Anybody starting to get worried…… again?

[hipkiss92]

We do? Half the league maybe...but there's eight or nine clubs who comfortably keep us at arms length when we play them.

As I said the other day, I don't think that's quite true. We were robbed of a result at Anfield, and Martinez probably won't let in a goal again like he did against Man U in the rest of his career. West Ham away could have gone either way and we'd probably have won had we taken the lead like we should have done, and if we'd have gone in at half time against Spurs 5-1 up it wouldn't have flattered us. Arsenal at home was a disgrace, as was Wolves away, which were the games we got exactly what we deserved. Of course all managers can point to similar factors, but my point is we're very much competing in those games, and it's a world away from the batterings we used to take from the "Sky 6" in years gone by.

But arguably no different from our first season back in the league, where we had battling losses against most of the Sky 6. Lost in last minute to Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs all pre-covid that season. Suggests we've not really developed since then.

[Meanwood Villa]

Indeed, lot of excuse making for a wretched record against the top 8 this season.

[Beard82]

We do? Half the league maybe...but there's eight or nine clubs who comfortably keep us at arms length when we play them.

As I said the other day, I don't think that's quite true. We were robbed of a result at Anfield, and Martinez probably won't let in a goal again like he did against Man U in the rest of his career. West Ham away could have gone either way and we'd probably have won had we taken the lead like we should have done, and if we'd have gone in at half time against Spurs 5-1 up it wouldn't have flattered us. Arsenal at home was a disgrace, as was Wolves away, which were the games we got exactly what we deserved. Of course all managers can point to similar factors, but my point is we're very much competing in those games, and it's a world away from the batterings we used to take from the "Sky 6" in years gone by.

But arguably no different from our first season back in the league, where we had battling losses against most of the Sky 6. Lost in last minute to Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs all pre-covid that season. Suggests we've not really developed since then.

I think the disapointing thing is we beat Chealsea, Liverpool, Man Utd, Spurs and Aresenal in Dean Smiths last year at the club.

So we know this team can do it.  But we havent found a way under SG yet

[Drummond]

Putting results to one side for a minute, I think part of the issue is that it doesn't feel much different than under Smith, except we're playing a system that doesn't suit the players. The manager talks about needing support from the owners for more, and that feels a bit like chucking the players under the bus.

There's no denying we had some crap results under Smith, particularly without you know who, but there was also hope we'd beat anyone on our day. Right now it feels like we're doing what you'd expect, except we aren't routinely beating everyone below us.

Anyway, let's hope we perform as we did against Spurs and that Ings and Watkins actually score and we'll be fine. Or change it, because saying you will, then not doing so and getting the same outcome seems pretty stupid.

[gpbarr]

This has been a hugely disappointing season - we were aiming for a top half finish - and apparently budgeted for that.  To an outsider it will look like we are further away than last season.  Which is a shame after the progress we made in the previous 3

I think everyone involved with the club has to take there share of responsibility for that.  Both managers have failed to get us the results that our squad deserves.

Our transfer business last summer looks Poorly thought out in hindsight.  Failure to get more options in midfield was also a big mistake

The players, Cash and Ramsey aside have all been worse this season than last season

Our pre season was a joke.

Everyone involved needs to learn lessons from this if we are to progress significantly.

It’s a big ask, and for some involved it will be too big a ask - but it’s essential we get these things right or the next year or two otherwise we risk becoming Everton. 

We’re not going down, Gerrard is going to get backed in the summer and a lot of the ingredients are there - so let’s hope we had lift the curse of averageness that has hung over the club for too long

UTV

We're 4 points off the top half with two games in hand. If we beat 9th placed Leicester tomorrow, we'd be two points behind them. Their next match is away to Spurs, we're at home to Norwich.  People keep talking as if the season has just finished, when the truth is that we just haven't had a match for two weeks and other teams have. It has been a disappointing season so far, but let's just see how we finish it. 9th or 10th is still possible.

And 17th is possible (and more probable too based on form)

[Risso]

Putting results to one side for a minute, I think part of the issue is that it doesn't feel much different than under Smith, except we're playing a system that doesn't suit the players. The manager talks about needing support from the owners for more, and that feels a bit like chucking the players under the bus.

There's no denying we had some crap results under Smith, particularly without you know who, but there was also hope we'd beat anyone on our day. Right now it feels like we're doing what you'd expect, except we aren't routinely beating everyone below us.

Anyway, let's hope we perform as we did against Spurs and that Ings and Watkins actually score and we'll be fine. Or change it, because saying you will, then not doing so and getting the same outcome seems pretty stupid.

As I've said though, I think the summer with the sale of Grealish and then some panic buying to replace him knocked any idea of a system we had into a cocked hat. Under Smith we pretty well always played either 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 for all of the last two years. This season in his games we played the following:

Watford 4-1-4-1 (L)
Newcastle 4-3-3 (W)
Brentford 4-1-4-1 (D)
Chelsea 5-3-2 (L)
Everton 5-3-2 (W)
Man U 3-5-2 (W)
Spurs 3-5-2 (L)
Wolves 3-4-1-2 (L)
Arsenal 3-4-1-2 (L)
West Ham 4-3-3 (L)
Southampton 4-2-3-1 (L)

I think that's a pretty good indication that the summer was a bit of a mess in respect of our transfer dealings, and Smith massively struggled to deal with it. Gerrard has done better, but still has the same problems to overcome that Smith did.

[Drummond]

Oh don't get me wrong, Smith tried all sorts this season and we struggled. However, we had various players out injured too, including all of our new signings for varying lengths of time. I suppose what I mean isn't to say Gerrard's system is shit he should do what Smith did, but his system seems to be one that doesn't suit our players much. So why play it? Unless he feels safe and just wants the players to roll their sleeves up and try harder to get it and perform in it and get used to it.

Sometimes you need to change it depending on the opposition.

Interestingly, about tomorrow he's said it's the result, not the performance that's important.

[Ads]

Regardless of this mini revival it will be Burnley going down not Everton.

They'll get 4 points from us though i reckon.

I think they'll get 1, at best.

I hope your right, but they have a thing called fighting spirit that we haven't. If we're going to get 6 points in addition to 1 off Burnley it'll be against Norwich and Palace.

That must be why they've just won their 5th game.

[Chris Smith]

Regardless of this mini revival it will be Burnley going down not Everton.

They'll get 4 points from us though i reckon.

I think they'll get 1, at best.

I hope your right, but they have a thing called fighting spirit that we haven't. If we're going to get 6 points in addition to 1 off Burnley it'll be against Norwich and Palace.

That must be why they've just won their 5th game.

Yet have lost 3 fewer than we have. We’re a better team than they are but 13 draws suggests they have a bit of fight in them.

[LeeB]

I watched most of the game, they played well

[Ads]

Regardless of this mini revival it will be Burnley going down not Everton.

They'll get 4 points from us though i reckon.

I think they'll get 1, at best.

I hope your right, but they have a thing called fighting spirit that we haven't. If we're going to get 6 points in addition to 1 off Burnley it'll be against Norwich and Palace.

That must be why they've just won their 5th game.

Yet have lost 3 fewer than we have. We’re a better team than they are but 13 draws suggests they have a bit of fight in them.

11 wins to their 5 suggests we have a bit more fight and more quality too.

[TelfordVilla]

No it doesn't. How many games have we won from behind

[Risso]

No it doesn't. How many games have we won from behind

We haven't got more quality than Burnley? Right you are.

[Clampy]

No it doesn't. How many games have we won from behind

How many Burnley players would you have in our squad over ours?

[Richard E]

As far as I can tell Burnley have come from behind once to win in the league this season, against the equally crap Everton.