The goal isn’t top 4 at all. In what world has anyone written off second place when the gaps 4 points? We’re a million miles ahead of where we were last season.It's not about this one game. We are point behind City, who have a game in hand and they look a million miles ahead of us, with their best players yet to even come back from injury. Anyone that genuinely thought we had a shot at the title was having a laugh. What's annoying is the goal now is top 4, we will get it, it will be enough to keep Ole in the job, we will rinse and repeat next season, once again looking clueless in positional play, movement and passing.
So you haven't noticed any improvement in our play and results since Ole took over?Blind faith in a club legend. Bless them. Won't win anything with him though. I see zero progress against deep sitting teams. We created feck all from open play today. Our football is tumescent and predictable. City smash teams like these with or without a fit striker in their ranks
Agree. We're just another team scrapping for top four. The fact that the board still haven't renewed Ole is telling.Don't understand how people don't understand this.
Looking at xGoals and xPts we would only have been three off of Liverpool last season with 74pts. vs 71pts. - is xG really then a fair and useable tool when Liverpool in reality finished 33 points ahead of us? To me, it's a funny corner of the stat-world, but to use it as a truer league table than the actual league table? I think that is to give it too much value.People need to remember we were outperforming our XG and should be 7th. We have conceeded the most goals in the top 11. I know we shipped 6 vs Spurs but CIty got thrashed one game and still only coneeded 13. Even if Spurs only beat us 3-1 we would have conceeded the joint most in the top 11. Combined with our misfiring forwards its a MIRACLE we were in 1st place
Yeah, it's a bit frustrating because this season is like 2015/16: a team that at least somewhat has its shit together can fight its way to a league title with something like 80-85 points. With Covid, and the injuries at Liverpool and City, this could have been our big chance - except it was pretty much always clear that even this is beyond us. In terms of points we were on course to challenge but we never looked like potential title winners.It will be worse next season. With Pep and Kloop in charge, next season could be 100 points season to win the league again.
His management of the squad has been superb. We've got rid of almost all the deadwood and brought through a crop of really good young players.So you haven't noticed any improvement in our play and results since Ole took over?
The only thing I cling onto. His press conference around no discussions with the board... one can hope they’ve actually woken up to the fact they cannot trust this guy.Agree. We're just another team scrapping for top four. The fact that the board still haven't renewed Ole is telling.
No. Our best football post Fergie came under Mou in his first season here. Last season we at least had some games where we completely outscored to opponent. We are not even doing that anymore. Apart from Leeds we had to grind out almost every single result this season without looking anything special.So you haven't noticed any improvement in our play and results since Ole took over?
With Covid?!!!Yeah, it's a bit frustrating because this season is like 2015/16: a team that at least somewhat has its shit together can fight its way to a league title with something like 80-85 points. With Covid, and the injuries at Liverpool and City, this could have been our big chance - except it was pretty much always clear that even this is beyond us. In terms of points we were on course to challenge but we never looked like potential title winners.
Of course we can say this team is not ready yet and next season with a couple of additions we'll be stronger - but if normality is resumed next season, we won't stand a chance.
It’s amazing to see isn’t it. We have a better chance this year because Liverpool and city have had to deal with Covid, like we haven’t.With Covid?!!!
We were one of the hardest hit teams due to that. We ran our players into the ground and then had to restart the season less than two months later. The results at the start of the season reflects that. If you look at the year as a whole, then we are one of the form teams. Anyone denying the improvement is living in a dream world.
I disagree completely.No. Our best football post Fergie came under Mou in his first season here.
Look where Liverpool are at now? My housemate said all last season that Pool would not win this year due to their XG from last year.Looking at xGoals and xPts we would only have been three off of Liverpool last season with 74pts. vs 71pts. - is xG really then a fair and useable tool when Liverpool in reality finished 33 points ahead of us? To me, it's a funny corner of the stat-world, but to use it as a truer league table than the actual league table? I think that is to give it too much value.
Well opinions isn't it. But with games like these you can't seriously suggest we've actually improved muchI disagree completely.
I really believe we have to get a number 9 to finally realise our problem is not a number 9. Do people even watch the whole team.Until we can find a number 9 capable of regularly putting the ball in the back of the net, we aren't going to be able to seriously challenge. Throw in a Haaland type striker, and I think we could go all the way in the league.
You can't make judgements based on individual games. Surely our seasons under Mourinho could tell you that much?!Well opinions isn't it. But with games like these you can't seriously suggest we've actually improved much
And when they tell you, let me know, so I can have a chuckle. Be welcome after watching that dire performance.Anyone that genuinely thinks we are in the same universe as City when it comes to coaching and patterns of play really needs to help me understand what they are seeing.
Our 2020 form was... between good and decent. It's an improvement over 2018/19, certainly. But it's not a 90+ point season form and even though City and Liverpool have regressed, significantly, we're still third behind them in the calendar year. And I think in a way we did benefit from Covid: it has been the great equaliser. It makes sense, too: you have less time to prepare for games, they come thick and fast so of course there's more 'randomness' in the results.With Covid?!!!
We were one of the hardest hit teams due to that. We ran our players into the ground and then had to restart the season less than two months later. The results at the start of the season reflects that. If you look at the year as a whole, then we are one of the form teams. Anyone denying the improvement is living in a dream world.
This is very true. Our last convincing win and performance was against Leeds who played into our hands perfectly. I was hoping tonight would be a night where we showed something more convincing but it wasn't to be.The only overreaction was that people really thought we could win it with the football we showed week in week out. Grinding results out was never sustainable
it aint about the loss anyone can lose but simply the way you lose games, tonight was actually terrible, for players not to be up for it is a big concern.What a bunch of knee jerk muppets in here. Considering we had one of the worst starts to the season in recent history with terrible home form and still sat top of the league at the mid point. One loss doesn’t put an end to us being in the mix.
Yes we played shockingly but usually bounce back from these and go on a decent run so calm down.
Everton too. With Ancelotti at the helm. Top four fight will be toughIf Spurs win their 2 games in hand they are just a point behind us. We were never clear of anyone. Just temporarily leading the pack
And a managerStill need that forward and CDM.
We shouldn't to be fair, we know what happened the last time we renewed him.Agree. We're just another team scrapping for top four. The fact that the board still haven't renewed Ole is telling.
From the meltdown season we've improved, and from the 1st half of last season for sure.So you haven't noticed any improvement in our play and results since Ole took over?
It isn't about losing him. It's about removing the feeling of uncertainty from the dressing room.We shouldn't to be fair, we know what happened the last time we renewed him.
Also whats our risk? Do you seriously believe another team will steal him?
The decision is ours to make, and we should wait as long as we can to make it.
Agree.We shouldn't to be fair, we know what happened the last time we renewed him.
Also whats our risk? Do you seriously believe another team will steal him?
The decision is ours to make, and we should wait as long as we can to make it.
Do you think we have that feeling? I dont think so, but if we do then good. Players should fight to prove he's the right man.It isn't about losing him. It's about removing the feeling of uncertainty from the dressing room.
Pretty much exactly like that 2017/18 team. It's less soul-crushing to watch us this time around though so that's nice.We've overperformed our expected points this season and scraped a lot of wins that on another day we'd have dropped points, when you ride the wave of positive variance then you eventually come unstuck because performance levels aren't high enough to keep winning every game.
My housemate was saying this. We can never expect a "routine win" so to speak.From the meltdown season we've improved, and from the 1st half of last season for sure.
I'm not convinced we're any better than Mourinho's 2nd place 17/18 team that had a better points per game and actually managed to get out the CL group stage.. And I don't think anyone thought that was a top team either.
We've overperformed our expected points this season and scraped a lot of wins that on another day we'd have dropped points, when you ride the wave of positive variance then you eventually come unstuck because performance levels aren't high enough to keep winning every game.
We've won 1 league game convincingly all season which was Leeds. And we've played the likes of Burnley Fulham and Sheffield in the last few games and couldn't win 1 of them comfortably.
I agree. My point wasn't that 17/18 was a great team, they were nowhere near good enough either. The context difference is just that City aren't as good this year so won't run away with it on 100 points.Pretty much exactly like that 2017/18 team. It's less soul-crushing to watch us this time around though so that's nice.
He could go on another good run of results, achieve a top 4 place then and Woodward will simply reward him with a 3 year extension.Agree. We're just another team scrapping for top four. The fact that the board still haven't renewed Ole is telling.
No, I understood: we're not much, if at all, better than that 2017/18 side which wasn't brilliant in the first place. I just wanted to emphasise the similarity: we keep getting away with subpar performances and I keep worrying that it will catch up with us eventually, as it most certainly did in 2018.I agree. My point wasn't that 17/18 was a great team, they were nowhere near good enough either. The context difference is just that City aren't as good this year so won't run away with it on 100 points.
