Mixed feelings here. It will be interesting to see exactly what he has learned from his spell at Rangers. Given that he appeared to learn nothing from his spell at Saints in the PL I suspect the answer is zilch.
On the other hand, most managers style of play is stubborn and inflexible. That’s not really the main issue. With a small number of exceptions, picking your formations and having a clear pattern of play is the road to success not failure. The issue is not using experience in the right positions when you have it available to you.
Not sure I agree with the suggestion that his style of play is not suited to L1. It’s pretty much a maybe marginally slower version of the Brian Barry-Murphy system which saw Cardiff City bounce back at the first attempt. The only difference I can think of there is that Cardiff started like a train with a bunch of kids but then slowly brought back some older heads and, amusingly, only then fumbled 1st place.
The more likely problem is that the exact same fans who never took to the patient style of Maresca are almost certainly not going to like similar from Martin but a division lower.
On a personal note my away trip to Leicester was 1 of my big faves last season so I’m disappointed to not have that option this.
Cardiff away on the opening day. Absolutely perfect. No doubt it’ll get moved for TV but we’ll be staying the weekend with Cardiff supporting friends either way.
Both West Ham v Millwall games areat 3pm on a Saturday. I think the Met might have something to say about that, especially since the Dildodrome is so difficult to police…
And, Kev, I see our two teams meet at your place on the final day of the season. I very much hope that my lot don’t need a result from that game to ensure Championship survival
I’m sure Sky et al will screw us over but I think the fixtures have been kind to those of us looking for the new.
Not been to West Ham since our FA Cup win, although dud plenty 0f visits when it was an Olympic stadium. Never done Wolves away. Might finally get to do Pompey away as all three fall on a Saturday. All look potentially doable without a hotel.
Lincoln and Bolton away (the latter very local) fall on the weekend too. The former is just a lovely away day.
Haven’t done Burnley since the 90s. It falls on a Tuesday night but should be doable. Hopefully won’t involve a single carriage Pacer from Salford Crescent this time around.
Probably won’t do as many away games as last season but it’s likely Norwich and Saints away will be significant games so those are on the agenda again. As my most accessible away games of the season just gone it will be interesting to see if the experience is replicated over more than 1 season.
In terms of expectations I think people expect us to be play offs given the expansion and given that this time all 13 of our 14 additions will have had a full preseason with us. Kabore having returned to Man City and not looking likely to return given his performances and their insistence on a silly price which is easily 5x his worth.
I think this will be a much tougher season and will be more than happy with halfway up the table.
Quick welcome to our new members whether coming down or rising up. You’re all welcome but this is a banter free zone and we’ve held pretty steady to that. If you want something different then hold your tongue until promoted. This isn’t a replica of the PL thread.
The earliest thread I can find on this was 21/22 started by @Bobthebuilder and 22/23 by @crispyduck. I have started it every year since then although that means nothing. My intention in starting it though was clearly laid out early on i.e.
“Okay, long work day but just wanted to emphasise that if you want to discuss the EPL or to indulge in the kind of so-called “banter” which is generally out of keeping with the rest of this forum and, in my view, creates considerable barriers to participation, then this is not the place for you."
It’s been pleasing to see people overwhelmingly adhere to that since then. I’m not the admin. here but clearly having a space to discuss where ad hom, offensive nicknames and so-called banter and ridicule isn’t the norm has its place.
In that spirit I’d like to repeat the welcome and in keeping with the intent towards inclusivity I have taken @TheKevster off Ignore and look forward to discussing West Ham’s possibly short stay in the Championship.
Still trying not to think too much about the new season yet but still very much of the opinion that, for us, anything less than a play off place will represent failure & be a disaster after all the promise shown since Christmas.
Not really expecting automatic promotion but it could be a possibility.
On the other hand, being Norwich things can always go badly wrong with little notice.
That said, I’m more optimistic going forward than I have felt for the past 4 years so it’s not all bad for a change!
I still drop in here regularly for a sensible read, the “love fest” between Arsenal/Spurs in the EPL thread makes it less appealing, as does the exhausting set of statistics regularly trotted out.
I just hope Norwich get promoted this time and put us all out of their misery!!
Well no idea to be honest. Lots of stories about what will have to be cut, who will need to be sold but who knows the truth of these things. Would have to be pretty bad to top just how awful Leicester became post the January window.
