| 27 down and 11 games to go 06:43 - Mar 6 with 1100 views | PioneerBlue |
Making sense of the season, other than what our eyes have told us.
The financial gap was huge, too big to cover in recruitment terms in one summer. PL debuts have been given to practically the whole squad. The team has looked competitive for large parts of most games, only in a small number of games have they been outplayed or lacked the ability or energy to compete. Injuries to key players at key times of the season have massively impacted the dynamic on the team and the opportunity to build strong partnerships up and across the pitch.
I looked at Footmob data to help understand how other teams had been doing.
For us-
Very low possession
Very low goals scored
Very low touches in opposition penalty box
Very low shots taken, conversion is fractionally worse than other bottom half clubs
Very high XGa
Very high goals conceded
What makes this more interesting is that Nottingham Forest, Everton, and Crystal Palace teams that look in no danger and one at the top of the PL have very low possession, low touches in opposition penalty box, but conceded fewer and keep more clean sheets. They are obviously set up in a way to maximise their player abilities (pace, power, ability to put balls in the box and score them, but organisationally conceding fewer).
Looking at it this way, whilst the leap was always massive, we’ve not really got to grips with a style of play that is able to keep hold of the ball in locations of the pitch that will hurt the opposition by being able to win the ball and take shots given our shot conversation isn’t that bad.
I am now wondering what it would have taken to turn that over, two different CMs in the double pivot, a different RB/CB, RW, and L10… I don’t believe we could have recruited much better than we did, frankly, whilst there are always things we could have done differently, the leap was massive, and we have all learnt a lot about the current state of the PL.
11 games to go. Lots of points still to compete for, lots of learning and growth the players could still do and that would be beneficial for the seasons beyond this.
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| 27 down and 11 games to go on 08:51 - Mar 6 with 908 views | bsw72 |
The simplest suggestion is that other teams and players have simply more experience with the PL, and therefore have not had to adjust as much to the step up.
We knew it would be a struggle, and the injuries have merely compounded that. Club took a chance on some excellent championship players, who have taken more time to climatize than maybe was hoped.
It's been an eye opening season for me, having not watched PL football live for 20+ years - the difference in physicality and fitness are far bigger than the gaps in ability - we have some incredibly skillful players.
We will see another example this weekend with the physical capability of Palace, while we look a little lightweight in some departments, so our players do get muscled off the ball more, hence the more frequent loss of possession and inability to create as many chances as previous seasons. I look at how we were outmuscled for the late goals against Leicester and Bournemouth at PR even Southampton bullied us off the ball and just played the long ball . . . |  | | |
| 27 down and 11 games to go on 11:57 - Mar 6 with 685 views | Bramidan |
| 27 down and 11 games to go on 08:51 - Mar 6 by bsw72 |
The simplest suggestion is that other teams and players have simply more experience with the PL, and therefore have not had to adjust as much to the step up.
We knew it would be a struggle, and the injuries have merely compounded that. Club took a chance on some excellent championship players, who have taken more time to climatize than maybe was hoped.
It's been an eye opening season for me, having not watched PL football live for 20+ years - the difference in physicality and fitness are far bigger than the gaps in ability - we have some incredibly skillful players.
We will see another example this weekend with the physical capability of Palace, while we look a little lightweight in some departments, so our players do get muscled off the ball more, hence the more frequent loss of possession and inability to create as many chances as previous seasons. I look at how we were outmuscled for the late goals against Leicester and Bournemouth at PR even Southampton bullied us off the ball and just played the long ball . . . |
Time and time again we seem to be adverse to putting the ball in the box.
We seem to be out muscled in midfield after a few sideways or backward passes and eventually we lose possession.
If we are going to lose possession lose it in their box with Delap an ever presence.
Might get a chance, a deflected own goal or a corner.
At this stage of the season what have we got to lose.
If we go down let’s go down fighting. | | | |
| 27 down and 11 games to go on 12:00 - Mar 6 with 668 views | Bramidan |
| 27 down and 11 games to go on 11:57 - Mar 6 by Bramidan |
Time and time again we seem to be adverse to putting the ball in the box.
We seem to be out muscled in midfield after a few sideways or backward passes and eventually we lose possession.
If we are going to lose possession lose it in their box with Delap an ever presence.
Might get a chance, a deflected own goal or a corner.
At this stage of the season what have we got to lose.
If we go down let’s go down fighting. |
I didn’t mean the long ball from the back but our wide players seem afraid to take their man on or cross. | | | |
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