Is this what transition looks like?

[supertom]

More evidence of transition is finding ways to win even when not playing well and never really looking like losing. It was a grind and not as free flowing as we wanted but we worked out a way to get a result.

Yes and 4 clean sheets in quick succession bodes well.

That was one thing we lacked last season, which all decent sides need, and that is the ability to grind out a result. Not pretty but you can't win everygame 3-2 in style. So in this respect, though it's been painful on the eyes to watch recently, it has been pleasing to see our defence much improved. We won at Arsenal with a degree of style. Every other win this season has been a hard thought slog. We're due another win with a bit of pazzazz and some nice footy, so hopefully it comes soon. It won't come against the Baggies though, that's going to be very tight and not very pretty.
If we can recapture a bit of our style too, we'll be comfortable this season.

[olaftab]

It would appear that Westwood, Sylla, Delph and Bacuna are our best 4 midfielders. What would be wrong with a midfield and upfront of (?)

Bacuna   Westwood   Sylla    Delph

          Tonev

                   Benteke

[eastie]

It would appear that Westwood, Sylla, Delph and Bacuna are our best 4 midfielders. What would be wrong with a midfield and upfront of (?)

Bacuna   Westwood   Sylla    Delph

          Tonev

                   Benteke

Agreed, said the same on the post match thread - this is the way to go .
I would have Westwood sylla as the holding midfield players with bacuna Delph and tonev ahead - benteke as the focal point but tonev and bacuna getting forward to support and also Lowton and luna on the overlap - more fluidity and movement .

[Legion]

Would prefer Gabby or Weimann as opposed to Tonev.

[Ads]

I think that midfield lacks balance.

Away from home I think you would have Sylla and Westwood, Delph in front, with Bacuna and Gabby off Benteke. Plenty of pace and width there.

At home I think Tonev has something to offer with some invention through the middle.

[eastie]

I think that midfield lacks balance.

Away from home I think you would have Sylla and Westwood, Delph in front, with Bacuna and Gabby off Benteke. Plenty of pace and width there.

At home I think Tonev has something to offer with some invention through the middle.

I cannot see gabby being fit for the Albion game - we do now have options though and can vary our game - we have the likes of Kozak, gabby and Weimann in addition to those mentioned.

I have heard nothing on nzogbia for a while so assume he is still a long way from returning.

[Irish villain]

I think we have to play with three central midfielders. There's no way Delph should be forced out into a wider position to accommodate a new system. Therefore Delph, Sylla and Westwood need to be a central three with one dropping back, one slightly advanced and one as a kind of midfield engine (Delph/Sylla).  Could this work perhaps, with Bacuna playing in the Weimann position but drifting wider?


-----------------------Westwood--------------------------

---------------Sylla-----------------Delph-----------------

------Bacuna---------------------------------Agbonlahor-----

------------------------Benteke---------------------------------
                 

[supertom]

I think we have to play with three central midfielders. There's no way Delph should be forced out into a wider position to accommodate a new system. Therefore Delph, Sylla and Westwood need to be a central three with one dropping back, one slightly advanced and one as a kind of midfield engine (Delph/Sylla).  Could this work perhaps, with Bacuna playing in the Weimann position but drifting wider?


-----------------------Westwood--------------------------

---------------Sylla-----------------Delph-----------------

------Bacuna---------------------------------Agbonlahor-----

------------------------Benteke---------------------------------
                 

This. I'd have Weimann, Tonev and Gabby rotating in that left FW position. I actually think if Andi is going to play a narrow wide role, hes better on the left hand side, allowing him to cut inside onto his right foot. I think he'd bury more chances than he has this season so far, if he was coming in onto his stronger foot. I'd like Bacuna, with Lowton playing behind him to provide some width and a bit of quality on the flank, whilst retaining all that industry Andi would give you there. We've got 3 humungous strikers on our books, we may as well give them some crosses to feed off.

[JUAN PABLO]

I thought this season was going to be a season of 5-2 wins and 6-3 defeats .


how wrong was I

Its dull at times but as long as we survive and I now think we will , as their are a lot of poor teams this season.

[Toronto Villa]

https://twitter.com/theciancarroll/status/398090222207893504

Someone on twitter has done a table, showing teams by the value of their fixtures' difficulty. I don't think it's weighted actual points gained, or whether they've weighted home and away differently

Anyway, either way, we're top and Southampton are bottom.

I keep on saying this, but let's start judging the team by around the end of December. We've got loads of winnable games coming up. And i think we've lost one game against a team outside the current top eight since January.

Matt, when you look at the November and December a lot in the league will even out. We have numerous very winnable games, the toughest being Southampton away. I would hope the recent resilience we are exhibiting will hold us in good stead against all of those sides with the added bonus that Benteke's goal dearth will not last forever.

[Ian.]

https://twitter.com/theciancarroll/status/398090222207893504

Someone on twitter has done a table, showing teams by the value of their fixtures' difficulty. I don't think it's weighted actual points gained, or whether they've weighted home and away differently

Anyway, either way, we're top and Southampton are bottom.

I keep on saying this, but let's start judging the team by around the end of December. We've got loads of winnable games coming up. And i think we've lost one game against a team outside the current top eight since January.

Matt, when you look at the November and December a lot in the league will even out. We have numerous very winnable games, the toughest being Southampton away. I would hope the recent resilience we are exhibiting will hold us in good stead against all of those sides with the added bonus that Benteke's goal dearth will not last forever.

Sooner or later we will start to score again and this will lift the team and confidence will grow. It showed last season we grew in confidence from March onwards and we all felt we could get a result and score goals. I really don't think we are as bad as some people portray us. I do however think this young side is very dependent on Benteke's goals to give us that belief. Saying that there is a great togetherness in the team and they seem to be more resilient like you say TV.

[danno]

I agree with that, one goal yesterday totally lifted us.
Same as last season, one goal could really inspire or deflate us instantly.

Hallmark of a very young side I suppose.

[Dante Lavelli]

I agree with that, one goal yesterday totally lifted us.
Same as last season, one goal could really inspire or deflate us instantly.

Hallmark of a very young side I suppose.

Oh for an early goal in one of these "winnable" games.  We deserved one on merit against Everton and possibly Cardiff, even West Ham.  Get that and I could see a comfortable victory coming as the opposition will be forced to attack and our natural counter attacking game can prosper.

[Concrete John]

https://twitter.com/theciancarroll/status/398090222207893504

Someone on twitter has done a table, showing teams by the value of their fixtures' difficulty. I don't think it's weighted actual points gained, or whether they've weighted home and away differently

Anyway, either way, we're top and Southampton are bottom.

I keep on saying this, but let's start judging the team by around the end of December. We've got loads of winnable games coming up. And i think we've lost one game against a team outside the current top eight since January.

And that was against Newcastle, who are presently 9th.

If you take the points per game since we 'turrned the corner' away to Everton last season, it's 35 points from 25 games, which extrapolates to 53 points over a 38 game season.

Would anyone argue with that come May?

[Ads]

That would be a tidy return and probably see us 11th-8th.