Wildest dreams

[Spiral]

Better performance than my wildest imagination, that was. City-esque in the first half, proper game management and Burnley grit in the second. To think we're still to bring in a first choice striker and O'Hare.

Could've had a pen (though I'm not arsed because **** VAR), Twine was an inch from scoring, only one recognisable striker in the whole squad but we still caused their defenders a nightmare, debuts all over the pitch but the team looked like they've been playing together for years, the new playstyle has been instantly taken up, Cullen looks like a fitter Defour, Maatsen looks better going forward than half the PL full-backs, Taylor was brilliant playing in a position he's never played before, we're playing pass-and-move, we're getting four, five, six players forward with every attack, sorry, I'm going to jizz my pants.

Absolutely perfect night for us.

[BabylonClaret]

Was very impressed. Only downer here is that we shod have been out of sight at half time (just like against Brighton last year) but this tine we saw it out.

Streets ahead of the Terriers in the first half

[martin_p]

I hadn’t a clue what to expect but that was a very pleasant surprise. Only one game (and despite our dominance only one goal) so I’m certainly not getting carried away but it’s cranked up my excitement about the season ahead. Shows promise!

[CoolClaret]

I’m blown away

Most dominating away performance since Brentford in the 15/16 promotion season

[NewClaret]

Outrageous performance for all the reasons you state.

Don’t get me wrong, it should have been dead & buried first half but in some ways we got to see what they were made of as a result…

And we’d not lost the grit or the fight. FANTASTIC!

Get yourself on the Turf next week!

[Belgianclaret]

Should have called your thread Wettest dreams

[clarethomer]

Playing the Kompany way masterminds the way to win games

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[Ric_C]

Superb to watch, I was never in doubt that we would win that. Still lacking up top due to various circumstances but all the new guys look really assured.

As you say I was more pleased on how we dealt with a bit of adversity in the second half as the first half was almost too easy

[SussexDon1inIreland]

Super Ash put in a great shift and should have had a pen in first 5 mins

UTC

[CombatClaret]

Really positive signs tonight, I didn't expect we'd see that kind of cohesion.

BUT never in my wildest dreams did I expect Huddersfield at home on the opening game of the season would be so utterly lackluster. They made it easy for us to look so good at times.

[Spiral]

I've seen City games where they look like they're playing a 2-2-6 formation almost the whole game, with a few resets when they lose possession. I actually literally burst out laughing at one point in the first half where we kept moving the ball on the right of the pitch so well it was just ridiculous. Never in my life have I seen Burnley move the ball as well as in that one move. I can't pinpoint the exact passage of play any more than that, sorry. It was in the last fifteen minutes of the first half I think???

[Bordeauxclaret]

No idea what to expect but was really impressed.

First game means nothing of course but… dare to dream?

[Long Time Lurker]

A first half that was high tempo and enthusiastic. VK seems to be sticking with the " best defence is a pronounced offence " brand of " ping pong " football that he employed at Anderlecht. In the second half some players were noticeably flagging and our performance dropped. We didn't find ourselves in any serious danger, but they had a couple of opportunities and a goal would have really altered the state of play for both teams.

In the training videos it was obvious that the players have been tasked with following a new leaner regime. Picking out Taylor as a prime example, he looks like he has dropped quite a bit of his usual bulk. It is the sort of fitness first plan that Bielsa introduced at Leeds. It definitely works, but the downside is it takes an immense toll on the players, which is why the Leeds players were dropping like flies towards the end of every season under Bielsa. If we are going down that route then we need more players to cover the unavoidable casualties.

Pretty much every player we currently have was out on the pitch today. If we are intent on pushing the physical enveloped in every match we play then I don't think we will have enough bodies to see out a long season.

Huddersfield looked poor compared to last season and that wasn't down to us. Some of their better players were sold in the Summer and they had to prepare for a match with no real knowledge about how we would set up. This two factors gave us a big advantage.

The cohesion we displayed at this early stage was nice, some players demonstrated hints of quality, but Muric strikes me as an accident waiting to happen. Sadly, the only alternative keeper we have is BPF. At this stage I would envision us placing mid table, possibly lower if injuries take their toll and Muric isn't up to it.

More bodies will be needed. A quick striker and another midfielder for starters. Not Ben Miles, who we were rumoured to be interested in a few weeks ago, he looked poor the last time Rotherham were in the Championship. Barlaser is their stand out midfielder, but I doubt they will sell him this season for any price.

Our most pressing need, and possibly the reason we set up in a somewhat perplexing formation today, is a couple of wingers.

If we are pushed for bodies then J'Neil LLoyd Bennet, formerly of Chelsea and now looking for a new club, might be a cheap option. I don't know how the ankle injury he suffered at Crew has affected him, but prior to that he looked to be progressing reasonably well. Two footed, quick and confident ball carrier, fairly skilful and only 20.

Considering the element of risk that could be attached to some of our recent signings, he might be worth a shout.

[Wembley09]

Domination..

[Bosscat]

Better performance than my wildest imagination, that was. City-esque in the first half, proper game management and Burnley grit in the second. To think we're still to bring in a first choice striker and O'Hare.

Could've had a pen (though I'm not arsed because **** VAR), Twine was an inch from scoring, only one recognisable striker in the whole squad but we still caused their defenders a nightmare, debuts all over the pitch but the team looked like they've been playing together for years, the new playstyle has been instantly taken up, Cullen looks like a fitter Defour, Maatsen looks better going forward than half the PL full-backs, Taylor was brilliant playing in a position he's never played before, we're playing pass-and-move, we're getting four, five, six players forward with every attack, sorry, I'm going to jizz my pants.

Absolutely perfect night for us.

Didn't Taylor play at LCB at Helland Rd a few times

[Ric_C]

Long time lurker, I seriously disagree with your assessment. How can having over 70% possession result in burnout over a season?

Maatsen didn't have a drip of sweat on him in his post match presser

[Spiral]

Just clipping this down to the points I'd respond to

Muric strikes me as an accident waiting to happen.

Our most pressing need, and possibly the reason we set up in a somewhat perplexing formation today, is a couple of wingers.

I didn't see anything to suggest Muric is an accident waiting to happen, but to be fair he had nothing to do. I did a thread on goalkeeper build-up a bit ago, and nothing I saw tonight has shaken my belief that any potential for dodgy passes from the GK is totally priced in to a tactical approach built on dominating possession. Some of his passing was very nice. I couldn't help but notice how well THB in particular plays into this approach. He was exactly where Muric needed him every. single. time.

On the winger thing, we simply don't play with them. We won't sign a traditional winger while VK is here. Totally redundant when your fullbacks play so high up the pitch.

[Spiral]

Didn't Taylor play at LCB at Helland Rd a few times

Wasn't aware of that, Bosscat. I'll take your word for it. Perhaps that explains why he looked so comfortable there.

[Bosscat]

Wasn't aware of that, Bosscat. I'll take your word for it. Perhaps that explains why he looked so comfortable there.

I am sure I read somewhere in his younger days at Leeds he was a left side Centre Half


But don't quote me

[Bin Ont Turf]

When I saw Maatsen earlier on with a chance to put the ball in to the box, but instead come back and pass it.... I thought, here we go go. Tippy tappy shite.

But that was f***ing brilliant! Who knew you could play so high up the pitch and win 'first balls'?

Not going to get carried away as it's only one game and I think Huddersfield are a bit shite.

But again, that was f***ing brilliant.

[Wile E Coyote]

Been a long wait , and lots of changes , but that was a phenomenal display.
The attacking mentality was clear to see from minute one.Some brilliant play and the intricate short passing under pressure was breathtaking at times. I loved every minute of it.
Hugely impressed .

[S@fc]

Sunderland fan here pleased to be back in the championship but watching that performance tonight the bar s set high, Josh Cullen looks a player bargain for 3 million and Twine was the best player by a country mile in league one last season you lads look decent but are missing a Striker