I was reading an analysis the other day suggesting there isn’t actually much of a difference in aggregate absences from injuries this year to last year. Obviously there can be important qualitative differences in the importance of players lost, but I also think people often have a backwards looking approach to this where the focus is on dropped points not players lost. It means we can lose our number 1 keeper for a significant period of the season and everyone waves it away because we were good enough to have it not derail us.
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No I’m referring to Santiago Giménez who was key to Slot’s PSV team and Igor Paixão and Minteh… both very good at pressing from the front.
As I said, last year was a departure (due in large to accommodating Mo’s scoring). And I think it is why Diaz played as much as he did. As you said Nunez, did nothing during the final few months which is why I think he rarely played…
Just want to offer a comment about @Mascot view on Wolves, and being more charitable to each other when we post.
Wolves are in 20th spot and we really should be beating them. We all know that. The point that Mascot is making (at least as I interpret it) is there are no ‘gimmies’ in the Prem any more. With the wealth in the game all Premier League sides have some very good players in their ranks. In fact, Wolves have two midfielders in Andre and Gomes who, to varying levels, were linked with us before they went to Wolves. They are not chumps. I suspect had we had Gomes in our midfield all season long we’d be in a better position, as teams would not have been walzing right through us. Just my opinion.
Yes, of course some teams are still much better than others in the Prem, and had we played to our level we really should be beating Wolves.
But Mascot’s point, to me, is reasonable, if he is saying that the level of the teams at the lower end of the Premier League has gone up. I am in full agreement with that, and it’s a big reason why we are seeing more and more upsets, and why more and more teams are struggling with consistency.
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Just curious… Is it the article that is overly simplistic and didn’t account for what positions those players are in or what type of depth we have? For example, Arsenal can easily deal with injuries just due to the sheer number of quality depth players they have. It simply cannot be compared. 3 or 4 more senior players injured… and they can still name a strong bench. Not us.
I hate small planes, but I would feel safer on a well maintained Cessna than a Airbus A350 without landing gear even if the rest of the plane is top quality. That’s the situation we are in. We have some top, top players but we have serious gaps that can’t be solved by the players we have.
Yes the article was a piece of shit and made no relevant points at all, that was why I thought I’d reference it.
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Usually what I do
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Point taken.
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I also think it is a misnomer, as Hugo does try to press but the problem is with his pressing it is the back up pressing in midfield that seems non existant.
There was a passage of play early in the game where Hugo pressed 2 players, only for an easy outlet into Gomes in midfield with none of our midfielders near him, he threw up his hands in angst.
This is symptomatic of our game our press is pathetic, I regularly watch Hugo and Wirtz work hard to try and press and then there is an easy outlet pass into midfield, they are wasting energy and can be soul destroying.
This is why am now firmly in the Slot out camp now, I just don’t see a cohesive plan when defending.
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It’s not the pressing from the front that is the issue it is the rest of the team not backing up the press.
Although, Diaz and Jota were good at it.
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Not having a go but Mascot mentioned not being able to cope if you have a couple of players off pace.
If you have a coherent system and one that is ingrained enough you can carry a player that isn’t quite firing as long as they put the effort in.
What we have struggled from is brainfarts defensively that have to goals and you can’t legislate for that.
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Upto the 76th minute we had 1 shot on target against a team which is 20th in the league and had conceded 30 goals in 15 matches.
This is absolutely dire and to try argue this away as there is no gimmies is madness.
In 1997 we lost 1 nil at home to Barnsley that afternoon we had 29 shots at goal 21 on target thats unlucky last night wasn’t that.
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Absolutely priceless you deflected answering a question by saying you don’t deflect.
Yes, we should be beating Wolves. Had we played to our level we would have. The issue on our end is we have been so far away, on so many occasions, that it will probably cost Slot his job. Qualification for next season’s CL, even with five Prem sides going, is in the balance. We were crap. No argument from me on that.
Wolves have been a fair bit better of late than they have shown for much of the season. From looking like certainties to go down, they are trying to make a fight of it. They are still bottom, and again we should be beating them, but I do see some quality in their ranks.
Against Wolves we were the better team, we controlled most of the game, with them scoring late with their 1st shot on target.
Saying all this, we never laid a glove on them, whilst having control, our wide forwards were ineffectual and our play was too slow and in Virg’s words side to side.
We are so predictable very few penetrating passes, little or no movement off the ball to effect the oppositions shape.
Our plan seems to be get it to the wide players to run at their FB’s, however, neither has been effectual this season at being able to beat their FB, so not a cohesive strategy.
People keep talking about pressing players, why would a forward waste his energy when trying to press a defender when there is no back up from the midfielders/defenders, which must be a tactic from Arne because it happens every game.
Our midfield, what has happened to our midfield, you can drive a bus through it, no shape, no cover, huge gaps between them and seeming lack of physicality and fitness.
What are we doing on the training pitch as our passing is laboured, inaccurate and often mistimed.
How have we become such a soft touch and so poor tactically and ineffective in breaking down teams, whilst having a soft underbelly?
For me most of the above can be solved with good coaching and conditioning.
Apart from brain farts, most of our issues lay at Arne’s feet, he sets the tactics, shape of the team and team selection, he has to help inspire players and provide a platform to be successful.
I hate that I am of the mind that Arne should go as I don’t want us to be that team, but lets not do the same as Man U and do what they did with Ten Hag.
I don’t like comparing ourselves to them, but I just don’t feel confident in Arne, nothing against him, I always want our players, coaches and team to be a success.
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You can legislate a bit for that. It needs to be automatic through repetition.
Unfortunately this season has been a mentally tiring one with no consistency or prolonged positivity to build on.
You didn’t ask a question. You just accused me of deflecting (whatever the fuck that is)
Can you point out the question please. Happy to answer it.
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As I said it needs to be ingrained but also needs to be coherent and
I think you are massively under-estimating the re-build needed this summer.
1 winger? Is that to replace Salah, Gakpo and Chiesa? Because all 3 of them need drumming out the club asap. If we are to continue the 4-3-3 either under Slot or somebody else then we will need at least 3 quality wide players.
In midfield MacAllister and Jones are done here. Endo may go too. There’s another 3 who will need replacing.
In defensive Robbo will probably leave. Bradley is a crock. Gomez and Konate could both go. VVD will be 35 next birthday.
That’s where we are. Papering over the cracks will see us slip further and further away. Slot or a new man need to be fucking ruthless. Some of these players have had too many chances already.
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I can list a lot more. Budget will be crucial. But I said minimum of three. Ideally we go further than that.
The one winger would be to replace Salah.
Ideally we get two wingers, but if not, we will persist with Gakpo, while also playing Frimpong on the wing a bit more, and also giving more action to Rio.
The midfielder will be someone to add more solidity in front of the back four, ideally Anderson or Wharton - robust, home grown, able to pass. I could possibly see Mac Allister making way for that to happen.
Depending on what happens in central defence we may need another signing there, in addition to Jacquet. I’m looking forward to seeing what Leoni can do too.
Kerkez is doing well at full back. I could see us bringing Tsimikas back to be a rotational option, or possibly buying someone cheaper, assuming Robbo moves on.
I am concerned about Bradley, and I think we have been unlucky with Frimpong getting injuries, as his record is robust.
Anyway, I will gladly do five signings, I’m not limiting it to three … but I do think there will be a minimum of three.
So that’s 8-9 new signings?
Amazing.
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