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Next 4 games

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posted on 14/12/20

You'll be on less points than Arsenal after those games which is embarrassing

posted on 14/12/20

Newcastle - win

Manshhhhster - draw

Burnley - win

WBA - win

10 points in a dream world... but Newcastle and Burnley are well established PL teams so no games will be easy......

Lots of noise after losing to two good teams in West Ham and Chelsea but not overly concerned (set pieces aside).... I think those missed chances vs City and Arsenal are hurting more than the Wham and Chelsea defeats for me

posted on 14/12/20

Our next 4 games won’t determine whether we are in a relegation battle. But I do understand where you are coming from.

This Newcastle game feels desperate all of a sudden.

But the facts are that the majority of players clearly played well below their ability against West Ham and we had a shocker. Before that we lost to an excellent performance from Chelsea, I don’t think we can really complain too much about that. And before that we outplayed Everton and Arsenal. So we are not on a bad run. Unless one bad performance is form?

So no need to panic at all.

If you think all them games are winnable we can’t be that bad can we

comment by NJS (U8272)

posted on 14/12/20

Last 6 games since we beat Aston Villa...LLDWLL

Goals For 5. Goals Against 13....4pts from 18

Temporary slump or sleep walking into relegation territory?
It could be a lot worse, we've been lucky to escape a couple of pastings, opponents are now attacking at will it would appear, creating chance after chance.
Is it time Bielsa changed tactics before it comes a critical situation?

posted on 14/12/20

On the plus side it’s only two games since arguably out best performance of the season,

posted on 14/12/20

Could be worse, we could be Arsenal

posted on 14/12/20

Home form is shocking, can't see us getting much out of those two games maybe a point from Burnley.Think Man Utd will beat us and keep Ole in a job and maybe a point at West Brom.

posted on 14/12/20

Although we should only focus on our games, was very disappointed to see both Fulham and Burnley get good results- real shot in the arms for both teams.

As I see it the Blunts have left themselves far too much to do and WBA look woeful.

Its one other from the bottom half of the table - its never happened so I'm taking Arsenal out of the equation as I see Arteta's days numbered.

posted on 14/12/20

comment by Lowfields73 (U21886)
posted 3 minutes ago
Home form is shocking, can't see us getting much out of those two games maybe a point from Burnley.Think Man Utd will beat us and keep Ole in a job and maybe a point at West Brom.
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Home form is shocking. And I’m sure relates to our form against sides that do not press in the upper or middle third. Which is definitely a worry. It’s been a problem all along too.

This is a problem shared by most sides, even Man City. It is less of a problem for them due to the much higher quality of players that they have. A low block takes more individual brilliance and tactics, passing sequences and movement have much less effect due to the compact nature of the space.

The problem is how to fix it? We should still win more often than not due to the probability of the amount of half chances we almost automatically given by teams playing this tactic.

The other major reason why this works against us is our ability to concede soft goals, often from set pieces. Other times from mistakes. That was the problem in the spell up to the Forest and Brentford game last season.

We managed to cut out the mistakes after that and the pressure we put on other sides told.

Rodrigo and Raphinha are the types of players we need to improve on the lack of individual brilliance.

Playing defenders out of position. Over committing in attack and our set piece tactics should be priorities to work on.

A signing at left back in the summer is priority. I would use an extra free man at set pieces. And for the over committing I would be a bit wiser tactically. This showed massively against Palace and Leicester and the Leicester game especially felt very naive.

The last thing we need is major changes though. The tactics are quite clearly getting a lot more out of this squad than any other system would have. And will continue to do so. We will have enough to achieve a respectable position at the end of the season and that’s all we could ask for. It’s also brilliant to watch. And has worked brilliantly for the majority of the games this season. If we do struggle as much as you claim in the next 4 I will join you I’m pulling my hair out. I doubt we will though and when we do perform better than you expect I’m sure you will either go quiet again or just continue to claim we are crap regardless.

posted on 14/12/20

comment by A14... ( ليدز_يونايتد )You gotta love it!! (U2805)
posted 3 hours, 5 minutes ago
Newcastle - win

Manshhhhster - draw

Burnley - win

WBA - win

10 points in a dream world... but Newcastle and Burnley are well established PL teams so no games will be easy......

Lots of noise after losing to two good teams in West Ham and Chelsea but not overly concerned (set pieces aside).... I think those missed chances vs City and Arsenal are hurting more than the Wham and Chelsea defeats for me
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A14's an optimist – you gotta love it, but Shaun's about right with his 7pts. Anything we take from the Man U match is a bonus.

posted on 14/12/20

Seen reports (i.e. rumours) that Bielsa may drop Harrison. I think the boss was right to replace him against West Ham – just a shame that his replacement Costa was even worse. Harrison should start - no logic in dropping him on the basis of a poor 45 minutes. Everyone has an off day but I do think, while we're on the topic, that consistency is a problem in our team. How many of the team can you name who are consistently performing at 7 or above over the last half a dozen games? I'd say Meslier, Dallas, Phillips and Bamford. Even the reliable Ayling's had a couple of dodgy games but to be fair, not playing him on the right is not getting the best out of him.

posted on 14/12/20

comment by Lorralorimer (U18994)
posted 28 minutes ago
Seen reports (i.e. rumours) that Bielsa may drop Harrison. I think the boss was right to replace him against West Ham – just a shame that his replacement Costa was even worse. Harrison should start - no logic in dropping him on the basis of a poor 45 minutes. Everyone has an off day but I do think, while we're on the topic, that consistency is a problem in our team. How many of the team can you name who are consistently performing at 7 or above over the last half a dozen games? I'd say Meslier, Dallas, Phillips and Bamford. Even the reliable Ayling's had a couple of dodgy games but to be fair, not playing him on the right is not getting the best out of him.
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I was in favour of Harrison being dropped as he's been well below par for the last few games. His crossing has been appalling.

That was until Costa came on for 2nd half vs Hammers. He was terrible, seemed to have lost all confidence and nowhere near the player who started the season.

Also think Bielsa should have pushed Rodrigo up front and brought Pablo (instead of Roberts) on when he subbed Bamford. He's an international No.9 and we needed a goal.

posted on 14/12/20

Really difficult to drop Harrison. I know he has been off form and offered very little end product but I would say our bigger worry is defensively. And replacing him will weaken us a lot in that regard.

The West Ham game is the first time in a long time we have underachieved with creating chances. Whereas defensively we have looked too open a few times.

I think the change will be in the back four. Alioski to drop to the bench for Shackleton, Struijk or Davis. Struijk would be nice for height at set pieces obviously. But it leaves two left footers in the middle and The two games Ayling has had at centre back he’s been our best player. So I would say the most likely is Shackleton.

posted on 14/12/20

With expectations for the team I completely forgot that Newcastle likely to play 4-4-2 which will mean we play three at the back and makes it more likely that Struijk comes into the side.

Ayling Cooper Struijk

Klich Phillips Dallas

Raphinha Rodrigo Harrison

Bamford

posted on 14/12/20

Corners - We can’t compete with teams with 3 or 4 giants, so put a man on each post and have Meslier be more aggressive.

4-1-4-1 - when we lost the ball upfield against West Ham they had acres of space to run into, problem I see is Rodrigo...he’s not a midfielder, in fact when he does track back he’s a liability. Play him as striker and bring Bamford into the deeper role.

Boot boy - He must love Raphinia, that right boot must be as clean and shiny as pre-match.

Next 4 games - Fans saying it’s only December...well Bournemouth had 16 points at this stage last season. We need at least draws against Newcastle, Burnley and WBA.

All in all we are doing quite well!

posted on 14/12/20

We are losing too many games epecially at home, M.B. better sort out our deeeefence, and set pieces problem from other teams asap...We got carried away at the beginning, get Pablo back in and M.B. should back him up...

posted on 14/12/20

Won 1 at home all season and conceded more than Sheffield Utd. We had a great start, but I wouldn't say we're doing well. Games we SHOULD be winning, we have so far (2 out of 2)

comment by Stoopo (U4707)

posted on 14/12/20

I’d put Pablo in - probably for Rodrigo, at least first half. We need his guile and drive.

posted on 15/12/20

I think it a bit silly thinking in this league games we should be winning!..

Its said the Premier league is the hardest in the world, so taking that in mind we should be doing exactly what we're doing!..

We wont go down, but still have a lot to do!..

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