An excellent clear-headed analysis that shows the extent to which last season papered over the cracks. Agree entirely about the ageing back four and slow midfield. Villa and City away were horror shows that still give me nightmares.
As you say, the manner of many defeats was concerning. That flatness/staleness in many games is a real worry, including quite a few where we got a result. In fact, only Forest did better than us in points vs performances last season, another indicator that things will be harder next season.
I'm sure Eddie's aware of all these things, but there's a real feeling for me that this group of players is getting close to the end of the road, and sometimes that cliff comes along much more suddenly than you expect.
Re PSR and getting deals done early. Does PSR accounting year end 30th June, and could that mean we & others (inc Villa who I read are close to exceeding PSR) are still restricted until July before buying players?
Excellent piece Alex although a typo for Liverpool, they drew against Manyoo they dropped 2 points not one.
I share your fears about the CBs and your analysis is much more detailed than mine but the thing you and the other knowledgeable commenters haven't mentioned that concerns me is the half time process.
I love Eddie to bits, best manager in my long lifetime but his apparent inability to turn things around at half time is a major concern.
I'm sure times have changed since the "hairdryer" but what happens now? Cynics may say "Not a lot apparently" and on the evidence of last season they'd be right.
To me this issue is second only to recruitment which you and others have covered well and I wholeheartedly agree with.
Half time is a major part of game management and it's not going well when we're poor in the first half.
Really good point, Jack. I think I saw somewhere that we had a very good goal record in the 10 mins after HT, but it definitely feels like the flat/ struggling performances don't get turned around. The old plan B debate, I guess. Or maybe an issue of players not able to raise themselves. Stale messages or stale players?
My fault about the typo. We spotted it but changed it too late! Should be correct now. Thanks for the eagle eyes!
Excellent piece, Alex. Due to the sheer number of games played, next season will be the toughest our team has ever experienced. We need some quality players fast!
Excellent analysis Alex. As much as Dan Burn and Fabian Schar have rightly become absolute legends for the club, if they are our centre back pair next season then the recruitment has gone sadly wrong. I think we are right sided cb, right sided forward and possibly goalkeeper from having a first 11 that can challenge the top two but we also need a good backup striker and another midfielder just to cope with the number of games next season.
An excellent clear-headed analysis that shows the extent to which last season papered over the cracks. Agree entirely about the ageing back four and slow midfield. Villa and City away were horror shows that still give me nightmares.
As you say, the manner of many defeats was concerning. That flatness/staleness in many games is a real worry, including quite a few where we got a result. In fact, only Forest did better than us in points vs performances last season, another indicator that things will be harder next season.
I'm sure Eddie's aware of all these things, but there's a real feeling for me that this group of players is getting close to the end of the road, and sometimes that cliff comes along much more suddenly than you expect.
Re PSR and getting deals done early. Does PSR accounting year end 30th June, and could that mean we & others (inc Villa who I read are close to exceeding PSR) are still restricted until July before buying players?
Yes, I think exactly this
Excellent piece Alex although a typo for Liverpool, they drew against Manyoo they dropped 2 points not one.
I share your fears about the CBs and your analysis is much more detailed than mine but the thing you and the other knowledgeable commenters haven't mentioned that concerns me is the half time process.
I love Eddie to bits, best manager in my long lifetime but his apparent inability to turn things around at half time is a major concern.
I'm sure times have changed since the "hairdryer" but what happens now? Cynics may say "Not a lot apparently" and on the evidence of last season they'd be right.
To me this issue is second only to recruitment which you and others have covered well and I wholeheartedly agree with.
Half time is a major part of game management and it's not going well when we're poor in the first half.
Really good point, Jack. I think I saw somewhere that we had a very good goal record in the 10 mins after HT, but it definitely feels like the flat/ struggling performances don't get turned around. The old plan B debate, I guess. Or maybe an issue of players not able to raise themselves. Stale messages or stale players?
My fault about the typo. We spotted it but changed it too late! Should be correct now. Thanks for the eagle eyes!
Excellent piece, Alex. Due to the sheer number of games played, next season will be the toughest our team has ever experienced. We need some quality players fast!
Lots of good points there. Thank you Alex.
Half times I also agree with. If we don't score against a packed defence we seem to badly stall. You'd just love a Hatem Ben Arfa type to come on.
I also really like that Brighton CB Van Hecke. I can see him alongside Sven.
Really though EH has such a good record. I'd just let him get on with it.
Excellent analysis Alex. As much as Dan Burn and Fabian Schar have rightly become absolute legends for the club, if they are our centre back pair next season then the recruitment has gone sadly wrong. I think we are right sided cb, right sided forward and possibly goalkeeper from having a first 11 that can challenge the top two but we also need a good backup striker and another midfielder just to cope with the number of games next season.