Is this what transition looks like?

[hilts_coolerking]

We might joke about Heskey too, but would you rather have Emile or Jordan Bowery on the bench?

I'd rather have Emile Sandé on the bench than Emile Heskey.

She'd come on, flit around inconsequentially for three or four minutes, and get Man of the Match.

[Toronto Villa]

So just past the half way point of the season, and ignoring for a moment the specifics of how we got here, is sitting 10th on 24pts something that we would all have accepted at the start of the campaign? In terms of transition it is a significant step forward on a number of fronts, and we have taken a step back in some other areas. But where do we stand and what would now represent a satisfactory second half to the season?

[KevinGage]

A vast improvement in home form. 

Not just results, but attacking intent. Take the game to the opposition, win a few, lose a few.  But have a go.

[Chris Smith]

So just past the half way point of the season, and ignoring for a moment the specifics of how we got here, is sitting 10th on 24pts something that we would all have accepted at the start of the campaign? In terms of transition it is a significant step forward on a number of fronts, and we have taken a step back in some other areas. But where do we stand and what would now represent a satisfactory second half to the season?

I am sure most of us would have taken 10th at this stage. The key for me is keeping Benteke, Gabby, Vlaar and Delph fit for the majority of games. If we are able to field a team similar to the one that played at Anfield from here on in, then I think we'll have a decent run in.

[aj2k77]

So just past the half way point of the season, and ignoring for a moment the specifics of how we got here, is sitting 10th on 24pts something that we would all have accepted at the start of the campaign? In terms of transition it is a significant step forward on a number of fronts, and we have taken a step back in some other areas. But where do we stand and what would now represent a satisfactory second half to the season?

If I ignore 80% of our performances this season then 10th on 24pts I would have taken in a heart beat.

The worry for me is that the young performers last season (Lowton, Westwood, Weimann etc) who were expected to kick on with another seasons experience have massively gone backwards and pose as many long term problem areas as they have solved overall.

Points wise, happy.
Performance wise, disappointed.

[Toronto Villa]

yes, cracking the home issue is massive. I think we can all sit quite comfortably that wherever we go now when playing away from VP, we will always have a better than even chance of coming back with something. At home it has been nothing shirt of a disaster and it has to be something that needs addressing this January. A player or two to change the dynamic of how we set up and our entire philosophy on keeping the ball and pressing. Having watched the way we can play against Liverpool shows that these players can pass and move, but they need to have more belief in themselves when the expectation is that we do it at home. We cannot always play on the counter and we simply have to become a side that push opponents back. There is a good team in there, and if we can figure out the home form to any extent we will comfortably finish in the top half this season.

[Ads]

If we were as good at home as we are away, then we'd be above Man United.

[pauliewalnuts]

We need to start winning some matches, too.

An upturn in performance at Anfield, and a slight improvement at the end of the Arsenal game, but our last 10 league results going back from this weekend are:

DLWDLLLLWD

That's 9 points from 30, and just 2 wins, which is really poor.

Since we beat Man City at home, Sept 28th, we've played P16 W3 D6 L7 - 15 points from 48 available in the last 3.5 months

Saturday was much improved, but on its own, as a single match, it will count for nothing if we don't actually build on it.

[Toronto Villa]

what's crazy about that series of games is that despite those results we are 10th and after Man City we were in 9th. The gap above us has grown considerably, but the inconsistency and general averageness to shitness of everyone from about 10th on down has been maintained.

[bobdylan]

1 win in the last 9 including the cup game is horrific it has to be said.  We're 6 points off bottom, in another season that could see us in 19th position.  But there is a good team in there somewhere.  The next few weeks will be very interesting.

[PaulWinch again]

We need to start winning some matches, too.

An upturn in performance at Anfield, and a slight improvement at the end of the Arsenal game, but our last 10 league results going back from this weekend are:

DLWDLLLLWD

That's 9 points from 30, and just 2 wins, which is really poor.

Since we beat Man City at home, Sept 28th, we've played P16 W3 D6 L7 - 15 points from 48 available in the last 3.5 months

Saturday was much improved, but on its own, as a single match, it will count for nothing if we don't actually build on it.

That's the point, Saturday's display has to be the start of improved performances and results.

[Toronto Villa]

1 win in the last 9 including the cup game is horrific it has to be said.  We're 6 points off bottom, in another season that could see us in 19th position.  But there is a good team in there somewhere.  The next few weeks will be very interesting.

in another season all of those other teams would be below us as well because they have less points. You cannot use the "another season" argument because it has no bearing on the current one.

[Dave Cooper please]

1 win in the last 9 including the cup game is horrific it has to be said.  We're 6 points off bottom, in another season that could see us in 19th position.  But there is a good team in there somewhere.  The next few weeks will be very interesting.

I'm not going to look it up but I doubt very much that 24 points at this stage of the season has ever been 19th.

[ChicagoLion]

The league position disguises what has been a pretty awful half season, we have gone backwards since the end of last season.

I cant help thinking that there is something very wrong behind the scenes.

There is 6 points separating 10 poor teams, we are just one of those poor teams.

[cheltenhamlion]

Blimey, you aren't half a miserable bugger at times. We played very well at the weekend. Benteke is looking like Benteke again and the rest have taken their queue.

We need to more consistently prove that a bit of a corner has been turned of late, but why seemingly hope for the worst?

We are in for a season that pans out like last I reckon. Just with plenty more points on the board before the form turns.

I have a suspicion we are going to destro the Olbiyun. So much so I requested the following day off work earlier.