Summer news for 23/24 season - kits/friendlies/fixtures

[Shukes]

3 minutes ago, Formby said:

 That line is a beauty and had me in fits - till I realised the waste of space will be starting against Fulham. 

That’s what scares me haha. 
Still hoping we get one more In the next two weeks. 
A young lad with something to prove would do for me. Gnonto is the dream.

[Bailey]

1 hour ago, Shukes said:

Guys, Maupay has had plenty of chances created for him during these friendlies. It’s his finishing that has been atrocious. 
Even the ball that Gana slid him yesterday, just hit his leg and went up in the air. 
 

To give a guy a chance to turn on the penalty spot is a GOOD chance! The friendly before he was slid in with the ball in front of him twice… and absolutely bodged it. 
 

We aren’t creative enough in any way. But we have created enough chances for him to have bagged a couple of goals easily. He is extremely poor at finishing.

I 100% believe if Danjuma would have been on the end of Maupays chances, he would have bagged a couple.

We don’t need just another carbon copy of Dom. We need a couple of players in the team that can just simply get a decent shot on target. 
 

Even yesterdays absolute stinker of a match created a couple of chances on the floor for Dobbin. They weren’t crosses into the box, they were chances on the floor in front of the forward ready for a shot on goal. You don’t have to he 6”+ to take those chances.

Maupay is on a par with Niasse and Cenk. Difference is he doesn't work as hard as those two did.

No-one is arguing that Maupay isn't a terrible finisher. Stevie Wonder can see that but in the two games I have seen properly, his presence on the pitch has led to more chances being created by the team.

I think you are being very kind to Gana and unkind to Maupay regarding that chance. Gana fired it at him from not much more than 5 yards away whilst he had his back to goal, with a defender nearby. If he takes a touch to turn, he is getting tackled. My memory also wasn't that it was on the ground either. Personally I think he should have moved the ball into Doucoure's path. I have no idea why a guy who can't score an easy chance thinks he will score a worldie. 

We don't need a carbon copy of Dom, but we need someone that suits the style of football we are playing. I wouldn't hang your hat on creating too many chances against Nyon, Wigan and Bolton to support your argument that we are creating enough for him to score into the new season. The only time we have really been able to advance the ball and look threatening in the last two games has involved Maupay dropping deep, and Dobbin running past him. There was very little to no semblance of attacking football before that yesterday. Just look at the chance you mentioned created by a wonderful ball from Onana. The reason there was enough space for that ball to Dobbin was because Maupay just drags the other centre half out of position. Not a lot but enough for the ball. 

I also think you are confusing the need for a back-up Dom between chances with getting us forward up the pitch as a team. It isn't about being 6ft plus, its about being able to compete for duels and stretching the defence. No-one else will compete for duels, but at least Dobbin, with someone like Maupay as a foil (sure Danjuma could do the same and be more prolific), creates a dynamic we don't have when we have a McNeil/Maupay or Danjuma/Iwobi front three. 

[Shukes]

Don’t agree at all.

Im capable enough to control that ball from Gana. That was a terrible touch.

The best creative football all pre season was before yesterdays match. We created much more chances in all of the other matches than yesterday.

Onana’s ball is played right in behind a defender. Not an easy ball on any regards. Had to be inch perfect, and it was.

Me and you do look at the game differently Bails. You are always going to look for the negatives, while I will always look for the positives. Is either way right or wrong? Probably a bit of both. 
 

I don’t confuse the need for a back up at all. I just think we need a different option. Dom isn’t a player that can break a defence with a trick or a mazy run. I want an option to do that. If we come against a team that are dealing with Dom easy… then bringing Dom off and another Dom on is playing into the oppositions hands. Being able to bring Dom off and put on a different style is changing a plan that isn’t working.

I just think you and Palf aren’t giving Dyche enough credit if I’m honest. I actually think he is having a say in our targets and wants to find different ways to play. I dont think he is this one dimensional manager he is being made out to be.

But you know what… time will be the judge here.

[Palfy]

2 minutes ago, Bailey said:

No-one is arguing that Maupay isn't a terrible finisher. Stevie Wonder can see that but in the two games I have seen properly, his presence on the pitch has led to more chances being created by the team.

I think you are being very kind to Gana and unkind to Maupay regarding that chance. Gana fired it at him from not much more than 5 yards away whilst he had his back to goal, with a defender nearby. If he takes a touch to turn, he is getting tackled. My memory also wasn't that it was on the ground either. Personally I think he should have moved the ball into Doucoure's path. I have no idea why a guy who can't score an easy chance thinks he will score a worldie. 

We don't need a carbon copy of Dom, but we need someone that suits the style of football we are playing. I wouldn't hang your hat on creating too many chances against Nyon, Wigan and Bolton to support your argument that we are creating enough for him to score into the new season. The only time we have really been able to advance the ball and look threatening in the last two games has involved Maupay dropping deep, and Dobbin running past him. There was very little to no semblance of attacking football before that yesterday. Just look at the chance you mentioned created by a wonderful ball from Onana. The reason there was enough space for that ball to Dobbin was because Maupay just drags the other centre half out of position. Not a lot but enough for the ball. 

I also think you are confusing the need for a back-up Dom between chances with getting us forward up the pitch as a team. It isn't about being 6ft plus, its about being able to compete for duels and stretching the defence. No-one else will compete for duels, but at least Dobbin, with someone like Maupay as a foil (sure Danjuma could do the same and be more prolific), creates a dynamic we don't have when we have a McNeil/Maupay or Danjuma/Iwobi front three. 

And also what we have to take into consideration is the standard of team we are playing, so I expect us to be creating chances and playing more on the front foot in areas of the pitch in the last third, when we play in the league we are going to potentially be pushed back more in our own half which was the case last season, so the need for a focal player like DCL going to be required because we will see a lot more long balls that needs someone to dual for in the air or chase down in the channels. Yes we will play closer control football from defence to attack and I’m sure Danjuma will be a real plus when we go through the gears in that way, but if DCL is injured who do we to play the long ball to when we have no other option than to play it, and who do we have who can attack the ball in the air when crosses are pumped in from our wingers, and both of these scenarios will be happening on a regular basis during games. 

[Harv]

As a kid did you ever  play the card game Donkey .Only one 

Donkey card in the pack. Whoever is left holding Donkey loses of course.

Just how many Donkey cards are we holding.

I base this on the underwhelming performance yesterday. I am not against the manager. He clearly lacks the tools at the moment. I just don’t want another season where you look at the team sheet and ask yourself where are the goals going to come from.

[Bailey]

5 minutes ago, Shukes said:

Don’t agree at all.

Im capable enough to control that ball from Gana. That was a terrible touch.

The best creative football all pre season was before yesterdays match. We created much more chances in all of the other matches than yesterday.

Onana’s ball is played right in behind a defender. Not an easy ball on any regards. Had to be inch perfect, and it was.

Me and you do look at the game differently Bails. You are always going to look for the negatives, while I will always look for the positives. Is either way right or wrong? Probably a bit of both. 
 

I don’t confuse the need for a back up at all. I just think we need a different option. Dom isn’t a player that can break a defence with a trick or a mazy run. I want an option to do that. If we come against a team that are dealing with Dom easy… then bringing Dom off and another Dom on is playing into the oppositions hands. Being able to bring Dom off and put on a different style is changing a plan that isn’t working.

I just think you and Palf aren’t giving Dyche enough credit if I’m honest. I actually think he is having a say in our targets and wants to find different ways to play. I dont think he is this one dimensional manager he is being made out to be.

But you know what… time will be the judge here.

Agree to disagree about the Gana ball but it certainly wasn't as easy as you make it out to be. I'm not disputing the quality of the Onana ball, it was a great ball, I am just looking at how it became possible. It took three people, the movement of Maupay, the run of Dobbin and the ball from Onana, supporting my earlier point about how the former two worked quite well together. 

We created more chances in the earlier matches because they were against worse teams! Bolton, were also very open which is exactly why I said it would be very different against Stoke, which it was!

I don't really know where positivity/negativity sits in these posts, but I think the best way of us not being in the same position next year is to have someone up front that plays to the way Dyche wants us to play. If Dom could stay fit, I would agree with you about the next type of player we need, but that has to be a massive doubt. That is where me and Palfy sit (I think, never know with him! :P) 

And FWIW I have no issues with Dyche, I just think he is doing what he needs to do with this bunch of players. I don't agree with Palfy there. 

[Bailey]

10 minutes ago, Palfy said:

And also what we have to take into consideration is the standard of team we are playing, so I expect us to be creating chances and playing more on the front foot in areas of the pitch in the last third, when we play in the league we are going to potentially be pushed back more in our own half which was the case last season, so the need for a focal player like DCL going to be required because we will see a lot more long balls that needs someone to dual for in the air or chase down in the channels. Yes we will play closer control football from defence to attack and I’m sure Danjuma will be a real plus when we go through the gears in that way, but if DCL is injured who do we to play the long ball to when we have no other option than to play it, and who do we have who can attack the ball in the air when crosses are pumped in from our wingers, and both of these scenarios will be happening on a regular basis during games. 

This is exactly my concern. 

The biggest difference between Maupay and Dom last season wasn't finishing. It was getting the team from our own 18 yard box up the pitch. We know from Dyche's own words that he expects a lot from his wingers defensively so if we are up against a team that can pin us back, which there are more and more technically excellent sides these days, then how do we release that pressure and put the other side on the back foot and create doubt as to how often and openly they can come forward.

The obvious example is the Brighton game. Dom was fantastic in that game and he was a real spearhead for our attack. He battled heard, won lots of duels and he scared the Brighton defence that was pressing high with his ability to run in behind and win the ball with his strength. When Gray played up front he had some joy because of his pace and ability on the ball. If the ball was decent and he got there first, he could do something with it, at least win a foul. When he was crowded out or the ball wasn't good enough for him, which lets face it is more common than not, he struggled. 

I am not sure whether Danjuma has actually been bought to play up top or from a wide position. I imagine it is predominately the latter but to be a better back-up than what we have, or maybe to provide a different option. From what I have seen, he looks best playing from the left and cutting inside (i.e. McNeil). He looks really good on the counter attack in space and he will definitely offer a threat in behind. I am not sure how many duels he is going to win where the ball isn't perfectly into feet. He certainly didn't show a lot of ability with his back to goal in that half against Stoke but it is clearly very early days and I won't hold that half against him! I would liken him to Demarai Gray, just with a more reliable end product.

[Shukes]

I think you’re actually supportive by my argument to be fair. You are right about the Onana ball, it was good football not just from Onana, but from the other players. Possibly support big my point that Dyche isn’t just a long ball coach. 
 

I’ve watched the Gana ball a few times, and to be fair… I was a pretty decent players and still can play a bit. So it may just look simpler to me as I honestly think it’s the type of ball a forward should thrive off.

End of the day we will see how Dyche wants to play, by the players that we are trying to buy. If he goes for a target man like Dom then he wants to concentrate on that style. If he goes for players who play a different style…. Then he is trying the options style. 
 

The club will dictate it, not us. 
 

I do agree with Matt though, friendlies are glorified training sessions. Always have been and always will.

[Fosse Captain]

Pre season is about getting sharp, matchday helps, but for sure it's a training session mentality.

Personally I thought we were (overall) solid at the back yesterday, which last seasons stats also prove.
We just offer zero attacking threat, and we all know that.
Danjuma looked like he'd only trained for a day, so cant be faulted. Dobbin was ok in flashes. 
Biggest downsides were Keane, Maupay and Iwobi for me.

New season, its all a bit 'meh'. We will play deep and be hard to break down. But the flip side is we have no outlet and will get the feeling you can only defend for your lives for so much in a game.
Wins will be by a single goal. 
 

Somehow score 10 more goals a season and that will pull us into the mid table abyss of mediocrity as will be worth another 9-12 points. 

Excited?? No

But not doom and gloom ......... yet 

  

[Palfy]

24 minutes ago, Bailey said:

And FWIW I have no issues with Dyche, I just think he is doing what he needs to do with this bunch of players. I don't agree with Palfy there. 

I have no issues with Dyche per say but I don’t see the change of tactics or the way we play being changed, what I’ve seen so far is the same as we played last season, which is great if we have DCL is fit for the majority of games, and I have no doubt he has targeted players to cover the DCL role if the worst is to happen. My concern being players that they’ve targeted aren’t interested in coming here and why Dyche can’t convince them and their agents we are a good place to come to especially with the new stadium around the corner giving us a better financial clout and a better profile. If there is a chance that these players see the way we play and aren’t convinced with Dyche’s vision how do things improve if we can’t convince the players we need to sign up to Dyche’s vision, personally I see that as valid argument and one that might be easier to change if it comes to that. 

[Bailey]

1 hour ago, Shukes said:

I think you’re actually supportive by my argument to be fair. You are right about the Onana ball, it was good football not just from Onana, but from the other players. Possibly support big my point that Dyche isn’t just a long ball coach. 
 

I’ve watched the Gana ball a few times, and to be fair… I was a pretty decent players and still can play a bit. So it may just look simpler to me as I honestly think it’s the type of ball a forward should thrive off.

End of the day we will see how Dyche wants to play, by the players that we are trying to buy. If he goes for a target man like Dom then he wants to concentrate on that style. If he goes for players who play a different style…. Then he is trying the options style. 
 

The club will dictate it, not us. 
 

I do agree with Matt though, friendlies are glorified training sessions. Always have been and always will.

I agree in that I don't think Dyche is a long ball coach either but we also aren't going to play out from the back under pressure because we don't have the quality to do it. The ball has to go forward one way and I think we have seen enough last season to expect that it will go forward quite directly and whoever that forward is, will have to do a fair amount of chasing. If that forward doesn't fit that profile, the ball will come back more often, we will be under more defensive pressure and we will lose more games. 

If you have access to the Gana/Maupay clip can you send it to me or let me know where it is and I will have another look as I am only going off the impression I got during the game. 

[Bailey]

1 hour ago, Fosse Captain said:

Pre season is about getting sharp, matchday helps, but for sure it's a training session mentality.

Personally I thought we were (overall) solid at the back yesterday, which last seasons stats also prove.
We just offer zero attacking threat, and we all know that.
Danjuma looked like he'd only trained for a day, so cant be faulted. Dobbin was ok in flashes. 
Biggest downsides were Keane, Maupay and Iwobi for me.

New season, its all a bit 'meh'. We will play deep and be hard to break down. But the flip side is we have no outlet and will get the feeling you can only defend for your lives for so much in a game.
Wins will be by a single goal. 
 

Somehow score 10 more goals a season and that will pull us into the mid table abyss of mediocrity as will be worth another 9-12 points. 

Excited?? No

But not doom and gloom ......... yet 

  

Just to add a little context to this using xG and xGA

Under Lampard we were the 17th worst attack and 2nd worst defence over that time period.

Under Dyche we were the 7th best attack (!?) and the 4th worst defence over his time period. Despite playing 2 games less in his spell, Dyche out "chanced" Lampard by over 8 xG. In terms of chances, we created more than Villa over that same time period, however they outperformed that metric by taking their chances, whilst we had Maupay. 

Whilst our defensive play improved, I am still concerned by it and what I have seen from Tarkowski in particular so far is very worrying. I really hope it is just the hard sessions taking their toll on him and nothing more.

[Bailey]

1 hour ago, Palfy said:

I have no issues with Dyche per say but I don’t see the change of tactics or the way we play being changed, what I’ve seen so far is the same as we played last season, which is great if we have DCL is fit for the majority of games, and I have no doubt he has targeted players to cover the DCL role if the worst is to happen. My concern being players that they’ve targeted aren’t interested in coming here and why Dyche can’t convince them and their agents we are a good place to come to especially with the new stadium around the corner giving us a better financial clout and a better profile. If there is a chance that these players see the way we play and aren’t convinced with Dyche’s vision how do things improve if we can’t convince the players we need to sign up to Dyche’s vision, personally I see that as valid argument and one that might be easier to change if it comes to that. 

I think there are a lot of reasons why targeted players might not come here.

I personally don't think the stadium would be too much of a pull until we are actually in it and playing Premier League football inside it. 

It seems like we have finally regained some control of the purse strings so we aren't just paying silly money to players who don't warrant it. Secondly, we aren't an attractive proposition. We have had two season fighting relegation and there is the turmoil regarding the ownership/management of the club. Thirdly, there has to be a slight question mark over whether players in certain positions would benefit from being at a different club, for example wide players who maybe don't want to have to track back so much, or central strikers who can play in an attacking team such as the comparison with Atalanta vs Everton for El Bilal Toure. If that is the case though, we probably don't really want them after all. We don't need another Kean on our hands who thinks they are too good to do the donkey work.

I do also think it would be a little naive to not think that there is a bit of a stigma around Dyche's style of football which may put some players off but I would rather have a manager that knows how he wants certain players to play and gets them to be effective compared to someone like Lampard who could talk a good game, sign them up and not have a clue what to do when they arrived.

[Palfy]

23 minutes ago, Bailey said:

I think there are a lot of reasons why targeted players might not come here.

I personally don't think the stadium would be too much of a pull until we are actually in it and playing Premier League football inside it. 

It seems like we have finally regained some control of the purse strings so we aren't just paying silly money to players who don't warrant it. Secondly, we aren't an attractive proposition. We have had two season fighting relegation and there is the turmoil regarding the ownership/management of the club. Thirdly, there has to be a slight question mark over whether players in certain positions would benefit from being at a different club, for example wide players who maybe don't want to have to track back so much, or central strikers who can play in an attacking team such as the comparison with Atalanta vs Everton for El Bilal Toure. If that is the case though, we probably don't really want them after all. We don't need another Kean on our hands who thinks they are too good to do the donkey work.

I do also think it would be a little naive to not think that there is a bit of a stigma around Dyche's style of football which may put some players off but I would rather have a manager that knows how he wants certain players to play and gets them to be effective compared to someone like Lampard who could talk a good game, sign them up and not have a clue what to do when they arrived.

The admission from Dyche that they haven’t managed to get the players they targeted for the striker’s role I find hugely disturbing, now we are going to be looking at other players that weren’t in the frame a few days ago, so potentially that means we get a player or players that are not ideally suited and end up panicking once again because we know we can’t survive with what we have. 

[Gwlad]

1 hour ago, Palfy said:

The admission from Dyche that they haven’t managed to get the players they targeted for the striker’s role I find hugely disturbing, now we are going to be looking at other players that weren’t in the frame a few days ago, so potentially that means we get a player or players that are not ideally suited and end up panicking once again because we know we can’t survive with what we have. 

Exactly this. The quality of players we are rumoured to be looking at is diminishing by day as we get rejected. When will this nightmare end?

[Gwlad]

It is depressing to see the players that other clubs go after and end up signing. With us, the season ends and we are looking forward with a modicum of optimism only to have our hopes dashed. Should we expect any different after the past?

[Btay]

18 hours ago, Palfy said:

The admission from Dyche that they haven’t managed to get the players they targeted for the striker’s role I find hugely disturbing, now we are going to be looking at other players that weren’t in the frame a few days ago, so potentially that means we get a player or players that are not ideally suited and end up panicking once again because we know we can’t survive with what we have. 

Agree with this mate. Maupay rinse & repeat.

[Romey 1878]

 

[Palfy]

24 minutes ago, Romey 1878 said:

 

That doesn’t make for good reading, we are obviously behind where we should be. 

[Romey 1878]

1 hour ago, Palfy said:

That doesn’t make for good reading, we are obviously behind where we should be. 

Not at all, it's a common thing that clubs do.

It may even have been specifically arranged to get minutes for DCL.

[Romey 1878]

 

[StevO]

Maupay wasting this seasons goal in a bloody training game useless!!

[Bailey]

Maupay / Dobbin partnership off and running... watch out Fulham

[Cornish Steve]

I didn't realize that Monza are a Serie A team. Well done to Dobbin to score today. It would be nice to see the highlights to understand the context of his goal.

I understand the comment about wasting our pre-season by playing Maupay, but who else is there right now? It would be worse, in my mind, to play others out of position.

[Bailey]

https://news.italy24.press/sports/740833.html

Interesting account of the game!

[London Blue]

49 minutes ago, Bailey said:

https://news.italy24.press/sports/740833.html

Interesting account of the game!

DCL subbed in 1st minute?

[Shukes]

45 minutes ago, London Blue said:

DCL subbed in 1st minute?

Think by 1st they mean half time or first half end.

[Wiggytop]

16 hours ago, London Blue said:

DCL subbed in 1st minute?

He played full 45 mins.

[StevO]

Rumours of squad number changes;

Paterson 2

tarkowski 6

Dele 20

Thats enough for a good summer for me!

[Romey 1878]

20 minutes ago, StevO said:

Rumours of squad number changes;

Paterson 2

tarkowski 6

Dele 20

Thats enough for a good summer for me!

Oh fuck off, I’m waiting for the away shirt to arrive with Tarkowski 2 on the back!

It hasn’t dispatched yet so hopefully if he has changed they sort it .