20 Dec 2017 14:06:53
Even though we were playing crap for the first part of the season, don't forget we had a really tough start. We played all the big boys and also Liverpool. Throw in some newcomers to the prem as it's never easy playing newly promoted teams. Now we are settled onwards and upwards.
20 Dec 2017 14:44:55
We still aren't playing well. It's a results game an we have started to get them but if the football doesn't improves it's not something I want to watch every week mate. Piss poor with no imagination or flair.
20 Dec 2017 16:03:14
Give me winning ugly than losing beautifully every week.
{Ed025's Note - as i have said swan there has to be a happy medium for me, solid defence which sam seems to have sorted out and with seamus to come back will be even stronger, but we need to be more fluid in midfield and up front so we can hurt teams which will take pressure off the back line, i have to say although we are getting great results the football has been in the main dire, we are everton and should be more entertaining imo mate..
20 Dec 2017 16:22:54
I agree on some respects ed. I'd rather it was good oddball but it is results that matter.
My problem is what happens when teams work out how to get past Sam's defence. If we got nothing goong forward then we are prime to get best.
Hopefully we can find a better balance between defence and attack with some quality purchases in the January window.
{Ed025's Note - lets hope so geoff...we dont want to be another west brom or wimbledon mate..
20 Dec 2017 17:31:42
I know clubs have this ideology on how they play, think of Arsenal you think possession, Man Utd ferocious counter attacks, West Ham beautiful football (I’ve literally never seen West Ham play good football and neither has my dad who is in his mid 50s so no clue where that idea comes from) .
With us, it’s how the crowd react, we as a fan base love tackles, crosses and wingers, we played the lovely possession stuff under Martinez and Koeman and it bored the arse off us. I don’t think Sam has the players to play fluid football because we lack the striker and midfielder next to Gana to make that happen.
At the moment I can’t complain, I’d love us to play Man City style but we don’t have the players. I want us to be good on the eye but effective. With how bad we were playing in terms of results, ugly wins were needed, we’ll see how we play come the end of the season, right now I want us to get to 40 points then build from there, this season is finished, just win as many as we can and start again next season.
20 Dec 2017 17:25:00
I agree with just about everything. It is about results and we were in the middle of a bad run of results and Big Sam has got a few decent results. but the football has been dire. I am sure that Sam will want to improve that side of things as soon as we have 40 points. He will hopefully shape what is now a very young side (bar one or two) into a good footballing side. But right now we need results and that's what is happening.
{Ed025's Note - i will have that degsy and thats why im not downhearted mate, needs must at the moment but i dont want us to be just survivors and hopefully we will evolve into a good solid side who are enjoyable to watch..
20 Dec 2017 18:10:30
It’s a tough one to decide. Boring Arsenal were title winners. Leicester won the league with very little possession. Bournemouth pass it about a bit but will flirt with relegation again.
In a nutshell I would be devastated if we were to get relegated so will choose the shortest route to safety at the cost of the school of science (which I’ve not seen since the eighties) . But after that I would like to see if SA can coach a side to play a better brand of football than his safety first style that is just not easy on the eye.
20 Dec 2017 18:11:01
If true about some of the players we are chasing it should inject some pace to the attack and offer some alternative attacking options, this Lozano chap looks a great option if we can get him. a big if though.
20 Dec 2017 18:47:44
I think to say we were unlucky because we faced the big boys and newcomers is not really an excuse. Our Europen form highlights that things just weren't right at all.
I knew we would need time for new players to settle but sadly it seems we spent money on a few pre-christmas turkeys.
I am glad though that the board decided to make the change immediately, plenty of time to turn our season around. If, like some teams, we'd given the manager more time, we could have been in relegation at New Year and that's the time when relegation candidates are often revealed. Instead we're climbing the league quickly and in a real good position to at least match last seasons position.
Only 9 points off fourth. Leicester and Burnley above who i think we can overtake. A Spurs and Arsenal team who both look less of a threat than usual.
I'd love to see some attractive football but if we spend the rest of the season just getting the results of our past 4 games we may have a real shot at top 6.
I think it just goes to show all the red neighbours fans who have been giving me (and perhaps all of you) grief and jibes about relegation, YOU WROTE US OFF TOO SOON! You may be a serious attacking proposition but when all is said and done, 9 points is a very motivating target to catch!
Bit of a long post there - sorry!
20 Dec 2017 19:33:13
Whatever your opinion of Big Sam he has been around long enough to know what is needed and he will also be aware that we are grateful for getting us out of a really dodgy situation. As for going forward he will never have had so much money available to him and I honestly believe he will turn us into a decent side which I think we will all agree is a start.
20 Dec 2017 19:54:14
Great post Worcester mate I like that a lot, my own sentiments exactly cherrs.
21 Dec 2017 02:02:17
Sam has sorted the defence out, has got Rooney and Siggerson playing to their potential, the side is lobsided, something Sam will sort out this transfer window.
Add to that Bolasie close to a return, possibly McCarthy, then you have the likes of Baines and Coleman out, I think overall Sam has done a great job with the players he has had to field, might not be pretty, but until Sam can address this give the guy a break and see what happens in the January window.