The Prem Relegation Dogfight

[Swindy]

We certainly don't have the worst manager in the league.
We are historically notorious poor starters and the current situation very much mirrors the end of Roy's tenure, where we do not have our best midfield and attacking players available and we all remember what happened when that changed. In addition, the new players have bedded in and with the exception of Kamada, are starting to do well.
In none of the games to date have we been whopped and we have been competitive and have carved out results, for example Spurs & Moan Utd home plus Chelsea and Aston Villa away, which over a season, I am not sure that enough teams will equal or beat these kind of results, to put us in trouble and we do have a real habit of pulling out such results.
With more luck with injuries, the vast majority of which should return in a few weeks, plus proper reinforcement in January (we still have funds unused from the summer) and maybe the return of a loan player, I think we should be all right but an improvement on last season's finish will be a step too far.

 

[syd snot]

We're f***ed and I put the blame wholly on the s*** kit we've got.

 

[Davepalace707]

We certainly don't have the worst manager in the league.
We are historically notorious poor starters and the current situation very much mirrors the end of Roy's tenure, where we do not have our best midfield and attacking players available and we all remember what happened when that changed. In addition, the new players have bedded in and with the exception of Kamada, are starting to do well.
In none of the games to date have we been whopped and we have been competitive and have carved out results, for example Spurs & Moan Utd home plus Chelsea and Aston Villa away, which over a season, I am not sure that enough teams will equal or beat these kind of results, to put us in trouble and we do have a real habit of pulling out such results.
With more luck with injuries, the vast majority of which should return in a few weeks, plus proper reinforcement in January (we still have funds unused from the summer) and maybe the return of a loan player, I think we should be all right but an improvement on last season's finish will be a step too far.

Now this made me laugh

 

[Lanzo-Ad]

We certainly don't have the worst manager in the league.
We are historically notorious poor starters and the current situation very much mirrors the end of Roy's tenure, where we do not have our best midfield and attacking players available and we all remember what happened when that changed. In addition, the new players have bedded in and with the exception of Kamada, are starting to do well.
In none of the games to date have we been whopped and we have been competitive and have carved out results, for example Spurs & Moan Utd home plus Chelsea and Aston Villa away, which over a season, I am not sure that enough teams will equal or beat these kind of results, to put us in trouble and we do have a real habit of pulling out such results.
With more luck with injuries, the vast majority of which should return in a few weeks, plus proper reinforcement in January (we still have funds unused from the summer) and maybe the return of a loan player, I think we should be all right but an improvement on last season's finish will be a step too far.

Who is worse then

 

[Willo]

When a team is in the 'Relegation Zone' with nearly a third of the campaign completed, one can be forgiven for concluding that this team is in a "Relegation dogfight", however this situation can of course change for the better.

Our fixtures before Christmas include encounters against Newcastle, Man City, Brighton and Arsenal.
These are daunting fixtures, and a disappointing set of results with the effect of us being marooned 'Below the line' and knee-deep in the merde will be a cause for grave concern.

 

[DANGERCLOSE]

If we are still in the bottom 3 in January SP will hopefully splash the cash, SP won't like the idea of losing cash if we are relegated

 

[sprites]

We are the worst team in the premier, not the worst players, dissorganized, lacking ideas, more open the Trumps mouth at the back, and 100% the worst manager, stick with him and we are down, end of.

I've never read such rubbish in my life.

 

[Willo]

I've never read such rubbish in my life.

Some might argue that debates and discussions are not enhanced by beige interjections.

'Lanzo Ad' has 'Nailed his colours to the mast' in respect of Oliver Glasner and time will tell if his forthright opinions on this matter age well.

 

[Palacesince64]

Some might argue that debates and discussions are not enhanced by beige interjections.

'Lanzo Ad' has 'Nailed his colours to the mast' in respect of Oliver Glasner and time will tell if his forthright opinions on this matter age well.

Lanzo is Eeyore to your Poo, Grumpy to your Happy, Squidgy to your SpongeBob….

 

[sprites]

Some might argue that debates and discussions are not enhanced by beige interjections.

'Lanzo Ad' has 'Nailed his colours to the mast' in respect of Oliver Glasner and time will tell if his forthright opinions on this matter age well.

Someone needed to say it.

 

[park the bus]

When a team is in the 'Relegation Zone' with nearly a third of the campaign completed, one can be forgiven for concluding that this team is in a "Relegation dogfight", however this situation can of course change for the better.

Our fixtures before Christmas include encounters against Newcastle, Man City, Brighton and Arsenal.
These are daunting fixtures, and a disappointing set of results with the effect of us being marooned 'Below the line' and knee-deep in the merde will be a cause for grave concern.

Willo, master of the bleedin' obvious...
Ok, we're going to emerge victorious from all those encounters, climb the table with so much haste that fans will once again be talking about Europe.

 

[Lanzo-Ad]

Some might argue that debates and discussions are not enhanced by beige interjections.

'Lanzo Ad' has 'Nailed his colours to the mast' in respect of Oliver Glasner and time will tell if his forthright opinions on this matter age well.

Yes, i have, and yes time will tell, we have our first choice full backs, a choice of Guehi, Lacroix, Chalaboah, Richards, Ward, Clyne and our best defensive midfielder Doucore, our first choice keeper, but still he hasn't got a clue how to organise a defence, laughable

 

[Willo]

Willo, master of the bleedin' obvious...
Ok, we're going to emerge victorious from all those encounters, climb the table with so much haste that fans will once again be talking about Europe.

I do not consider myself 'Master' of anything.
I am just an aged duffer (72 this week) and one of life's modest trundlers.

 

[PatrickA]

Yes, i have, and yes time will tell, we have our first choice full backs, a choice of Guehi, Lacroix, Chalaboah, Richards, Ward, Clyne and our best defensive midfielder Doucore, our first choice keeper, but still he hasn't got a clue how to organise a defence, laughable

We've kept 2 clean sheets all season and are conceding an average of 1.5 goals per game.

It's like starting each game with a minus 1.5 goals which we have to claw back.
It's true that no team has dominated us or thrashed us and we have been competitive in every game.

It's also true that we have good players at the back.

Nonetheless, can anybody feel truly confident that we'll put a run of clean sheets together?
We continue to be vulnerable to teams breaking fast on us and to crosses and corners.
We're not conceding 4 or 5 in a game, but teams know they have a good chance of scoring a couple as there are always mistakes in us, even if the players concerned have generally played well.

Sadly, I don't see that changing moving forward which means we're often going to have to outscore teams to win games as we don't keep clean sheets.

 

[Willo]

We've kept 2 clean sheets all season and are conceding an average of 1.5 goals per game.

It's like starting each game with a minus 1.5 goals which we have to claw back.
It's true that no team has dominated us or thrashed us and we have been competitive in every game.

It's also true that we have good players at the back.

Nonetheless, can anybody feel truly confident that we'll put a run of clean sheets together?
We continue to be vulnerable to teams breaking fast on us and to crosses and corners.
We're not conceding 4 or 5 in a game, but teams know they have a good chance of scoring a couple as there are always mistakes in us, even if the players concerned have generally played well.

Sadly, I don't see that changing moving forward which means we're often going to have to outscore teams to win games as we don't keep clean sheets.

I agree with the general thrust of the sentiments.
We conceded poor goals at A.Villa.
We have conceded 2 goals away from home at Brentford, Everton, Wolves and A.Villa.
Defensively we look vulnerable and unless we improve in this area we will be doomed.

 

[JHB]

We've kept 2 clean sheets all season and are conceding an average of 1.5 goals per game.

It's like starting each game with a minus 1.5 goals which we have to claw back.
It's true that no team has dominated us or thrashed us and we have been competitive in every game.

It's also true that we have good players at the back.

Nonetheless, can anybody feel truly confident that we'll put a run of clean sheets together?
We continue to be vulnerable to teams breaking fast on us and to crosses and corners.
We're not conceding 4 or 5 in a game, but teams know they have a good chance of scoring a couple as there are always mistakes in us, even if the players concerned have generally played well.

Sadly, I don't see that changing moving forward which means we're often going to have to outscore teams to win games as we don't keep clean sheets.

But lots of people seem to think getting rid of Andersen once the season had already begun was ok. As I’ve said it wasn’t a case of the relative merits of him vs Lacroix. It was the fact it screwed up our key centre back partnership.

 

[Willo]

But lots of people seem to think getting rid of Andersen once the season had already begun was ok. As I’ve said it wasn’t a case of the relative merits of him vs Lacroix. It was the fact it screwed up our key centre back partnership.

Without detailed analysis, it is perhaps a challenge to ascertain whether the defensive frailties are solely due to the defenders/defensive structure or whether it is the general team organisation which plays a part.It would appear that on occasions it is one or t'other or both.

 

[silvertop]

We've kept 2 clean sheets all season and are conceding an average of 1.5 goals per game.

It's like starting each game with a minus 1.5 goals which we have to claw back.
It's true that no team has dominated us or thrashed us and we have been competitive in every game.

It's also true that we have good players at the back.

Nonetheless, can anybody feel truly confident that we'll put a run of clean sheets together?
We continue to be vulnerable to teams breaking fast on us and to crosses and corners.
We're not conceding 4 or 5 in a game, but teams know they have a good chance of scoring a couple as there are always mistakes in us, even if the players concerned have generally played well.

Sadly, I don't see that changing moving forward which means we're often going to have to outscore teams to win games as we don't keep clean sheets

Have another gander at the table. Our goals against is actually pretty fair. Defence is not the issue, as annoying as some of the 17 we have conceded this season testify.

And it is not wholly in attack either, despite the fact we have only scored 10. Our attack is pretty effective and our attempts within range of what it ought to be.

The issue is finishing. Converting attacks to goals. I dunno, a bit more spent in target practice?

 

[PatrickA]

Without detailed analysis, it is perhaps a challenge to ascertain whether the defensive frailties are solely due to the defenders/defensive structure or whether it is the general team organisation which plays a part.It would appear that on occasions it is one or t'other or both.

I can give it a go.
Playing with wing backs high up the field leaves space down the sides which opposition can exploit .
This has been evident from the early part of the season in goals conceded v Brentford and West Ham and the vulnerability continues.
The two man central midfield only works when you succesfully press teams high and pin them in.
We have not done this well this season and the opposition has bypassed our midfield with ease to have a clear run at our defence.
For corners and crosses we don't have a Scott Dann to thump clearing headers.
We also used to station Benteke at the near post to clear (arguably this would have prevented Berkeley's goal on Saturday).
It doesn't help when Guehi etc don't get off the ground to compete aerially.

In conclusion Glasner's system can work,with less pressure on the defence, but all components have to come together as they did v Tottenham.
With returning players we just have to hope that performance is replicated more frequently.

 

[Jacey]

I agree with the general thrust of the sentiments.
We conceded poor goals at A.Villa.
We have conceded 2 goals away from home at Brentford, Everton, Wolves and A.Villa.
Defensively we look vulnerable and unless we improve in this area we will be doomed.

Agreed and if we remain in the bottom three after Xmas,with other sides beginning to show some improvement and the potential new Manager bounce with one of two of our fellow relegation candidates ,the outlook is rather bleak.