a matter of shopping around.

I took these up from a standing start eleven years ago, and I wish it had been earlier. Take the plunge, friend. You'll notice a difference. I'm amazed so few of my mates have taken it up. The key, as with all exercise, is to enjoy it.

My fear for Saturday is I just can't see where the goals are going to come from.

Actually, scrap that.

I don't know where any chances are going to come from.

Reasonable expectations, I'd say. If it's a choice between Varane and Colback, I'd go for the former as a) Much younger b) less of a liability c) comes with a reasonable pedigree d) To a degree, I'm willing to trust the process based on Marti and Christian's signings to date. e) It's kind of an obvious statement to say that most of us haven't seen him play, so goes without saying really. 


Hal requested it in my sig. There'll likely be some overlap as Bennie, for example, has featured heavily in the pre-season friendlies, so a good chance we'll see him in the first team squad this season. So I didn't particularly make the distinction between the two. Would you rather I removed them? I may have to anyway as will run out of characters if we make more signings.