by Sanchino » Wed Apr 03, 2024 1:49 am
Crouching Shola Hidden Talent wrote: ↑Tue Apr 02, 2024 10:46 pm
Bodacious Benny wrote: ↑Tue Apr 02, 2024 10:32 pm
Yep, it has been unprecedented.
Tho to play devils advocate, isn’t there an argument that we should have adapted our style of play to mitigate against more injuries given how the season has unfolded and how many we’ve had? Or do we only have one way of playing? If you continue to get injury after injury and are stuck in that cycle, why keep doing exactly the same things…
Not saying that’s my opinion, just an alternative perspective on it. Players clearly “in the red” continue to be told to play with the same intensity.
This is it for me (and I understand it's an oversimplification) in so much that we just play the same way all the time. Consistency is great, of course, but when your players are dropping like flies is flogging them to death the only way? And even then, because we are missing the players that can do that the best (Joelinton for example), do we need to make players who aren't built that way do the same job?
The lull this season was always going to happen, and any sensible fan knew that, and I do think Howe has done really well with the injuries we've had. We still look threatening, we score goals and he's brought out the best in the likes of Gordon, Schar etc. My only frustration sometimes is that there is seemingly no desire to make those little changes when needed.
I for one am 100% in Howe's camp, but I would like to see that ability to change it up a little more
This.
I hope this point doesn't come back to bite us and we end up in the Conference League instead of the Europa now because of this result. Injuries haven't helped but inconsistency and our defensive fragilities will also be the reason we don't end up getting no European football. On the positive side.. final 8 games are all WINNABLE/DRAWS (of course getting some players back would help too and increase our chances).. we can't afford to lose too many more games/drop points now.
Fulham (a) - Winnable. Not in the best of form right now and with Gordon back we can do some damage in attack. Just worried about the defence hope Trippier / Hall are fit to start.
Tottenham (h) - Dangerous game could go either way but could see us at least getting a point if not all three.. definitely can see more than 3/4 goals being scored with Spurs' style of play.
Crystal Palace (a) - Winnable. Especially if Eze/Olise not playing.
Shefield United (h) - Winnable (MUST win). If we can't beat the worst side / bottom side in the League we don't definitely don't deserve no European football.
Burnley (a) - Winnable (similar to Shefield United) if we can't win against a poor Burnley side we don't deserve nothing. Couple players should be coming back into the fold from injury (fingers cross) that can help us in the May games.
Brighton (h) - Need to get revenge at home from that awful 3-1 defeat at there ground. Dangerous game as there a good footballing side but like us they tend to concede some soft goals and are vulnerable in transition. Should have enough to edge it.
Brentford (a) - Dangerous game but if the European places are up for grabs we need to win / at least get a point out of this especially if things are looking tight in the top 7/8. There a good team at home but beatable.. apart from Toney n some of there other attackers (Mbembo/etc) I wouldn't worry too much if can play to our potential and strengths it's a winnable game.
Man United (a) - Has a date being scheduled for this game yet?? Could see us nicking a point.. but could lose aswell just have a bad feeling about this game.
Out of a possible 24 points if we can get anywhere between 15-18 then European football could be on the cards. that's potentially 5 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss. Let's think positive!!!
[quote="Crouching Shola Hidden Talent" post_id=918356 time=1712097997 user_id=83]
[quote="Bodacious Benny" post_id=918355 time=1712097153 user_id=140]
Yep, it has been unprecedented.
Tho to play devils advocate, isn’t there an argument that we should have adapted our style of play to mitigate against more injuries given how the season has unfolded and how many we’ve had? Or do we only have one way of playing? If you continue to get injury after injury and are stuck in that cycle, why keep doing exactly the same things…
Not saying that’s my opinion, just an alternative perspective on it. Players clearly “in the red” continue to be told to play with the same intensity.
[/quote]
This is it for me (and I understand it's an oversimplification) in so much that we just play the same way all the time. Consistency is great, of course, but when your players are dropping like flies is flogging them to death the only way? And even then, because we are missing the players that can do that the best (Joelinton for example), do we need to make players who aren't built that way do the same job?
The lull this season was always going to happen, and any sensible fan knew that, and I do think Howe has done really well with the injuries we've had. We still look threatening, we score goals and he's brought out the best in the likes of Gordon, Schar etc. My only frustration sometimes is that there is seemingly no desire to make those little changes when needed.
I for one am 100% in Howe's camp, but I would like to see that ability to change it up a little more
[/quote]
This. <applause>
I hope this point doesn't come back to bite us and we end up in the Conference League instead of the Europa now because of this result. Injuries haven't helped but inconsistency and our defensive fragilities will also be the reason we don't end up getting no European football. On the positive side.. final 8 games are all WINNABLE/DRAWS (of course getting some players back would help too and increase our chances).. we can't afford to lose too many more games/drop points now.
Fulham (a) - Winnable. Not in the best of form right now and with Gordon back we can do some damage in attack. Just worried about the defence hope Trippier / Hall are fit to start.
Tottenham (h) - Dangerous game could go either way but could see us at least getting a point if not all three.. definitely can see more than 3/4 goals being scored with Spurs' style of play.
Crystal Palace (a) - Winnable. Especially if Eze/Olise not playing.
Shefield United (h) - Winnable (MUST win). If we can't beat the worst side / bottom side in the League we don't definitely don't deserve no European football.
Burnley (a) - Winnable (similar to Shefield United) if we can't win against a poor Burnley side we don't deserve nothing. Couple players should be coming back into the fold from injury (fingers cross) that can help us in the May games.
Brighton (h) - Need to get revenge at home from that awful 3-1 defeat at there ground. Dangerous game as there a good footballing side but like us they tend to concede some soft goals and are vulnerable in transition. Should have enough to edge it.
Brentford (a) - Dangerous game but if the European places are up for grabs we need to win / at least get a point out of this especially if things are looking tight in the top 7/8. There a good team at home but beatable.. apart from Toney n some of there other attackers (Mbembo/etc) I wouldn't worry too much if can play to our potential and strengths it's a winnable game.
Man United (a) - Has a date being scheduled for this game yet?? Could see us nicking a point.. but could lose aswell just have a bad feeling about this game. <erk>
Out of a possible 24 points if we can get anywhere between 15-18 then European football could be on the cards. that's potentially 5 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss. Let's think positive!!! <diva> <awe>