Next three league games

[danperkins]

The Masch debacle clearly threw a spanner into the works, as Poulsen has not yet adapted and the only replacement was Lucas, and when gerrard plays with Lucas he seems afraid to go forward as he doesn't trust Lucas to protect the back four, and he's ****ing right too!

But yes Roy showed a complete lack of urgency, same thing many of us said about Rafa, screaming at the tv to change it and make a sub.

But not gonna knee jerk early doors, 2 poxy games, suspension of Cole and the cunt that is masch, we'll be back!!

[JohnDoe]

When these threads show up, that means we're in trouble.

The first "our season starts here" thread is inevitable.

[red g]

When these threads show up, that means we're in trouble.

The first "our season starts here" thread is inevitable.

i think there must have been about 30

wonder if we can beat that this year?

[malg]

Draw, Draw, lose. if this happens big pressure on Hodgson already and will he be able to cope with it.

[Exiled_red]

Same here.

Clearly Roy knows his stuff, despite a mediocre CV...so I just cannot get my head around what possessed him to go 4-4-2 with that personnel. For me it's a major worry. I kept looking across to the bench, hoping to see him pacing the technical area, cajoling the boys and offering instruction.

He just sat there. I saw him get up once, and that was to clap his hands at 3-0 down.

I tend to think that English/British managers are somewhat tactically naive (think Redknapp's approach to the CL Qualifier) but I though that Roy as someone who had experience managing on the continent and internationally wouldn't have the same level of naivety, but the Man City game suggests otherwise. I hope I am wrong and that was a one off, but only time will tell.

[PTP]

Draw, Draw, lose. if this happens big pressure on Hodgson already and will he be able to cope with it.

thats what made think of the thread....hate to think and i know it's all knee jerk and early doors.....

but the press loving building things up to knock them down, and even a draw, draw loss for example, would really pile on the pressure - by which time, the transfer window will have past, we will prob have lost mascher and at best signed konchesky, maybe a striker, and the knives will be out

hodgson, won't get the blame though - it will be the off field stuff that has put hodgson in the ****.

Whilst you can argue it has - i still think that there is enough in and around the squad to be able to produce some decent displays etc

like someone has just in the trabonsspur match - all early season optimism has gone - top 6 and a cup run right now would be an achievement.

[Shaggy]

Roy can't lose in the eyes of the press - if his spell is a disaster, we all know who'll get the blame.

[IndianScouser]

Weren't the mancs sitting in the relegation zone with 2 points out of their first three games, a couple of seasons ago? And they won the title that season

[lickedlollipop]

**** 'em, we will win all three

[Rudo]

4 points at best i reckon.

Would i be right on saying Joe Cole will be back for our trip to Old Trafford?

Couldn't think of a better match for the fella to make amends for his sending off against Arsenal

[Mr Darko]

Would i be right on saying Joe Cole will be back for our trip to Old Trafford?

Yeah, IIRC that'll be his first game back. Think that's the main reason we didn't appeal against the ban as we'll need our best possible squad for the United game and if the appeal was lost he'd be banned for that game too.

I agree with majority here that we'll get at least 4 points: Win; Draw; Lose.

I hope (and believe) we'll destroy West Brom as we're especially resting Torres & Jovanovic tonight so they can play then. Would be nice to see Jovanovic get his first goal for us.

As for Birmingham I'm not too confident about beating them away as IIRC they only lost 2 home games last season and both of those they only lost by 1 goal so that's why I see it as a draw.

As for Man Utd I predict a loss but don't fear them that much...we've beat them the last 3 out of 4 games AND IIRC they've had 3 penalties against us over those 4 games (not surprising given who they are). Without being bias the game in March should have been a draw - Mascherano's apparent 'foul' was CLEARLY outside the box, Valencia was just a diving c***. In summary I think we could get a point/win IF we have Torres back to at least 80% of his best AND there isn't a c*** of a referee such as Dowd or Webb. Although given how stupidly unfair the decisions are at Old Trafford I'm put some money on United getting a penalty and winning.

What does everyone else think?

[Exiled_red]

Yeah, IIRC that'll be his first game back. Think that's the main reason we didn't appeal against the ban as we'll need our best possible squad for the United game and if the appeal was lost he'd be banned for that game too.

I agree with majority here that we'll get at least 4 points: Win; Draw; Lose.

I hope (and believe) we'll destroy West Brom as we're especially resting Torres & Jovanovic tonight so they can play then. Would be nice to see Jovanovic get his first goal for us.

As for Birmingham I'm not too confident about beating them away as IIRC they only lost 2 home games last season and both of those they only lost by 1 goal so that's why I see it as a draw.

As for Man Utd I predict a loss but don't fear them that much...we've beat them the last 3 out of 4 games AND IIRC they've had 3 penalties against us over those 4 games (not surprising given who they are). Without being bias the game in March should have been a draw - Mascherano's apparent 'foul' was CLEARLY outside the box, Valencia was just a diving c***. In summary I think we could get a point/win IF we have Torres back to at least 80% of his best AND there isn't a c*** of a referee such as Dowd or Webb. Although given how stupidly unfair the decisions are at Old Trafford I'm put some money on United getting a penalty and winning.

What does everyone else think?

I think the bit in bold is highly unlikely

[Craig_H]

I think we will beat Birmingham City.

[Tribute]

Yeah, IIRC that'll be his first game back. Think that's the main reason we didn't appeal against the ban as we'll need our best possible squad for the United game and if the appeal was lost he'd be banned for that game too.

I agree with majority here that we'll get at least 4 points: Win; Draw; Lose.

I hope (and believe) we'll destroy West Brom as we're especially resting Torres & Jovanovic tonight so they can play then. Would be nice to see Jovanovic get his first goal for us.

As for Birmingham I'm not too confident about beating them away as IIRC they only lost 2 home games last season and both of those they only lost by 1 goal so that's why I see it as a draw.

As for Man Utd I predict a loss but don't fear them that much...we've beat them the last 3 out of 4 games AND IIRC they've had 3 penalties against us over those 4 games (not surprising given who they are). Without being bias the game in March should have been a draw - Mascherano's apparent 'foul' was CLEARLY outside the box, Valencia was just a diving c***. In summary I think we could get a point/win IF we have Torres back to at least 80% of his best AND there isn't a c*** of a referee such as Dowd or Webb. Although given how stupidly unfair the decisions are at Old Trafford I'm put some money on United getting a penalty and winning.

What does everyone else think?

I think we'll win comfortably tonight, those players getting their chance will show Roy they're up for it. We'll beat West Brom and sneak a close away win at Birmingham.

United will be the acid test and unless we've got some a 3-win streak of confidence going into that game, I think we'll crumble if we go a goal behind.
Any draws between now and the United game and I don't think we'll win.

[fowler9]

we will get 6 points from the next 9 and will finish in the top 4. FACT