collapse collapse

Please donate to help towards the costs of keeping this site going. Thank You.

Follow us on...

Author Topic: Anyone starting to get worried?  (Read 219902 times)

Online paul_e

  • Member
  • Posts: 33280
  • Age: 44
  • GM : July, 2013
Re: Anyone starting to get worried?
« Reply #795 on: December 09, 2019, 05:35:07 PM »
We're never going to win a game conceding 26 shots at goal.
Sometimes our midfield looks empty, and the defence worries me with a mish mash of zonal and man marking, which is a pet hate of mine.
Mings, who likes to be spare from corners and free kicks, alarmingly does not attack the ball, which surely he is supposed to do.
Next five will decide if we're in a shitfight until the end of the season or can look towards the sunny uplands of mid-table.
Personally, I would change it a bit to three at the back, we have a good lefty (Hause), a good spare (Mings) and a good righty (Engels), allowing our full backs Guilbert and Targett to use the width and make us more solid when we don't have the ball.
It would also allow us to play two up top, I doubt very much this will happen.

Sky have an article today that refers mainly to Arsenal but does making passing reference that only Norwich and us allow more shots on goal than Arsenal. We urgently need to change tactically to stop that continuing, otherwise we will be going down with Norwich. Arsenal at least have the forwards to keep them out of trouble, we don't.

I'm not usually a fan of three at the back but it could be worth trying at Sheff Utd to match them. Depending on how fit Mings is I guess, as Konsa urgently needs to come out I think. Alternatively, Hause to come in at left back to improve the balance of the defence physically with Targett dropping out. No matter what combination we try in midfield we still look too open. Just think Hause's presence can help us a lot at set piece time alone.

All of this is why all the focus on blaming Wesley and calling for a replacement in January is ignoring the real problem. As I said earlier, we need to hold onto the ball better and not let clubs have 10-15minute spells where they get 7-8 attempts in and we barely cross halfway.
Part of holding the ball better is to have a functioning number 9, I know it’s not just down to him. The overall pattern of play seems to allow opposing teams to get at our back 4 very easily.

Possibly but all too often his bad performances come when we're camped in our own half and he's got 3-4 defenders around him and has to wait for support. When we get players around him and control the tempo for a while we look a far better side and he looks a much better player, the trick is finding ways to do it against good sides.

Online Monty

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 25415
  • Location: pizzaland
  • GM : 25.05.2024
Re: Anyone starting to get worried?
« Reply #796 on: December 09, 2019, 05:57:22 PM »
Leicester's midfield diamond ripped us to shreds by flooding the midfield, Iheanacho dropping off and the full backs pushing up to totally overwhelm our quite static three in the middle and the slightly muddled up positioning of the wingers and full backs. We have the personnel to play a similar system, Jack naturally in the number ten position, Nakamba holding and Doug and Conor the link (John really needs a break right now). We'd need to bring back Fred obviously, and I'd like to see Trez in the second striker role with either Wes or Davis, who at least deserves a go in that pure holding up role with another forward there to relieve him off the sole goalscoring burden.
« Last Edit: December 09, 2019, 05:58:57 PM by Monty »

Offline robbo1874

  • Member
  • Posts: 3386
  • Location: Bris-vegas
Re: Anyone starting to get worried?
« Reply #797 on: December 10, 2019, 07:48:53 AM »
Leicester's midfield diamond ripped us to shreds by flooding the midfield, Iheanacho dropping off and the full backs pushing up to totally overwhelm our quite static three in the middle and the slightly muddled up positioning of the wingers and full backs. We have the personnel to play a similar system, Jack naturally in the number ten position, Nakamba holding and Doug and Conor the link (John really needs a break right now). We'd need to bring back Fred obviously, and I'd like to see Trez in the second striker role with either Wes or Davis, who at least deserves a go in that pure holding up role with another forward there to relieve him off the sole goalscoring burden.
i thought Davis did OK when he came on at City. I’d be tempted to give him a run in the next few games. I’ve defended Wesley up til now, but I’m starting to agree with the view that perhaps he may not be up to the required standard. I do like him, but it’s not really clicked yet for him and he seems to have gone backwards in his progress the last few games. Maybe give Davis a run for a bit through the Xmas / New Years fixtures?

Online Drummond

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 28667
  • Age: 52
  • Location: My own little world.
  • GM : 10.10.2024
Re: Anyone starting to get worried?
« Reply #798 on: December 10, 2019, 07:58:29 AM »
Last 10 games.

Whqt more would you reasonably expect us to have won?




free image hosts

Online Monty

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 25415
  • Location: pizzaland
  • GM : 25.05.2024
Re: Anyone starting to get worried?
« Reply #799 on: December 10, 2019, 09:28:52 AM »
Last 10 games.

Whqt more would you reasonably expect us to have won?




free image hosts


Here's the problem. We had some poor results before this run of games, which other clubs near us have also had, but with one caveat - teams like Newcastle have also got some results from 'unreasonable' sources, balancing out defeats like the one against us.

There've been a lot of excuses this season - losing to Bournemouth at home because we weren't gelled yet as a squad, losing points late against Spurs and Arsenal because hey, they're great teams (who then go on to be terrible against everyone else), all that kind of stuff. Sooner or later the excuses run out, and if you're losing against most of the other teams it's because they're currently better than you. We need to improve, and soon.

Online Drummond

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 28667
  • Age: 52
  • Location: My own little world.
  • GM : 10.10.2024
Re: Anyone starting to get worried?
« Reply #800 on: December 10, 2019, 09:56:19 AM »
I think we should be aiming to get something at Bramall Lane. Though they are a form team.

We really need to pick up more points over the next run of games though. In the reverse fixtures to those 10 I'd hope we pick up a point or two in the home games.

Offline cdbearsfan

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 61464
  • Location: Yardley Massive
  • I still hate Bono.
  • GM : 03.02.2025
Re: Anyone starting to get worried?
« Reply #801 on: December 10, 2019, 09:58:00 AM »
Yes, the so-called "free hits" are proving anything but. We need to improve our record against the moneyed elite, especially with most of them at Villa Park in the second half of the season. I'll be annoyed if wr don't pick up any points from very average looking Arsenal and Tottenham sides, and we are due a win against Man U... it'll be a decade on Thursday.
« Last Edit: December 10, 2019, 10:04:06 AM by cdbullyweefan »

Offline levico

  • Member
  • Posts: 2689
Re: Anyone starting to get worried?
« Reply #802 on: December 10, 2019, 10:02:31 AM »
So in summary we have several injured players, others that look totally drained of energy, a centre forward who doesn’t remotely resemble a professional footballer, a well meaning manager who’s lack of PL experience is being exposed match by match and we’re on the brink of dropping into the bottom three.

Worried? Erm...yeah.

Offline villa `cross the mersey

  • Member
  • Posts: 6112
  • Location: Formby, Merseyside
Re: Anyone starting to get worried?
« Reply #803 on: December 10, 2019, 10:32:41 AM »
Talking to a few Evertonian mates over the last few days and I asked what the difference was against Chelsea …...  they all mentioned the word passion  - new manager bounce maybe, but Ferguson had them up for the game. This is what I expect from Smith, especially this weekend when they will be up against a team ready to battle …… having said that if we are already showing signs of fatigue I think we will be found out even more in the coming weeks - fitter teams will just be able to pick us off.
Looking at 3 poorer/weaker teams than us right now is proving evermore difficult ….. sort it out Villa 

Online Chris Smith

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35613
  • Location: At home
  • GM : 08.01.2025
Re: Anyone starting to get worried?
« Reply #804 on: December 10, 2019, 12:38:21 PM »
Yes, the so-called "free hits" are proving anything but. We need to improve our record against the moneyed elite, especially with most of them at Villa Park in the second half of the season. I'll be annoyed if wr don't pick up any points from very average looking Arsenal and Tottenham sides, and we are due a win against Man U... it'll be a decade on Thursday.

Arsenal perhaps but they showed last night that they can still be dangerous, if they sort their defence out there’s a good team there. I think Spurs have turned a corner and will be back pushing for a top 6 place, they have underperformed so far but putting five past Burnley should boost their confidence. They’re not the sort of games that will decide our season it is making sure we pick up the points against other teams in the bottom half of the league and we play a lot of them over the next few weeks.

Online Chris Smith

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 35613
  • Location: At home
  • GM : 08.01.2025
Re: Anyone starting to get worried?
« Reply #805 on: December 10, 2019, 12:43:21 PM »
Talking to a few Evertonian mates over the last few days and I asked what the difference was against Chelsea …...  they all mentioned the word passion  - new manager bounce maybe, but Ferguson had them up for the game. This is what I expect from Smith, especially this weekend when they will be up against a team ready to battle …… having said that if we are already showing signs of fatigue I think we will be found out even more in the coming weeks - fitter teams will just be able to pick us off.
Looking at 3 poorer/weaker teams than us right now is proving evermore difficult ….. sort it out Villa 

That approach worked for them at the weekend because I think it took Chelsea by surprise, it’s not a trick that they can repeat very often. They probably have enough to stay clear of trouble but given that they have spent near to half a billion under this owner they really should have a lot more to show for it.

Offline villa `cross the mersey

  • Member
  • Posts: 6112
  • Location: Formby, Merseyside
Re: Anyone starting to get worried?
« Reply #806 on: December 14, 2019, 07:01:57 PM »
Starting to feel a bit uneasy now ......must win games looming and we all know how we do in those ;)

Offline phantom limb

  • Member
  • Posts: 1464
  • Location: Beep Street
  • GM : 05.02.2021
Re: Anyone starting to get worried?
« Reply #807 on: December 14, 2019, 07:04:42 PM »
While our current run is depressing, I’m filled with rage about all of the dropped points earlier in the season. There are so many examples, the Arsenal game being especially aggravating. I’d hoped it wouldn’t come back to bite us, and of course here we are.

Online Rudy Can't Fail

  • Member
  • Posts: 38934
  • Location: In the Shade
    • http://www.heroespredictions.co.uk/pl/
Re: Anyone starting to get worried?
« Reply #808 on: December 14, 2019, 07:13:02 PM »
While our current run is depressing, I’m filled with rage about all of the dropped points earlier in the season. There are so many examples, the Arsenal game being especially aggravating. I’d hoped it wouldn’t come back to bite us, and of course here we are.

At least in the early art of the season we looked like we had a plan, kept to it and generally played well. I miss those days.

Offline malckennedy

  • Member
  • Posts: 846
Re: Anyone starting to get worried?
« Reply #809 on: December 14, 2019, 07:13:33 PM »
In answer to the question in the thread title, yes. Very.

Our best players are starting to struggle. Our worst are not good enough (including our £22m “striker”).

 


SimplePortal 2.3.6 © 2008-2014, SimplePortal