I thought we were alright

And looked like a steady side missing three of the four strikers you're hoping will offer you some threat.

Challenge is gonna be getting them available, fit & hopefully firing. That front three did ok but it's nowhere near what's needed at this level & if we weren't so solid with Helik & Collins at back we'd have probably lost more than we have.

We look a decent lower mid table side with some young promising lads coming through. Something I'll take all day, every day.

 

It’s a little unfair and far too early to label us regarding where we’ll finish this season. Looking forward to seeing the Belgian lads and what they they can add to our attack. Hopefully the big lad can take some of the pressure off Woodrow and he can feed off him. I believe we’ve done ok so far, with plenty room for improvement. With talk of bringing a couple more in as well, I’m optimistic we can push on, definitely can’t see why their is the levels of negativity from some quarters. COYR

 

I’m convinced that our season will be determined by how good the Belgian lads are. If they mint, we’ll fly up the league. If we’ve bought the next Odejayi and Mostto, it’ll be a long hard season.

 

We will be fine this season.

We’ve a great keeper. Defence i’m not too worried about, be better when Mads comes back, Kitching will improve as season goes on.

Midfield - Palmer and Bensen are quality. Maybe need something a bit different, a ball winner in there.

Attack is obviously a huge issue. We don’t have physical strikers to play the long ball and the ones who do play lack the movement and intelligence to make the runs and get in behind. Obviously we need the Belgians to come good, Morris also a huge loss.

I’ve also been hugely disappointed by our set pieces. I know Adam Murray worked on these last season and he has not been replaced on the coaching staff as yet.

 

Assuming that the Belgians can make an impact and Morris gets fit I don't see why we shouldn't be aiming for the playoffs again especially if we can add a quality loan player in midfield.
Ex premiership sides apart I think we're more than a match for the rest of the division, if Schopp can recreate some belief and momentum we've got a cracking group of players that are still improving.

 

What I've seen is three home games. That we haven't done anywhere near enough to win any of the 3 games. Especially in the final third.. ether creating or finishing is nowhere near the standard needed on this league The Woodrow Odour Frezier looks tooweak..
Hope these Belgium lads are decent cos our season will proberbly depend on it.
Any team needs to win their home games to stay in this division... Too many draws end up being the death of yer.. better off winning one and losing one than two draws.
But early days.. I haven't a problem with the coach like some have, but need players in

 

The guy behind me yesterday said that Conway should do everything he can to bring back Mike Bahre.

 

Set pieces have been awful. Benson came with a reputation for being decent with them but has been a real let down so far. Hit the wall with every free kick and first man with almost every corner. If he doesn’t improve soon he needs taking off them for a while.
Benson does look a very good player in the making though, just want to point that out in case anyone thinks I’m writing him off…..

 

We weren't awful, but they should have buried us. If Hogan and Aneke weren't crap they'd have had at least 4.

 

I hope the issue with facing more physical teams is addressed with players coming in, or becoming available, because it’s a very physical lead.
Would prefer to see the centre backs go back to a safety first approach, which would avoid mistakes like yesterday, but that might undermine Schopp’s preferred style of play, where he wants us to keep possession until there’s a ball to put someone in behind.
But 6 off 5 is ok. If we can better that in the next 5 then things will be looking good. Think there’s some tough games coming up though.

 

I also didn't think we were anywhere near as bad as a lot of people are making out. Some good individual performances, but very clear the players are still getting used to the system. Plus it really is a squad game these days. The number of key players we had missing would be difficult for most sides in this division to deal with, without there being a noticeable drop in quality. I think we'll be a very different proposition once we have something resembling a full squad to choose from.

 

The blues fans I chatted to last night were all happy with the draw, although I don't know if they watched it. I was working at the same time as watching so missed a fair bit, but on balance I thought it was fair too.

 

I dont think we have looked in control of the majority of a game yet. Maybe QPR best we have done. So far this year we have draws from winning positions and a loss. That wont be enough to keep us away from the bottom end.

We desperately need strength to the squad. Availability of new signings and fitness of the first team squad will help.

i feel we need experience and new signings will help the squad and i hope it brings some experience. I use the word ‘hope’ as we arent even sure we will sign anyone.

finally the players in the first team need to learn fast. The decision making was poor for the majority of the game and some simple situations were made complicated. For example Bensons drag back, drag back to get out of trouble only to back heel it back into the pack, Styles attempted cross field pass from half way when the whole left flank was open.

i would expect them all to improve next few weeks and we will be alreight. If we dont then im not so sure.

 

This could be a big two weeks for Markus Schopp before our game at Bournemouth. Perhaps two or three players being available, with the possibility of one or two incoming transfers, giving him greater options for selection. There may well be an opportunity for him to tinker with the formation to one he's happier and more familiar with.
For me, we've had a start to this new season which is the epitome of the phrase 'steady away'. Certainly room for improvement, without the need to go overboard with criticism.
I, for one, am prepared to give Schopp time to alter the style to his way of thinking. But then again, I'm always prepared to give a new coach the time. I certainly don't demand patience from others for a new coach, then conveniently refuse to do so when it doesn't suit.
I was a huge fan of Valerien Ismael, but that doesn't mean I have to vent my frustration at Markus Schopp. The same should be the case in the opposite situation.

 

I chatted with a Brum fan on the way out of the ground. Seemed a lot more positive about Barnsley than many of our fans. He thought we might struggle with Val gone but reckoned we were doing well. Just reporting that for what it's worth.

 

Absolutely.

And to say we look a decent mid-table side is a positive compliment. It shows how far we’ve come - it’s progress.

 

Their coaching staff, a couple of their players who once played here and my counterparts in media, all of them told us after the game that we were the best team they've faced so far. I can't argue with that, even though Bournemouth beat them, as I haven't seen their previous four games. But I don't think we were anything special yesterday. A point seemed fair enough, but they had the better chances. They won 5-0 away last weekend, and won 1-0 at Sheff Utd in their other away game.

I appreciate it's a game of opinions. From what I've seen and weighted alongside my expectations, we've lost one of five games, could arguably have less/more points, it's been proper close in every game. And we've been unable to call upon a handful of players, particularly in the forward line who you'd imagine would make us better/stronger. Losing Morris up front equates to losing Helik at the back. We've not seen Mads yet either. Yet we've been in every game and have lost just one. With a new coach whose task was to replace one of the best coaches we've EVER had.

Room to grow/develop/improve.

The initial move for the goal yesterday was first rate. Collins playing short to Helik, got it back, played short to Sibbick, who then stepped out perfectly, played a lovely zipped ball 30 yards into Woodrow whose touch was exquisite as was Palmer's first time ball over the top for Frieser.

Looking forward to the extra options in the squad after the international break.

 

Yesterday's goal was not conceded because we play out from the back. It was an individual error whilst (not) performing a basic defensive task. Playing out from the back does not mean you allow looped balls to bounce in your own penalty box.