[Albion] Do you think Uncle Tony is happy?

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Throughout out the leagues it’s proved better to keep or try & keep the same manager in place who have shown they can bring success and build on it.
From Klopp to Moyes it’s a proven strategy.
If the hierarchy had settled their differences with DeZerbi who knows what this season would have been like.

Are you suggesting RDZ was sacked?

News to me.

Calling @Anger

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Don’t know if you remember NSC post the Stamford Bridge carnage, we were emphatically told to trust the FH tactic of everyone being camped in the opposition half, it was just a freak match conceding goals like that. Up step …. Dibling, Leicester, Forest x 2, Everton, CP x 2, Villa, Wolves.

Maybe we should play a low block against the shitter teams and catch them on the break.

a la Dyche.

Or maybe....not.

 

[Iggle Piggle]

Don’t know if you remember NSC post the Stamford Bridge carnage, we were emphatically told to trust the FH tactic of everyone being camped in the opposition half, it was just a freak match conceding goals like that. Up step …. Dibling, Leicester, Forest x 2, Everton, CP x 2, Villa, Wolves.

Both Newcastle aways we were tactically spot on. Then at Chelsea we played that high.line against some of the quickest players in the Premier league and decided Hinshelwood could do the midfield on his own against Forest.

I just scratch my head how we can look so good and drilled sometimes and like a kids team who never met each other in others.

 

[Pliny the Gull]

I don't think we've under performed this season. It was pretty much where I expected us to be. We've looked good in spells, and not so good in others. I think it was always going to be a transition season, and one where we laid a foundation for the seasons to follow.

We have dropped points that could have seen us challenge for Champions League, but you could say that about our seasons under De Zerbi. You could say that we've dropped points we should have won in every season the club has ever played in.

I think just because we spent a lot of money in the summer that doesn't give us a right to be challenging for Champions League. That's dangerous thinking, and the sort of thing you expect from Chelsea fans. There's a lot of clubs in the Prem who throw money at the problem thinking that will automatically make them a force. And season after season we see that isn't the case. The key to becoming a force in the Prem is steady progress over several seasons. Our summer spending coincided with a new manager, it was laying the base and then we build on it.

This season is about getting the squad playing together, a top half finish, maybe knocking on the door of Europe. Next season we should be looking to push higher, be tighter, and not drop those points, but even then we won't be the finished article. And if that goes well, then you look to push on again the season after.

Fair points.
But I have read your last paragraph before elsewhere.
Will it be the same squad is another point.

 

[Zeberdi]

"Transitional bollocks" gets rolled out when there is a change in manager, because some of us realise that this presents a challenge and aren't entitled enough or have such a simplistic vision of football that we expect our team to champions league contenders every season.

'Transitional' has imho far more to do with the change of players than any change of manager. Lose a few key players over the Summer and surprise surprise next season will be another season of 'transition' - with or without a change in manager

It’s both IMO

And it’s a constantly evolving and organic process because we buy development players and more recently, a development manager ( as Potter was).

We will always be a team in transition and that means peaks and troughs.

As long as our long term sustainability continues to hold us at least mid table or higher, I’m happy.

 

[BadFish]

Both Newcastle aways we were tactically spot on. Then at Chelsea we played that high.line against some of the quickest players in the Premier league and decided Hinshelwood could do the midfield on his own against Forest.

I just scratch my head how we can look so good and drilled sometimes and like a kids team who never met each other in others.

Its what happens with a young team and lots of injuries. When we went on our decent run we had a mostly settled side.

A settled side will always look more drilled and on top of things that one changing and plugging the gaps.

You can add into this a certain amount of Fab learning what works in the Premier League and with the players at his new club.

I am not 100% on Fab being the answer but he has surely shown enough to give him another season with a more balanced squad.

 

[BadFish]

It’s both IMO

And it’s a constantly evolving and organic process because we buy development players and more recently, a development manager ( as Potter was).

We will always be a team in transition and that means peaks and troughs.

As long as our long term sustainability continues to hold us at least mid table or higher, I’m happy.

Yep, spot on.

Our model/process/project means that we will always been in transition to an extent.

We've not done that badly in the last few years either.

I think there are a few posters on here that are unable or unwilling to understand this concept though.

Personally I love what we are doing and how we are doing it.

 

[singing4seagulls]

Yep, spot on.

Our model/process/project means that we will always been in transition to an extent.

We've not done that badly in the last few years either.

I think there are a few posters on here that are unable or unwilling to understand this concept though.

Personally I love what we are doing and how we are doing it.

I also completely agree.

All this talk of spending loads of money and should be higher in the table - but we've got the 9th most expensive squad in the league.

Any better than 9th place is outperformance.

Then when you remember all our players are young and learning, then even hitting 9th is an achievement.

Then add on all the injuries and a new manager...

There's a small minority of "Chelsea like" plastics on here that think we should win or dominate every match we play.

The reality is we won't dominate lots of games. Every other team has the same plan to win and improve. We're all trying the same thing and so all teams are competitive.

I enjoy our approach in getting youngers we then sell, as it means we're sustainable and building up cash to improve the squad further in future years.

 

[Justice]

I also completely agree.

All this talk of spending loads of money and should be higher in the table - but we've got the 9th most expensive squad in the league.

Any better than 9th place is outperformance.

Then when you remember all our players are young and learning, then even hitting 9th is an achievement.

Then add on all the injuries and a new manager...

There's a small minority of "Chelsea like" plastics on here that think we should win or dominate every match we play.

The reality is we won't dominate lots of games. Every other team has the same plan to win and improve. We're all trying the same thing and so all teams are competitive.

I enjoy our approach in getting youngers we then sell, as it means we're sustainable and building up cash to improve the squad further in future years.

I haven’t seen anyone saying we should win every game infact many are craving entertainment the football is dull. We still struggle to play two halves of football at a decent level.

 

[Justice]

Are you suggesting RDZ was sacked?

News to me.

Calling @Anger

Ehhh Mr Bloom I want er sum er player in January to help the team.
Completely agree sackable offence.

 

[Justice]

Most of us are still pretty happy with where we are at. If you take into account the inexperience of our current squad and manager and if course the number of injuries we have had this season and the knock on effect of our fit players being exhausted. We are doing pretty well.

A noisy minority are on every thread demanding we win trophies and beat every team they have decided we should beat ('teams like . . . ' used to be an insult on here, now it is used in ironically).

On the whole our fanbase is still sensible and reasonable. We recognise that several factors have gone against us and that we are still on the right path.

Are you taking NSC as your example or where you in the NS Saturday at full time? Most of the stand showed their displeasure at that tepid performance.

 

[BadFish]

Are you taking NSC as your example or where you in the NS Saturday at full time? Most of the stand showed their displeasure at that tepid performance.

You are suggesting that the North Stand right after a disappointing result is a decent barometer of what people think?

But yes my post was quite clear in saying a 'noisy minority on every thread'. So yes I was talking about NSC.

It also seems that you are a fair percentage of that noisy minority. As you continue to ignore any opposing points or information I have no doubt that won't change.

 

[Justice]

You are suggesting that the North Stand right after a disappointing result is a decent barometer of what people think?

But yes my post was quite clear in saying a 'noisy minority on every thread'. So yes I was talking about NSC.

It also seems that you are a fair percentage of that noisy minority. As you continue to ignore any opposing points or information I have no doubt that won't change.

It’s not for the sake of it my friend. We are average at everything because Hurzeler’s tactics don’t really work. We’ve scored 42 and consided the same number because he’s not committing to any system.
We have huge gaps in midfield making players like Wharton and Mavididi look world class 8 times yes 8 times a simple ball found him Saturday and the problem wasn’t shut down.
Wharton had ten yards of space in front of him so he could pick whatever pass he wanted again not shut down.

The high line is not really committing when we press high and when the midfield commit it leaves a large gap behind them (the midfield) it happens time and time again. Watch where Rashford picks up the ball in no man’s land same game Hinsh loses the ball high up huge space behind him it’s a joke. Mavadidi again in that no man’s land area picks up the ball we are easy to play against.
Franks will target the same space Saturday as sadly I don’t think FH can see it.

If everyone presses as a unit it’s not as easy to pass through yes occasionally it will happen yet you gamble on the greater reward, if everyone knows where they are meant to be in a positional sense it makes the job harder to find the space for the opposition.
Towards the end of the game our players were all over the place utter shambles.

We missed some easy chances first half granted I’m not taking that away although RvN closed the problem down second half we didn’t and look what happened under pressure for the last twenty with little response.

Basically he can’t read a game identify problems and get them shut down before it causes damage. That’s all I really ask from our manager set us properly and close down issues during a game.
We are a long way from Declan Rice saying I don’t want to feel like that again on a football pitch we couldn’t get the ball.

 

[BadFish]

It’s not for the sake of it my friend. We are average at everything because Hurzeler’s tactics don’t really work. We’ve scored 42 and consided the same number because he’s not committing to any system.
We have huge gaps in midfield making players like Wharton and Mavididi look world class 8 times yes 8 times a simple ball found him Saturday and the problem wasn’t shut down.
Wharton had ten yards of space in front of him so he could pick whatever pass he wanted again not shut down.

The high line is not really committing when we press high and when the midfield commit it leaves a large gap behind them (the midfield) it happens time and time again. Watch where Rashford picks up the ball in no man’s land same game Hinsh loses the ball high up huge space behind him it’s a joke. Mavadidi again in that no man’s land area picks up the ball we are easy to play against.
Franks will target the same space Saturday as sadly I don’t think FH can see it.

If everyone presses as a unit it’s not as easy to pass through yes occasionally it will happen yet you gamble on the greater reward, if everyone knows where they are meant to be in a positional sense it makes the job harder to find the space for the opposition.
Towards the end of the game our players were all over the place utter shambles.

We missed some easy chances first half granted I’m not taking that away although RvN closed the problem down second half we didn’t and look what happened under pressure for the last twenty with little response.

Basically he can’t read a game identify problems and get them shut down before it causes damage. That’s all I really ask from our manager set us properly and close down issues during a game.
We are a long way from Declan Rice saying I don’t want to feel like that again on a football pitch we couldn’t get the ball.

Everyone is well aware of your thoughts on this, repeating them again does not make them more valid or more inclusive of the opposing views and information you continue to ignore.

The point I was making was that you and a few others are clogging up this board and repeating your opinions as nauseum across virtually every thread. Making it seem that we have more supporters that share your views then we do.

You continue to prove this point.

Any chance you can pick a thread or two (or three or four) and endlessly l repeat yourself on those so the rest of us can have a balanced discussion?

My guess is the answer to this will be a resounding No. So I'll leave it there and leave you to it.

 

[Justice]

Everyone is well aware of your thoughts on this, repeating them again does not make them more valid or more inclusive of the opposing views and information you continue to ignore.

The point I was making was that you and a few others are clogging up this board and repeating your opinions as nauseum across virtually every thread. Making it seem that we have more supporters that share your views then we do.

You continue to prove this point.

Any chance you can pick a thread or two (or three or four) and endlessly l repeat yourself on those so the rest of us can have a balanced discussion?

My guess is the answer to this will be a resounding No. So I'll leave it there and leave you to it.

If you gave me a purely tactical reason why you think it is working which you obviously do then it would be an interesting discussion. Just saying we are 10th or it’s a transitional season isn’t an answer.
The guys paid to coach, people seemed amazed to why Solly scored so many goals under RDZ, Simple coaching get to the back post Solly when we attack it worked. Where did he score most of his goals at the back post.
People get frustrated as to why Mitoma isn’t beating his man as often as he did, that takes a lot energy now he’s covering two positions up and down the pitch constantly instead of concentrating on attacking.
You want your best attacking players attacking & not defending as much as he is doing leave that to others.

 

[oldboyroy]

Most of us are still pretty happy with where we are at. If you take into account the inexperience of our current squad and manager and if course the number of injuries we have had this season and the knock on effect of our fit players being exhausted. We are doing pretty well.

A noisy minority are on every thread demanding we win trophies and beat every team they have decided we should beat ('teams like . . . ' used to be an insult on here, now it is used in ironically).

On the whole our fanbase is still sensible and reasonable. We recognise that several factors have gone against us and that we are still on the right path.

We are doing OK. Its the fact that we could be doing much better this season when the traditional big guns have had a very poor season. Its completely down to where we were just 3 weeks ago or so and we've contrived to virtually blow it when the pressure was on. Unlucky with the injuries at wrong time coupled with not making the most of Palace being reduced to 9 albeit not for long and the failure to beat a woeful Leicester with a 2nd half where the players (it seemed) thought the game was won when 2-1 up.

 

[Anger]

Are you suggesting RDZ was sacked?

News to me.

Calling @Anger

Was RDZ sacked? Hmmm… interesting hypothesis.

To determine the answer we must consider comparable hypotheses from other walks of life. E.g.

Is the premier resident of The Vatican a Catholic?
Do bears defecate in forested areas (but not near the Enfield Toby Carvery)?
Is Trump actually Cartman from South Park?

The answer to all of these questions is indisputably “yes”.

Ergo, I put it to The Court that the former Manager known as Roberto De Zerbi (or RDZ to friend and foe alike) was in fact, and not to overly elaborate the point, sacked.

I trust this has been of some help to both Judge and Jury.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Was RDZ sacked? Hmmm… interesting hypothesis.

To determine the answer we must consider comparable hypotheses from other walks of life. E.g.

Is the premier resident of The Vatican a Catholic?
Do bears defecate in forested areas (but not near the Enfield Toby Carvery)?
Is Trump actually Cartman from South Park?

The answer to all of these questions is indisputably “yes”.

Ergo, I put it to The Court that the former Manager known as Roberto De Zerbi (or RDZ to friend and foe alike) was in fact, and not to overly elaborate the point, sacked.

I trust this has been of some help to both Judge and Jury.

It's definitely a 'maybe' then.
Thanks for making that so clear

 

[Taybha]

 

[WATFORD zero]

It’ll be interesting to see where TB spends the Baleba, Rutter and JPVH sale proceeds this summer.

Shirley on some players with pace who can defend the counter attack.

I saw a really good, quick young centre back last weekend for the first time. Big lad, great feet, breaks forward, he would be ideal