I get your point and I have argued the fact defence is more important that attack on this forum a few times. Still think we should (and for what it's worth, will) stay up fairly comfortably.
It's relevant in terms of they have helped us accumulate points and win games for half the season, thus making us more likely to stay up.
It could definitely change in a hurry. Luckily the three teams forming the wall between us and the drop zone are playing Spurs, City and Man Utd to finish out the weekend, but a loss to Sunderland and a couple results for the bottom six and we'll be in a rather precarious position.
Yes i did.but im not just talking about today or the goals,its the way we setup and play that worries me
We haven't been that unlucky. Van Dijk managed to play every game until he got crocked. Austin was playing okay, but nothing much better than our other strikers. We signed Boufal injured so can't really complain about him. We've been fortunate that J-Rod has recovered full fitness. I don't think we should be using injuries as an excuse.
Team is to lightweight with no leaders. Glad I got money on in October when relegation odds were 150-1.
Because interviews are what is important? C'mon, I'm very unconvinced, but if that's how you judge the quality of a manager, you really do need to have a slightly harder think.
Every game I hope for a point. Its how its been since before the Leicester win. Just want to creep over the line, enjoy the cup final and blackmail Virgil into staying another season. Swansea & Hull have played a blinder with their gaffer changes, that's the real worry.
All West Ham did was by pass our midfield as they knew Carroll had Yoshida and Stephens in his pocket. Puel is partly to blame for this season, but the board have ****ed up big time.
I didn't have a problem with Puel's tactics early like many did before they were homogenised, though I wasn't blown away by any innovations and I didn't understand some decisions (but that's fine, since the information we have is often superficial) and I haven't had a big problem with our conservative playing style at times. But honestly, I think the tactical approach (not formation) against Arsenal and today have been fundamentally flawed and such basic concepts have been missed that I find it hard to believe the players just haven't been able to implement it in game. We've had plenty of problems beyond that but if you go into a game set up to play into your opponent's hands, you're a bit ****ed from the start. It's an over-simplified point and not entirely relevant to the two games I've mentioned, but regardless of the problems with our squad, if we'd played a basic 4-2-3-1 with the core playing style we've had in past years I think we'd be about 8th or 9th. Like I say, very simplistic but I think a reasonable example. Looking past players, injuries, luck, fixture congestion, there still just aren't many positive imprints on the team that I can find, no identity. I definitely wouldn't sack Puel midseason, and wouldn't just sack him for the sake of it, but if we like our next man in line I don't think it would be unreasonable to move on.
I have not said anything against him all season and I am not judging him on his interviews. It's just one of the many problems I don't like about him. I would have been shouting the board room down asking for a defender. But we are led to believe he said he will make do with what I have. Which is a championship centre backs at best
This was/is my biggest complaint: we probably have the best personnel to play an aggressive pressing style that we've had during our time back in the Prem. Lots of pace at the front, nimble but undersized players in midfield, and (until January, at least) cool heads in central defense at the back. Was a strange time to switch to standing off and playing at a snail's pace.
So in that case you probably shouldn't play at the depth of your own box and not put any pressure on those playing the ball past the midfield surely?
No much use if they dont play or fight for a result. Look at the Sunderland /Palace game. We lost 3-0.
And how do we know if that's Puel's fault? It could be just the players being so low in confidence. You could see their heads dip as soon as West Ham equalized.
Berty in a three man back line and McQueen getting a starting birth next week. It would probably be too defensive anyway, but wouldn't be surprised to see it. Right, I'm off to Frans to hid behind the sofa..............
I'm sort of with Mike in the camp of I wouldn't...but if we did, I also wouldn't be overly upset. He deserves to take us into the final though, regardless (and I do put the blame squarer at the board than CP, but I'm just unconvinced we're using our squad in the best way we could be).
