Craig Ward
Full Member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2016
- Messages
- 2,117
If you analyze the season as a whole - we are in a much better position with 1 game left than most would have thought possible.
We have to look at some positives as well as negatives.
Yes there are flaws in the squad and flaws in every single game, from various players.
We should have beaten Southampton and we should have beaten West Ham. We've played well and dropped a little which is disappointing, but we are still in a good league position overall.
The FA Cup Semi was a disaster and really sums us up. We look good some games, and when we aren't at it 100% we look like a mid to bottom of table team. We have this unique ability for our top talents to look extremely ordinary. Basically, screams of an attitude issue to me.
Winning breeds confidence and we have shown signs of grafting results on times, so the bulk of the players are capable of fighting for results. Just a shame when there are so many errors that are easily avoided.
For me, the West Ham game was hard to watch. We had chances, and didnt take them. If we get the lead, its a relatively straight forward win. We didnt, we paid for it.
Pogba gifts a penalty and we are behind. I wont be too harsh on Pogba cos he didnt cost us the victory overall, but it certainly doesnt help when another error like that gifts them a goal. Abysmal decision and cowardice from Pogba it has to be said. But we still, despite that still should have won. We invite pressure and more often than not when you play so sloppily you will be punished. For a team with our defensive record you'd think we would be hard to break down - but we look calamitous at the back. Im amazed we dont take 3-0 drubbings game after game. I feel like every player has a defensive error in them - we never look assured at the back yet on paper the stats look quite good.
Few points:
- Pogba looked amazing when he first come back into the team - he;s back to normal now. Flashes of brilliance but layered with inconsistency and poor decisions. It's almost like he knows he's going to start so he doesnt play with any desire or motivation. Shame cos i was starting to think he turned a corner.
- Matic. He's our only DM and really helps our team shape and set up. Sadly, he cant maintain his usual level with so many games. We are desperate for a top quality addition there
- Collectively, we dont seem capable of passing the ball with any speed. Our entire distribution is slow, lazy, predictable. Just dire sideways/backwards football at a snails pace. Maguire and Lindelof are shocking at this, Matic/Pogba not far behind. If we had more people working hard to get into space and used the ball quicker, we wouldnt be so bloody easy to contain. We make it so easy for the opposition to get in shape and cancel us out. We have to play with more intensity.
- Fitness. Thought this was a plan of Ole's for us to be the fittest, hardest working team in the league? Whats happened to that? We look shattered and it's pretty much inexcusable at this point.
On paper - dont lose to Leicester sounds like a dream but im really nervy. Going to be a nail biter on Sunday thats for sure
We have to look at some positives as well as negatives.
Yes there are flaws in the squad and flaws in every single game, from various players.
We should have beaten Southampton and we should have beaten West Ham. We've played well and dropped a little which is disappointing, but we are still in a good league position overall.
The FA Cup Semi was a disaster and really sums us up. We look good some games, and when we aren't at it 100% we look like a mid to bottom of table team. We have this unique ability for our top talents to look extremely ordinary. Basically, screams of an attitude issue to me.
Winning breeds confidence and we have shown signs of grafting results on times, so the bulk of the players are capable of fighting for results. Just a shame when there are so many errors that are easily avoided.
For me, the West Ham game was hard to watch. We had chances, and didnt take them. If we get the lead, its a relatively straight forward win. We didnt, we paid for it.
Pogba gifts a penalty and we are behind. I wont be too harsh on Pogba cos he didnt cost us the victory overall, but it certainly doesnt help when another error like that gifts them a goal. Abysmal decision and cowardice from Pogba it has to be said. But we still, despite that still should have won. We invite pressure and more often than not when you play so sloppily you will be punished. For a team with our defensive record you'd think we would be hard to break down - but we look calamitous at the back. Im amazed we dont take 3-0 drubbings game after game. I feel like every player has a defensive error in them - we never look assured at the back yet on paper the stats look quite good.
Few points:
- Pogba looked amazing when he first come back into the team - he;s back to normal now. Flashes of brilliance but layered with inconsistency and poor decisions. It's almost like he knows he's going to start so he doesnt play with any desire or motivation. Shame cos i was starting to think he turned a corner.
- Matic. He's our only DM and really helps our team shape and set up. Sadly, he cant maintain his usual level with so many games. We are desperate for a top quality addition there
- Collectively, we dont seem capable of passing the ball with any speed. Our entire distribution is slow, lazy, predictable. Just dire sideways/backwards football at a snails pace. Maguire and Lindelof are shocking at this, Matic/Pogba not far behind. If we had more people working hard to get into space and used the ball quicker, we wouldnt be so bloody easy to contain. We make it so easy for the opposition to get in shape and cancel us out. We have to play with more intensity.
- Fitness. Thought this was a plan of Ole's for us to be the fittest, hardest working team in the league? Whats happened to that? We look shattered and it's pretty much inexcusable at this point.
On paper - dont lose to Leicester sounds like a dream but im really nervy. Going to be a nail biter on Sunday thats for sure