Did Hughes make a big mistake?

[moomba]

The comments on here at times are remarkable. We've just signed half a new team for christ sake. They are going to need time to gel, we can't be expecting a solid TEAM performance for another few weeks yet.

Only three of our signings played last night, I think this gelling excuse is way overstated and a bit convenient.

The fact that it is the pre-season is a much better excuse, and it's why I'm not overly bothered that our form hasn't been great yet.

 

[Gelsons Dad]

who will play right wing when swp is out during the season? Do we really expect to see Kelvin again?

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

It's not really HUghes' fault. Terry lead us on and we put a lot of eggs in that basket only for him to bottle it when it came to the crunch. It's also proving hard to prize lescott away form everton and there aren't many defensive targets elft in the prem now

Maybe if we'd looked abroad we'd have got a couple of top quality defenders in by now?

 

[cibaman]

Isnt the way that it works that Hughes tells Cook & Marwood which players he wants and they agree the budget with the owners. Then Cook & Marwood try to sign those players, using Hughes to speak to them when the deal is nearing completion?

I dont think Hughes will have said "Sign me a midfielder and 3 attackers in June, then wait until August to sign 3 defenders"

 

[Fuzzmaster101]

Isnt the way that it works that Hughes tells Cook & Marwood which players he wants and they agree the budget with the owners. Then Cook & Marwood try to sign those players, using Hughes to speak to them when the deal is nearing completion?

I dont think Hughes will have said "Sign me a midfielder and 3 attackers in June, then wait until August to sign 3 defenders"

You'd think wouldn't you? Some people seem to think that Hughes does everything and Cook and Marwood are just here to look pretty (not one of their strengths I'd say). Like I've said I believe Terry and Lescott were plan A, when Terry didn't sign we very swiftly went for Plan B which was Toure. Plan A, Lescott, is still in the balance but as soon as that one has died (if it does) I'm fairly sure we'll move quickly for Plan B there too. Lets hope we don't have to resort to Plan C. Fingers crossed.

 

[kippax neil]

The comments on here at times are remarkable. We've just signed half a new team for christ sake. They are going to need time to gel, we can't be expecting a solid TEAM performance for another few weeks yet.

Only three of our signings played last night, I think this gelling excuse is way overstated and a bit convenient.

The fact that it is the pre-season is a much better excuse, and it's why I'm not overly bothered that our form hasn't been great yet.

Very true and pre-season wins don't get you 3 points of course. But pre-season is ideal for building up fitness and form. It's about building some momentum and winning matches and hitting Blackburn with a decent performance.

It doesn't matter who the opposition are or whether they're shit or not but getting used to winning matches does matter.

Also the fact that we've bought quality players who are experienced in the premier league means 'gelling/settling in' should be minimal.

 

[Bigga]

I hughes strengthened the defence 1st we would most probably have missed out on Tevez and Adebayor. It's catch 22. You have to get the players you need but if good players become available then you can't put them to the bottom of the queue until you get your defenders in

You make it sound like the club cannot multi-task!

One signing at a time, is it??

 

[mike o]

I feel the problem is more down to the formation and playing robinho on the left wing

Think this leaves our left back exposed and causes the defence to be at 6/7's

I think the personnel we've got are good enough and toure/onouha is a fantastic potential partnership.

Would love to see us add Lescott but think the problems more based around our formation!

 

[Deleted member 14625]

We did our offensive reinforcements first, but the defensive area, where time to gel and get to know the defensive partners is of utmost importance, we wait until last to do something with. And it clearly needs a big overhaul. I think two new central defenders (who are organizers, reads the game well and are great in the air), one right back, and some competition for Bridge is crucial. It is soon Blackburn and our defense would barely know eachother's names. What do you think?

Losing 18 games (only the bottom 5 and Bolton lost more games!) and conceding 50 goals (worst defence in the top 11!) strook me straight after the season finished that we needed to strengthen our defence immediately!

To be fair we did strengthen our defence in a way by signing good forward players! these players will not only keep the ball better and for longer so we wont have to defend as much but they will bring better work rate throughout the team for us to win the ball back if we do lose it! This will undoubtedly decrease the two stat's i mentioned at the beginning, even if we hadnt have signed any defenders at all this summer!

Okay yes, centre back pairings need to have an understanding and it would have been nice to get Toure and another in a few weeks ago to have a few games together, but understandings between players arent built up in a pre-season, they are built up in competitive games and that could still even take a few months, even a full season! As long as we get someone, hopefully Lescott, in by the time we play Blackburn that'll be the main thing!