pingpong91 wrote:eskimo joe wrote:
Agree with most of what you say. Irealy don't think we have weakened the team though, most of the players we have are from last season bar Tomkins.
It is where we failed to bolster that makes a problem from last season seem more apparent now. We got away more last season because of the great start and the availability of choice. Problems in defence started really when we had to use Antonio at RB.
As for taking a step backwards, well I suppose that depends on ones view point. I was realistic enough to know that this season would not not be half as good as last. I did take into account what some may call bollox, the first season in a new stadium. However I never envisaged such a poor performance against equal or lesser teams.I call it a stutter whilst looking for our true place in the scheme of things.
What is confusing is that we can produce football for 20-35 mins of a game then completely switch off. Frustration?!! Who knows. That might explain the Sunderland game but not Watfords.
Well I'm not going to get overly anxious, cause we struggled with them last season also with the same result.
Correct we have the same players but we have almost given these new players an automatic start in what was a good squad. Nordshite, Tore, Feghouli (jury's still out on him - I personally feel he is a good player), Calleri and ZAZA - before they were even signed we had dropped players who had played all last season. Obiang and Diafra (I know there is a bit more to Sakho's situation) being examples of this.
I strongly agree with your comment re: failing to bolster but with regards to taking a step backwards I stand by my comment but I must emphasize that my opinion comes based on the state of the football side to the club and not the business end. I also am not naïve enough to know we over achieved somewhat last season and understood that this season would not be as fantastic but the one thing I hoped for was that we would see the players give 100% on the pitch and Bilic's silky football philosophy would continue to dominate most of our play. I just don't think we have seen any of that and that's what has depressed me AND that is why I feel we have taken a step back. Last season we lost games but there were not many games we walked out of the Boleyn and could fault the team's effort.
Anyways I'll continue to hope and pray for a performance that resembles anything of last season.
COYI
Well I said awhile ago that we bought too many players, 12 if you don't include Lanzini. Many of whom, imo, were in areas less required, mainly midfield.
The saying too many chefs spoil the broth could apply here. Hopefully now they have had more time as a team they will begin to act like one instead of groups of individuals. Time will tell.
What might need sorting more is the way each are used, but to be fair Biliv probably hasn't, but is on the verge , been able to field his desired field. Most of these players I believe to have been bought, foolishly I think, with the Europa league in mind hence the quantity.
What ever follows, in Jan we need to invest in defense if only to prevent the same predicament we now find ourselves in. Heaven forbid, one man, Cresswell, short and the team seems totally lacking something.
