I'd go so far as to say we're pretty good in patches - but those patches rarely last entire matches, or multiple matches. When we went down in 2016, we rarely looked like a decent side, and although we've struggled, and lost late goals against a lot of sides, we've looked like we could compete and event beat some of the top teams. I've said previously, but we were within a few minutes of beating Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool this season. Those were games where we got zero points, but we're not a million miles away from winning a few games like those, and games like today. It always feels worse losing so late. Imagine how the Watford fans felt a couple of weeks ago.Sheff Utd, who everyone agrees are having a brilliant season, have only won 3 more than we have. The big difference is draws, which we simply can't hold on to for some reason.I still think we'll be OK, and we'll be a much better side next season with the younger players having had a year's experience and two or three quality additions.
Quote from: Smithy on February 16, 2020, 07:23:19 PMI'd go so far as to say we're pretty good in patches - but those patches rarely last entire matches, or multiple matches. When we went down in 2016, we rarely looked like a decent side, and although we've struggled, and lost late goals against a lot of sides, we've looked like we could compete and event beat some of the top teams. I've said previously, but we were within a few minutes of beating Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool this season. Those were games where we got zero points, but we're not a million miles away from winning a few games like those, and games like today. It always feels worse losing so late. Imagine how the Watford fans felt a couple of weeks ago.Sheff Utd, who everyone agrees are having a brilliant season, have only won 3 more than we have. The big difference is draws, which we simply can't hold on to for some reason.I still think we'll be OK, and we'll be a much better side next season with the younger players having had a year's experience and two or three quality additions. Good post Smithy .......I wished I shared your optimism I think we have been far too naive in games against the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool et al ......a bit of professionalism is called for to see games out.....I would have thought John Terry would have drummed that into the players
Quote from: Smithy on February 16, 2020, 07:23:19 PMI'd go so far as to say we're pretty good in patches - but those patches rarely last entire matches, or multiple matches. When we went down in 2016, we rarely looked like a decent side, and although we've struggled, and lost late goals against a lot of sides, we've looked like we could compete and event beat some of the top teams. I've said previously, but we were within a few minutes of beating Spurs, Arsenal and Liverpool this season. Those were games where we got zero points, but we're not a million miles away from winning a few games like those, and games like today. It always feels worse losing so late. Imagine how the Watford fans felt a couple of weeks ago.Sheff Utd, who everyone agrees are having a brilliant season, have only won 3 more than we have. The big difference is draws, which we simply can't hold on to for some reason.I still think we'll be OK, and we'll be a much better side next season with the younger players having had a year's experience and two or three quality additions.Danger with just comparing us to 2016 version is that is simply one of the worst top flight outfits in last 30 years, the points total shows as much. As history has shown though even those types of teams have some good players lurking in them.I think we're similar to 12-13. Lots of enthusiasm and good play at times but always a sense we're not far from a woeful run of form as happened in the middle part of that season. Vlaar-Delph-Benteke held things together as much as Mings-McGinn-Grealish would if they were all fit at same time.We were actually in worse shape and still stayed up with our front 3 getting hot that year. Of course didn't then kick on with more bargain based signings that summer.
One of my neighbours is a close relative of Engels` partner - I'm still waiting to see him to ascertain why Engels has not been making the bench and why the heck he didn't welly it today I like Engels and Mings but they do make some errors - they appear " over confident or cocky" sometimes - hopefully they learn from such blips
Ironically didn't think the Spurs CBs were much better at all, I rate Toby but the way Grealish just breezed past him in the first half was funny to watch. Sanchez always struck me as a liability as he comes from the same reading of the game as hause and Konsa. They were poor defending corners all game aswell. Vertonghen was a good CB but also lost pace and can't get in their side anymore.Ultimately Spurs have the attack to bail them out time and again (they've kept 4 clean sheets all season). We don't.Don't think there's many world class CBs in the league anymore bar Van Dijk, Laporte and the odd other CB and that's reflected in the top 8 teams struggling to keep clean sheets.
I cannot believe how optimistic I was last May. We had a knack of drawing games in the Championship - it was the thing that held us back from the automatic places - but I thought it would be the thing that would keep us up in the premier league. I thought we would draw 10-11 this season and win 9-10.I am alarmed at our inability to draw games. Like, we have thrown away draws against Bournemouth at home, Palace away, Arsenal away, Liverpool at home, Spurs at home. That's five points and I know there are others that I can't just think of. 3-4 extra points right now would be MASSIVE.It is incredibly frustrating.