Should have said, why don't we score more? Did well at WBA, but could only get a penalty. On Saturday, we created a lot of chances (good) but failed to convert (bad). We have a bit of history of this. Having said that, this season will be exciting...two games in, playing well, plenty of attacking options, and making opportunities. I feel (as I did under Pochettino last season) that we can score and therefore beat any team. Exciting times and what a team we have.
Nee problem fella. Cm is a major issue for us. We're looking at Ki and Bradley at the moment, just hope we can get someone in before the window shuts. We needed Catts yesterday imo but he isn't fully fit yet. I don't rate Larsson or Gards myself. It's a complete contrast from the fulham game where we had 83% pass rate, all went out the window against you guys. We'll get better, we're no QPR, players have been brought in on low wages and signed on their character not ego. Very different from QPR, my fear is if we don't get our act together on the road we may get cut adrift at the bottom, have you seen our run of home games?
I would say that both of those goals have come from set pieces though. I do agree with your point about the Lallana disallowed goal though - that was dubious, and would have been a goal from open play (Jay's disallowed goal however was correctly given offside imo. Looking at the replay's, I think it's quite clear that part of his body is ahead of the last defender).
It was so close that it could have gone either way using the human eye, but, as said on Sky, Mauricio will probably hope that decisions like this will balance out over the season.
Isn't it great to be discussing the reasons we are not destroying teams rather having a debate about a leaky defence?
Well it was kind of our leaky defence that meant we weren't able to break them down and destroy them...
Maybe you're pushing too far up forcing opponents to put 11 men behind the ball, when that happens it's like attacking a team with 10 men. it's tough. Maybe dropping your formation a little deeper will invite opponents on a bit create more space and you can attack with a bit more fluency and pace exploiting gaps. You'd need a lot of confidence in your defence. If you fancy your defence to deal with inviting attacks on then dropping a bit deeper could be very fruitful for you.
Our strategy is based on the high pressing game so I can't see this happening. However, when we play against teams that really go for us this is, in effect, just what will happen. And what did happen - Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea - last season.
Then your manager needs to adjust his tactics according to the opposition and not a one for all style, otherwise(esp as teams wise up quickly to park the bus against you) you're going to have many a frustrating home game this season.
I don't think it 'didn't work' so much against you guys as it was just one of those games. On a different day with a bit of calmer finishing, we could score 3 or 4 in those circumstances.
Our problem against fulham. Played them off the pitch. Oh definitely mate, Westwood had a lot to do, problem is we weren't as organised as we were last season. Teams more organised at the back will be trying park the bus against you. I think you'll pick up more points at home then you'll lose, just think negative teams will frustrate the life out of you all season long, even when you win. Speaking from a fan viewing a game here, park the bus teams are frustrating to watch as fan.
All summer I've been making the point that we need to ensure that we have a Plan B and Plan C. Maybe even a Plan D. Plan A wont always work - and not just against the big teams.
I think your original question was actually valid enough if you added 'in open play'. We haven't done that yet this season, and nor has Rickie for England.
The way to beat 'park the bus' teams is to score early...then they have to come out. Another thing we don't do. God, we are crap
