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What Our Opponents' Fans Are Saying About Us

McFlash

Without doubt the dumbest & most clueless member.
Oct 19, 2005
14,433
53,745
What’s interesting across all of these is you see the same comments as you see from our own fan base that aren’t actually backed up by facts. Our defence isn’t a shambles - we’ve got the joint 5th best record in the league. We don’t constantly concede because of a suicidally high line - the only goal we’ve conceded of that type is the winner against Newcastle. We’ve improved massively from set pieces - only one goal against so far this year.

id actually argue the biggest defensive issue is letting chances be created too easily against a set defence because we need to get tighter to players (both on and off the ball)
The trouble is that so many of our own fans are still arguing that it's the high line and disorganisation that's letting us down, when everything from stats to the eye test is saying otherswise.
I think nearly all of the goals we've conceded this season have been down to individual errors, someone switching off at the wrong time.

Even Kudus' goal could have some of the blame laid at Brennan's feet for not getting back to cover Porro, as Porro had no choice but to follow his man in.

We've improved in so many areas this season but even some of our own will swear blind that they're seeing the same old tropes.
 
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Thenewcat

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2019
3,588
12,257
The trouble is that so many of our own fans are still arguing that it's the high line and disorganisation that's letting us down, when everything from stats to the eye test is saying others.
I think nearly all of the goals we've conceded this season have been down to individual errors, someone switching off at the wrong time.

Even Kudus' goal could have some of the blame laid at Brennan's feet for not getting back to cover Porro, as Porro had no choice but to follow his man in.

We've improved in so many areas this season but even some of our own will swear blind that they're seeing the same old tropes.
So… you agree with me then 😀

yeah - yesterdays goal was down to Destiny getting beaten to the bye line too easily and Brennan not tracking his man. Nothing to do with our high line or full back positioning or balance in midfield
 

McFlash

Without doubt the dumbest & most clueless member.
Oct 19, 2005
14,433
53,745
So… you agree with me then 😀

yeah - yesterdays goal was down to Destiny getting beaten to the bye line too easily and Brennan not tracking his man. Nothing to do with our high line or full back positioning or balance in midfield
I completely agree and it's been annoying me how some are so adamant that they don't see it.

Apart from the Brighton debacle and the inability to score for the first few games, the only thing there is to criticise in my view, is the individual players switching off.
But even then, apart from Romero, the players are still young and learning so there has to be some understanding for that too.

It's why I'm fully of the opinion that we'll only get better as this season goes on, not that we are just playing gung-ho, attack, attack, attack football.

(I've now clicked agree on your original post because I forgot to do so!)
 

Whazam

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2019
721
2,657
1000008772.jpg

**** me, that's a lot of stars.
 

SpursSince1980

Well-Known Member
Jan 23, 2011
5,015
15,635
It is if you count all comps and include us playing weaker opposition in lesser cups, most neutrals won't. Prem form is won 4 drew 1 lost 3. A 50% win rate is very much the percentage that shows inconsistency. Now we can sit here saying well we played ABC and we should have won XYZ but results are the ultimate unarguable stat and so far in the Prem we have won exactly half our games.
Not clear on your point. Is that the 6 out of 7 stat is misleading? Is that, we’re average as the league table suggests? That there is no point in discussing hypotheticals?

Though I think opposition fans agree with you. At least from what I read, they don’t see us as anything to fear. Think they view us as a middling team and that Ange is the reason why. Same with a lot of the media.
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
21,607
356,705
Not clear on your point. Is that the 6 out of 7 stat is misleading? Is that, we’re average as the league table suggests? That there is no point in discussing hypotheticals?

Though I think opposition fans agree with you. At least from what I read, they don’t see us as anything to fear. Think they view us as a middling team and that Ange is the reason why. Same with a lot of the media.
No I'm saying our league form HAS been inconsistent which was the original point that was being dismissed because we had won 6 out of the last 7.

Why use only the last 7 games when talking about consistency? Surely you'd want to use the largest sample size possible when working out the averages? Answer..... because using the last 7 is the best number in order to manipulate the stats in our favour. Go to 8-9-10-11 games and the consistency looks worse.

Opposing fans when calling us inconsistent will be looking at our league form. They won't be counting beating Coventry, Farencvaros and Qarabag, and our league only form is a 50% win ratio. We have been inconsistent in the league, fact! This doesn't mean I think we are average though, I don't.
 

allatsea

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
9,679
17,464
No I'm saying our league form HAS been inconsistent which was the original point that was being dismissed because we had won 6 out of the last 7.

Why use only the last 7 games when talking about consistency? Surely you'd want to use the largest sample size possible when working out the averages? Answer..... because using the last 7 is the best number in order to manipulate the stats in our favour. Go to 8-9-10-11 games and the consistency looks worse.

Opposing fans when calling us inconsistent will be looking at our league form. They won't be counting beating Coventry, Farencvaros and Qarabag, and our league only form is a 50% win ratio. We have been inconsistent in the league, fact! This doesn't mean I think we are average though, I don't.
We are inconsistent that is because we are a work in progress. We are not the finished article. Ange still needs to get some of the team to play as he wants. There are further squad improvements to be made but significant progress has been made on all fronts.
 

Mr Pink

SC Supporter
Aug 25, 2010
57,241
107,584
No I'm saying our league form HAS been inconsistent which was the original point that was being dismissed because we had won 6 out of the last 7.

Why use only the last 7 games when talking about consistency? Surely you'd want to use the largest sample size possible when working out the averages? Answer..... because using the last 7 is the best number in order to manipulate the stats in our favour. Go to 8-9-10-11 games and the consistency looks worse.

Opposing fans when calling us inconsistent will be looking at our league form. They won't be counting beating Coventry, Farencvaros and Qarabag, and our league only form is a 50% win ratio. We have been inconsistent in the league, fact! This doesn't mean I think we are average though, I don't.

Agreed, we've been inconsistent in the league since the Chelsea home game last season.

Thats fine as Ange continues to implement what he wants.

We're seeing some progress so hopefully that consistency we're looking for is not a long way off.

The Brighton defeat might well of been a big step in our growth under Ange, and Im sure that had a bearing on the HT sub on Saturday.
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
21,607
356,705
We are inconsistent that is because we are a work in progress. We are not the finished article. Ange still needs to get some of the team to play as he wants. There are further squad improvements to be made but significant progress has been made on all fronts.
Of course. We can list numerous reasons as to why, and tbh I'd say most of them are valid. People will point to the games we haven't won and say "shoulda, coulda woulda" and they may well be right, but it doesn't change the numbers when we look at them. When neutrals look at the league table and the results we have had they will say we have been inconsistent as far as results are concerned and they'll be 100% correct.

That's all I'm saying.
 

mil1lion

This is the place to be
May 7, 2004
44,586
86,454
Results have been inconsistent in the league but performances have been more consistent than last season. It just feels we fall short with poor defensive moments and lacking end product at the other end. Sort those out to go with the overall performance and we'll really kick on.
 

easley91

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2011
20,409
58,470
Results have been inconsistent in the league but performances have been more consistent than last season. It just feels we fall short with poor defensive moments and lacking end product at the other end. Sort those out to go with the overall performance and we'll really kick on.
I agree re the defending, but we have the second highest amount of goals scored in the league with 18 behind City who have 19. I don't think attacking is a problem.

And funnily enough we have conceded the same amount as them..
 

HildoSpur

Likes Erik Lamela, deal with it.
Oct 1, 2005
10,327
33,799
I'm content that we are improving but we are still a long way from the finished article. As long as I continue to see improvement then I'll be happy. I'm actually quite excited about how we play and the youthful nature of our squad. Hopefully we get that bit of luck that is required to win those tight matches and finally get our hands on some silverware.
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
21,607
356,705
I agree re the defending, but we have the second highest amount of goals scored in the league with 18 behind City who have 19. I don't think attacking is a problem.

And funnily enough we have conceded the same amount as them..
I think when we vary our attacking we are excellent going forward Everton, United, Brentford, West Ham(only seen the highlights) even Brighton first half were all brilliant attacking displays. There have also been times where to me at least it looks like we have focused solely on getting the ball wide and getting crosses in and we have looked poor. I'd be interested to know if those games were by design form Ange or whether the players have just resorted to it when there isn't much space in the middle and instead of trying to play through, the easier option is the free man out wide.

What we need is to maintain a consistency of unpredictability in attack and I think we will get 80-85 goals plus this season. The fact the goals in the big scoring games are coming from numerous different players is a good sign also but due to those games where we haven't varied the attack, it's still a work in progress for me.
 

Cavehillspur

Well-Known Member
Jan 28, 2011
14,659
19,633
Think we've played consistently well in the league all season with the exception maybe of the second halves against Leicester and Brighton when we probably should have been out of sight in both games.

I said it recently but we are going to absolutely batter someone soon, it looked like West Ham were getting it on Saturday, think if Son's effort off the inside of the post to make it 5 went it we'd have gone on to hit them for 6/7. Ange also said he felt we could have scored a few more.

Hopefully that win has put the Brighton collapse to bed and we can go on a proper run now.
 

vegassd

The ghost of Johnny Cash
Aug 5, 2006
3,498
3,770
I agree re the defending, but we have the second highest amount of goals scored in the league with 18 behind City who have 19. I don't think attacking is a problem.

And funnily enough we have conceded the same amount as them..
I think the nuance to that is that Ange's philosophy does rely on scoring lots of goals, so if we are wasteful there's a high risk of dropping points. Leicester and Newcastle were examples of this.

It's not the end of the world of course... it would be more worrying if we weren't creating chances at all. But I think the GF stat is a bit misleading at this point, simply because our goals have come in gluts (and it's still early in the season of course).

Come the end of the season, I think Ange will expect us to be the top scorers in the league based on his philosophy. His final season with Celtic saw them bag 103 goals in 33 games, with Rangers scoring 81. Pretty mad numbers! Whether or not we can achieve that is a big question.
 

Shanks

Kinda not anymore....
May 11, 2005
32,420
22,935
Think we've played consistently well in the league all season with the exception maybe of the second halves against Leicester and Brighton when we probably should have been out of sight in both games.

I said it recently but we are going to absolutely batter someone soon, it looked like West Ham were getting it on Saturday, think if Son's effort off the inside of the post to make it 5 went it we'd have gone on to hit them for 6/7. Ange also said he felt we could have scored a few more.

Hopefully that win has put the Brighton collapse to bed and we can go on a proper run now.
I think this also plays into some of it too, highest scorers just behind city in the league, but it feels like we should have scored a LOT more already, we create a lot of chances, as there are some games we've sat here moaning about not taking them...

All positive, even more so when our youngsters gain more experience as well.
 

mil1lion

This is the place to be
May 7, 2004
44,586
86,454
I agree re the defending, but we have the second highest amount of goals scored in the league with 18 behind City who have 19. I don't think attacking is a problem.

And funnily enough we have conceded the same amount as them..
Yeah but it's still inconsistent where we didn't take chances against Leicester and drew, Arsenal and lost, Newcastle and lost. That's where difference lies.
 

easley91

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2011
20,409
58,470
Yeah but it's still inconsistent where we didn't take chances against Leicester and drew, Arsenal and lost, Newcastle and lost. That's where difference lies.
Sure. But my opinion is that we're creating plenty more often than not. We have scored at least 2 in all the other games this season. It's only those 3 of 11 where we didn't take our chances. And it's only Brighton where we scored 2 and lost the game (but that to me is anamoly).

I'd be more concerned if we weren't creating anything at all. My own belief is that going forward we are fine, even more so now with Solanke, Johnson's confidence is up, Kulusevski is finding his groove and Son is back fit. Not to mention Richarlison available from the bench again. We are also getting the odd goal from midfield as Bissouma has had a couple, Sarr has scored too.

My main concern is defensively and how easy the goals conceded look. We're doing better in that regard, but there are still improvements needed to be made. We rarely get caught with the high line, set pieces we have only conceded 1 goal so far this season I think. It's the back post marking or lack thereof and lapses in concentration/tracking forwards that's the problem.
 

Roberts84

Well-Known Member
Nov 20, 2006
1,782
2,604
"Where were you when you were shite?" doesn't get sung enough at games, imo.

But, that said, also feel that the Nicola Berti song doesn't get sung enough so I wouldn't listen to me.
The Berti song brings back memories - that song and Ginola were the only things to brighten up a Saturday afternoon back then 🤣
 
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