I never use that expression. No such thing, but I don't believe that we will go down. Actually, I am more confident about next season than this one as our team is a young one, now mostly signed on long contracts.
If you could promise me that we'd keep Virgil next season, sign a top CB to partner him, and sign a goalscoring midfielder, then I'd be right behind you!
A couple other points I'd like to make: -I think it's unfair that some are calling for Puels head. I've said all season that I'd judge him at the end and there's things I like about him, and things I'm not sure on. I can't help feel sorry for the bloke, he was stitched up in the Summer by us not getting an attacker, and stitched up even more so in January with the cb issue. Of course he is partly responsible for our poor form, but like I say I feel for him as he hasn't realky had the tools needed to meet (perhaps too high?) expectations. Football a harsh business though and as ever in the game if it's not working, it will be him that goes, rightly or wrongly. -The other pointed I wanted to make is regarding Maya. Now I've always rated him (more than most) and he's arguably been our most improved player this year (exc. Romeu) and my MOTM in some of our best results this season. For example; Inter (h), Arsenal in cup and Liverpool 2nd leg. I even made a Maya appreciation thread after Arsenal in the cup as he was outstanding. I just can't help but feel that he's a VERY good cb providing he's not the 'main' one, if that makes sense? I feel he's a great cb, but one who needs a superior cb alongside him to show his true quality. That's not a dig at him at all btw, there's been many great cbs over the years who have been the same. I don't feel he's an organiser/leader, and watching us prepare to defend set pieces today, I feel we really missed Jose/Virgil in terms of organising things.
I think that Puel deserves sympathy for what has gone on since December but I would argue that he deserves all the stick he got for the games in August / September / October / November that he should have won but didn't. The recent injury crisis would test even the best EPL teams and it is unfair to level any criticism against him for this as it is entirely out of his control. However, we should have had more points on the table than we had a Christmas and we should have also done more to target a replacement for Fonte. If we had capitalised on the games where we failed to convert chances, I feel we would be only a handful of points away from the magical 40. Curious to read the comment about sticking with Lawrie Mac in another post. I am not too impressed by Puel but it is unfair to level all the problems at him. We don't know the ins and outs of the club and whether Fonte's attitude at the club was akin to Terry Paine's when Lawrie Mac first started. Reading his book will give you a good idea of what he had to contend with and Paine clearly lived up to his name, Being aware of the facts now and with hindsight, Lawrie was undermined and he went on to become our greatest ever manager. Maybe Fonte / Puel was something similar. I think Puel has been unlucky and agree that he has been dealt a poor hand. However, I am not convinced that he is the man for the job and whilst I would have been pleased for him to stay the duration of the season, I originally would have been disappointed to watch the same fare dished up in 2017/18. If he could pick his players and we witnessed him learning from the mistakes, there would be a reasonable case for letting him have another season. Faced with what is now a crisis at worst and a major diminution in what has been so carefully achieved since the days of Pardew, I have seen nothing from him to really suggest that he can take this club further. Yes, the Wembley appearance is a massive achievement especially as we have beaten top class opposition to get there but we have spectacularly underperformed in all the other competitions. I feel sorry for Puel but the club needs better. Shame we missed out on the Hull coach! Not pursuing Pellegrini when we had the chance also looks like a bad decision although I am not sure how much of the detail is known as someone told me he wanted too much money.
Yoshida is definitely not a leader. A remember one set piece situation when Van Dijk wasn't happy with Yoshida's position so he repeatedly yelled at him to come and stand closer to him, and Yoshida was not taking his advise (or was it an order ) so Van Dijk came to him and pulled him where he wanted him to stay, like he would do to a little child. Fast forward to another match and another set piece situation (Van Dijk is now injured) and it ****ing Tadić who's arranging the players, showing them where to stand, instead of Yoshida who just stands there with his deadpan expression. So yeah, he's not a leader. But a very good CB, just you can't pair him with an inexperienced CB like Stephens.
We're certainly more suited to playing sides who want to attack. I'd currently say that for any opposition outside the top 7 we're one of the easiest to play against at the moment. West Ham showed the blueprint today, as did Burnley the other week. This isn't strictly new though. I remember the 2nd half of Rons first season (when we were 3rd in Jan), teams soon worked out that if they went ahead against us, then they only had to keep their shape and be disciplined and it would be highly likely that we'd struggle to break them down. The difference now is we don't have one of the best defences in the league.
Agree was good support from them, and like you say quite funny too, was anyone else in Itchen North? I was close to the '****er in the blue' who West Ham fans sang 'we love you big tits, we do' to after he removed his blue jumper and shirt Very funny exchange and arguably the most entertaining part of the 2nd half! On a general note though, I thought the atmosphere was appalling today. I know we didn't play well but even so it was shocking. Now I've made points on here many times before about the poor atmosphere and how I don't attend many league games. Wondering is that what it's normally like for home PL games? Sunderland in efl cup was much better with a closed kingsland and we were pretty dire that night too. Also I sat in block 1 Itchen North today for first time since Pompey in Championship (obviously a different kettle of fish). And I noticed I could barely hear the Northam... probably only twice in the 90 minutes. Is that normal too?
I clearly saw a different game to almost everyone else, because I genuinely feel that we had enough chances to have won. First half we weren't at the races, and on the half hour we actually went to a 4-4-2 formation to try and cut the supply to their wide players and reduce the number of crosses, or that is how I read it. Their first goal I had already envisaged, but not with Carroll scoring it. The reason why I thought they would score, with a simple ball between the CBs, was because of our preoccupation with Carroll pulling to the back post, onto a fullback's shoulder. Every time he did it, Maya (in particular) tried to get across, leaving a massive gap in the centre. This is possibly another reason why we went 4-4-2, in order to try and close the space in front of the CBs. If this is our game plan for Zlatan and Fellaini, then we need to scrap it. If either attach themselves to a short arse full back we will just have to deal with the second ball, rather than split the CBs wide open. Second half, as a reaction to the third goal, both Davis and JWP pushed further forward, which effectively pushed them back, and we were better because of it. As I said in my first post, we continually got behind their right back and put in some decent balls, which we should have made more of, and their keeper made some decent saves. I totally agree that we play far too many balls backwards and sideways, but this just tells me that we often lack good enough movement to offer forward passes, or (my biggest bugbear) the player on the ball fails to hit a forward pass, because it would mean taking a chance and using his weaker foot.
I don't think there's any point in us signing anyone from now on unless they're going to score at least 4 every game!
Two things do concern me and the first is that we carried Rodriguez throughout the game and I think he is a lost cause now. Secondly what has Puel done to Pierre-Emile Højbjerg who I thought was a great signing but has regressed since coming to us.
Worrying thing is that as bad as Jay was today, I would suggest he was even worse at Anfield the other week. And just after it was starting to look like he was finally starting to become a footballer again.
It's only just occurred to me that I no point before or during the match did my dislike of West Ham and their taxpayer funded stadium rear it's head. I had that little enthusiasm for the match, that I clearly couldn't even put any effort into remembering what I thought of the opposition!
If Jay has suitors in the summer willing to pay eight figures for him, I'd be happy to move him on. Same with Long; sell both, spend the money on one very good striker, and back-fill with Gallagher.
We're on an awful run in the league. To me next week is the defining game of the season. No excuses any more. Lose next week and we are in a relegation battle. Sunderland will be 5 points behind us, we will have to play the top 6 in the last 13 games. Puel has a whole week to prepare, go fully out to win as the next game is 15 days after Sunderland game. Think it would also be good to take the squad away for a few days after the Sunderland game as most of the dressing room leaders have moved on, and a bit if team bonding could be needed, with a pretty tough run in.
Or sell both, keep the money, and have Gallagher as next in line. I mean, that has been our new position for the past two transfer windows.
