DionDublinsThirdLeg

All the Media hype around us is fuelling a lot of Huddersfield and Coventry fans into believing they 'Competed Well' with a Premier League side, when in reality, if you take Faes and KDH out of that side on Saturday, the rest of the 11 had a combined 22 League starts for us last season, that's nothing, just two games of appearances. That should really highlight just how much Maresca has been up against it in the early weeks. He's 4-5 players short of what he wants, which not only means he's not got the players for his system, but it also means we can't play Castagne/Daka/Souttar/Soumare etc, in fear of them getting injured and us being unable to move them out to bring others in. Combined with the fact he's lost his Captain, the one brought in to raise the standards and steady the ship, yet it's been a perfect start, 3 wins from 3, with a side devoid of confidence and experience. I'd go as far to guess that we've had more academy lads on the field against both Coventry and Huddersfield than they both had, again highlighting this myth about us being a 'Premier League' team. We're fielding multiple players who have never even played professionally at a level as high as this. We've dropped 0 points, whilst Southampton and Leeds who are also going through the same process have dropped 2 and 5 respectively. Whilst you've got Ipswich and Plymouth, both with stability and confidence from promotion, dropping just 2 between them, whereas Sheffield Wednesday with no stability and a new manager, have suffered the same fate as the relegated sides, but with far less quality. The concern for me right now is that promotion may be taken out of Maresca's hands, because of a lack of activity. I worry about Ricardo, not only in his suitability for the role, but whether he can stay fit across a season. I worry about the lack of cover for Winks, given he too is a player with injury struggles. Then there's Doyle, and a lack of an alternative there besides Kristiansen who hasn't featured and may be sacrificed if we can't move others on in less demand. Where are out wide players who excel 1v1? Our attacking number 8's? A better option to Vardy? The worries are not about the management of the team, or coaching, there's a visual improvement already. But they're going to be made a scapegoat for poor recruitment, the same way our top players like Barnes/Maddison/Soyuncu etc, were made scapegoats by fans because of poor management and coaching.

In terms of playing personnel no, but in terms of them not caring about any outgoings until their incomings are sorted then sure. In the same way I'd hope we would ensure we get our incomings done before we look at potential loans out for our own players.

Well Enzo has a much weaker squad than Rodgers had, whilst also clearly not having the players he wants, and is playing opposition in Coventry and Huddersfield who're better than our cup opponents last season, where performances were worse than this. My major worry right now is the lack of backing he is getting. He wants at least 4 new players, and has made it clear to the Club which players he's willing to get rid of to make that happen. There's no excuses to not get at least 2 of those players in before Cardiff. We've got Cardiff and Hull at home, with Rotherham away in between, an excellent opportunity to get 5 wins from 5 before two of our toughest games away at Southampton and Norwich. I don't want us to drop points in any of the next 3 because we lack the pace and creativity to score against those sides, that could be offered by new signings.

He was here for a lot longer than that. He was the biggest reason for 3+ years that we were scoring goals in the Premier League, either directly, or as a result of him being doubled up on every week. His first game showed exactly what a threat he can be 1v1, something he never had the opportunity to have here, because he's got Isak/Wilson/Guimares/Tonali/Joelinton/Almiron/Gordon who have the quality so that he gets more space. He's got a coach now who seemingly improves players, Eddie Howe got Almiron and Joelinton to turn from duds, to players having a huge impact in getting the top 4. As we saw in all their first games, Barnes and Maddison are the big players that were let down by a useless Tielemans for us. Obviously the manager destroyed us, but had he got rid of Tielemans he may have lasted longer in the job.

Something to take into consideration too, is that 7 of that starting 11 today, have never been regularly involved here (Vestergaard/Praet/Madivadua/Stolarczyk) or only arrived this summer (Doyle/Winks/Madvididi). So the players are not only adapting to a new manager and way of playing, but they're also adapting to each other.

Personally I think we'd look better with Pereira wide right and Ndidi playing the Hybrid role until we get a better option on the right. Hermansen Faes - Vestergaard - Doyle Ndidi - Winks KDH Ricardo - Casadei - Mavididi Iheanacho

When you consider the fact that he was no decent attacking threat on the outside of him, his performances have been no worse than KDH over the three games so far. For as important as KDH was against Cov, he was poor at Burton and average today. KDH had multiple times in the first half where he needed to pick a killer pass but couldn't. Ndidi is someone I'd rather have than lose, especially considering we still need to bring in at least 3/4 players, we can't be wasting time replacing players that can make an impact like Ndidi can.

Tactically we dominated the game, we were let down by individuals not having the end product in the final third. Thought Faes and Vestergaard were our best players and showed why Maresca is playing both. We need more composure from Doyle, gave the ball away too many times. Not sure Pereira works where he wants him, not good enough on the ball or physical enough, he was bullied at times. Then there's Praet who doesn't look fit enough, Madvidua with no end product, Iheanacho trying too much and KDH too lacking end product. Opposite problems from last few seasons. We're tactically strong now, but our individual quality is weak. Would've loved to see Maresca with Tielemans/Maddison/Soyuncu etc. We need to back him this week, with at least two in before Cardiff, or we could start dropping points that we shouldn't.

Why are you going to "Go for broke" when you're 2-0 up? Burton were 2-0 down, and they didn't commit to try and get back in the game. We were 2-0 up and decided to try and coast the rest of the game, which we did. You've also got to remember that we have a severe lack of attacking reinforcements, with regards to players who can progress the ball forwards, Daka and Vardy are not that type of player. We dominated the game against a league 1 side, whilst Leeds/Southampton/Cov were struggling and in some cases losing to even weaker sides. The reaction to how we played is as if it was the same level of performance as last season, where we needed penalties or fortune to get through against even weaker opposition. We've not dominated any side like that for a long long time. Honestly, it gets to the point where I'm not sure if those criticising actually watched the game. At least 3/4 times in the first half alone we tried direct passes which could've led to key chances. Madvidua played 2 or 3 poor passes when he could've easily put someone through 1v1, whereas Albrighton and Praet both lacked the pace and quality to turn their direct runs and passes into chances, when both should've been 1v1. In the first half alone we could've had 4/5 1v1 chances with the keeper had Madvidua's passing not been so poor, and had Praet and Albrighton had better control of the ball. All of Iheanacho/Praet/Albrighton/Ndidi made Vardyesque runs that our players tried to find, we were willing to go direct very often. It was impressive considering how little pace we had out there, and showed how the coaching has made so many of our least intelligent players (Albrighton being the best example) so much more aware.

The wages Rangers pay could cover the wages for a CB that Maresca is actually willing to use.

"It's only pre-season"...."It's only Burton"....It's only been a few weeks, and you can't deny the improvements to Wilf. Just look at the energy and pace he has got again. We saw it pre-season, and we saw it tonight, that burst of pace he has to retrieve the loose balls is back, but we're now also seeing it when making that 3rd man run behind the backline. Just go back and watch his ball out to the right hand side in the build up to the first goal, or his cross field pass to set up the chance in the first minute, or even the touch at the back post to bring the ball down and then pull back to almost set up a third. There's a clear technical improvement there, and I think a large part of it is his decision making too. Again he's another player who looks confident and fit. There are late runs from midfield that are Vardyesque, we've seen them all pre-season, and again tonight. If Ndidi was 20, an academy player who had just broke into the side this pre-season then we would be raving about him. For as good as KDH (This isn't a dig at him) was against Cov, he was useless tonight when he came on. His touch was poor, his passing was poor and his energy levels weren't there, Ndidi was superior in every aspect. We've got 45 more league games this season, and a fit and well coached Ndidi can have a very strong say on the success of our season. Ndidi shouldn't be judged under Maresca for how badly he was coached under Rodgers.

He's just took a midfield 3 of Winks/Choudhury/Ndidi and dominated the game with possession football whilst creating a good number of chances. How nice it is to have a proper set of coaches at the Club, who have a way of playing but also know how to coach in a way to implement that style. A change in system tonight, it's always fluid anyway, but there was clearly more of a double pivot rather than a inverted full back. Somehow in the space of a few weeks he has turned Ndidi into a goal threat and has somehow got Marc Albrighton to appear to understand what positioning means. A whole list of extra positives again tonight. Some things to work on though. Praet didn't look sharp/fit enough for me, it might be why Enzo played him as a false 9 at the end to get him pressing more. I don't think there can be too much criticism about the way we saw out the game. They never looked like scoring, and Enzo clearly wants a couple of wingers and at least another attacking midfielder. When you add Casadei, and hopefully two wingers, then the ability to chuck on two direct wingers will be huge over the coming season. It's not just the senior players where you see the greatest difference, it's McAteer and especially Madivadua tonight. Their end product isn't there, but they were actually involved in the game, compare that to last season and they looked completely lost. They were terrified of Madivadua all night, and you can see how the system allows wingers to get free 1v1 so often. It's rare for a relegated side to look so confident, but I feel as though it's because they themselves feel they're getting a very high standard of coaching now, compared to before. Those who can't see the obvious difference in each individual player looking so much fitter and technically sound, whilst also looking much more like a team, then I don't know how much more evidence you need.

People will not like it, but if it's a footballing decision, then Vardy should be moved on first, especially given the extra wages.

That's the job. Same with Busquets, Rodri, Xavi etc. For all of Tielemans ball striking, he couldn't control the game the same way Winks has been doing, largely because he couldn't get around the pitch.

On the negative side, Praet doesn't look fit enough compared to the rest.

Best player on the pitch that 1st half. Great attacking threat, great defensive coverage, picking up loose balls and winning 50/50s. I can't believe I keep having to say this - BRENDAN RODGERS ISN'T HERE ANYMORE. Stop acting like he is.

We've had complete domination for 49 of the 50 minutes, what more do you want? We've been direct when we can be, we could've had 3-4 more 1v1s with that extra final pass. Complete domination so far.

He looks so sharp, can't believe some want him gone.

Ndidi making some look very silly. We need to realise we actually have a Football coach now, he will improve players individually and us as a team.

I'm not talking about sentiment as a reason to keep Ndidi, that would be more of an argument for keeping Albrighton/Vardy. I think he can offer something, if fully fit. I think he's coachable, I'm not suggesting he's going to become Yaya Toure, but you only have to see what was done with Stones, who stagnated, and is now arguably the most important player in Man City's treble winning side last year. Plus according to Rodgers, Soyuncu stagnated here, and we visually saw Tielemans and Maddison do the same. Yet they've got moves to Clubs in better positions than us. In comes down to the simple fact that for £8 million, Ndidi offers us something I don't think we can replace for that price. There's rumours that Cov want at least £15 million for Hamer, that tells us that even selling Ndidi means suitable replacements are going to be costly. Even then, Hamer doesn't offer you the CB cover and number 6 cover that Ndidi does.

I actually want to watch us play, for about the first time in 3 years. I'm intrigued by who plays, where they play, how they play, who we sign etc etc. There's part of me that wants to not get ahead of ourselves, but at the same time believes if we get things right, we could be in a better position than we've ever been. We're looking like we understand how to get to where we want to be. Like when some of our fans mocked Brighton because they were getting plaudits but we were finishing higher....Our approach was never sustainable because of the way we coached, but now, it looks like we're on that same trajectory that they were. We have to get those two wingers and the other number 8 Maresca wants.

Even Maddison was worse than he should've been imo. It's only youtube clips, but this guy reminds me of Bernado Silva.

Have I been in a Coma? He's been here for one competitive game. For all we know he sees Souttar/Kristiansen/Justin/Daka as first team players who need coaching in order to understand their role more. Just look at Walker and Stones. Both have had periods even this season where Guardiola has took them out of the team until they understand what he wants from them.

As with all our signings under Rodgers, they looked great game one after no coaching, then lost their way. It's like Tete too, there's no doubt in my mind that Maresca wishes we had him here instead of the current options. I like him, he has enthusiasm and that suggests to me he is coachable. I have some doubts about whether he can play the Doyle role, but Maresca wants attacking reinforcements, we have to be realistic about what we can do given there's players we seem unable to shift. I'm going to assume most don't realise that Coady isn't actually a CB, but was converted to that position by Nuno. So there's no reason Victor and Justin can't be coached to play as a wide CB, especially in games against weaker sides at home, e.g. Rotherham/Sheff Wed etc. You can also play this system with the LB rather than the RB being inverted, like Arsenal do with Zinchenko. So Kristiansen may come inside at times....Or we could play a flat back 4 as we did after 2-1. Away from home we could see Winks/Coady/Ndidi sitting with KDH/Choudhury/Casadei etc. Options, we have options and we need them.

You say that, but Under would likely do a good job under a decent coach. His numbers aren't too far off Mavididi's in France. I think as fans we need to believe that we're back to the days of Pearson being here, rather than Rodgers, where players are actually going to be coached and improved.