The ones that remain are the ones messing up mainly ie Dier Lloris to a lesser degree Davies. Son hasn't performed up to standard and we lack rotation/competition.This argument drives me mad. Just this calendar year alone, we've brought in SIX starting-quality players (Bentancur, Kulusevski, Perisic, Bissouma, Richarlison and Lenglet) that everyone agreed improved the squad. Add those to Romero, and then remove the dross such as Lamela, Alli, Sissoko, Reguillon, Winks, Lo Celso etc and it's a VERY different squad to that of previous years. Yes, some still remain, but what other team out there has changed an entire squad in that time?
I don't understand how we can be "shockingly poor" and be 4th in the table.I do agree to an extent, but you have to concede that we have been shockingly poor at times.
If we played well for 1 game and then started to show a bit of tiredness for a couple of games that would be fair enough, but we've been terrible for the majority of this season.
More than that though has been the negative tactics. Yesterday was positive from the off. We weren't great in the first half but showed some aggression and adventure.
The low block is not suited to our squad or fanbase in my opinion.
I agree that Conte needs time and last season our front three were clearly compensating for some of the dross that was (and still is) behind them. I understand we're the 10th richest club in the world and should probably have a few more better players.
At the same time I think we're only the 6th or 7th richest club in the EPL - so theoretically (unless there's a very strange season like the ones under Poch where Leicester won and many big clubs had poor seasons) we arguably are never going to have an expensive, complete squad that can win the league. We should finish 6th so finishing 3rd or 4th is a good season. By the time Conte gets his 2 or 3 transfer windows that he needs, Kane & Son may have left and also need replacing. Remember Poch lucked out and some stars aligned in order to get a cut price first eleven that included Demebele, Eriksen, Verts, Toby etc. The squad still wasn't great.
Perhaps It all boils down to whether we want to watch us finishing between 3rd and 7th with a Conte team or perhaps reaching a similar position playing more attractive football under a similar quality manager who is perhaps better at improving young players. The only way I see us getting out of this cycle is if we invest heavily in the best youth coaches and the best youth players and become the next Dortmund.
And I don't understand how people can be 'shocked' so easily all the time. This was shocking, that was shocking.I don't understand how we can be "shockingly poor" and be 4th in the table.
I don't necessarily disagree, I just take issue with the narrative that this is the same squad that's failed under x, y, z manager. Yes, a few players still remain, but for the most part it's a VERY different squad to Pochettino's and even Mourinho's.The ones that remain are the ones messing up mainly ie Dier Lloris to a lesser degree Davies. Son hasn't performed up to standard and we lack rotation/competition.
Exactly!!And I don't understand how people can be 'shocked' so easily all the time. This was shocking, that was shocking.
Fuck me. Everyone is at it. When the SC hive bandwagon thing takes hold it really takes hold
What's hard to understand about it? Is it not possible that we can be poor, while others are even worse?I don't understand how we can be "shockingly poor" and be 4th in the table.
Without Romero, maybe even with him, we easily have the worst backline out of the big 6.
Martinez and Varane looked very good for United.
Koulibaly, Fofana and Silva should be very strong.
Any 2 from Dias, Stones, Akanji, Ake and Laporte is ideal for City.
Van Dijk and Matip or Konate for Liverpool.
Even Saliba and Gabriel at Arsenal.
They all have either a really strong or very good balance with some top CBs there.
Romero at his best is class and I do think Lenglet has been great too but seen as we work with a 3, because of the drop off with the others we don't yet have that overall quality.
You also have to have an athletic/quick type in the PL. That's where I think we will be focusing.
I'm shocked that you're shocked that they're shocked.And I don't understand how people can be 'shocked' so easily all the time. This was shocking, that was shocking.
Fuck me. Everyone is at it. When the SC hive bandwagon thing takes hold it really takes hold
And I don't understand how people can be 'shocked' so easily all the time. This was shocking, that was shocking.
Fuck me. Everyone is at it. When the SC hive bandwagon thing takes hold of a word the use of it really takes hold
I don't agree we have easily the worst backline. Both Man U and Chelsea have looked hilariously bad defensively at times this season. With a run of games, I think Romero, Lenglet and Dier is a very capable back 3. I personally think the problem lies further forward in a midfield that can neither shield the defence or play their way out of trouble. IMO the difference in quality between our central midfield and that of the other teams is way bigger than any gap between our defence and theirs. The day we get a ball-playing version of whatever it is Hjobjerg supposedly brings to the team, we will start to look A LOT betterWithout Romero, maybe even with him, we easily have the worst backline out of the big 6.
Martinez and Varane looked very good for United.
Koulibaly, Fofana and Silva should be very strong.
Any 2 from Dias, Stones, Akanji, Ake and Laporte is ideal for City.
Van Dijk and Matip or Konate for Liverpool.
Even Saliba and Gabriel at Arsenal.
They all have either a really strong or very good balance with some top CBs there.
Romero at his best is class and I do think Lenglet has been great too but seen as we work with a 3, because of the drop off with the others we don't yet have that overall quality.
You also have to have an athletic/quick type in the PL. That's where I think we will be focusing.
Such a great point and then add to that our wing-backs are barely top10 standard players and we lack some attacking depth no wonder we put in performances like we do at times.Without Romero, maybe even with him, we easily have the worst backline out of the big 6.
Martinez and Varane looked very good for United.
Koulibaly, Fofana and Silva should be very strong.
Any 2 from Dias, Stones, Akanji, Ake and Laporte is ideal for City.
Van Dijk and Matip or Konate for Liverpool.
Even Saliba and Gabriel at Arsenal.
They all have either a really strong or very good balance with some top CBs there.
Romero at his best is class and I do think Lenglet has been great too but seen as we work with a 3, because of the drop off with the others we don't yet have that overall quality.
You also have to have an athletic/quick type in the PL. That's where I think we will be focusing.
*see ‘turgid’ for more details.And I don't understand how people can be 'shocked' so easily all the time. This was shocking, that was shocking.
Fuck me. Everyone is at it. When the SC hive bandwagon thing takes hold of a word the use of it really takes hold
In fairness to Perisic he has 7 assists already this season, so I wouldn't say he is "barely top10 standard". But there's no doubting we need to improve our defensive players in particular CB and RWB.Such a great point and then add to that our wing-backs are barely top10 standard players and we lack some attacking depth no wonder we put in performances like we do at times.
Sounds like you have an AGENDA there…And I don't understand how people can be 'shocked' so easily all the time. This was shocking, that was shocking.
Fuck me. Everyone is at it. When the SC hive bandwagon thing takes hold of a word the use of it really takes hold