How can we be so unfit?

[NEVILLEB]

His recent track record isn't that bad:

Martin Jol - Turned us into a top five side with consecutive fifth place finishes. Did very well in the transfer market, with signings of young British talent (Lennon, Huddlestone, Dawson, Bale) and talented foreigners (Berbatov, Zokora). Went south suddenly in 2007/08.

Juande Ramos - Rescued us from a relegation scrap and won us silverware for the first time in years. Forgot how to manage in 2008/09, despite good initial signs. Transfer market signings were good, with players like Corluka and Modric coming in, and deadwood like Ghaly shifted.

Harry Redknapp - Perfect choice. Was able to motivate our highly talented team and bring us Champions League football for the first time. Had great upwards momentum until he was distracted by the England job - just another example of the FA crushing our chances.

Andre Villas-Boas - Got the most out of Bale, and built a solid, possession-based team around him. When Bale was sold, the problems with our attack became clear. Lacked any flexibility. 2012 signings were good, the less said about the 2013 ones the better.

Tim Sherwood - Very consistent against weaker sides, and very tactically flexible - to the point where it became a joke. Introduced youth prospects into the team. Never got to make any transfers. I think we made a huge mistake letting him go.

Mauricio Pochettino - AVB all over again. Sticks to his system, which is possession-based and far too often relies on our star player for a moment of magic. The difference in AVB got 6 more points. Transfers in his first season were a mixed bag, those this season seem decent.

You can't win this argument.

Either they were good Managers and Levy lacked patience Or they were poor Managers and Levy lacked judgement.

 

[Main Man]

I thought Saturdays collapse was more about game management than anything else.

Poch has made his bed though, and you/we have all tucked him in so we just have to accept what we have got at the moment.

Yet another game where a much more defensively capable winger (namely Aaron Lennon) would have helped see this game out.

But he is yet another player to fall victim to whatever the fuck it is Poch is trying to do.

 

[idontgetit]

I actually think it's over-training. It's like when Ramos had all the guys on a diet whilst running double training session. As soon as he went and Hudd got back on the ketchup we started tearing things up. Think this is what got Eriksen last year as well. I'd say give the guys a week of light technical work and they'll come out at the weekend looking like they've been on the roids

 

[shelfmonkey]

I'd imagine it's a combination of excessive training, a terrible pre-season strategy, and having a lot of average players managed by an average manager.

I think you might have hit the nail on the head there matey!!!

 

[Nebby]

Both goals on Saturday were down to rank defending, pure and simple. For the penalty, Toby was far too tight (great bit of forward play though, to be fair). For the second goal it looked like we had eleven men in our own half, but nobody got even remotely close to the three Stoke players that touched the ball. I can't remember a worst goal conceded. Terrible, terrible defending.

 

[TaoistMonkey]

He's a podgy AVB with a fraction of the charisma.

I actually do want Levy to stick with him because the constant changing of the guard isn't working, but I'm not seeing much progress . I guess we'll all have a better idea of his prospects once the transfer window closes.

Just out of interest, were you in the De Boer camp when we were courting managers?

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Mason's not 100% match fit due to missing 90% of pre-season.
Lamela has had what, 2 weeks break since last season and now.
Chadli, Dembele and Eriksen aren't renowned for helping out the defence.
Walker getting out sprinted by Arnatovic either confirms he's also not fit or has lost a good 1-2 yards of pace.

Match fitness is only 1 of a long list of issues with our squad.

I could well have been asleep but at no point did I see Arnatovic outpace Walker. Kyle looked sharp and up to speed

Arnatovic certainly did him for skill a few times but then he's a very decent player with bags of ability