2022/23 Season

[Rich]

Write off the league this season.

Let's win the CL.

[rudedog]

Write off the league this season.

Let's win the CL.

And the FA cup

[Paul12]

And the FA cup

Mmmm. Brighton or Real Madrid...which is the most beatable?

[The_weatherman]

If we can get Jota and Firmino back start to have that variation in attack and start to win games by playing well then I can believe. We've only had a few wins where we have also put in a top performance (City, Spurs) we need more of those, then the streaky wins stick out less.

No, it's not enough, we need better in midfield IMO, that's where most of our problems lie. Until we address that seriously, we wont challenge for fourth seriously IMO.

[Buzzo]

No, it's not enough, we need better in midfield IMO, that's where most of our problems lie. Until we address that seriously, we wont challenge for fourth seriously IMO.

I’m assuming that’s not happening - but yeah, ideally we strengthen.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Mmmm. Brighton or Real Madrid...which is the most beatable?

Probably Real Madrid going by how we seem to be able to put in performances against the bigger teams this season and then come unstuck against the supposed smaller clubs.

[Fosterbloke]

We're not winning **** this season.

[SB]

We're not winning **** this season.

The Ev getting relegated will feel like it though

[Fredo]

For all those that’s been saying midfield IS the problem this season and we need LEGS in the middle of the pitch, Sky have just released stats to compare over the last few years. This season has been roughly the same as last year in terms of distance covered during games on average.

The biggest drop off according to these stats is the amount of possession in the final third and this has been down significantly, which means that the press from the front has been the problem. Mane leaving and injuries, new players coming in and not fully adjusted having to play a lot could have been the main reasons. Who’d have thought it. :thinking:

To me, this tells me that we are usually a very well drilled team and anomaly affecting the core, we don’t seem to function that well.

[S-RED]

Thats interesting & you can see the drop off up front, but i also think its the hunting in packs that is letting us down; previous seasons there would be 3, 4, 5 harrassing the opposition, this season ytou are lucky if 2 press at the same time.

[Doc_Piptorious]

For all those that’s been saying midfield IS the problem this season and we need LEGS in the middle of the pitch, Sky have just released stats to compare over the last few years. This season has been roughly the same as last year in terms of distance covered during games on average.

The biggest drop off according to these stats is the amount of possession in the final third and this has been down significantly, which means that the press from the front has been the problem. Mane leaving and injuries, new players coming in and not fully adjusted having to play a lot could have been the main reasons. Who’d have thought it. :thinking:

To me, this tells me that we are usually a very well drilled team and anomaly affecting the core, we don’t seem to function that well.

When it comes to midfield this season, our interceptions stats are done, our sprint stats are down, our press stats are down, our tackle stats are down, our duel stats are down, our completed passes stats are down and so on.

Well except for Thiago. His tackle, pressing, duel and sprint stats have remained at a high level.


It is showing up on Opta, Fbref and on sites like whoscored.

I do not think there is much arguement that can be made against needing more mobility, pace and strength in the centre tbh regardless of a change of system up front.

Yes we have been unlucky in the final third, not so much with Mane leaving imo but with how we got long term injuries to two regulars and one back up. Throw in injuries and a suspension to our one high injury new attacking player and it adds to the disjointed nature of our attack.

Plus another part of the stats in the final third dropping would be down to midfield players who are not mobile enough being played in attacking roles.


Another way to look at it is that if the final third was a big part of why both the midfield and backline were underperforming is why have we persisted in trying to do the same things over and over and over if it was a case of just needing to tighten up in the final third (something that was suggested on Sky this week too).

[Fredo]

When it comes to midfield this season, our interceptions stats are done, our sprint stats are down, our press stats are down, our tackle stats are down, our duel stats are down, our completed passes stats are down and so on.

Well except for Thiago. His tackle, pressing, duel and sprint stats have remained at a high level.


It is showing up on Opta, Fbref and on sites like whoscored.

I do not think there is much arguement that can be made against needing more mobility, pace and strength in the centre tbh regardless of a change of system up front.

Yes we have been unlucky in the final third, not so much with Mane leaving imo but with how we got long term injuries to two regulars and one back up. Throw in injuries and a suspension to our one high injury new attacking player and it adds to the disjointed nature of our attack.

Plus another part of the stats in the final third dropping would be down to midfield players who are not mobile enough being played in attacking roles.


Another way to look at it is that if the final third was a big part of why both the midfield and backline were underperforming is why have we persisted in trying to do the same things over and over and over if it was a case of just needing to tighten up in the final third (something that was suggested on Sky this week too).

The interceptions stats for the midfield could be attributed to the press dropping upfront and as a result of that, our lines in between have been bigger spaces to close (therefore allowing teams to play around us). We are not hunting in packs as well anymore. When the gaps appear, we are too far and out of position to apply interceptions. Usually these would be last ditch tackles out of desperation.

For sure the midfield needs evolving and refreshed, but in my opinion, it’s not been the root cause of our problems. As I’ve said earlier this season, this is mainly the same team which rolled over teams last year minus Mane and a few squad players, but the injuries haven’t allowed those who’ve come in upfront to adjust and adapt. I would have excepted a drop off from last year, but not to the scale as this year’s, of course compounded by injuries.

[Charly]

Mane was already dipping, and we signed 3 new left sided forwards this season, in addition to Jota and Diaz.

The problem is the mudfield does not have the legs. There is no point in the forwards pressing high if the midfield leaves a gap to play through.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Mane was already dipping, and we signed 3 new left sided forwards this season, in addition to Jota and Diaz.

The problem is the mudfield does not have the legs. There is no point in the forwards pressing high if the midfield leaves a gap to play through.

[rudedog]

Mane was already dipping, and we signed 3 new left sided forwards this season, in addition to Jota and Diaz.

The problem is the mudfield does not have the legs. There is no point in the forwards pressing high if the midfield leaves a gap to play through.

Disagree with this completely. IMO, the reason why we so effective as a 'pressing monster' was because our forwards made it so difficult for opposition to play out to their own midfield - we made them hurry passes and forced mistakes.

This made our midfielders jobs a lot easier as the opposition rarely got time and space to pick passes that could hurt us.