03 Nov 2018 00:03:06
Hi all,
Thanks to the Eds as always.
I've just watched the 2016 match away to Chelsea again in order to gain some perspective. Now, Jose synics have to take a back seat here because the team he inherited couldn't defend. The job he has done since coming in is superb IMO and I'm not basing this on the one game but this was the biggest defeat we suffered at that time and so it's a fair bench mark. I recommend all the fans watch it again and although it's not been the best start to the season I believe he will get it right. If he is still our manager come the start of next season, I'm going all out here and saying we'll be serious contenders next season. Let him get the squad right over the next two windows, the balance between youth and experience still needs some work but we are much closer than the current league position suggests.
3 points on the south coast tomorrow.
03 Nov 2018 06:30:26
I’d like a pint of what you are drinking 😃. I admire your optimism but I don’t share it. Last year we finished runners up with the second best defensive record, conceding only one more goal that City. Our issue was at the other end where we didn’t finish teams off.
Under SAF I remember losing 5-0 to Chelsea, and Newcastle, and losing 6-3 to Southampton, so picking one game doesn’t really work. Whether it is Jose’s fault, or th player’s fault, we will be lucky to make top 4 this year. To finish runners up and then start as we have this year suggests something is amiss, a couple of shiny signings won’t change that.
Lukaku looks disinterested, Pogba is likely to leave, Martial is still not signed up, DDG is yet to sign a new contract, Bailey has regressed, not sure where Fred fits in (£50M! ), Rashford has stopped progressing, Sanchez has been an unmitigated disaster. On the plus side, Shaw has been like a new signing, Lindelof looks like he is progressing, Dalot has huge potential, and that’s about it.
Still optimistic?
03 Nov 2018 10:47:03
We've conceded 17 goals in just 10 games so far this season. 28 in total last season and 29 the year before that where we had this "terrible defence" and on balance played more expansive football. As Jose has continued to put his stamp on the team we've got worse defensively, more pedestrian in attack and spent hundreds of millions in the process. Simple as that really.
03 Nov 2018 10:50:00
Good post giggsy. Not sure i agree with it all.
Good poost ajh but i'm not sure i agree with it all.
Im not quite as negative as you.
Its been a poor start to the sesson no doubt about that. But in recent games there has been some positive signs in a couple of areas.
I think we have shawn good team spirit and fighting attitude
Shaw as you said has continued to improve. As have martial and pogba. We have attacked more and this shows that jose has changed tack a little too. He has been more tolerant for sure with certain players they, the players and coach, appear to be working together a lot more as a result. We were a little unlucky to lose a goal in the last kick against chelsea so we can at least compete against the best in the epl when players work as he wants and when he is more tolerant and loosens the reigns a little.
Matic and lukaku are in poor form. For sure. Rash has been uninspiring i'd like to see sanchez get a few games up top and think he is more on the wavelength of mata and martial in terms of his pass and move ability.
Lukaku looks jaded perhaps the wc has caught up with him a bit and i also don't think he links well with martial and the stats tell you that,
Its difficult to say exactly why the defence is so poor compared to last year but you have to remember that last year neither full back attacked at all. This year shaw is and we are a little more exposed and young also tends to get more advanced on the right as a result our cbs and matic have had less cover than last season. Also ddg not been at his best perhaps the wc rattled him a little too.
I think fred is settling in quite well i think he continues to improve every time he plays.
If we win today we can go into the city game with some confidence.
Assuming juve don't batter us midweek of courseðŸ˜ðŸ˜
I see some changes for the better from the coach recently i see some changes for the better from certain players recently too. that's brought us 2 wins and a hard fought draw away to chelsea. If results continue to be good then i see a thawing of tensions and perhaps even a little more comprimise from coach and players alike
It does feel a little like we are half way up the hill all together looking up rather than down at the momemt.
It also feels to me a little on a knife edge as if results and performances don't keep momentum going forward then both coach and players will point the finger at each other, and we will be back to square 1 again.
Finally i don't care which players want to leave i only care about what they do this season while they are here if they all shut up and give 100% every time they play and don't disrespect the club the fans the coach and their team mates then that's all i'm concerned about until the summer.
The press appear to have aborted their witch hunt for the time being but that will only last until the next defeat.
03 Nov 2018 14:38:42
Excellent post Ken.