Premiership 2016/2017

[yuppie]

So is today the day that Costa finally gets sent off? Got to finally happen judging by the first 3 games.

[The Professor]

When are managers going to realise that 3-5-2 rarely works?

[st_brendy]

When are managers going to realise that 3-5-2 rarely works?

Well it worked a darn sight better for us last season (when we played it) than the bleeding 4-1-2-1-2 diamond is working for us this season! I would long to go back to 3-5-2. (Not that it is perfect, mind. I'd much rather play our usual 4-2-3-1).

If Puel doesn't change, he isn't lasting the season.

[yuppie]

So should Costa have been booked for diving? And if so, he should then have been of for the 3rd tie this year.

[yuppie]

When are managers going to realise that 3-5-2 rarely works?

Well it worked a darn sight better for us last season (when we played it) than the bleeding 4-1-2-1-2 diamond is working for us this season! I would long to go back to 3-5-2. (Not that it is perfect, mind. I'd much rather play our usual 4-2-3-1).

If Puel doesn't change, he isn't lasting the season.

Bendy are you worried all those sales over the last 3 years might have finally caught up with the Saints. Possible relegation battle coming up?

[st_brendy]

When are managers going to realise that 3-5-2 rarely works?

Well it worked a darn sight better for us last season (when we played it) than the bleeding 4-1-2-1-2 diamond is working for us this season! I would long to go back to 3-5-2. (Not that it is perfect, mind. I'd much rather play our usual 4-2-3-1).

If Puel doesn't change, he isn't lasting the season.

Bendy are you worried all those sales over the last 3 years might have finally caught up with the Saints. Possible relegation battle coming up?

I'd be amazed if we were in a relegation battle. With all due respect, there are some poor sides in the league. But I'd also be amazed if we finished in the top 8 for the fourth consecutive year.

This was probably the first transfer window which has left us in a weaker position than when we went into it. We didn't sign a replacement for Wanyama or Pelle. Our replacement for Mane is injured - and even once he is fit, you just need to look at Mane's performances for Liverpool so far this season to see the shoes Boufal is having to fill.

But more than all of that, Hojberg and Redmond are the only players who we have added to the squad. When you look around and see Palace signing Benteke, Remy and Townsend; Everton signing Bolasie, Williams and Gueye; Stoke signing Allen, Bony and Martins Indi; etc etc. Our competitors have strengthened, we have not - well, not as much as they have anyway. That also made it a bad transfer window.

And on top of the window, we have a manager who is trying to instil his own style on us. The problem with that though is that he isn't coming in trying to fix a broken team - which is what most new managers find themselves having to do, whether a big team or a small team. So far we wasted home games against Watford and Sunderland trying to adjust to his diamond formation (which, almost bizarrely, includes both strikers tracking back as wingers when we're without the ball - who in their right mind thinks that Charlie Austin is a RM, with the energy to get up and down the pitch?!), when we can all see that we have the players out there to play the usual 4-2-3-1. That's what Koeman got right when he came in. He binned his preferred 3-5-2 when he took over (except for when we were struggling last season, and needed to change things), in favour of keeping Pochettino's 4-2-3-1. Koeman could see that he wasn't trying to fix something. Puel, it would appear, cannot see that. (And even if there was something to fix, his lack of knowledge of the English game is seemingly letting him down in thinking that one DM is sufficient. Regardless of formations, almost every side plays two DMs at the top level. You need to give your defence that protective cover - especially if you're fullbacks our adventurous).

[yuppie]

Cheers for the great reply Bendy

[andy]

4-2 defeat to watford WTF!!! Disgusted isn't the word!!

[budgetmeansbudget]

The pitch at the new West Ham ground looks strange due to the old Athletics track being covered by turf all the way round.

The camera position at Anfield is much higher in the new stand. Don't like it, the players are too small!

[Gingerfinch]

The pitch at the new West Ham ground looks strange due to the old Athletics track being covered by turf all the way round.

The camera position at Anfield is much higher in the new stand. Don't like it, the players are too small!

I didn't like it. Very similar to white hart lane.

[budgetmeansbudget]

The pitch at the new West Ham ground looks strange due to the old Athletics track being covered by turf all the way round.

The camera position at Anfield is much higher in the new stand. Don't like it, the players are too small!

I didn't like it. Very similar to white hart lane.

Spot on, same at White Hart Lane.

It's the opposite at Dean Court, all one tiered stands, the camera position is too low.

Need a happy medium!

[yuppie]

Sunderland vs Everton tonight. Koeman seems to have had a good start to his Everton career, whilst Sunderland under Moyes have started the season as they always seem to start it.

Wonder how the Everton fans will receive Moyes this time. When at United they did not give him the best reception.

[Aidan11]

New manager, same old Sunderland.

[budgetmeansbudget]

New manager, same old Sunderland.

Think they would have been better off with Allardyce. Not sure Moyes is the kind of manager to thrive in a relegation battle.

Besides he still spends most of his time reminiscing about the good old days with Everton!

[yuppie]

Sunderland seemed to be much better organised at the back last night, until Everton scored. Then they became a shambles.

34 more games to go to get 39 points......

Everton though seem much better. Good start to the season for them, but playing Spurs, West Brom, Stoke and Sunderland is maybe not the hardest start to the season.