I hope we can but on a slightly negative note (), teams know what we're about now so the attacking approach will be a bit harder with opposition teams taking the Chelsea approach. Hopefully, we can bring in two or three quality additions to give us more options.
Come on guys, the title was lost in the Chelsea game!!! we should just focus on getting 2nd place now, and look forward to some good summer signings and the CL next year. This season has definitely got me loving football again, I may even watch England in the WC but i'm not sure i could take it after watching us this season. TBH I'm already desperate for next season to start, cant wait to see us on a wed night in the CL.
Exactly what I said before the Palace game and had we taken the 3-0 scoreline, it would be secured already
I said somewhere earlier that the Chelsea game might just provide a valuable lesson. We'll encounter a lot of that type of game now we're back in the CL- as well as some more domestic teams trying it- and we must learn how to break it down. As much as I hate the way the Chavs play, though- they are bloody good at it so perhaps we can get at a few of the others more easily.
We need to learn that taking the draw is not always a bad option. It would have been a very good result against Chelsea and I'm sure that will be the case next season too, especially in the CL. The going ahead before letting teams back in it is the thing that worries me more though. How many times has that happened this season?
Sadly, far too many. Anyway, I've thoroughly enjoyed this season and I'm not going to get too down about it. Besides, it'll all be ok when the Hammers get a draw on Sunday and we beat the Nukes 19-5.
If we had changed anything about the way we approached games this season we wouldn't have finished 2nd. We have always gone for big scoring wins and look where it's gotten us, 2nd ffs!! ahead of Chelsea who'se sub bench the other day was worth more than our entire starting 11!! BR's philosophy will mature as he and the team does. I really think we should concentrate on what has made us do so well this season, not what has stopped us getting the title. Let's get this style cemented first and then really build on it in a year or two, rather than trying to fix something that isn't broken
well said Red the only thing for me we should look at not necessary change, is when to know to protect a lead ie 3-0 up. we should have then turned into the counter attacking team, not be silly and go for an 6-0 scoreline that was never likely to happen any way, but like you say its what got us to 2nd. who would have complained about that at the start of the season lol. im just glad we are playing the game the right way again, few tweaks here and there and the 70's and 80's football will be back, **** yeah
Teams have been trying the 'Chelsea method' all season. We crushed them. we deal with busses just fine, half billion pound double decker busses are a tougher nut to crack is all. Fortuantely There is only one of those in both the league and in Europe.
Next season our play will be different. That will be a natural consequence of both the import of new players and BR learning from the tactical mistakes he made this season. What we have to hope for is that those changes don't alter the attacking philosophy that we have displayed this season.
Don't forget that teams tried -successfully- the same against us at Anfield under Kenny, but then the only plan was to bludgeon them with crosses to an unfit Carroll. Btw, would it be illegal to insert a post sale clause into Carroll's transfer contract to WH that if they win on Sunday and he scores (and Dizzy Downing) that they get a £5m bonus add-on?
You're a good man and many thanks for your kind thoughts. A lot of 'friends' have been trying to wind me since the Chelsea result. They split down into united, Everton and citeh fans. they have not succeeded. The key reasons are that we have played some beautiful football and I never expected us to win it. It's just fantastic to have CL footie back. Good luck to your team, whoever they may be.
be a somerset team who play in red i would have thought. i know Taunton is in somerset lol but not them. wonder where the lucky git is abroad, some where nice and hot like Dubai?
