- Jan 27, 2011
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At the risk of going dangerously off topic here, we were no where near 'competing with the best' domestically last year. We lost over a third of our league games, the same amount of games lost by Chelsea. Liverpool and City combined. We also lost 5 out of the 6 games played against the top 3.
Competing with the best and just beating them occasionally are two very different things.
Yes and no.
- We were within 5 points of the top in February (2/3 of a season), and were above City at the half way stage.
- We lost a Carabao semi on penalties.
- We got to the freaking CL final, knocking out treble winning Man City.
I think that is still largely competitive, certainly compared to where we were a few years ago. I'm pretty sure most pundits would have had us as the 3rd best team in England last year.
Yes we fell away poorly and lost way too many games but lets look at the mitigating factors:-
- Almost all of our key players returned to the club less than a week before the first PL game, physically and mentally tired from the WC. Most getting multiple injuries as a result.
- Zero signings meant we had no freshness in the team, which was badly needed with so many players knackered.
- Higher number of injuries than usual (partly due to the above) meant we spent the whole season with a constantly changing team, crucially at CB and in midfield, which really told in our abysmal run in.
- Random non-footballing absences in busy periods such as Hugo's drink driving and Dier's appendicitis and viruses.
- Stadium delay meant playing almost a full season at Wembley, with lower and lower attendances and an understandably disgruntled atmosphere.
- Eriksen having his head turned by Real Madrid.
- Real and Utd interest in Poch putting a media cloud over the club in the summer and Dec/Jan.
Without the above issues that same squad we had last season probably still gets at least 10 more points in the PL and probably goes deeper in the FA Cup too.
It's a bit ridiculous to say we aren't competitive based purely on the stats without considering the extenuating circumstances IMHO. We have clearly been one of the most consistently competitive PL teams over the last 3-4 years.
That said the way the window is shaping up we do look to be more competitive than ever, that extra quality hopefully converting our good work into trophies. Full back probably the biggest concern but even then Poch has some decent raw materials to work some magic with.
- We lost a Carabao semi on penalties.
- We got to the freaking CL final, knocking out treble winning Man City.
I think that is still largely competitive, certainly compared to where we were a few years ago. I'm pretty sure most pundits would have had us as the 3rd best team in England last year.
Yes we fell away poorly and lost way too many games but lets look at the mitigating factors:-
- Almost all of our key players returned to the club less than a week before the first PL game, physically and mentally tired from the WC. Most getting multiple injuries as a result.
- Zero signings meant we had no freshness in the team, which was badly needed with so many players knackered.
- Higher number of injuries than usual (partly due to the above) meant we spent the whole season with a constantly changing team, crucially at CB and in midfield, which really told in our abysmal run in.
- Random non-footballing absences in busy periods such as Hugo's drink driving and Dier's appendicitis and viruses.
- Stadium delay meant playing almost a full season at Wembley, with lower and lower attendances and an understandably disgruntled atmosphere.
- Eriksen having his head turned by Real Madrid.
- Real and Utd interest in Poch putting a media cloud over the club in the summer and Dec/Jan.
Without the above issues that same squad we had last season probably still gets at least 10 more points in the PL and probably goes deeper in the FA Cup too.
It's a bit ridiculous to say we aren't competitive based purely on the stats without considering the extenuating circumstances IMHO. We have clearly been one of the most consistently competitive PL teams over the last 3-4 years.
That said the way the window is shaping up we do look to be more competitive than ever, that extra quality hopefully converting our good work into trophies. Full back probably the biggest concern but even then Poch has some decent raw materials to work some magic with.
Put it in a spoiler tag as @BENNO has covered most of it already while I was typing. Yes last season wasn't good enough in terms of points, losses and H2H with the top 6, but it really wasn't a true representation of the ability of our squad. Good news is I think we are shaping up to be much better the way this window is going.