…and most of that spend has been intermittently injured for much of the season anyway
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[Albion] List of players that have gone backwards under the current coach
- Thread starter Guinness Boy
- Start date
American Seagle
Well-known member
- Jun 14, 2022
- 1,073
Dumbest post on here for quite some time
You do if the PL standard is at its lowest for a long time. We should be higher.
Arguably, we are 9th in spite of not because of.
Edit - amended for clarity, with thanks to @Balders
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I'm not sure you can state that our standard is at it's lowest for a long time when we've just achieved our joint second highest points total in the PL in our history with a further four games remaining
Whether we should be higher is purely down to expectations based on a number of factors - unfortunately if fans expectations don't marry up with the Club's Board, then there is going to be a disconnect!
PL standard.I'm not sure you can state that our standard is at it's lowest for a long time when we've just achieved our joint second highest points total in the PL in our history with a further four games remaining
Whether we should be higher is purely down to expectations based on a number of factors - unfortunately if fans expectations don't marry up with the Club's Board, then there is going to be a disconnect!
Change at Barnham
Well-known member
Good post.
Many people when quoting our £200m spend don't mention the net spend.
i.e. they don't include the previous season and a bit when the club raised more than £200m selling some high quality players.
Our net spend remains much lower than many clubs. And we still have a mid-table wage bill.
Ok then - Joint second highest points total with 4 games to go in our 7 seasons in the PL
In a lower/poor standard PL.Ok then - Joint second highest points total with 4 games to go in our 7 seasons in the PL
We should probably have another dozen, and probably would with a more experienced manager.
- Thread starter
- #169
Yes, exactly the point. There are some truly bad sides in the league this season in addition to a few high spend sides massively underperforming
Quite.
It is unusual for Man Utd, Spurs and even to a certain extent West Ham to be quite so poor.
Then there are the ‘promoted’ teams who were shocking, but we seemed to struggle against at home….
Palace turned up for half a season, Villa have put a late season run together.
Even City have been below par.
IMO, this was an opportunity missed, but I would still be delighted if we can get a conference league place.
"in a lower/poor standard PL".......
........where the sides currently residing in 14th and 16th place respectively, are both in the Semi Finals of the Europa League!
The standard right across Europe must be dropping alarmingly
Are you really comparing cup games with the league?"in a lower/poor standard PL".......
........where the sides currently residing in 14th and 16th place respectively, are both in the Semi Finals of the Europa League!
The standard right across Europe must be dropping alarmingly
West Ham were champions of Europe two years ago, I must be wrong…. Their fans still think they are….
Doug-ees-evil
Well-known member
- Nov 18, 2011
- 345
If we'd have had the good fortune to be in the latter stages of Europa this season, I genuinely would have fancied our chances of winning it."in a lower/poor standard PL".......
........where the sides currently residing in 14th and 16th place respectively, are both in the Semi Finals of the Europa League!
The standard right across Europe must be dropping alarmingly
Noticeably weaker than our last 16 line-up (which was more Champions League than Europa).
Greg Bobkin
Silver Seagull
- May 22, 2012
- 17,866
One check of the table shows me the current squad of DROSS isn't doing too badly...
And some aren't even the country/at the football club right now!
I'm not disagreeing with the fact that we have missed an opportunity, it's more that the arguments to substantiate why, just don't add up imho. Granted the Europa League is below standard of previous seasons due to the changes in the Champions League, but still, clubs who are having a far worse season than ourselves are in the Semi Finals.
I suspect other teams will have similar arguments, if this, if that, if my Auntie had balls she'd be my Uncle etc.... that's the nature of the PL!
I suspect other teams will have similar arguments, if this, if that, if my Auntie had balls she'd be my Uncle etc.... that's the nature of the PL!
But, and is it all opinions, we IMO, HAVE missed an opportunity because, unfortunately our manager is not quite ready.
I get the counter argument, about points total, league position, injuries, etc. but I maintain, if we had any resemblance of a decent structure out of possession we would have been a lot better. Alternatively, if FH wants to play differently, as minimum he should look at his squad and understand what their capabilities and weaknesses are and adjust accordingly. In the main, he hasn’t.
Will have to disagree
It's fine to disagree, but what's the alternative? Unfortunately FH is measured on actuals (points, league position etc.) rather than subjective views, such as the PL being a lower standard this season as an example, where plenty of people will have different opinions.
If FH is still here next season (my view is he will, but not because I think he's doing a fantastic job, he's doing ok imho) if we finish Top 6 then plenty on here will need to eat humble pie. If we finish Top 10, that's how he's measured, like it or not.
If FH is still here next season (my view is he will, but not because I think he's doing a fantastic job, he's doing ok imho) if we finish Top 6 then plenty on here will need to eat humble pie. If we finish Top 10, that's how he's measured, like it or not.
Hope you’re right re next season.
I’ll happily eat the pie, if it means we’re top 6 or 7, because, the aforementioned teams are unlikely to be this poor two seasons running, and that will be a good achievement.
I am going to stand up for the manager. Our operations main task is to bring young players on and eventually sell them for hopefully a profit,while at the same time ,maintaining at least a top ten finish.I reckon that’s quite a challenge,especially as young players often take time to settle,and to be honest even some of the more more mature signings need time as well.
1066familyman
Radio User
- Jan 15, 2008
- 15,631
Why do you not mention players not putting it in, or doing the basics right, as another factor?All valid points. Such a strange season for the league in general and a glaring opportunity to fill the void usually occupied by the traditional big clubs (also a year with three of the worst promoted sides in PL history). On the flipside, it's been great for ourselves, Fulham, Bournemouth and Brentford to be those stubborn, mid-table decent teams who are fighting for Europe (the battle for 8th! ...Dun... dun... daaaarrghh).
Next season will be so much tougher. I think you can also add a very fiesty and decent, dirty Leeds into the mix for mid/upper-mid table. Burnley might have a nice bounce and Everton may also be more resurgent in their new home. Surely Spuds and ManU will improve?
The PL doesn't get any easier, but yes, this year was a freak year. Despite what is looking like a historically excellent final, top flight points tally for us, there is still that nagging feeling it is a huge opportunity missed – through of a combo of shooting ourselves in the foot (tactical naivety), bad luck (injuries) and daft game management – plus of a cocktail of inexperience. I just hope the freak year doesn't end with that lot up the road winning the FA Cup – because then they, not us, would have taken advantage of it.
*Note. I realise my post has absolutely nothing to do with the original thread question.
Weststander has already posted one video with examples of the above from Estupinán alone! He's not the only defender, or covering midfielder, that's been guilty of that either.
Yes, there's been some tactical naivety that have left our defenders exposed and cost us points. The Chelski drubbing being the most obvious example. However, I'm just not willing to put all the blame for lost points on the manager all of the time. Some of the players have to take responsibility for some of our poor performances and results too, IMHO.