Thread for people who aren't deluded and know season is over

Well said

But we do need to change system too. High line is dead. Vvd is slowing. Still top header, passer and tackler but can't run like he could.

 

Can’t be bothered looking for the post but right back at the start of this season I said I was being optimistic and predicting 5th (as well as Everton down)
Even though I am pessimistic I could see this was coming
Last season - even though we only won two trophies was amazing - we were gone a lot of last season but kept managing to pull out wins
In fact you can go back to the title win season after the pandemic break to trace our poor form
I have always laid the blame at Henderson’s feet for us throwing the title under Brendan when we beat city and he got sent off

I think a lot of people do not realise just how essential to us he was (not saying he was the best player but he did something that pulled us together).

I have a player in my U12s who is nowhere near the best player - not even close
They play as a CDM - this player does not score many goals - doesn’t make many goal line clearances
Doesn’t possess any real skill
Just does the basics
Breaks up play - and gives the ball to the better players
This player allows all the others to enjoy the game - they love tackling and love passing

You never really notice this player when you are watching the game

but when we take them off the pitch or they miss a game - we are NEVER the same

I think Hendo has been massively underrated
I am praying that this season is just a result of last seasons monumental effort

If he is done he is the one who needs replacing imho

but I am hoping that he has another couple of years left in him

as an aside
If there is one man I trust to rebuild us - it’s the guy sitting in the job atm

 

Did you read what I put? I'm sticking up for him and saying he needs to be given a run of games.

 

I was referring to what you were replying too

 

Arsenal play a high line.Wouldn’t say zinchenko Gabriel white are quick. Saliba has a bit of pace.

city play high line. Stones Dias Cancelo aren’t quick. Walker has a lot of pace

It’s not just about speed playing s high line. Konate is as quick as anyone else there and vvd isn’t slow (Gomez is also quick).

High line is fine is keeper has good position which Ali does. But the key is not letting opposition play good balls in behind. Yes anyone can whack a long ball but how often will a long ball from cb go over everyone’s head as a perfect through ball? Give any team time on the ball and can play a good pass and a timed run in behind. What was so good 3/4 years ago was our press stopped the top defenders/midfielders from getting time on the ball to get head up and pick a pass over the back line. Get that press right and the high line is fine even without massive speed.

 

Well there is that but also actually tracking runs once ball is played rather than standing with hand in the air all the time as well.

maybe you are right. every team has time to pick their pass or just pay it past the 3 cms and they are in on our cbs just playing short and no need for offside.

they've even time to play the trent big switch **** cos there's zero pressure on anyone

 

No, not at all - I meant FSG have probably told him there's no money to invest.

 

Another rebuild will be about four or five years long- would he stay for that, or patch up the old men, as Dalglish did in the early 90s until he lost the plot? Or blood a new team knowing that in a couple of years, Newcastle will enter the fray full-time (if they haven't already) and breaking back into the top four will be nigh on impossible with City, a resurgent United, a rejuvenated Arsenal and probably Chelsea, when they get their act together, as by the end of the season we'll have gone from having the best squad in Europe in 2020 (not just my evaluation) to possibly the seventh or eighth in England?

I think we may have missed the boat to do something in the summer, and we've certainly missed the boat, train, bus and last stagecoach out of Dodge in this January window.

 

I'd have forgiven him everything had he not come onto that loose ball in the last 10 mins of the CL final, 15 yards out and the goal in front of him - and nearly hit the ****ing corner flag. Dickhead.

 

Even at his best - he was mint against Man U in the 5-0 drubbing last season - you never get a full game out of him (okay, Pogba nearly amputated his leg in that game). But I just feel he doesn't have the engine to be the box-to-box midfielder we were told we were getting.

 

We missed the boat two years ago, when we decided to blame the pandemic for our inaction after winning the league despite none of the other clubs giving a flying **** worrying about spending after the pandemic.

Failed to capitalise on the strongest position we had been in over 30 years, cause FSG are afraid to take even the smallest risks.

 

Well said.

The club only have themselves to blame for where we are now. This was coming.

 

Rumours are doing the rounds that Qatar investment is coming …

 

Didn't quite come across like that...oops all's good.

 

Rumours doubtless put about by FSG's friendly journalists.

 

Doom or gloom - which camp are you in? I was in the gloom segment, but I now feel myself lured into the doom camp by the fact that there seems to be no short-to-medium way out of this morass. Are we doomed to another 30 years before our next title? I expect so.

 

I'm in the 'it is what it is' camp

 

Agreed.
I don't follow football for the reflected glory of success - I'm in it for the ride. Sometimes it's downhill, and that's a part of it.
Of course I want us to win, but if it's just a procession every year then it becomes less interesting.
I wish we hadn't been so crap this season - but since we have, the interest comes from seeing how we deal with it and fight back.
Obviously I wouldn't want to see a continuous slide into relative obscurity, but the tough times make the good times that much better.
The overwhelming majority of sincere football fans follow teams who have little hope of winning things, but they are still devoted to their team. I think those of us who follow the bigger clubs could take a lesson from that.

 

Wise words, as per