Felwin wrote: ↑5 months ago
Dunno where to post tactics stuff, but I've just listened to the tactics pod from Ed and the lads and it's massively improved IMO. Think they were spot on with saying we've been good on second balls and I 100% agree that we need that flexibility to give teams something to think about. That long ball to Sesko will have to become a weapon as the season develops and it will make the opposition question whether to press us or give us the ball. At the moment it's one or the other, either we go direct like against Arsenal and Burnley, compete for second balls, look dangerous but then lose control of the game to chaos. Or we attempt to control the game among the back 5-7 and can't find a way through like against Fulham.
I worry that Amorim and his team are still not effectively judging the opposition and the best strategy but it is true what the lads say in the pod that the first 4 games have been theatrical and it's made it emotional and dramatic. Amorim of course hasn't helped but having a shite keeper is a large part of why we've been shit.
Its a good summary. I often find that my thought process and outlook is very different between the real-time emotion of games and the emotionless aftermath.
I completely agree that the keeper situation has grossly exagerated the negative, and really compromised us. The data and eye-test for our league games has been broadly good. A good 90 mins against Arsenal that should have yielded a point, a good 45 against Fulham, and a good 80 against Burnley. We need to keep reminding ourselves that its a work in progress, and we have to keep moving the focus away from the manager, to building the squad. All in all, its been a decent window - we still need 4 or 5 quality players to be a proper side, but that's do-able over the next 2 windows. Most of the expensive dross has been binned off - we still have Casemiro but he's gone in 12 months, Maguire serves a purpose and his contract is up anyway in 12 months. Then there's Mount and Shaw, but if we can keep them reasonably fit then they play a role. Just Onana, and I have a feeling he'll be off to Turkey/Saudi in the next fortnight.
If Lammens comes good, and we add a quality Centre Back, 2 Centre Mids and another wing back, we're actually able to become a very good side.
We really need to make the most of the eased fixture list this season, play every game with full intensity and if we can navigate City and Chelsea unbeaten, then we have Brentford and Sunderland. We just need to be up and around the top 6 until Christmas to limit any talk and atmosphere of crisis.
