Enda

It's shocking. The prawn sandwiches are far better in Old Trafford. I appreciate that. I was only messing. In all seriousness, I don't think you can be called negative/pessimistic if your predictions are accurate.

Sod right off, that's unfair. I don't only complain about the team. Sometimes I complain about the kit as well.

Well, after four matches, I wasn't too far off

Fair enough. I put you in the "let's ignore the negatives" camp. My mistake Or rather than trying to pigeon hole people for making a thread about one of the team's strengths and punctuating with a condescending smiley face you could use this thread to discuss our front 3 and the other thread to discuss the defensive issues. The OP mimicked my words and wrote that the other thread needed to be "counter acted" against. I thought he was pigeon holing. I have apologised to him. But my post in this thread was arguing for keeping an open mind, i.e. against pigeon holing. Good man for missing the point.

PS it's depressing that Paddy Power think Chelsea winning 4-0 is as likely as 0-0.

They'll score more than us. 3-1.

Fair enough. I put you in the "let's ignore the negatives" camp. My mistake

Ah yeah. Legitimate criticism of the defence should not only be overlooked, but counter acted against. How about we stop covering our eyes and talk realistically about both strengths and weaknesses?

This is a fair point. Things worked out for us yesterday. But did you not also get the feeling we were going to concede before the second goal? There were three examples that I thought were fairly bad yesterday. 1. The shambles with Luna trying to usher it out of play. 2. There was one ball in the second half that flew over the head of Luna and Walcott picked it up. 3. I think it was a corner (again) where Clark got a block on a shot near Guzan's left post. Vlaar was standing right beside him. Arsenal had a free man near the penalty spot. Some people (not necessarily you, Biskitt) say it's wrong to criticise defending when we won, or that a clean sheet means we defended well. Both of these claims are bonkers.

1. Our defensive positioning was still a bit shaky in that first half. Luna in particular. I'm a bit nervous about the Chelsea match. 2. I'm fecking delighted my prediction of losing the first three matches was completely wrong. Elated with that win. Long may my crap predictions continue.

He looked so surprised to find himself one on one with the keeper. What a legend. (Was still a bit crap defensively, but all is forgiven!)

Julie B, lol.

Cardiff at home on November 9th would be a good bet. Or Palace the day after Christmas? Never brought a lady to VP, but I'd suggest you go to Trinity or Witton instead of Holte or North. More polite crowd, and less likely to complain about not being able to see the match.

Nice coincidence; also listening to this at the moment.

I agree with you to an extent so no disrespect when I say I think you're missing my point. I'm not suggesting we go the 4-5-1 hoofball way at all. Nothing like that. I'm loving the way we're passing the ball around and moving it. I'm talking about much more basic stuff than that. Simple things like whether you're 1 yard or 4 yards away from your man when a cross comes in. This has nothing to do with the way we play, and nothing to do with avoiding injuries in pre-season etc etc. It's basic, bread and butter stuff. Let me give you an example. For one corner today, we set up the usual zonal marking system, and they had a man (can't remember which player it was, so let's call him Mr 1) reasonably free around the penalty spot. Someone got a head on it and the ball floated harmlessly enough (you know the sort of ball that loops up) towards Mr 1. Three (maybe four) of our players went to challenge for the dropping ball. That's fair enough. But when KEA went to challenge for that ball, he left a man (Mr 2) gaping wide open about eight yards from goal. Had the ball ended up near Mr 2, it was in the back of the net no question. Now as happens nine times out of ten, somebody got a clearance on it and nothing happened, and nobody passes any remarks on the defending. But that's the sort of thing that, over the course of a season, kills you. It was plain to see last year as well. Last season's defence was the worst in recent memory. We've made changes but I'm unconvinced. I'm really hoping Okore adjusts quickly to the pace of the league and does a Benteke for us, but we can't blame the man if he takes a few months to adjust.

I counted at least four times in the second half against Malaga where they had a player in space in the box. A quick pass or even an unfortunate ricochet would have seen them with the ball, in the box, unmarked. Four times! I really like Tony Moon, but I don't think his positional awareness is much better than Joe Bennett's. He's been left standing against opposition of the quality of Shamrock Rovers and Walsall. I fear Arsenal and Chelsea are going to tear him to shreds. I'd love nothing more than to come on here and eat my words on September 1st, but I think we'll be bottom of the table with no points after the first three matches of the season. (Miserable old sod, eh?) It's been a very good transfer window for us, but I wouldn't get your hopes up too much. Defensively, we're shit. It's going to be a bumpy ride this season again.

What about Burke? As much potential as Drennan? (It's hard to follow the youth setup closely when you live in the US.)

Con is to football analysis as HIV is to public health.

Didn't this happen last year as well? Honestly, we should all be refunded. This is pathetic.

Yeah, maybe Jack meant his was the best coverage on AVTV. Fair enough.

"The best coverage, of course, on AVTV." Except there is no coverage.

What about Bosko Taliban? Signed for 6m. Adjust for inflation and that's 8-9m now.

How "free"? Surely you have to be some sort of subscriber?

Robert Solow, a famous Nobel Prize-winning economist was once asked why he wouldn't publicly debate with some of his critics. Solow replied Spurs fans: it doesn't matter if you think he's only worth 15m. Your technical discussions based on the first twenty minutes of some match do not matter. All the excuses in the world do not matter. Christian Benteke is contracted to our club and we value him at 25m. Have you got that?

Yeah real sense - How longs Darren Bent been on 100k a week? A rookie Belgian? The same rookie Belgian that kept us up last season? Change Bent's 100k to the actual 60k and the substantive point still stands. Let's not forget who kept us up the season before.