[Albion] What is most responsible for our current poor form?

[GT49er]

Recruitment - quantity over quality, and generally not much of an uprate on what we had. Gruda and O'Riley an upgrade on Buonannote and Enciso? Not really. £20M on Minteh - £20M improvement over Adingra? Hmmm......... Cashin? Double hmmm.......

 

[Stato]

1) Injuries and fitness levels. - Naylor's Athletic article for the NYT explained that we've been unlucky with lots of different types of injury, but also that Hurzeler was trying to take of our training from RDZ's hyper focus on tactics to an approach where fitness requirements were towards the top end and expected some damage along the way.

2) Squad imbalance. Our spend was influenced by PSR opportunities and defenders didn't seem to be high on the agenda. However, with Dunk and Veltman in their mid thirties and Webster and Lamptey's injury history, we were more in need of cover there. The number of wingers / number 10s we bought was mad.

3) Transition (part 1). We spent a lot and had a new coaching team and new approach. FH has mentioned how important onfield relationships are and we have been in the process of developing those throughout the season, whilst being hampered by 1&2.

4) Transition (part 2). Transitions in play have become key weapons for a lot of our opponents this season and we have not coped well. City's struggle to deal with this without Rodri have been commented on. Brighton and Tottenham have been trying to attack like City without ever having a Rodri. FH keeps saying that we need to train harder to avoid mistakes, but needs to learn that mistakes are always going to happen and that other teams are setting up to minimise the impact of those mistakes when they happen to them.

5) Inexperience. Whether throwing everyone forward in the last minutes when 2-0 up against Wolves, the manager thinking we can play Forest without a midfield, or players sulking when things aren't going our way, we haven't shown much maturity. Pragmatism isn't a dirty word. We showed away at Newcastle that we can play as the away team, but too often we've led with our jaw and made things easier for our opponents.

None of this is impossible to fix. We have a talented and determined group, but the EPL has been extremely competitive this year and quite a few teams have been in a better place to deal with it's challenges. Our flops have been when we've been the favourites. We need to readjust slightly in those games, stop overcommitting and play more on the counter. It'll probably be best for us not to qualify for Europe because playing more games next year is likely to make it more difficult to resolve our issues. We need to invest in our defence and those partnerships will need time and protection. Most of us would have predicted a mid table finish this season, but at times we've looked very capable of doing better. This has made dealing with the poor results harder. We've flirted with the top six places, we were one Sels save away from another trip to Wembley, but it seems to be ending with the same damp squib as last year and that has hung an air of gloom over what in time, will probably be viewed as a transitional season in which we've shown promise and coped fairly well. If I could ask for one thing next season it would be being harder. Harder in midfield and defence, harder to beat, harder to cow, harder to score against, harder to stop. That comes with maturity.

 

[Weststander]

Poor recruitment over 4 windows. Defence/DM not adequately dealt with.

Plus the atmosphere at the Amex yesterday was non existent.

 

[studio150]

The opening of The Terrace, PBOBE out

 

[1066familyman]

Defenders not doing the basics.

 

[London Irish]

1) Injuries and fitness levels. - Naylor's Athletic article for the NYT explained that we've been unlucky with lots of different types of injury, but also that Hurzeler was trying to take of our training from RDZ's hyper focus on tactics to an approach where fitness requirements were towards the top end and expected some damage along the way.

2) Squad imbalance. Our spend was influenced by PSR opportunities and defenders didn't seem to be high on the agenda. However, with Dunk and Veltman in their mid thirties and Webster and Lamptey's injury history, we were more in need of cover there. The number of wingers / number 10s we bought was mad.

3) Transition (part 1). We spent a lot and had a new coaching team and new approach. FH has mentioned how important onfield relationships are and we have been in the process of developing those throughout the season, whilst being hampered by 1&2.

4) Transition (part 2). Transitions in play have become key weapons for a lot of our opponents this season and we have not coped well. City's struggle to deal with this without Rodri have been commented on. Brighton and Tottenham have been trying to attack like City without ever having a Rodri. FH keeps saying that we need to train harder to avoid mistakes, but needs to learn that mistakes are always going to happen and that other teams are setting up to minimise the impact of those mistakes when they happen to them.

5) Inexperience. Whether throwing everyone forward in the last minutes when 2-0 up against Wolves, the manager thinking we can play Forest without a midfield, or players sulking when things aren't going our way, we haven't shown much maturity. Pragmatism isn't a dirty word. We showed away at Newcastle that we can play as the away team, but too often we've led with our jaw and made things easier for our opponents.

None of this is impossible to fix. We have a talented and determined group, but the EPL has been extremely competitive this year and quite a few teams have been in a better place to deal with it's challenges. Our flops have been when we've been the favourites. We need to readjust slightly in those games, stop overcommitting and play more on the counter. It'll probably be best for us not to qualify for Europe because playing more games next year is likely to make it more difficult to resolve our issues. We need to invest in our defence and those partnerships will need time and protection. Most of us would have predicted a mid table finish this season, but at times we've looked very capable of doing better. This has made dealing with the poor results harder. We've flirted with the top six places, we were one Sels save away from another trip to Wembley, but it seems to be ending with the same damp squib as last year and that has hung an air of gloom over what in time, will probably be viewed as a transitional season in which we've shown promise and coped fairly well. If I could ask for one thing next season it would be being harder. Harder in midfield and defence, harder to beat, harder to cow, harder to score against, harder to stop. That comes with maturity.

This is a much better post than this terrible poll thread deserved- the only thing I disagree with is that other teams were in a much better place to deal with problems. I’d say with a quarter of a billion spend we were in a much better place than our peer clubs Fulham, B’muff, Brentford, Forest, Palace and with the additional help of Newcastle and their PSR hit.

We’ve blown a golden chance where 6th place was eminently achievable maybe even higher

 

[Stato]

This is a much better post than this terrible poll thread deserved- the only thing I disagree with is that other teams were in a much better place to deal with problems. I’d say with a quarter of a billion spend we were in a much better place than our peer clubs Fulham, B’muff, Brentford, Forest, Palace and with the additional help of Newcastle and their PSR hit.

We’ve blown a golden chance where 6th place was eminently achievable maybe even higher

I can understand the expectation that comes with the spend, but it was a rebuild and it's not as if the opponents you list haven't been spending themselves. Over the previous seasons we had sold our best players and the clubs you list haven't to the same extent. Even after our £200m spend over the summer, compared with your list, we have the lowest spend balance over the last eight windows: -€61m, compared with Fulham -€109.22, Brentford -€168.85m, Palace -€185.76m, Bournemouth -€257.52m and those plucky little underdogs Notts Forest -€263.15, the seventh highest spend in the division. I know that our balance is heavily weighted by high value sales, but the point is we lost those players and have had to replace them, whilst others have had more opportunity to build on work done over a number of windows. A big investment in one go is likely to be less immediately effective than building brick by brick over a number of windows. We also started the season with a new manager and none of them did.

 

[Mike Small]

If we can't cope with injuries to Webster, Ferdi and Joel Veltman then we're not a top half team at all. If we had all these players available, we'd probably be a few points better off in 8th.

That said, we should be doing even better with our squad, challenging the top 6 this year. We're not because of the attitude of the players and FH's management.

 

[jcdenton08]

If we can't cope with injuries to Webster, Ferdi and Joel Veltman then we're not a top half team at all. If we had all these players available, we'd probably be a few points better off in 8th.

That said, we should be doing even better with our squad, challenging the top 6 this year. We're not because of the attitude of the players and FH's management.

In fairness a lot of teams would struggle with the number of injuries we’ve suffered, which is far more than the ones you’ve listed

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

We need another poll, and thread to moan on.

We do indeed.
Because I was allowed a maximum of only two choices.
And I am not @TWOCHOICEStom

@BadFish OUT!!!!



Oh, and I blame my parents.

 

[BadFish]

This is a much better post than this terrible poll thread deserved- the only thing I disagree with is that other teams were in a much better place to deal with problems. I’d say with a quarter of a billion spend we were in a much better place than our peer clubs Fulham, B’muff, Brentford, Forest, Palace and with the additional help of Newcastle and their PSR hit.

We’ve blown a golden chance where 6th place was eminently achievable maybe even higher

Rude, my poll is excellent, well thought out and highly forensic. It also has the full backing of Lady Summer.

Take it up with her.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Recruitment - quantity over quality, and generally not much of an uprate on what we had. Gruda and O'Riley an upgrade on Buonannote and Enciso? Not really. £20M on Minteh - £20M improvement over Adingra? Hmmm......... Cashin? Double hmmm.......

Did you watch Facu this afternoon? Did next to nothing then ballooned a shot over the rainbow.

Gruda and O-Riley are more serious prospects.

And to be honest I can't remember who Enciso is? Is he at Ipswich?

 

[papajaff]

Lady Christmas I gave you my heart.

This could be the Lady time.

 

[The Fits]

Recruitment - quantity over quality, and generally not much of an uprate on what we had. Gruda and O'Riley an upgrade on Buonannote and Enciso? Not really. £20M on Minteh - £20M improvement over Adingra? Hmmm......... Cashin? Double hmmm.......

Really astute points. In answer to your question I don’t think G and O’R would ever be a 20 million pound upgrade on E and B.
Minteh? Maybe. Adingra is a strange one. He seems to have buckets of potential and is seriously regarded by neutrals and pundits. The whole thing is a bit odd. Do Gruda and Minteh go on loan next season and we buy more replacements!?

 

[Anger]

Scoring fewer goals than the opposition has got to be the biggest factor surely?

 

[Dibdab]

If you want to be as reductive as:
recruitment.

Injuries happen and the recruitment has left the squad horribly imbalanced, but the manager has to adapt how we play to those that are coming into the team. Webster and Igor are clearly better at FH's tactics, but if you then have a half fit Lewis coming in then you simply cannot refuse to adapt the way we play as a result. It's been suicidal.

I dont' think I've seen us defend so badly since the Hyppia years, and you cant say that even with our weaker starting 11's that there are bad players on the pitch that explain the shit show defending. I refuse to believe that a decent manager wouldnt have us well organised to the tools on the pitch.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

The players.

All of them.

OUT.

 

[dwayne]

It's a combination of key Injuries and then not playing the correct tactics to cover those injuries. What the hell is dunk doing over the half way line at Brentford.

Manager takes a lot of the blame

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Cashin.

 

[Van Cleef]

We are so unlucky that Georginio has got injured at the same time.

I'm getting Bruce Wayne/Batman vibes with those two.
In other news, I am now also convinced that Cashin is in fact a cunningly disguised Aaron Connelly.