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I have popped on to this board for the last two games against you and, in the main had a good friendly discussion, so here goes.
How are you feeling about your start to the season and you newish manager (he wasn’t in charge last time we played you).
Ainsworth and Sunderland have always had a bit of a love hate relationship, loved how he got results on a shoestring and his kind words about Sunderland, but hated his style of play and the thuggery he used At Wycombe.
For us the transfer window is being judged as a success, leaving us with an even younger team that last year, the average age of the starting eleven is about 22 years and one month. A lot of kids with massive talent and the home grown Chris Rigg only 16 and two goals already.
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Sunderland at home on 11:23 - Sep 11 with 9342 views
I'm much happier now that we have departed away from what was perceived to be Ainsworth's style of football. On the one hand I applaud his willingness to change it up, on the other hand I kinda judge him for not believing in what he was doing... the preseason was a waste of time.
I don't know if we are doing better because of him, or in spite of him?
I don't like our lack of squad depth, but again I'm all over the place, because I like that it will give our younger development squad a chance to come in and prove themselves... and not just bring in some other teams players to develop.
He has made some decent signings it seems - older, but the experience we needed I think for some of our younger team to flourish in the comfort that they have these wise old heads to help out. He seems to have got a squad full of players bought in to his style and vision, so that's something. A few injuries though, and we are in the poop.
If I don't look at him or listen to him, It gives me more hope.
We'll give you a good game, and hopefully come away with a win.
Apart from games against us, good luck for the season.
Edit: As Antti says above, it's definitely a lot more fun already. Win, lose or draw, if the effort is there, we're pretty much over the moon after last year.
[Post edited 11 Sep 2023 11:28]
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Sunderland at home on 11:41 - Sep 11 with 9258 views
Love Ainsworth for what he did in his previous spell a modern day legend. But his playing style is poor. He’s a good man honest hardworking which reflect in his teams but not a massive fan of his as a manger just hope he don’t spoil his legacy. Would hate to see him get barracked etc
Pleased with the start to the season. Preseason was used well. We established that the style of play GA is most associated with didn't work for us. Now with key aspects of that Ainsworth style ("emptying the tank", solid shape, much improved defensively on set pieces) applied to playing attractive pacey play we look on an upward curve
Transfer window a success. FFP rolling three year rule means this year is an especially tight one for us and we can losen the purse strings next year as a big loss year rolls out. But even faced with that. Every signing we have made is an improvement on who left. Squad depth a worry. But we made some very good signings and kept our best players despite the predictions of majority of our fan base who thought we would need to let go of anything "not tied down"
in Armstrong, Koli and Larkeche we also have some promising prospects of our own. With very solid senior pros like Cook, Begovic and Sunderland's (not so well liked) Colback to add much needed stability to what has been a fragile team
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Sunderland at home on 13:16 - Sep 11 with 8973 views
The first game of the season at Watford was the worst performance I've seen from Rangers since watching my first game in 1967! I was beginning to wonder whether my belief that we would (just) survive relegation was correct, but Ainsworth listened to the players & agreed to change our system! Since then we have been competitive & didn't deserve to lose to Ipswich & Southampton. We've even played some football as well!
The transfer window was a success, in my view, as we spent next to nothing in fees & are stronger than the side that finished last season. Whether that is enough I don't know, but I feel it will be. I'm no longer dreading going to matches!
I give Ainsworth credit for changing his system, but do query why it took him so long & why the players had to tell him to when it was obvious. Managers/coaches should have been able to see this for themselves!
Overall, I'm happier than Ii expected to be & hopefully Clarke will perform on Saturday as he did for Rangers rather than how he has played for Sunderland!
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Sunderland at home on 13:21 - Sep 11 with 8942 views
Sunderland at home on 11:59 - Sep 11 by Hooptimist
Pleased with the start to the season. Preseason was used well. We established that the style of play GA is most associated with didn't work for us. Now with key aspects of that Ainsworth style ("emptying the tank", solid shape, much improved defensively on set pieces) applied to playing attractive pacey play we look on an upward curve
Transfer window a success. FFP rolling three year rule means this year is an especially tight one for us and we can losen the purse strings next year as a big loss year rolls out. But even faced with that. Every signing we have made is an improvement on who left. Squad depth a worry. But we made some very good signings and kept our best players despite the predictions of majority of our fan base who thought we would need to let go of anything "not tied down"
in Armstrong, Koli and Larkeche we also have some promising prospects of our own. With very solid senior pros like Cook, Begovic and Sunderland's (not so well liked) Colback to add much needed stability to what has been a fragile team
I agree with most of that that, but "Preseason was used well" reminded me of Alan Partridge saying that on the Titanic’s maiden voyage there were over a thousand miles of uneventful, very pleasurable cruising before it hit the iceberg.
Sunderland at home on 13:34 - Sep 11 by Superhoop83
I agree with most of that that, but "Preseason was used well" reminded me of Alan Partridge saying that on the Titanic’s maiden voyage there were over a thousand miles of uneventful, very pleasurable cruising before it hit the iceberg.
Except you've got that the wrong way round. We hit the ice berg in preseason and the against Watford with our makeshift defence with Gubbins at the helm. And now it's the "very pleasurable cruising" that is ahead of us this season
Ainsworth and Dobson performed the experiments at preseason which is the time to do it as our squad came together.
For your analogy to work the team would be sunk by that. But instead we can be optimistic of better times ahead
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Sunderland at home on 14:28 - Sep 11 with 8622 views
Probably the Sunderland and Swansea home games in the next week will tell us if a real corner has been turned. On the Ainsworth style of play whether it has been revised or not is still debatable as think he is the sort of manager that will probably give anything a go and see if it sticks. The main improvement is with the core of the team, Begovic, Cook, Colback and Fox are providing the experience and it's rubbing off on other players. Think that Chair is also looking up for it again. Willock just don't know and with Richards, Gareth seems to have been lumbered with a player who seems to have a whole host of head issues.
[Post edited 11 Sep 2023 14:29]
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Sunderland at home on 14:37 - Sep 11 with 8554 views
A pint of Double Maxim was a thing of delight back in the day. Sadly I see they went the way of Fuller's - sold out to a plc!
As for the football: if a sheer desire to Make Rangers Great Again could be embodied in any one person, then Gareth Ainsworth is that man.
He's effectively been working with one hand tied behind his back and a shorter Cuban heel on one of his boots since arriving, and despite the atrociousness of his initial time in charge, we cannot knock the bloke for his passion, it's been in short supply round these here parts for some while.
Suspect when: suspensions, injuries, and form drops start to kick-in, his job will become considerably harder and then we'll see whether he really is the Messiah, or a man in need of a haircut and sensible brogues...but I'm back in love with him and want him to succeed as much for himself as I do for QPR.
'Always In Motion' by John Honney available on amazon.co.uk
Is Latimer's seafood shop still on the ocean road ? Cracking place. I used to eat there and pop along to the two pubs on the way to South Shields. One was the Jolly Sailor - the other I can't remember but I think has long closed. Enjoy the game if you come down mate. Hopefully, we'll put up a better show than last season !
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Sunderland at home on 16:31 - Sep 11 with 8269 views
It was nice of you to sell your goal every two games centre forward and give us a fighting chance.
Also, no sitting back. We have literally no idea how to take the game to any opposition, haven’t won a home game in about two years, so would really appreciate it if your lot go all out attack so we can approach this as if it were an away game. We’re a little bit better at away games.
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Sunderland at home on 17:23 - Sep 11 with 8148 views
Sunderland at home on 11:26 - Sep 11 by Monkey_Roots
Obviously I don't speak for anyone but myself...
I'm much happier now that we have departed away from what was perceived to be Ainsworth's style of football. On the one hand I applaud his willingness to change it up, on the other hand I kinda judge him for not believing in what he was doing... the preseason was a waste of time.
I don't know if we are doing better because of him, or in spite of him?
I don't like our lack of squad depth, but again I'm all over the place, because I like that it will give our younger development squad a chance to come in and prove themselves... and not just bring in some other teams players to develop.
He has made some decent signings it seems - older, but the experience we needed I think for some of our younger team to flourish in the comfort that they have these wise old heads to help out. He seems to have got a squad full of players bought in to his style and vision, so that's something. A few injuries though, and we are in the poop.
If I don't look at him or listen to him, It gives me more hope.
We'll give you a good game, and hopefully come away with a win.
Apart from games against us, good luck for the season.
Edit: As Antti says above, it's definitely a lot more fun already. Win, lose or draw, if the effort is there, we're pretty much over the moon after last year.
[Post edited 11 Sep 2023 11:28]
"If I don't look at him or listen to him, It gives me more hope."
This is me too.
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Sunderland at home on 17:32 - Sep 11 with 8121 views
I’m feeling great. He’s turned round the most disinterested squad QPR have had in years, and added one of your own, Jack Colback to the mix. No one says the squad don’t give a shit any more.
In regards to thuggery, if we have Dykes and Armstrong up front, your CBs will feel like they’ve been through a cycle in a tumble dryer.
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Sunderland at home on 18:27 - Sep 11 with 7966 views
As others have said, the last few games have been a pleasant surprise compared to the horror show that was the end of the pre-season and the first game at Watford.
Adding the new CB's and Colback as CDM has given the squad a spine that's been sorely missing for a long time.
We've even got a bit of pace going forward with the return of Smyth and the emergence of Armstrong as a regular.
I suppose we'll get turned over on Saturday then....
Should be a good game. Ainsworth has got us a lot more functional in the last few games and you know that any player he puts out there is going to give it a good shot.
From memory I imagine the same could be said about Tony Mowbray so it will be interesting to see which of the old dab hands will come out on top.
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Sunderland at home on 20:47 - Sep 11 with 7663 views
Although I'm feeling quite chipper, I'm a bit worried we'll be rubbish at home for reasons Stevec gives. Plus international breaks have generally been a bit traumatic for us over the last year or so.
Still, hoping for a good game. Always had a bit of time for the Black Cats - Newcastle for a city break, Sunderland AFC for a football club, if you see what I mean.
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Sunderland at home on 21:04 - Sep 11 with 7609 views
in short, love going to sunderland, especially the night game when we beat you 2-0 2014 i think. great start for you, after beating southampton 5-0. our recent results are not too bad either. sitting on the fence here....1-0 to us....1-0 to you....1-1....not much in it.
forget chris rigg, forget gareth ainsworth, ......if your local, how about letting women in the gunner social /working mans club ....not your problem , but ......
in short, love going to sunderland, especially the night game when we beat you 2-0 2014 i think. great start for you, after beating southampton 5-0. our recent results are not too bad either. sitting on the fence here....1-0 to us....1-0 to you....1-1....not much in it.
forget chris rigg, forget gareth ainsworth, ......if your local, how about letting women in the gunner social /working mans club ....not your problem , but ......
Women in social clubs ? By Jupiter sir, this is 1898 !
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Sunderland at home on 21:26 - Sep 11 with 7557 views
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