We aren't as 'good' as we were earlier in the season..
We put 4 past Fulham, 2 past Wolves, a couple past Brighton, could have beaten Arsenal. We looked weak compared to the opposition but did pass the ball well in limited spells, and looked neat and compact.
We now look weary and generally worn out. Fit, yes, but the effort the players have put in during the early months is taking it's toll. In a league you're normally playing against sides, at least most of the time, with similar strengths. Our players are being asked to play week in, week out what are akin to cup matches against teams from a higher division. Every win is actually a 'giant killing'.
A lot are looking at our points/position to date and extrapolating an optimistic end-of-season outcome, whereas I really think we are about to completely run out of steam and fall away. 31,000 fans cheering the side on every home game deserve more. One La Ligue striker isn't anywhere near enough. New faces throughout the side, and I don't think they have to be better than we've got, just equally as good, which shouldn't be as difficult as our club are making out...
Re: We aren't as 'good' as we were earlier in the season..
The Callum Patterson experiment should be over as far as I’m concerned.
It might have caught out a couple of teams cold early doors but it’s not the answer.
It’s an embarrassment at this level that we just smash the ball up to a defender come makeshift striker.
Re: We aren't as 'good' as we were earlier in the season..
A run of poor performances has everyone down but it's not that long ago since Leicester away and fans saying we've learnt to perform to the standard of a midtable premier league side, and I think referencing games against Brighton and Wolves (the first 45 minutes at least) would show how 3 points can put a more positive spin on a performance. We're a side that clearly needs the boost of a few new faces to rest some of our players but I don't think we're as far off as some would have you believe, while obviously having things to work on to continue success long-term.
Re: We aren't as 'good' as we were earlier in the season..
Quote:
Originally Posted by
A Quiet Monkfish
We now look weary and generally worn out. Fit, yes, but the effort the players have put in during the early months is taking it's toll. In a league you're normally playing against sides, at least most of the time, with similar strengths. Our players are being asked to play week in, week out what are akin to cup matches against teams from a higher division. Every win is actually a 'giant killing'.
I think this is correct. Arter and Camarasa are our only players who look comfortable in the Premier League. The rest have to perform at the very upper limit of their ability just to stay competitive. Sometimes it works out for us and we get performances like Wolves at home and Leicester away, but the team just isn't good enough to consistently play at that level. We haven't gone unbeaten for more than two consecutive matches all season.
Re: We aren't as 'good' as we were earlier in the season..
Quote:
Originally Posted by
A Quiet Monkfish
We put 4 past Fulham, 2 past Wolves, a couple past Brighton, could have beaten Arsenal. We looked weak compared to the opposition but did pass the ball well in limited spells, and looked neat and compact.
We now look weary and generally worn out. Fit, yes, but the effort the players have put in during the early months is taking it's toll. In a league you're normally playing against sides, at least most of the time, with similar strengths. Our players are being asked to play week in, week out what are akin to cup matches against teams from a higher division. Every win is actually a 'giant killing'.
A lot are looking at our points/position to date and extrapolating an optimistic end-of-season outcome, whereas I really think we are about to completely run out of steam and fall away. 31,000 fans cheering the side on every home game deserve more. One La Ligue striker isn't anywhere near enough. New faces throughout the side, and I don't think they have to be better than we've got, just equally as good, which shouldn't be as difficult as our club are making out...
Sides are playing us for a second time now and it's hard to see how we are going to hit our opponents from now on with something that will take them by surprise. At our best we are predictable, but relentless and opponents get worn down. Can we make Plan A work at the second time of asking against teams that have more ability than us? I'm not sure we can, we need something a bit different and specialists for every position on the pitch would be a start.
Re: We aren't as 'good' as we were earlier in the season..
Quote:
Originally Posted by
J R Hartley
The Callum Patterson experiment should be over as far as I’m concerned.
It might have caught out a couple of teams cold early doors but it’s not the answer.
It’s an embarrassment at this level that we just smash the ball up to a defender come makeshift striker.
This. It's getting ****ing ridiculous. I like Calum Paterson and he laways puts in a good shift. But a EPL striker? It's a ****ing joke.
Re: We aren't as 'good' as we were earlier in the season..
Quote:
Originally Posted by
surge
A run of poor performances has everyone down but it's not that long ago since Leicester away and fans saying we've learnt to perform to the standard of a midtable premier league side, and I think referencing games against Brighton and Wolves (the first 45 minutes at least) would show how 3 points can put a more positive spin on a performance. We're a side that clearly needs the boost of a few new faces to rest some of our players but I don't think we're as far off as some would have you believe, while obviously having things to work on to continue success long-term.
Isn’t it only 2 weeks since we comfortably beat Leicester ffs.....
Re: We aren't as 'good' as we were earlier in the season..
We could have Pele in his pomp up front and wouldn't score we don't create enough.
Re: We aren't as 'good' as we were earlier in the season..
Quote:
Originally Posted by
the other bob wilson
Sides are playing us for a second time now and it's hard to see how we are going to hit our opponents from now on with something that will take them by surprise. At our best we are predictable, but relentless and opponents get worn down. Can we make Plan A work at the second time of asking against teams that have more ability than us? I'm not sure we can, we need something a bit different and specialists for every position on the pitch would be a start.
Although of the 3 teams we've so far played twice we've taken 4 points from the return fixtures having taken 1 point from the previous games.
Re: We aren't as 'good' as we were earlier in the season..
Quote:
Originally Posted by
goats
Isn’t it only 2 weeks since we comfortably beat Leicester ffs.....
Comfortably?
Re: We aren't as 'good' as we were earlier in the season..
A number of points in this thread which I agree with: tired; no longer an 'unknown' quantity; need fresh players.
I'd also add that games like yesterday really don't suit our approach as much as games against the 'better' teams where we can expect to have space to attack into.
Huddersfield and Fulham show what we'd look like if we adopted a passing type game in the Prem. I know which I prefer as I find the possession for possession's sake type game deadly dull, but for our approach to work we do need to add some more quality - especially in attack...
I'm just about recovered from yesterday now and looking forward to hopefully some good news before the Newcastle game re increasing our squad size.
