Thing is, we now only have an issue in 1 area which is at CB. Beforehand we had issues in midfield where we were trying to fix CB position which affected the front line as well. At least now with Fab back in DM, Thiago further up the pitch and Jota coming back to provide competition and freshness, our midfield should help the forward line create more and therefor score more goals. might still concede chances because we don’t have top 4 quality centre backs, but then that’s where alisson needs to show his quality and make those saves.
I genuinely believe that our results will now pick up. The defence is not only the CBs the FBs and the GK. It also includes the MFs. Now at least the attack is almost back to normal. Putting our midfielders in defence was always misguided. Some of us said it when it was first done.
True but it's also been one game against side we'd already beat comfortably. As I said, form is 5-6 games. I believe we'll be better if we stick to it but only time will tell.
The sad thing is I expect those above us to keep dropping points thus presenting us with an opportunity, but it's our own form that I'm concerned with.
Whilst we haven't been great for a while, we were still able to pick up points and see games out. You can pin point the exact moment when things turned and we started losing regularly - that's when Matip went off injured vs West Brom. In fact, we were winning in that game and we conceded and dropped points after he went off. From that point on, we've had to rely on moving our best midfielders into defence and/or relying on young inexperienced options. Not only were we weakened in defence but also midfield. That's 2/3's of the team completely disrupted. Now that we have Fab back in midfield, we finally have a fully functioning unit which should hopefully provide more stability for the back 4 but also provide the platform for the attackers. Whilst the front 3 are still missing chances, at least we created a high number of chances vs RBL and that's the encouraging part. Let's just hope that the RBL isn't just a one off but I think the overall performance was really good which we can take into the league games
We've a game in hand on Leicester too. Still not going to happen like. The optimism resulting from one game against the only side we'd beaten in this **** slump is ridiculous. Though, I don't think any of us truly believe we'll get top four, it's hope more than anything.
Shouldn't that be "two off". We beat them twice in a period where we've done precisely jack **** in the league. I agree with the rest and hope it's right, just a bit soon for expectation though, it's only hope at this stage. Having said that, 8pts behind fourth with with a game in hand and ten games to go is certainly doable if we can get our **** together. Even with a game in hand, 12pts behind Leicester (if that's your target) is a bit much in ten games. Edit; nice that only one team as a game in hand on us now too. Seemed like everyone had that advantage in us most of the season.
I don't know why people rate european sides so highly. Leipzig were fairly mediocre bar a couple of CBs. Their forwards were a slow as cart horses. when we play any english side they are more than content to follow the tried and trusted game plan to get 3 points. Sit deep and hoof it over trents head. the RCBs won't engage and trent is so sacred he backs off at best if not can be walked past. We don't change our way so when we turn up against a side who leave masses of space behind suddenyl we can make 7 chances (and miss all of them lol) wolves will play 5 at the back and try hit on break if they have any sense.
It’s not the only win. We’ve beaten RBL twice, sheff United, West Ham and spurs all away from home in amongst the **** run at home.
It seemed that the slide occurred suddenly taking everyone by surprise. Was it the depletion of the midfield to feed the defence? Anyway we could have found the solution or at least part of it. Play players in their best positions. (As someone said here earlier) That’s such a radical idea that few thought it possible.
I didn't get excited over the first win over RBL because we were literally gifted those chances and the underlying performance wasn't great. However, the second game was much better though and I take more confidence from that - reason being is that our pressing was back, our balance was back, and we created numerous chances. RBL's style helped with that but pressing and balance are two things which we can take into any game. And also Fabinho back in midfield We will get a better idea of whether we're 'back' after tonight's game.
And to be fair to RBL, they won every game since they lost to us in the first game. They also have one of the best defensive records across all of Europe. Whilst they played into our hands, they're no mugs.
Results wise, yes. Performance wise, we'd been in the slide for a while. As I said, it's more hope atm than realistic expectations.
Don't mind optimism actually. Should have put expectation rather than optimism in that post (which I kind of said with the following sentence)
The best comparison to this is when people get carried away when we win pre-season friendlies. The performances against RB were good but can we do it against competitive sides? I think most of the PL teams beat RB, certainly the top half.
Yes - the second part corrected the first, but I just thought I'd post anyway. I'm always optimistic, but my expectations are quite low atm. It's always hard to see how you drag yourself out of a rut, and the longer you're in it the harder it gets. Still, it has to end somewhere. The team that has been so good for the last few years can't suddenly become useless - a number of factors coming together have caused the slump and they can be addressed. There are two main factors, the continuing injury problems and the erosion of confidence. A few wins in a row would bring the confidence back, but I don't hold out too much hope now until next season.