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I guess the positives are that we've taken points by being very ordinary.
We know we've got a lot more to offer.
I think my worry going forward is that Eddie has gone into his shell a little. We're nowhere near the cavalier, high pressing, swash-buckling football of two seasons ago and I can only think it's a change of direction from Eddie. And I don't know why.
Howe has proven the doubters wrong 3, 4, 5 times. You keep doubting - I’ve learnt not to.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nufcian
I think the team isn't playing well because Eddie is still picking a starting 11 with 2 or 3 players who shouldn't be starting whether that's due to favouritism or whatever.I don't want supersubs coming on to rescue a game i want the best starting 11 we can muster and that includes Barnes and Tonali.
Agreed. Tonali and Barnes are better players than Longstaff and Murphy.
In Eddie's defence, he's admitted we can play better but, tellingly, he has cited the togetherness of the group.
I'm guessing he feels that keeping players in who have contributed to our unbeaten run is important to maintaining that spirit. (although I'm sure the ones left out may not feel quite the same)
I get the point, but he also prem players in till the justify his selection too before dropping them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zippity
Case in point… Trippier last year, had a complete nightmare, including the horrible performance away to Everton, but was being selected over Tino until we got a result and then he was dropped.
Howe deserves a lot of praise, but he’s not immune to criticism either… no manager or player is… but this is what Bournemouth fans were saying when he was appointed… ‘good manager but sticks with his favourites even when it is damaging the team overall’
One thing I have raised in the past, when it comes to transfer windows/targets… we all hear, and agree in an ideal world, that character is massive… but if Howe is only going to ‘give the nod to go after in a transfer window’ players with perfect characters that he can work with… then that is limiting who we can go after because of his shortcoming.
Managers have to be able to manage characters, or we have a very limited pool of transfer targets.
Ideally they are all f**king Angels, but we need to be able to bring characters into the fold when they aren’t perfect but their ability is a step up.
I agree there needs to be a balance, because togetherness is a big plus, but the managers job is as much about managing that as well as the training pitch stuff.
I know I’m coming across as very critical here, but it’s how I’m seeing things… we’ve played very poor football with most of the squad available, against 1 team out of 4 that is likely to finish in the top half and the most worrying part of it all is we aren’t looking like we have a plan, in any phase of the game… we spend a lot of time playing the ball backwards and sideways, take far too much time trying to go forward as no one seems to know how to play it out, and as a result teams are settled to defend and we don’t have much of a clue how to break them down other than give Gordon the ball or hope for a moment of brilliance.
My opinion… it’s not good enough, Howe still has massive credit, but the longer this drags on it is more likely we’ll lose players to injury and have even fewer players to get it right with… but that’s not going to cut it as an excuse this season, and he’ll be under some pressure leading into Dec if this isn’t sorted over the next 5/6 weeks.
No one’s going to argue with you saying that we’ve played well this season but in, what is, a results based business, Howe has enormous credit but for this season so far as well as in previous ones.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nufcian
Howe’ s management style is strong team spirit (including large emphasis on squad members not playing regularly) and coaching the best out of and improving what he has.
I think we’ve conceded 4 goals in 5 games so far which is admirable since 3 of those have been with Krafth at CB (who deserves a lot of praise for his performances IMO).
I’m sitting here waiting for better performances but would far prefer the points than good performances with fewer points.
I think we have to be careful not to be unhappy with 10 points from a possible 12 because we’re not playing good football. We will play much better and lose this season, I’m sure.
Agree it’s better to have 10 out of 12, and agree that we’ll play better and lose… but for both I would say “context” has got to be part of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by toptoon
Who have we played - other than Spurs none of the teams will likely finish in Top half… Soton are bang on relegation favourites and we only managed to keep a clean sheet then because they are f**king terrible in front of goal, that wasn’t really us defending well… look at the stats for the games we have had… opposition teams have been peppering us with shots, Soton game they had 20 shots they were allowed to get off… we haven’t been particularly good we’ve been fortunate our opposition have been bad or in Bournemouth’s case they got VAR’d.
I think Krafth has done well to step in, and don’t want to downplay that, but again… context.
As I see it, without performances improving we will not be in the European spots by halfway point this season… we won’t be lucky, we will lose players, and we have much tougher teams to play.
Yes, I am asking for a lot… but the truth is Eddie has shown he is capable of more with less, which is why he got all the credit and praise he did on the first place, so I don’t think I’m being unfair.
Having Schar back is a massive step towards clean sheets and solidity at the back. He is an important cog in the team and is missed massively when not available. I remember vividly how much we improved us defensively even under Brucie when he saw fit to play him.
Just watched MOTD2.
Says something that Barnes created the most chances in the game with 5 and that he came on in the 2nd half.