[Albion] Will defence be the key next season?

[Weststander]

You do realise that this season we will have lost the least number of games since being in the Premier League? As it stands, just 9 defeats with one game to go. That stat alone blows your ’theory’ out of the water. It is true that on occasions we have looked flaky at the back when conceding late on from winning positions - Wolves (H) and Leicester (A) spring to mind. Counter that with the number of late goals (last 10 minutes) we’ve scored to win games - Man Utd, Liverpool, Fulham, West Ham as examples.

Suckers to the counter attack, a high number of GA, modest GD compared to 2 seasons ago. CP in the best part of a century never met all their derby xmas’s at once. Shambolic non defending.

TB will improve our defensive resources.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Not for me.
City and Arsenal were driving the standards up.
With the exception of Chelsea the so-called ‘big 6’ were more competitive.

I think our team was stronger as well.

I think the overall quality is higher now, even if the two teams at the top aren't at the same level.

Although I agree that we had a stronger team then as well.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Suckers to the counter attack, a high number of GA, modest GD compared to 2 seasons ago. CP in the best part of a century never met all their derby xmas’x at once. Shambolic non defending.

TB will improve our defensive resources.

I think it was interesting that FH was almost referring to a desire for a more stronger, athletic type of player, which (hopefully) would help during periods of transition.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

I think the overall quality is higher now, even if the two teams at the top aren't at the same level.

Although I agree that we had a stronger team then as well.

Fair enough - I disagree….
I go to most games home and away, the only team that has really impressed me at The Amex was Bournemouth and maybe Palace
I actually think the quality generally has gone backwards.
All subjective, and I know others don’t agree - just opinions.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Not for me.
City and Arsenal were driving the standards up.
With the exception of Chelsea the so-called ‘big 6’ were more competitive.

I think our team was stronger as well.

It certainly feels like our team was stronger then, when you write them down on paper. Certainly easier on the eye. But perhaps we are better now, in so far as winning points goes

That season City were of course amazing, and Man U were pretty good. Arsenal, Newcastle, Brentford much the same as this year. But Liverpool, Chelsea, Villa, Forest, Bournemouth, Fulham were all considerably weaker then compared to this season. Spurs weren't as shite as now, but still pretty shite. The 62 points we got then would have been good enough for 8th this year. It's a deeper league now, at the very least..

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

It certainly feels like our team was stronger then, when you write them down on paper. Certainly easier on the eye. But perhaps we are better now, in so far as winning points goes

That season City were of course amazing, and Man U were pretty good. Arsenal, Newcastle, Brentford much the same as this year. But Liverpool, Chelsea, Villa, Forest, Bournemouth, Fulham were all considerably weaker then compared to this season. Spurs weren't as shite as now, but still pretty shite. The 62 points we got then would have been good enough for 8th this year. It's a stronger league now.

It really isn’t, but so subjective.
Villa certainly weren’t. Do you remember they went on that run from new year, losing about one game. Arsenal (IMO), had to be better to stay with City, if you recall we put the final nail in their title aspirations. Liverpool weren’t much weaker than now, because they aren’t that good this season - we battered them at Anfield for 45 minutes this season.
Spurs were 8th so significantly better than this season.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

It really isn’t, but so subjective.
Villa certainly weren’t. Do you remember they went on that run from new year, losing about one game. Arsenal (IMO), had to be better to stay with City, if you recall we put the final nail in their title aspirations. Liverpool weren’t much weaker than now, because they aren’t that good this season - we battered them at Anfield for 45 minutes this season.
Spurs were 8th so significantly better than this season.

It just felt to me that there were a lot more 'easy games' that season. Half the league got 45 points or fewer.

I think there must have been a lot of draws that year with fewer points all round.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

It just felt to me that there were a lot more 'easy games' that season. Half the league got 45 points or fewer.

I think there must have been a lot of draws that year with fewer points all round.

It’s a good discussion (again)
I think a lot of those top 6 (ahem including us), would beat this years top 6.

 

[studio150]

A balance is the key.

What's the point of putting 10 players behind the ball, with no space between two lines of 5 on the edge of box, combined with time wasting from minute 1, with fake head injuries occurring every 5 minutes or so.

At least if we played like this, there would be no moans about not getting away tickets for Bournemouth and Brentford, as very few would want to go.

But at least 38 0-0 draws would but us into the record books.

What is required is a style of football that turns half of our 13 draws into wins, even trying 4 of those draws (basically ensuring home wins agains tth ebottom 3 + 1 other) would put us level with Newcastle this season.

So believe in the process and we will have a bight season next year.

 

[severnside gull]

I just want to win, whilst attacking football is enjoyable, results justify the means for me.

I’d rather win 1-0, than lose 4-3.

Respect but it’s not for me.
Maybe when I was younger.
I’ve suffered many more downs than ups over nearly 70 years supporting Albion. I’m happy now to enjoy the good and shrug off the bad because today’s lows are nowhere near those we’ve suffered in the past.

 

[severnside gull]

Suckers to the counter attack, a high number of GA, modest GD compared to 2 seasons ago. CP in the best part of a century never met all their derby xmas’s at once. Shambolic non defending.

TB will improve our defensive resources.

Blimey you’re a cheerful bugger

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Respect but it’s not for me.
Maybe when I was younger.
I’ve suffered many more downs than ups over nearly 70 years supporting Albion. I’m happy now to enjoy the good and shrug off the bad because today’s lows are nowhere near those we’ve suffered in the past.

Perfectly fair. I’m just 50 years…… 70 years….. wonderful.

 

[1066familyman]

We play adventurous possession football that’s good to watch…….but high risk.
We could play without the ball, defend deep and hit on the break……..but it would be dull and boring for the most part and horrid to watch.
Notably our possession percentage stats seem to have dropped off as the season has progressed……towards “a middle way”?
Personally I would rather watch good football than defensive shite.

Personally, I would rather watch good football and defenders doing their job properly.

I still think far too much is being made of our formation/shape and style of play, and little mention is made of basic defending errors that have consistently cost us goals.

Granted, the Chelski drubbing was definitely all on FH, but so many goals we've conceded have been largely down to not doing the basics of defending.

 

[Weststander]

A balance is the key.

What's the point of putting 10 players behind the ball, with no space between two lines of 5 on the edge of box, combined with time wasting from minute 1, with fake head injuries occurring every 5 minutes or so.

At least if we played like this, there would be no moans about not getting away tickets for Bournemouth and Brentford, as very few would want to go.

But at least 38 0-0 draws would but us into the record books.

What is required is a style of football that turns half of our 13 draws into wins, even trying 4 of those draws (basically ensuring home wins agains tth ebottom 3 + 1 other) would put us level with Newcastle this season.

So believe in the process and we will have a bight season next year.

Not conceding the first goal is key against low block/gamesmanship merchants.