Comparison with last season...

[Red_Polo]

OK two different comparisons after 12 league games, one looking at games corresponding by chronological order, another looking at it by corresponding fixture (with relegated teams susbsituted for newly promoted teams).

Chronologically...
Last season: GD: 5, Pts: 22
This season: GD: -1, Pts: 17

By fixture....
Last season: GD: 9, Pts: 25
This season: GD: -1, Pts: 17

Grim reading indeed.

For the majority of last season we showed what I would say is genuine title contending form. The only thing that we needed to add this season result-wise was more points against the big teams, and a decent start to the season. So what went wrong? Why didn't we progress after 6 months of playing really well, or at least come close to matching that level?

[lfc4ever]

Paradoxically, we have the best home record & the worst away record in the PL this season so far, and but for a dubious pen in the first match, we would be sitting here with neither a goal (we haven't scored an open play goal for sure) nor a point.

I haven't felt this despondent for a long, long time.

[Mumsafan]

OK two different comparisons after 12 league games, one looking at games corresponding by chronological order, another looking at it by corresponding fixture (with relegated teams susbsituted for newly promoted teams).

Chronologically...
Last season: GD: 5, Pts: 22
This season: GD: -1, Pts: 17

By fixture....
Last season: GD: 9, Pts: 25
This season: GD: -1, Pts: 17

Grim reading indeed.

For the majority of last season we showed what I would say is genuine title contending form. The only thing that we needed to add this season result-wise was more points against the big teams, and a decent start to the season. So what went wrong? Why didn't we progress after 6 months of playing really well, or at least come close to matching that level?

We hadn't played our 5 toughest away games though had we? We still had them all to come in the latter part of the season. Having said that we did manage 4 out of 15 last year. This year 0.

[MrsB]

It's all very depressing.

[Tom]

But look at the corrosponding difference in points off 3rd place. We- despite our appalling away record - are still only 4 points off 3rd. It's all about context, stats only tell part of the story. Rafa said that this season would be more open, it looks like he's right. We are quite capable of putting together a good run and pushing arsenal for 3rd.

[Slim]

Our league fixtures from now until the end of the year are very winnable - Watford, Pompey, Charlton, Wigan etc - so we could conceivably go on a good run.
But of course we need to start by getting that first away win on Saturday v Boro.

[Shaggy]

Our league fixtures from now until the end of the year are very winnable - Watford, Pompey, Charlton, Wigan etc - so we could conceivably go on a good run.
But of course we need to start by getting that first away win on Saturday v Boro.

How depressed are you today Slim? At the crack of dawn this morning, after a pretty much sleepless night, I was suicidal.

The gloom is slowly lifting now though. Slowly. It’s at times like this when you wonder why you bother, huh? Still, it makes the good times all the more enjoyable.

[Slim]

Morning Shaggy. Hope you are doing alright today mate. I think on the forums last night your posts were the only ones that outdid mine for suicidal tendancies!!
I also had a terrible night's sleep, partly due to the alcohol I put away yesterday and on Saturday night, and I was on a total downer late last night so when the alarm went off this morning I just could have cried. I think its starting to lift slightly but I work with scum fans and they aren't letting me forget easily.
Its been years since I felt as bad about a result as I did yesterday, somehow for me it has even topped the rubbish at Old Toilet and got to me more, but as you say mate these are the times which make the good times even better.
We have a run of good fixtures coming up so chin up Shaggy mate!! Only 5 and a half hours of work left then I can go home and hide from the outside world under the duvet!

[Shaggy]

Cheers mate.

If we lose at Boro on Saturday I’m heading for the nearest bridge on the M62. Trying times. If I could I’d bury my head in some sand until the end of May.

[Mumsafan]

How depressed are you today Slim? At the crack of dawn this morning, after a pretty much sleepless night, I was suicidal.

The gloom is slowly lifting now though. Slowly. It’s at times like this when you wonder why you bother, huh? Still, it makes the good times all the more enjoyable.

Suicidal! FFS! It's just a game!

[Shaggy]

Suicidal! FFS! It's just a game!

Just a game?????????????????????????????? I am not believing this.

Obviously I wasn’t literally contemplating suicide but I was seriously ****ing depressed. Seriously depressed.

[Neil Young]

Just a game?????????????????????????????? I am not believing this.

Obviously I wasn’t literally contemplating suicide but I was seriously ****ing depressed. Seriously depressed.

According to the World Health Organization:
Depression is a common mental disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration. These problems can become chronic or recurrent and lead to substantial impairments in an individual's ability to take care of his or her everyday responsibilities. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide, a tragic fatality associated with the loss of about 850 000 thousand lives every year.

I fear you may be overdramatizing a little, my music-snob friend. Are you sure you weren't just sad?

[Shaggy]

Ha! Nope, more than “just sad”.

I didn’t sleep, I had no interest in anything my wife had to say to me this morning or last night, had no appetite (haven’t eaten since the game, although that’s about to change), no energy and I can’t concentrate at work! Ha! Maybe I AM clinically depressed!!!!!

[Tom]

It's amazing that wife thing isn't it. We were doing fine and just as my wife came in to ask what the score was they scored the first goal. Can't help but make a connection dammit!

But seriously, I've learnt to just not give a **** anymore. Whenever we get a bad result like this I always force myself to remember the worst thing that's ever happened in my life. The result then gets put in context and doesn't feel so significant. It's a good technique shaggy and suggest you use it.

[Mumsafan]

It's amazing that wife thing isn't it. We were doing fine and just as my wife came in to ask what the score was they scored the first goal. Can't help but make a connection dammit!

But seriously, I've learnt to just not give a **** anymore. Whenever we get a bad result like this I always force myself to remember the worst thing that's ever happened in my life. The result then gets put in context and doesn't feel so significant. It's a good technique shaggy and suggest you use it.

Exactly!


Years ago I'd get all upset and miserable but now I'm past that and having two kids who are far more important than any bloody game has helped too. Once the game was over yesterday I didn't even think about it - I had too much to do