28 Sep 2023 10:53:54
My starting point is that I believe all our players are fundamentally good footballers. Some are obviously better than others but if they weren’t good they would never have made it to the Premier League. There’s enough talent in our squad to be at least mid table. So why are our results so bad?

I think the problem is that our managers (and we had four of them in the last year or so) each have felt they have to come in and get the team to play their (different) style otherwise they would feel they weren’t doing anything. It’s no wonder the players look uncomfortable and confused.

Maybe the answer is that the manager should not be rigid but should simply encourage the players to play to their strengths and play attacking football with the accent on enjoying themselves. This is what seems to be working to good effect at Spurs. Sometimes simple answers are the best response to complex problems.

1.) 28 Sep 2023
28 Sep 2023 11:38:00
Sorry Innocent but I think you are massively under estimating how incredibly detailed and nuanced Ange Ball actually is! He doesn't just tell them to go out there and express themselves/have fun because they aren't an U9's team! No, Spurs are benefitting from a VERY tactically strong and meticulous manager, not entirely different to what we had before Jeff mucked it up this summer!
Watch Spurs play, the triggering of the press is precise, organised and well executed! Just like their set pieces or there defensive structures. Then watch us and THEN I can start see why you are confusing the Prem with U9's footy!
I get where you are coming from but modern football really is VERY detailed, ironically I think half of the problem is that Gary has a similar approach to that which you are recommending! Worked for Mad Mick but these days you just won't get away with it, the Prem has moved on and it we don't catch up I fear that we won't be in it much longer!

2.) 28 Sep 2023
28 Sep 2023 11:38:58
There still has to be a cohesive defensive unit where players know when and where they need to be.

3.) 28 Sep 2023
28 Sep 2023 12:33:00
If the chances we have created were put away by the so called strikers at the club we would be sitting prity in mid table, that’s the main problem, not putting chances, and good chances at that in the back of the net .

4.) 28 Sep 2023
28 Sep 2023 13:38:17
I'm not sure about that Wolvo, like Jas was saying last week we all keep talking about the chances we miss without recognising that we have let in the third highest amount of goals in the league! In fact we are currently averaging letting two goals in a game! So even if we finish our chances we have to score two goals a game just to have any chance of even nicking a point?! The problem is in both boxes and if the problem remains to be in both boxes (after the next 3-4 matches) then I'm afraid the problem is GON!

5.) 28 Sep 2023
28 Sep 2023 14:57:18
We’ve needed a striker since we were 4th with the chance to go second and Raul got his injury. We all knew it and so did and do Shi and Fosun but still even this window they don’t get the priority goal scorer we need. Nuno’s face when he had to tow the club line and say Liverpool was the right place for Jota said it all. We’ve needed a strong quick centre back for years as we’ve never had one under Fosun. Semedo 1 great game 4 bad, Dawson solid every game but slow, Kilman makes wrong decisions and doesn’t get tight enough and Ait Nouri is more of an attacking player rather than a solid left back. That’s why he needs to change to a 5 and get harder to score against and play 3 up top. Then maybe we can buy a proper goalscorer in Jam if it’s not too late. ?

6.) 28 Sep 2023
28 Sep 2023 18:28:09
On paper we have talented players and a good team but not able to transfer that skill and talent to the pitch. Is that down to GON and his ability to motivate or is there more of a deep seated issue at the club

7.) 29 Sep 2023
29 Sep 2023 17:40:28
We'd be mid table were it not for VAR.