26 Jul 2026 18:02:15
Did anyone have the misfortune to watch the Rangers game? An absolute snorefest.
We couldn’t string 2 passes together. The only people who performed okay IMO were Tatty, Bowen and Lamadrid. Pablo seemed not only incapable of playing but unable to stay on his feet if even breathed on by anyone.

Kante passing was poor and Killman still seems incapable of winning a header jumping against opposition much shorter than him. The list goes on. 90 minutes of my life will never get back. Can anybody be a bit more positive please?

1.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 18:15:12
I switched it off after 60 mins, but it is only a preseason game. They never seem to be great indicators of anything, win, draw, or lose.

2.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 18:23:02
Likewise. When I managed to get it working lol. ?

Not the best advert for footie. We definitely miss a creative attacking midfielder, and Im not sure why Pablo was on the pitch....terrible.

But, pre season and players wont give 100%.

3.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 18:24:11
Maybe he has found his level and is gaining some confidence.

4.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 18:33:13
I have to say I've tried giving Pablo the benefit of the doubt, but my patience is running thin. A great description of him on C&H, he looks like someone who has ended up playing simply because someone got a last minute injury and he was called on to make up the numbers.

5.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 18:37:36
Pablo is poor. See how he goes this year, but if we go up he has to go. Just walking pace isn't good enough anymore. I think there's potential for Kante to do well. Lamadrid seems a good player. I personally thought Bowen was poor. Listen, it's pre season, a couple of weeks to go. I mean we need some signings. Timing in.

6.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 18:40:34
I thought JWP was the best of a bad bunch. The rest had no pace, no movement, no passion, nothing. No, I don't particularly like JWP, but at least he gave his all. The others looked disinterested and like they were just there for a kick about.

Dreadful game, if I guess you could call it, football. God help us in Champ if that was anything to go on.

7.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 19:10:09
Unfortunately, we have many supporters who, for reasons I fail to understand, think, or thought, that West Ham were a shoe-in for this division

I have tried to warn our fans that this is definitely not so.

Many people think I'm on my own in thinking we are not good enough; well, at this time, we are not good enough

If we don't do the business, this will finish as a poor season. I'm sticking to my opinion.

8.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 19:56:05
Pessimists can either say, "I told you so," or be pleasantly surprised.

Those of us a tad more optimistic can either be relieved or disappointed.

It'll all come out in the wash.

9.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 20:07:29
Just depends on what they do next three weeks, do nothing, nothing will be the result.

10.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 20:08:00
Markro, once again, you are the total voice of reason. It wasn't a great game, and we definitely need new blood in, but I'm sure the hierarchy sees that. Pablo wasn't good at all, and maybe we are kidding ourselves; he may come good, but I actually thought JWP and Kilman both played alright.

Mav looked assured, and Hermansen had one of his best games, and looks like one of the best passers from the back. To be honest, I'm starting to find this preachy "I told you so" attitude a bit boring and patronising now.

11.) 26 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 20:36:39
Dabber, I'm with you and Markro in the general optimism about everything surrounding the club and how we will do in the upcoming season. I definitely don't think us getting promoted will be a cakewalk, but I do think we will do far better at the end of the season than many are predicting. These friendly games, I tend to look at as individual entities, and it was awful.

It just felt that the whole midfield was played in unnatural positions, and things just weren't gelling. I will say JWP did seem a lot better than when we have seen him the last few years; there wasn't the facing-forward, receive-the-ball, automatic handbrake turn 90 or 180 degrees and pass backwards or sidewards.

12.) 27 Jul 2026
26 Jul 2026 22:20:31
Evening HD, I don't think it will be a cakewalk either, buddy, but we do have a lot to be optimistic about. If we get to the end of the transfer window, having not bought anybody, I'll be absolutely amazed.

Deals are not done easily, and those that are tend not to be good ones. Having seen how Kretinsky has handled the sales, why would the purchases be any different. Keep the faith, my friend. ?

13.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 18:30:03
It was a pre-season game, so, no injuries is the first port of call.
I think we learnt that the youngsters are nowhere near close enough to the first team. Many on here have an obsession with Kante, yet he never looks like he's going to do anything.
I think we have 2 problems: pace in central midfield, and what to do with Pablo - if he cannot score against Southend - he won't score in the Championship.

I wonder if it is worth trying him in central midfield, similar to what Newcastle did with Joelinton.
Keeping Taty will be key to promotion.
Personally, I think we will win the Championship comfortably. Nuno scored 91 points when he was relegated with Wolves - and they had an inferior squad.

14.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 21:04:48
Pablo in midfield would be a calamity. Joelinton can actually carry the ball and is quicker, has a better first touch, and is a better passer than Pablo, not that it's hard.

Go check Wolves' squad back then; they were miles ahead of ours.



Neves, Boly, Docherty, Diogo Jota, Coady, Saiss, to name just some. Our squad has gaping holes in it. No pace, no creativity, and it's unbalanced.

15.) 27 Jul 2026
27 Jul 2026 21:26:53
Brooking, my old mate, I just don't know what you're watching. We are short all over.