I worked out that last season we got 23 of our points from the teams above us and 21 from the teams below. That's an incredible record and I doubt if any other bottom half team (perhaps Southampton?) got anywhere near to that. I know I criticised CH a lot last season, but this suggests that he set us up pretty well against the big boys. Especially when you consider our best performances - MU, Arsenal twice, Spurs twice, Swansea, West Brom. On the other hand, nearly all the awful performances came against the teams down there with us, and we didn't even manage to shine against the truly woeful QPR. This suggests that next season we need to find something extra for these matches against weaker teams. Not sure exactly what - whether it's more creativity or more courage or more ambition. Probably a mix of all three.
Target their weaknesses this is what classy teams do! We had moments of class against bigger teams but got pulled into scrapping by lesser teams
Interesting question. Apart from the drubbings by Fuham and Liverpool, a couple of early season losses were down to individual errors by defenders (Turner mostly, but he has certainly earned his place lately. Also, Friedel was in inspired form when we went to White Hart Lane. We need to keep the etyle of play and momentum from the last 2 games into next season and play each game to win, as opposed to playing 'not to lose', as on a couple of occasions, we lost by a single goal. A lot will depend on who else CH is successful in signing - not too impressed by the 'Hooper rumours' and feel we need to get competition for Pilks at least, plus cover in defence in case of injuries.
I have to agree re the "Hooper rumour" it does not excite me in the slightest, much rather we got a CAM.
The main thing I would want to see improved is tactical awareness. When things weren't going our way, we rarely saw an inspired substitution or formation change early enough to turn the tide back in our favour. CH is still learning his trade as a manager, so that skill which PL showed us will come in time.
I'm baffled by the Hooper thing, 1st of all arguably we may only have 2 strikers in 2 or 3 weeks time. 2nd of all he's better than, Jackson, morison and probably Becchio so why are people so against it? Who else would you go for? As for what we need to do, as said above we just need to keep the level of performance from the last 2 games and the same approach. As your statement says, a negative approach bought out a negative result. Our players are better than that.
It's all about bring able to break down the teams around us who will play for the point away from home the ones above play with confidence and they try to impose their style on us which does always leave an opening to exploit occasionally
RvW is not your classic frontman; he can play behind a striker (and did so for much of his early career in the Netherlands). Hooper is a clever player, as is Becchio. IMO a main strike force consisting of those three would be fine. Unlike carrabuh, I'm not expecting "tall, rangy wingers". I'm expecting backup/competition for Pilkington in the form of someone whose game is coming inside and linking/interchanging with the other forward players.
We must get more wins at home instead of draws e.g. QPR, Saints, Fulham, Newcastle, West Ham etc. Playing this way nearly cost us
The answer to the question about what we need to do can be found in the league table. WBA, who finished 8th on 49 points and led the "also rans" behind the top seven (with a 12 point gap to Liverpool in 7th on 61 points), conceded only one fewer goal than us, but they scored 12 more than we did. Most importantly IMO we need to improve our conversion rate of goals from chances created, in short we need to be more clinical in our finishing. CH saw what was needed and tried to do something about it in January. If we now sign Hooper, the patient will be on exactly the course of medicine the doctor has prescribed. Much as another couple of so-called "marquee" signings would be exciting, I am not expecting them (unless some clever opportunity-grabbing proves possible as in the case of Sporting and RvW). Much more likely (and in keeping with what James Nursey has heard) is some judicious strengthening of the squad with in particular, as already said, some backup/competition for Pilkington.
If Holt does got to Melbourne after all, and I hope he doesn't, we will be left with TWO strikers! Really, you would thought most teams would have four as an absolute minimum!
