23 Aug 2026 16:11:14
Opening-day losses are nothing new for us. We lost to Arsenal last season despite arguably being the better team, and in 22/23 we lost the first two to Brighton and Brentford but still finished third.
Not ideal, obviously, but it's about how the team reacts over the next few games. A few of the fancied teams haven't exactly had a great weekend either.
My biggest criticism is that the Baleba deal wasn't done sooner. I understand we were still looking at Anderson, Fernandes and Tchouaméni, but once those options were clearly out of reach we should have moved quickly and got Baleba wrapped up.
Baleba should be back after the international break, although he'll need time to get properly match fit, so I think the midfield could take a few months to settle. By Christmas I wouldn't be surprised if Mainoo and Baleba were the preferred pairing.
Going forward I'm not particularly worried. Sesko, Mbeumo, Cunha and Bruno should give us plenty, with options behind them. Licha should start the next game, and with Balde looking the most likely new left-back, it could look like a decent 11.
23 Aug 2026 16:31:56
Let's not kid ourselves, we can lose games. But it's the manner of how we lose.
How, in 2026, are Maguire and Shaw still our starting defenders? Maz seems to play well for Morocco and then is pants for us.
I thought any half decent team we play would beat us and score goals, but Hull are poor.
We are in trouble if that is the standard already.
23 Aug 2026 17:44:58
Maguire was our best defender last year and Shaw was pretty good as well.
23 Aug 2026 17:49:03
I'm hopeful just a very bad day at the office. That's all.
23 Aug 2026 19:18:21
Hmmm, well beaten by an average to poor Milan team and then losing again to another poor team. In both matches the lack of intensity worried me.
23 Aug 2026 19:55:24
Grim, Maguire was the defender that stayed fit most often last year. He most certainly was not our best defender. de Ligt was absolutely flying when he got injured. Possibly our best player at that stage. Martinez also starts at LCB for a very good reason. His distribution improves us immeasurably from the slow pace Maguire brings.
I admire Maguire's resolve, but I think it's important to evaluate him realistically. What he is is an option to have a dominant aerial presence if we're defending a lead, or one that we can put on to get a set piece goal if we're chasing. That should be his role.
23 Aug 2026 20:56:34
Grim, they looked better than they were last year because the standard that has been set for so long has been that of an average team.
Very lucky we had one game a week, but it shows when Bruno isn't at it, we have nothing.
Other than the two young kids, the rest of that defence needs changing.
We can't play unless it's on transition and countering, and it baffles me why.
You can lose games, but how we lose games is pathetic.