UEFA Europa Conference League - Alkmaar, Legia and Zrinjski

[Meanwood Villa]

Wasn't the McGinn quote something along the lines of we're very good at hiding what we do well. At the time when we're flying and look unbeatable it sounds great. Now it sounds like hubris.

[Steve67]

After Project Gerrard, getting ourselves in the position where European football was even a possibility has required us to maintain the third best form in the league over more than half of the season. However, we aren’t the third best team in the league, so the fact that we haven’t been able to maintain that form over the last 4-games shouldn’t be too surprising or dispiriting. It does feel like teams have been able to work us out, so I’m hoping that recruitment in the summer will allow us to adapt better to different opposition.

Thanks for taking the time to post, given how busy you are with trying to keep Leeds up! 😂
I agree with every word of this. Recruitment is key now. Other than four or five of the current 11 they are upgradable in terms of, they are ok, but there is better out there. I trust Emery to push for what he wants and Alemany will surely help that cause.

[ChicagoLion]

I don’t buy this teams have worked us out, against Newcastle we were full of energy, movement and accurate passing and since then not.

[Drummond]

I don’t buy this teams have worked us out, against Newcastle we were full of energy, movement and accurate passing and since then not.

I think you're right. But also that we need to adapt in some situations a bit more too; our passing when the opposition make it really tight is letting us down a little.

It's taking good goals to beat us still. That header was really good yesterday (though should he have been able to win it in the first place?)

Spurs will be up for it next week, in fact, the way it's all going we've got the proverbial Cup Final every game...

[Pete3206]

There's really no point looking at the permutations at this stage. Since Newcastle, we've been poor, the goals have dried up and there's next to no chance of getting 3 wins which won't even guarantee 7th place.   

[Chris Smith]

I don’t buy this teams have worked us out, against Newcastle we were full of energy, movement and accurate passing and since then not.

I think you're right. But also that we need to adapt in some situations a bit more too; our passing when the opposition make it really tight is letting us down a little.

It's taking good goals to beat us still. That header was really good yesterday (though should he have been able to win it in the first place?)

For their goal I think all the tussling before the kick was taken, with the ref intervening a couple of times,  seemed to disrupt our concentration and it was a pretty much unchallenged header. It makes you wonder whether the whole wrestling match was a premeditated plan to upset our organisation.

[Drummond]

Yep, it was Ramsey who was on him, and it's not the first time he's not quite been there, I wonder whether he has mental fatigue. Which is understandable in a younger player, again, where a replacement would be good.

[RamboandBruno]

Leeds are dreadful. Spurs will beat them easily, whether Leeds need the points or not. Brighton are probably the most in form team in the league right now other than Man City, and need the points too. I'd much rather have to face Leeds than them.

Spurs form over the last 4 games is no better than our form. This is the opposite to an irrationally optimistic post.
There is no reason why we can’t beat spurs next week. There is also no reason why they won’t struggle against Brentford at home.

[ChicagoLion]

Yep, it was Ramsey who was on him, and it's not the first time he's not quite been there, I wonder whether he has mental fatigue. Which is understandable in a younger player, again, where a replacement would be good.

It was a completely free header which is disappointing.

[eamonn]

I must say, I was impressed with Emery in his full interview with the BBC after the game (MotD only show some of it but the full thing is on the match report on the website).

He was pretty pragmatic - happy with how we controlled possession against Wolves, disappointing not to force an equaliser etc. But he quickly moved on, unprompted, to talk about the Spurs game and how basically it was a do or die for  Europe. He's usually been circumspect talking about Europe but it felt he knows this is last chance saloon and that he's going to work hard all week to have a Newcastle-type performance prepared.

[Smirker]

I must say, I was impressed with Emery in his full interview with the BBC after the game (MotD only show some of it but the full thing is on the match report on the website).

He was pretty pragmatic - happy with how we controlled possession against Wolves, disappointing not to force an equaliser etc. But he quickly moved on, unprompted, to talk about the Spurs game and how basically it was a do or die for  Europe. He's usually been circumspect talking about Europe but it felt he knows this is last chance saloon and that he's going to work hard all week to have a Newcastle-type performance prepared.

That makes me feel warm and fuzzy 

[Toronto Villa]

What’s happened is nothing to do with what the players said. This is professional football at the highest level. Every PL team has scouts and analysts who pour over every detail trying to get an edge. They will have identified areas to stop us and some will do it better than others. We’ve lost two away games and not scored in them after an incredible run of results. It’s a combination of adjusted opponents tactics and the exhaustion of the training, attention to detail and fighting our way from 4th bottom to top 6 contenders in a few months. Mentally and physically that’s exhausting.

[eamonn]

I must say, I was impressed with Emery in his full interview with the BBC after the game (MotD only show some of it but the full thing is on the match report on the website).

He was pretty pragmatic - happy with how we controlled possession against Wolves, disappointing not to force an equaliser etc. But he quickly moved on, unprompted, to talk about the Spurs game and how basically it was a do or die for  Europe. He's usually been circumspect talking about Europe but it felt he knows this is last chance saloon and that he's going to work hard all week to have a Newcastle-type performance prepared.

That makes me feel warm and fuzzy 

It's good to see you smile and not smirk.

[Risso]

I must say, I was impressed with Emery in his full interview with the BBC after the game (MotD only show some of it but the full thing is on the match report on the website).

He was pretty pragmatic - happy with how we controlled possession against Wolves, disappointing not to force an equaliser etc. But he quickly moved on, unprompted, to talk about the Spurs game and how basically it was a do or die for  Europe. He's usually been circumspect talking about Europe but it felt he knows this is last chance saloon and that he's going to work hard all week to have a Newcastle-type performance prepared.

Even a win probably isn't going to be enough though.

[kippaxvilla2]

We’ve blown it.  Like we always do.