30 Sep 2024 12:33:34
Another great win, what more can you say about Palmer? He's a genius, plain and simple. He and Jackson with another combination that could have been more had he squared that chance in the second half - but who was going to argue with him shooting?
Madueke again really impressed me with his diligence tracking back - he's the only player in the front line that offers that at the moment and it is absolutely critical to our success. Yes, he should have squared it to one of Jackson, Enzo or Sancho but I don't begrudge him taking that on at 3-1. After near misses against Palace and Brighton, I'd expect the next one to go in.
I do think we need to acknowledge that our defensive performances are simply not sustainable. We're allowing 16 shots on goal, an xG against hovering around 1 and 26 touches in our box per game. It's brilliant that our firepower is carrying us to wins so far this season, but we need to tighten up. Yes, Sanchez had a mare but Brighton could easily have been 2-0 up before we scored and we gave away enough chances for it to be tighter at half time than it was.
I'm all for playing out from the back, but the more howlers that Sanchez imparts on us, the less confident the team will become at doing so. I'm sure the coach is on him to play out from the back at all times but the whole team needs to understand that at 3-1, with Brighton playing how they were, the fourth and game-killing goal was in sight. Why risk making it harder for yourselves? Similar to Arsenal last year - 2-0 with 15 mins to go, just play it safe.
Having said that he has proved to be a very good shot stopper so far this year, so I can see why Jorgensen hasn't been put in.
Anyway, 3 points in the bag so I'm not complaining, just saying what I see. We move on to Gent where I expect we'll be seeing another 9 to 11 changes! UTC.
30 Sep 2024 13:34:35
RBD, I’ve predicted a 3rd-5th finish this season but I would love us to get what I consider to be the target for all top teams and that is 2pts a game so 76pts for the season.
I’m pretty sure that total has guaranteed champions league football for every premiership season.
I’m not going to get carried away with the results so far but some the football has been enjoyable on the eye ani I personally haven’t said that for a long, long time.
01 Oct 2024 07:19:09
Right on Tom! Football is about enjoyment of the game. I love that Maresca is saying, you score one, well score 2, we're not afraid to concede but we'll outscore you!
01 Oct 2024 11:14:38
Only 63 points to go then Tom!
I'm not sure I agree re the football we are playing, but horses for courses - again, I'm not complaining.
I think we are going to struggle against the best teams in the league due to our defensive mishaps and shockingly open midfield, but the evidence so far suggests that we will be able to overcome this against most other teams which is probably going to be enough for Europa League.
For example, I think if we play this way against Spurs, Arsenal or Liverpool we'll get absolutely taken apart. I'm interested to see how Maresca sets up against those teams - maybe Lavia comes in for an attacker? If we can just cut down the ease at which teams get into our box then we are going to be a real force, sounds obvious but sometimes football is a simple game!
01 Oct 2024 11:39:21
RBD, I prefer to see as we are one point ahead of my target.
Obviously we will find it difficult to win against the better teams but I will never put the spuds in that bracket. I guess playing the better teams should always present a challenge and also an opportunity.
01 Oct 2024 12:04:39
Indeed Tom, I'm looking forward to the 'harder' games, but there are no gimmie's in the Prem.
01 Oct 2024 15:16:20
"Shockingly open midfield"? RBD. you sound like Standard. ?.
01 Oct 2024 15:44:24
Westside, we are allowing an obscene number of shots against (in fact we have allowed more shots than we have taken in the Premier League so far this season) and touches in our box.
Caicedo is being asked to cover an immense amount of ground and is often isolated. At times this season, teams have been able to cut through us with alarming ease, see Wolves, Palace and Bournemouth. It's just an observation.
You sound like our old pal G8, who hasn't posted in a while.
02 Oct 2024 09:20:12
RBD, obviously there had been an improvement on our early season league form but it is early days. However, it is all relative, we are now a club whose ambition is to qualify for the Champions League whereas not to long ago it was to win it.
02 Oct 2024 11:13:28
You have to qualify for it to be able to win it. So I guess one does follow the other.