Slow start costing us again this season

[Taffy]

At the beginning of the season most on here mentioned the need for a decent start to the campaign - we didn't get it unfortunately, and now it seems that it has cost us big time once again!

Why is it that we struggle to get out of the blocks so often, season after season? It can't just be down to the new players needing time to settle as that's the case at all clubs, and the same can be said with players returning from the World Cup with most clubs having players there over the summer.

Yes, our full season may have taken it's toll on some key players who only got a few weeks to recover after the World Cup, with the trip to the World Club Championships in mid-season also adding to the demand on the players' bodies, but it seems to be happening regularly with us playing catch-up from the very start most seasons.

We are now looking like a team going places but the gap we've left ourselves seems to be far too much to peg back over the coming months, and our failure to start well seems to be the problem this season once again.

I'd like us to only make minor changes to our line-up for next season as we already boast a strong squad, and one, or maybe two, new players will do for me in the hope that a minimal overhaul of players won't disrupt our squad in our quest for a good start and a closer challenge for the title the next time around. Most of our squad is young so they'll develop further in the coming years, and I believe we now only need some tinkering to strengthen key areas in the first team to take us to the next level without making major changes that might have an affect that will hold us back once again.

What do you guys think?

[nebbers]

How many points do you think we have dropped for silly reasons earlier this season (eg - Drogba fluke goal costing us a draw at Chelsea / Non existant hand ball costing us 3 points at Bolton). Where would we be now?

[Dhav]

I think this season it is the combination of international fixtures, CL qualifiers and new players taking time to settle which has been our undoing. I bet if you eliminated all these factors, we would have had a much more settled line-up and Rafa would have been inclined to rotate less.

[NICKZS]

How many points do you think we have dropped for silly reasons earlier this season (eg - Drogba fluke goal costing us a draw at Chelsea / Non existant hand ball costing us 3 points at Bolton). Where would we be now?

That was an excellent goal. But I still agree with what you are saying. The main problem we have had from the start of the season is taking our chances. Apart from Man U and Arsenal, we should have taken all three points from our away games considering the amount of chances we created in them. Hopefully we can either push on from here and watch the Scum and Scum mk2 (Chelsea, not Everton) start dropping points, which seems unlikely. Or look forward to next season where I hope the lack of internationals will mean that the team is primed and prepared from day one to go and challenge for the title.

[Shaggy]

At the beginning of the season most on here mentioned the need for a decent start to the campaign - we didn't get it unfortunately, and now it seems that it has cost us big time once again!

Why is it that we struggle to get out of the blocks so often, season after season? It can't just be down to the new players needing time to settle as that's the case at all clubs, and the same can be said with players returning from the World Cup with most clubs having players there over the summer.

Yes, our full season may have taken it's toll on some key players who only got a few weeks to recover after the World Cup, with the trip to the World Club Championships in mid-season also adding to the demand on the players' bodies, but it seems to be happening regularly with us playing catch-up from the very start most seasons.

We are now looking like a team going places but the gap we've left ourselves seems to be far too much to peg back over the coming months, and our failure to start well seems to be the problem this season once again.

I'd like us to only make minor changes to our line-up for next season as we already boast a strong squad, and one, or maybe two, new players will do for me in the hope that a minimal overhaul of players won't disrupt our squad in our quest for a good start and a closer challenge for the title the next time around. Most of our squad is young so they'll develop further in the coming years, and I believe we now only need some tinkering to strengthen key areas in the first team to take us to the next level without making major changes that might have an affect that will hold us back once again.

What do you guys think?

I wish I knew mate. What I do know is it pisses me RIGHT off and I’m sick to the back teeth of these abysmal starts.

[disco]

The irony is, when we were ****e we used to have storming starts to the season

[Guest]

The league isn't finished till the fat lady sings.

[lfc4ever]

The irony is, when we were ****e we used to have storming starts to the season

What year was it we were 7 points clear and shouting from the rooftops <sigh>, if only we could bottle that start for now!

[Parm]

At the beginning of the season most on here mentioned the need for a decent start to the campaign - we didn't get it unfortunately, and now it seems that it has cost us big time once again!

Why is it that we struggle to get out of the blocks so often, season after season? It can't just be down to the new players needing time to settle as that's the case at all clubs, and the same can be said with players returning from the World Cup with most clubs having players there over the summer.

Yes, our full season may have taken it's toll on some key players who only got a few weeks to recover after the World Cup, with the trip to the World Club Championships in mid-season also adding to the demand on the players' bodies, but it seems to be happening regularly with us playing catch-up from the very start most seasons.

We are now looking like a team going places but the gap we've left ourselves seems to be far too much to peg back over the coming months, and our failure to start well seems to be the problem this season once again.

I'd like us to only make minor changes to our line-up for next season as we already boast a strong squad, and one, or maybe two, new players will do for me in the hope that a minimal overhaul of players won't disrupt our squad in our quest for a good start and a closer challenge for the title the next time around. Most of our squad is young so they'll develop further in the coming years, and I believe we now only need some tinkering to strengthen key areas in the first team to take us to the next level without making major changes that might have an affect that will hold us back once again.

What do you guys think?

my first response was going to be no **** sherlock!

but upon refelction I do agree with you. But I thinj we were very unlucky to ahve so many big away fixtures so early and close together. If they had been spread out over the season and we still lost them no one would have batted an eyelid. Also WC hit a lot of players big time (not just ours but players like Rooney/Ronaldhiniho/Henry/Sheva/Cannavaro etc) and it's taken sometime to shake it off.

You never win the league in Janaury but as long as your up there and ready to pounce if the leader slips then great.

The other problem is that in years gone past there was only one team to chase, now we have 2 in Chavs and manc scum. Makes it twice as hard, esp given the quality and experience within those 2 sides.

[DeeGame]

my first response was going to be no **** sherlock!

[Jazzmaster]

Athough I dont think we will be beaten between now and the end of the season, it is incredibly frustrating that our fate is not in our own hands to a great extent. No matter if we win every game 6-0 from now on, it remains highly unlikely that we can challenge, even for second place.

We had our chances at the start of the season, but just didnt take them.

[Shaggy]

Athough I dont think we will be beaten between now and the end of the season

An admirably bold statement. Hope you’re right, naturally. Can’t see it though.

[Taffy]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Our last great start was, after the treble cup season, in 2002 was it not! We were flying until November arrived and that dreadful game up at Boro where we decided to play it safe and failed to score losing by the odd goal - the 'bad November' started then I think.

I agree that most of the main players at the World Cup all struggled at the start this season and is surely due to the lack of rest they all got, but other teams have coped well without the likes of Rooney, Ronaldo, Lampard and the like producing top form early on, and it's frustrating that we can't cope with guys like Gerrard not on their best games.

The fixture list certainly didn't help this time around with tough away games early on for us and again that could be a reason, but at the end of the day it's our early season form that's cost us a sustained challenge for the title once again. As has been said, if it was just the one team we needed to reel back in to give us a chance of a the main prize then it could be do-able, but when we're 14 points behind Man U and 8 behind Chelsea then it looks a massive task, doesn't it!

For now, I'm hopeful of claiming that third spot in the hope one, if not both, the above fall flat on their faces to put us back in contention, but the likelyhood of that happening is slim in my opinion - one of the two could get a bad run but it's unlikely that both will have then, but here's hoping anyway!

All I hope for is that we can maintain our form from now on and push on as high as we can get, anything else would be a bonus. The lads are playing well as a team now and are looking an outfit ready to challenge for the major prizes, so let's hope it continues and who knows what lies ahead.

[Fowler_God]

Rafa's Valancia team were also slow starters. They came on very strong in the second half of the season to lift the league.

One reason could be the well reported grulling pre season the squad is put through. Maybe its something Rafa knows will happen and hopes the second half of the season we will be stronger physically while the rest are beginning to die on their feet.
Werent we the highest points scorers in the second part of last season? Would not surprise me to see it happen again this year.

[Taffy]

Rafa's Valancia team were also slow starters. They came on very strong in the second half of the season to lift the league.

One reason could be the well reported grulling pre season the squad is put through. Maybe its something Rafa knows will happen and hopes the second half of the season we will be stronger physically while the rest are beginning to die on their feet.
Werent we the highest points scorers in the second part of last season? Would not surprise me to see it happen again this year.

Yes we were the team with the most points from November onwards last season, but our poor form early on is usually the reason why we aren't up there at the death competing for the title, and it's getting annoying year after year when it's once again the reason why we can't take that final step and win the league.

A good start is crucial when you have the likes of both Man U and Chelsea who normally don't lose more than 5 games a season, and a bad start basically rules out another year without a league title. It's great to see The Reds on a good run of clean sheets and going unbeaten for a lengthy period, and playing well and creating chance after chance like we're doing at present, but it comes at the cost of a poor start and us having to play catch-up which is so frustrating.

I suppose it is possible for one of the teams above us to go through a rough period to let us back in if we continue our form, but it's unlikely that both teams will suffer at the same time making it difficult for us to close the gap.