Half term report

[Meanwood Villa]

Negatives

Drop off in form from second half of last season has continued, we've now shown mid table form across a season's worth of games.

Our defensive record remains woeful and is costing us points regularly.

We seem to have lost the ability to take points off the "big" teams (except for Man Citeh who have had their own issues).  We have also capitulated alarmingly on more than one occasion, particularly away (Spurs, Forest, Chelsea)

Players such as Bailey, Watkins, McGinn, Pau, even Emi to an extent, have dropped performance levels since last season.

Positives

Champions League performances have been excellent in the main. Great chance to qualify for top 8, which I didn't think was likely before a ball had been kicked.

Despite the extra demands, we have stayed in touch with the European spots and even a slight upturn in form should see us in the top 6 at least.

Duran and Rogers. Potential superstars and they play for us. If these two continue to click we could have some special times ahead second half of the season.

Spurs and Man Utd, realistically two of our closest rivals, have been even worse.

Overall: B-

[Nev]

Matching or exceeding last season was always going to be unlikely, particularly with the PSR restrictions. You also have some players off form, such as Ollie and Bailey, but then Duran and Tielemans have been excellent. There's been too much Carlos and not enough Mings, some confused thinking from the Manager, bizarre defending at times but glimpses of the sublime football that we can play, last night was testament to that.
It's a tight League, we are amongst a whole host of teams who are inconsistent so still in touch given a good second half of the campaign and this is shaping up to be a bit of an odd season but I don't think we have real cause for complaint and plenty to be optimistic about. And the CL has been fucking brilliant.

Away from the pitch it remains too expensive, fan engagement has all but halted, the 150 game leaves a bad taste, not to mention the Poretti, the way long-standing supporters have been treated in terms of location is appalling and while the CL nights have been a spectacle even before the game kicks off I wish we'd dispense with the fireworks and razzmatazz when we are at home to the likes of Brentford and Wolfs.

Hugely enjoyable, slightly frustrating, utterly memorable and never dull.

[ChicagoLion]

The summer transfer window, loss of form of key players  combined with the change in the way we play has meant we have gone backwards.
The CL has been brilliant except for Brugge but is another reason we are regularly dropping points in the League.
It’s hard not to feel disappointed when we throw away so many points.
6/10

The off field stuff is just so unbecoming of this great and historic Football Club.

[PaulWinch again]

Champions League - A, some brilliant nights and some very strong results.

League - C, the positive is we’re still in touch but our continued inability to get our defensive system working means we’re chucking away lots of points. That has to be the absolute prime focus - and I think a pacy wide right would help (alleviate pressure, allow us to stretch teams more). But we also need to work out how the attack and midfield support properly.

[Rigadon]

6/10 is about right, based on the level we know we are capable of. 

We need some new defenders on the squad. 

[Villan82]

I think a drop off was always on the cards but I have been surprised by how long it has gone on. We had PSR issues but I am not sure we had to quite change as much as we did - what happened to the high line, for example? I am beginning to wonder if Bailey will ever get back into form? His drop off on top of losing Luiz and Diaby is a big part of why we are drawing games we would have won last season.  But we still have a lot to play for. About 11 wins from here would have us in the hunt for the top 6 and I'd have snapped your hands off for top 6 before Emery arrived.

Then we come to off the pitch. Rumblings of discontent have been ever present through the calendar year and the club just hasn't been in touch. The year started with bold statements about marking 150 years, a new identity and in the vacuum that followed the 'pause' on the North Stand a big debate on here about a new stadium. The year ends with eye watering prices, a very bad taste in the mouth over the disabled car parking fiasco in September, us walking even further away from even doing the North Stand this decade, and with us not doing anything of note to mark our 150th year. Yes, I know they are doing it for the FA cup game in January 2025 (which begs the question, what was the plan if we didn't get a home draw) so it's another decision that comes with an asterisk next to it.

[brontebilly]

The development of Duran and Rogers have been the big positives so far. The night v Bayern was obviously amazing but in the main performances have been very uneven all season. There's a nagging feeling that the core of the team is in a decline that started last season and hasn't been arrested by the summer signings.
It's a very strange PL season though, Liverpool look like they will have the title wrapped up very early and everyone else is struggling to a degree. Hit any kind of consistent form and we will be right in the mix for top 4/5 again.

[Deano's Mullet]

After having had near perfection from November 2022 onwards its been a bit hard to take all these draws, the odd defeat and the uneven performances but it's hardly a decline of Ron Atkinson or David OLeary proportions or indeed the post ONeill run. I've no doubt Emery will turn it round - the Mings Konsa partnership is tried and trusted and was amazing back end of 2023 season. The problems are clearly down the right and that midfield anchor we seem to be missing.
8/10 in the Champions League, 6/10 in the Prem but we've got half a season still to rack up wins and points. I know a good run is coming, I just not sure when it'll kick in.

[Mister E]

I think this has been a year where key injuries have dogged us throughout, and continue to do so now. Of the three ACL's suffered in 2023, only Kamara - so far - seems to have shaken it off. Mings appears about ready - let's hope so, given Torres' injury last night - but Buendia seems to have lost his sharpness and energy, the 2 attributes which overcome his small stature.
Ramsey's Footgate nightmare may finally be over; but that is still unclear. We have really missed Ramsey more than seems obvious.
For the first part of this season, I've been struck by a feeling that Emery still doesn't quite know what his best team is. To qualify that, I'm one of the people who thinks that the best XI may differ from game to game and because of the prevailing circumstances. However, we do seem to be struggling to find the balance and poise to get us on the front foot in games, and this probably stems from not having a strong and confident back line at the moment. Even Martinez has shown signs this season of flakiness. We simply have to find the right combo of CBs and DMFs because doing so will enable us to mix it up at FB and further forward to find the style we want against specific opponents.
I think we have a lot more to offer and will go on a run in the 2nd half of this season, remaining competitive in both the ECL and the Premier League.

[caster troy]

It’s been a disappointing first half for me, somewhat glossed over by a couple of Duran 30 yarders that have kept us in touch in both leagues.

The summer recruitment really looks crap at this point. Excusing the PSR merry go round transfers we still had a bit to spend and wasted it. We are largely relying on the same XI as before, with a more difficult set of fixtures and we’ve been punished for it.