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* Official Pre-Season Games Thread *

Of course we are also using it to introducing a new system but for me, I don't see how playing professional footballers in a different system could look so drastic in performance and results, they still know their jobs. It's clearly the fact we are missing ingredients to our cake.

I agree we are missing ingredients is vital point, but on the system point I completely disagree. One it is open to question how quickly a new system can be effectively understood and applied (especially against opponents with more embedded systems of play) and also wonder just how flexible AVB will be if he doesnt get the players necessary to realise his vision. Besides which surely the chelsea experience highlighted just how difficult introducing a new system can be?
 
I agree we are missing ingredients is vital point, but on the system point I completely disagree. One it is open to question how quickly a new system can be effectively understood and applied (especially against opponents with more embedded systems of play) and also wonder just how flexible AVB will be if he doesnt get the players necessary to realise his vision. Besides which surely the chelsea experience highlighted just how difficult introducing a new system can be?

True regarding Chelsea and how difficult introducing a new system can be but some would argue that with the younger players here and the more capable and suited players, this club is perfect for AVB
 
How are we supposed to get £30m worth of business done with literally a second to go? We still spent the money regardless of when I was. What I said about Modric is right, we sell for £40m, we'll probably bring in £40m worth of talent, if we don't have the money, how can you expect us to spend?
Ok I fair enough if it goes to midnight deadline day he goes for 40 and we have no replacement but should have sold for 30 and had some sort of replacement that's the scenario at the mo .
 
True regarding Chelsea and how difficult introducing a new system can be but some would argue that with the younger players here and the more capable and suited players, this club is perfect for AVB

we're not the perfect club for him if we lump him with a starting central midfield pairing of jenas and livermore, jesus wept.

we need to get the f*cking cheque book out and give the guy a chance to succeed, because so far: verts was going to be signed regardless of who was managing our team (redknapp/levy signing) and i get the feeling gylfi is in the same category.

so at this point in time, AVB has made not one signing that HE would like for HIS system.
 
Ok I fair enough if it goes to midnight deadline day he goes for 40 and we have no replacement but should have sold for 30 and had some sort of replacement that's the scenario at the mo .

Personally I think Levy will of thought about that and perhaps will have a deal ready on deadline day, if Modric goes we push paper work through for his replacement at the same time, if he stays, we just don't sign the guy.
 
we're not the perfect club for him if we lump him with a starting central midfield pairing of jenas and livermore, jesus wept.

we need to get the f*cking cheque book out and give the guy a chance to succeed, because so far: verts was going to be signed regardless of who was managing our team (redknapp/levy signing) and i get the feeling gylfi is in the same category.

so at this point in time, AVB has made not one signing that HE would like for HIS system.

Well, no one thought of Jenas and Livermore at the time, we thought we'd be getting Modric, Sandro, Parker, Huddlestone who all suit his style of play most certainly. It's a shame it's actually come down to having Jenas and Livermore in the starting eleven but there ya go!
 
True regarding Chelsea and how difficult introducing a new system can be but some would argue that with the younger players here and the more capable and suited players, this club is perfect for AVB

And I agree that it should be less difficult. But any organization, however professional, will find it difficult to adapt to new systems. This issue may be particulalry acute in the EPL for various reasons. Of course it will depend on how good AVB is at communicating and how much backing Levy finally gives him in the remainder of the transfer window.
 
Personally I think Levy will of thought about that and perhaps will have a deal ready on deadline day, if Modric goes we push paper work through for his replacement at the same time, if he stays, we just don't sign the guy.
Let's hope so but it's worrying
 
True regarding Chelsea and how difficult introducing a new system can be but some would argue that with the younger players here and the more capable and suited players, this club is perfect for AVB

Your positivity is what we need .. You are without doubt totally spot on ... I'm gonna finish my bottle now , thanks Doc
 
Add to the sense of doom (lol) I really hope the Times are wrong when they say we have offered one of Gio, Gomes or Gallas for Cesar. That should have us all worried if true!
 
Maybe AVB got lucky at Porto; maybe he is a tactical genius. I don't know. I do know if he insists on playing a high line with slowish CBs we will not only get badly exposed by the better teams, but also by the long ball over the top hoofing teams too.

Right now we look short of players right through the spine of the team, as another poster pointed out. Even if AVB is a decent manager, and while he may talk a good project I'm not sure he has the skills to deliver, he definitely isn't an alchemist - and there's no way he can turn the likes of Jenas, Defoe, Kane or Livermore into the type of players he needs for his system. Without players of the right quality and type coming in we will struggle.

Even with two strikers coming in and a replacement for Modric, the defence still worries me. (And what's with not playing Hudd???)
 
Maybe AVB got lucky at Porto; maybe he is a tactical genius. I don't know. I do know if he insists on playing a high line with slowish CBs we will not only get badly exposed by the better teams, but also by the long ball over the top hoofing teams too.

Right now we look short of players right through the spine of the team, as another poster pointed out. Even if AVB is a decent manager, and while he may talk a good project I'm not sure he has the skills to deliver, he definitely isn't an alchemist - and there's no way he can turn the likes of Jenas, Defoe, Kane or Livermore into the type of players he needs for his system. Without players of the right quality and type coming in we will struggle.

Even with two strikers coming in and a replacement for Modric, the defence still worries me. (And what's with not playing Hudd???)

Completely agree, sadly.
 
Maybe AVB got lucky at Porto; maybe he is a tactical genius. I don't know. I do know if he insists on playing a high line with slowish CBs we will not only get badly exposed by the better teams, but also by the long ball over the top hoofing teams too.

Right now we look short of players right through the spine of the team, as another poster pointed out. Even if AVB is a decent manager, and while he may talk a good project I'm not sure he has the skills to deliver, he definitely isn't an alchemist - and there's no way he can turn the likes of Jenas, Defoe, Kane or Livermore into the type of players he needs for his system. Without players of the right quality and type coming in we will struggle.

Even with two strikers coming in and a replacement for Modric, the defence still worries me. (And what's with not playing Hudd???)

Kaboul's got enough pace to cover at the back. Caulker looks like he could hold his own in a sprint as well.

Add to that Sandro haring back as essentially a third CB when not in possession and we actually look reasonably assured there.

The reason we aren't clicking into gear is because for the high line to work, you need a focal point at the front that can hold the ball up and pose a threat, both aerial and predatory, and a metronome in midfield that can play forward passes with a degree of both accuracy and control.

We haven't got either one; ergo, we look laborious and slow.
 
Maybe AVB got lucky at Porto; maybe he is a tactical genius. I don't know. I do know if he insists on playing a high line with slowish CBs we will not only get badly exposed by the better teams, but also by the long ball over the top hoofing teams too.

Right now we look short of players right through the spine of the team, as another poster pointed out. Even if AVB is a decent manager, and while he may talk a good project I'm not sure he has the skills to deliver, he definitely isn't an alchemist - and there's no way he can turn the likes of Jenas, Defoe, Kane or Livermore into the type of players he needs for his system. Without players of the right quality and type coming in we will struggle.

Even with two strikers coming in and a replacement for Modric, the defence still worries me. (And what's with not playing Hudd???)

I agree with you about the spine - I mentioned it earlier on. Our spine - where is it? Who is it really? Does it include Kaboul? is Parker included? Who is the striker? Will it be Friedel?

A solid spine is needed for any team to operate and with a few days to go till the start of the season I dont even think AVB knows what our spine is
 
The Paralympics has less venues, less events and less spectators. Policing the Olympic Games has been a massive undertaking, all Met Police leave has been cancelled to cover it, is it any surprise that they do not have the resources to cover friendlies too?

I think you will find that all leave has been canceled until after the ParaOlympics. I have a friend who has been moved to live in Barracks with a little break in between the two games.

So on the 1st September, there will be full stadium for the Athletics, full aquatic centre, full copper box as well as full velodrome.

And thats not even involving the outside of the Olympic park like Excel, Woolwich Barracks for the shooting and Archery, Weymouth for the saling, rowing at Eton Dorney and Equestrian at Greenwich.

There is just as many venues being used on the 1st September as there has been during the able bodied games. The only thing there isn't is there is no Olympic football, but I'll counter the two or three games of that, with a full programme of the English football league.

And there is home games on for West Ham, as well as Us.

It will be interesting to see what TV coverage is given of it though.
 
It's something that I guess we are expected to take on the chin as Londoners. In the same way that Joe Bloggs of Ealing has to expect that his daily commute might be crowded, the way that Jane Bloggs of Tooting knows that it will be harder for her mum to get a train down from Manchester this month.

Not saying it's right/fair/acceptable, just that it is another example of what "London" agreed to when they took on the games. But you're right, it must add up to a fair hit. At least we've got no outgoings on new strikers/keepers, eh?
 
agree with everything :
- avb is smart. he may have gotten lucky at porto but those results were beyond just luck
- a system-led team means you need to have a perfect mix
- clinical finisher, a dribbler, possession and constant goal-scoring threat and high line all needs to work together for (devastating effect)
- players - clearly we still don't have the right mix...square peg round holes
- AVB's first season, coupled with a very stingy transfer policy means that first season is going to be a transition

4th and no silverware. we'll do we if we don't regress.
 
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