So why do you think that might be the case? Do you want to analyse it or just to complain about it? I'd direct the same question to three quarters of the thread.
Let's break it down. A season of fifty-seven matches with an injury list usually between five and ten means reduced rotation and more load on the same small group of players. The majority of our starting-11 group, which actually comprises about 16 players, spent the summer at the World Cup and nine of them played all the way through to the semi-final. Our second-best goalscorer played in three international competitions this season, as well as having to play long sequences of games without a break when our best goalscorer was injured twice. Our first-choice creative midfielder played nearly everyone of those 57 games, for want of an alternative, because the alternative spent most of the season injured. Our right back had a disappointing season and came in for a lot of stick, but no one here ever commented on the fact that he never got through a single game for the past 3 months (at least) without grabbing at his right groin at least once - Trippier has been carrying a minor injury all season.
They're exhausted. Knackered. Playing on fumes. It just fucks me off that everyone moans on and on about them "not showing up" and "not trying". WALOB.
The second half today was dreadful because we gave the ball away to the opposition at least 40 times under minimal pressure. That's a clear sign of mental and physical exhaustion. If we hadn't kept losing the ball, there might have been some continuity to our play and some of our promising attacks might have ended in a shot instead of just dribbling away into nothing.
Let's hope the players can get some mojo back during the next three weeks. But this season's long injury list and late-season slump were so obviously a product of overwork, wear and tear and lack of pre-season rest that it's just bloody ridiculous to read people blaming lack of effort and desire.
It is not still the case. All of the EPL top 4 go straight into the group stages.
Suckers!! He threw the bait and you bit!!Apparently straight through to. The groups now.
lol @ the bickering
It's going to be a long three weeks
Goals conceded per match (all competitions):
2014/15: 1.23
2015/16: 0.94
2016/17: 0.83
2017/18: 0.95
2018/19: 1.09
Seems pretty consistent to me.