The opposition is irrelevant

Somewhat oddly, the calibre of the opposition doesn't seem to have any bearing on our outcomes.

We've played 11 games. Dividing the teams we've played into top 6, bottom 6 and the middle 8 (using the current table: Man City on this basis is a middle table team), we get the following:

Top 6: 2 Wins, 1 Draw, 1 Loss

Middle 8: 2 Wins, 1 Draw

Bottom 6: 1 Win, 1 Draw, 1 Loss


No difference to speak of in the results. We win if we play well. We lose if we don't.

We have no one to fear, but it would be a good idea to be wary of everyone.

 

I think you will find we have won 5 drawn 2 and lost 4.Leave it to you to re-calculate.Interesting though,also even spread of H:A top/middle/bottom.

 

Sorry:

Top 2 Wins, 1 Draw, 1 Loss

Middle 2 Wins, 0 Draw, 2 Loss

Bottom 1 Win, 1 Draw, 1 Loss


Much the same pattern: 1.75 points per game against the top, 1.5 against the middle and 1.33 against the bottom.

That's a thrashing off Norwich then.

 

Excellent digging, I hadn't noticed the spread there but it just shows our teams ability when they are really up for it. Perhaps there is a touch of arrogance about the us when we play the so called lesser teams?

It would be just like NUFC to give us a deflating result after the 2 recent corkers. If we do by some miracle win the next 2 games at home, and ability wise there is no reason we can't then we'll be right up there.

 

We do have the ability and it wont be a miracle.

 

When i read the title i was expecting some big rallying cry that would set us up for the season
Still interesting nonetheless what bothers me is when we're expected to attack we both go missing but moreso open ourselves up defensively far too much. People probably wont agree but i would advocate switching formation for the Norwich game, not sure to what though. I am reminded of our posession based games of last year that got us nowhere

 

The current 4-4-2 is right, but with HBA dropping off Remy to get the ball, rather than Shola standing around up front or Cisse reading "Offside For Dummies". Sissoko and Gouffran given more license to push up and carry the ball, suddenly we have a very attacking 4-5-1 or 4-2-3-1, without the need to abandon the basic 4-4-2 principle.

 

How about: "We have nothing to fear but lack of fear itself ?"

I've always been crap at rallying cries.

As for the Norwich game, I'd say 4 -2 4, and let them worry about us.

Colo - Mbiwa - Willo - Santon

Tiote - Cabaye

HBA - Shola/Cisse - Remy - Gouf

Tell Tiote and Cabaye to guard the back door and feed the ball up, and give the front 4 freedom to attack.

The back 6 should be able to deal with any counter attacks and the front 4 should be able to do some damage. Give HBA a start but let him know it's subject to his proving he can play as part of the team.

 

FEAR ................ False Evidence Appearing Real.

 

Flagellated Ego Anticipating Rejection





(Okay, maybe that only works with me and women)

 

There's only two fears we're born with and neither's getting knocked back off women or losing football matches....

 

It's almost as if football is an utterly unpredictable game that gives little indication to it's final results...

 

Yeh i agree on giving HBA a go, he played his best football (and by that i mean for the good of the team) when he had spent half the season on the bench that time we finished 5th. I dont think we need to go that far with him again, i think being left out of our big games should be enough to motivate.
I would probably give shola a go over cisse cos, frankly, defenders and keepers see cisse coming a mile off and until je changes his game he will always be caught out, whereas an on-form should cause concern for norwich's back-line in aeriel presence.
No he won't score but nor will Cisse. I just think he will atleast contribute to build-up play that little bit better, especially with Krul's penchant for blasting the ball into the strikers

 

Looks good on paper, however, one thing spoils it in that Pardew insists he will always pick Sissoko in his starting 11.

 

could even stick Sissoko in for Shola/Cisse - - he's as good a physical presence as any