I don't think our away form will be quite as effective based on the fact we don't appear to have another way of playing. I base this on previous managers who got worked out, some more quicker than others. O Leary had us playing high tempo football intitially. He struggled initially, but for the whole of 2004 we were very good, finishing 6th, and starting the next season quite well. From then on, because he had no other way of playing, because teams had sussed us, we weren't as good. Likewise Brian Little had two great seasons, but it all went down hill on his third. People had worked out how to counter our system.I think teams are going to be a lot more wary of our pace on the counter this season. And what have we learned in tough times since Lambert took over? That when it comes to changing things in a game, he more often than not, makes a bit of a howler. That the 4-2-4 still crops up is evidence of that. I hope I'm wrong, but perennially when we've only had 1-2 ways of playing, even in more successful periods, it doesn't last when some degree of flexibility isn't apparent. I think one of the major things we've lacked in the last couple of years is that ability to just really grind out a result. I'm not sure Lambert's good at winning ugly. A lot of our wins last season were done with some element of style, or through sheer attacking will, but when the attack isn't quite doing it, we don't have the resilience to hold out and scrape a goal. Winning games 3-2 is one thing, but we need that ability to nick 1-0's in games too. That's if we want to finish comfortably in the mid level of the table. Certainly the ability to nick a win would come in mightily useful if Benteke got injured.
We won ONE more home game last season under Lambert than we did the year before under McLeish. Fact.whilst I like Lambert and the way he has us going forwards he needs to address the lack of home form.
I was a bit surprised at how little we spent again this summer I have to admit. I though we would, with the TV deal, spend a little more on 2-3 players that could make the difference, but hopefully they are still targets.
Quote from: PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt on September 17, 2013, 08:39:14 PMWe won ONE more home game last season under Lambert than we did the year before under McLeish. Fact.whilst I like Lambert and the way he has us going forwards he needs to address the lack of home form.I have not got a problem with us losing as long as I can see what Lambert is trying to do . But , Saturday he did not have a clue , there was no positive from that game . That is what worries me . 6 home wins in 36 is awful . I dont want to see another performance like that , from the team or the manager .
Quote from: supertom on September 18, 2013, 11:47:19 AMI don't think our away form will be quite as effective based on the fact we don't appear to have another way of playing. I base this on previous managers who got worked out, some more quicker than others. O Leary had us playing high tempo football intitially. He struggled initially, but for the whole of 2004 we were very good, finishing 6th, and starting the next season quite well. From then on, because he had no other way of playing, because teams had sussed us, we weren't as good. Likewise Brian Little had two great seasons, but it all went down hill on his third. People had worked out how to counter our system.I think teams are going to be a lot more wary of our pace on the counter this season. And what have we learned in tough times since Lambert took over? That when it comes to changing things in a game, he more often than not, makes a bit of a howler. That the 4-2-4 still crops up is evidence of that. I hope I'm wrong, but perennially when we've only had 1-2 ways of playing, even in more successful periods, it doesn't last when some degree of flexibility isn't apparent. I think one of the major things we've lacked in the last couple of years is that ability to just really grind out a result. I'm not sure Lambert's good at winning ugly. A lot of our wins last season were done with some element of style, or through sheer attacking will, but when the attack isn't quite doing it, we don't have the resilience to hold out and scrape a goal. Winning games 3-2 is one thing, but we need that ability to nick 1-0's in games too. That's if we want to finish comfortably in the mid level of the table. Certainly the ability to nick a win would come in mightily useful if Benteke got injured. I sum the whole thing up as you saying "I'm guessing" as there is no evidence to back it up that teams have sussed us out.As for resilience coming from a goal down to win 3-1 at the emirates doesn't count then? How about coming from behind at Chelsea (only to have the ref gift them the 3 points). I'm firmly of the opinion that we've shown more than enough resilience recently. What you're actually referring to is the lack of clean sheets (given you specifically state the need to win 1-0), which is something that we need to rectify but resilience is normally used to describe a teams ability to stick at it and get a result from being outplayed, that's doesn't mean not conceding.
My own opinion is that the three sixth place finishes achieved by MON's teams was a very poor return on the boost the club should have got from the departure of Doug Ellis and the new broom and new money of a new owner. Take those three sixth places out of the picture and we have been in steady decline for decades. Label the truth as negativity at your peril.
I'm not being funny but sometimes when I think of some of our past managers, and the present one, I get a vision of General Melchet relaying his one and only plan to Blackadder and Darling.
I think people are wrong to think we signed Kozak instead of an attacking midfielder. We just didn't sign the later because the player Lambert wanted wasn't available at the right price.