Are we really as bad as we think we are?

[mattdefoe]

Certainly not as bad as we make out . But what I will say is there were many games last season where games felt on the balance or it didn’t look like we could or would win them. And that was against both the smaller and bigger sides , didn’t feel confident we could beat many sides . Very toothless and were behind the ball most weeks

 

[Erm33]

It's sport, things can change very quickly.

I think Mason showed what a difference it can make playing on the front foot again. Obviously his inexperience showed too. Get a more positive attack minded manager who is tactical and we'll score plenty again. The key of course will be to keep Kane and Bale. If we do then we need to improve the movement off the ball in midfield and strengthen at the back. We're not too far behind but we're between either pushing on and catching up or dropping further back. Key signings and the right manager will determine which way it goes.

Pretty much this.

Keeping Kane and bringing back Bale is half the battle. The other half is at least one top center back, right back and central midfielder and we should have enough to crack top 4 with any kind of competent manager.

To turn into title contenders we need a complete new defence and midfield however.

Kane, Son & Bale is a title winning forward line IMO with the right supply line and solid defence behind them.

 

[Shanks]

they are spending the Grealish money

They even do that better than us too, he’s not even sold yet!

 

[Blake Griffin]

it's easy to pin it all on mourinho but we've been average for a long time now - 25 points from 24 games at the end of poch's reign wasn't it?

the problem is that levy still seems to think that we have the squad of 3-4 years back and that it just needs the right manager to get it out of them. truth is though we need a complete overhaul and if that means taking one or two steps back first then so be it. also doesn't help that our recruitment over the past five years has been absolutely dire so that's another area that needs addressing.

 

[Lighty64]

They even do that better than us too, he’s not even sold yet!

we started buying with the Bale money early

 

[Shanks]

we started buying with the Bale money early

That was about 10 years ago dude ?

 

[Lighty64]

That was about 10 years ago dude ?

we haven't sold anyone good enough for a high enough fee to warrant a spending spree. since selling Bale we have only sold 2 players over 20m

 

[robin09]

We're not as bad as many fans feel, no. We didn't finish as far away from the top 4 as we deserved to. In an utterly crap season. Which is actually quite comforting.

A few small tweaks in the obvious weaknesses, and we can be a top 4 team again next season. Not very exciting as a target, but better than missing out.

 

[Yid-ol]

We're not as bad as many fans feel, no. We didn't finish as far away from the top 4 as we deserved to. In an utterly crap season. Which is actually quite comforting.

A few small tweaks in the obvious weaknesses, and we can be a top 4 team again next season. Not very exciting as a target, but better than missing out.

New CBs, RB and creative player and think we will be there. And ship out anyone not wanting to put in the hard graft.

 

[robin09]

New CBs, RB and creative player and think we will be there. And ship out anyone not wanting to put in the hard graft.

And some clear, consistent coaching with a philosophy that the players can understand, that players can be plugged into, and that doesn't bore the living shit out of the supporters.

 

[piedpiper]

We definitely not as bad as some posters make out. However looking at results over a 3yr period and where we've ended the seasons then we are in a steady decline. Had Levy pulled the trigger immediately after that europa league game we'd have finished in the top 4.

Mason for all the criticism he got here and as inexperienced as he was outplayed Leicester with his team. So it's about margins for me.oof he'd had 10 plus games and the boys coming to the party as they were and we would be having a very different discussion.

A good manager with a great philosophy/ clear belief like Poch had and backed at boardroom level and we back in the top 4....but it's no longer just about top 4 now....we need to be competing and winning trophies.

 

[shelfboy68]

We definitely not as bad as some posters make out. However looking at results over a 3yr period and where we've ended the seasons then we are in a steady decline. Had Levy pulled the trigger immediately after that europa league game we'd have finished in the top 4.

Mason for all the criticism he got here and as inexperienced as he was outplayed Leicester with his team. So it's about margins for me.oof he'd had 10 plus games and the boys coming to the party as they were and we would be having a very different discussion.

A good manager with a great philosophy/ clear belief like Poch had and backed at boardroom level and we back in the top 4....but it's no longer just about top 4 now....we need to be competing and winning trophies.

I don't see us back in the top four that easily and as for competing or winning trophies well we know that answer.

 

[dbspurs]

We definitely not as bad as some posters make out. However looking at results over a 3yr period and where we've ended the seasons then we are in a steady decline. Had Levy pulled the trigger immediately after that europa league game we'd have finished in the top 4.

Mason for all the criticism he got here and as inexperienced as he was outplayed Leicester with his team. So it's about margins for me.oof he'd had 10 plus games and the boys coming to the party as they were and we would be having a very different discussion.

A good manager with a great philosophy/ clear belief like Poch had and backed at boardroom level and we back in the top 4....but it's no longer just about top 4 now....we need to be competing and winning trophies.

Are we talking about the same Leicester game where we were woeful for 75 minutes until Schmeichel punched the ball in his own net?!

The only reason we eventually won that game was Leicester had to open up and go for the win to qualify for Champions League.

We lack quality defenders and midfielders across the whole squad and that isn't going to change much in a pre season where we we currently have no coach and a board that doesn't seem to have any direction at all.

 

[wirE]

they are spending the Grealish money

tbh, Aston Villa has been spending a lot of cash for the past two seasons now. Over £300 millions spent, so money doesn't seem to be an issue

 

[Serpico]

I don't understand the question. Does it mean per game? Per season? Our history?

Is it not the case 'how bad we think we are', It's, 'we re not as good as we believe we should be'. We will never compete with some clubs because we don't function in the same way. We could win the PL/trophy as LC did and be proud doing it the Tottenham way but It will never be sustainable because we are not City or Chelsea. Are WHU better than us now?

 

[piedpiper]

I don't see us back in the top four that easily and as for competing or winning trophies well we know that answer.

Are you not letting the long manager search affect your judgment of the team....yes many supporters want certain players gone... if I compare the 7 games Mason had and players he chose to what Mourinho did in his preceding 7 games I think the points difference favoured Mason.

Anyhow we do need to rebuild the team long term and the right manager coming in goes a long way to getting us top 4 or pushing for it in his 1st season.

 

[piedpiper]

Are we talking about the same Leicester game where we were woeful for 75 minutes until Schmeichel punched the ball in his own net?!

The only reason we eventually won that game was Leicester had to open up and go for the win to qualify for Champions League.

We lack quality defenders and midfielders across the whole squad and that isn't going to change much in a pre season where we we currently have no coach and a board that doesn't seem to have any direction at all.

Yes same game...no we weren't outplayed for 75 minutes. We were outplayed at Leeds but weren't in that game at Leicester.

We bettered them in

possesion 53% -47%
Duels won 51 to 49
Aerial Duels win 59%- 41%
Total shots 11 to 10

I could go on with the stats which go against your theory on this... we won 4-2 that day.

All I'm saying is let's not let the doom and gloom permeate everything....we need some work...but we could be a Arsenal or even a Leicester with a stable manager and just finished ahead of us.

 

[shelfboy68]

Are you not letting the long manager search affect your judgment of the team....yes many supporters want certain players gone... if I compare the 7 games Mason had and players he chose to what Mourinho did in his preceding 7 games I think the points difference favoured Mason.

Anyhow we do need to rebuild the team long term and the right manager coming in goes a long way to getting us top 4 or pushing for it in his 1st season.

Hope so mate

 

[dbspurs]

Yes same game...no we weren't outplayed for 75 minutes. We were outplayed at Leeds but weren't in that game at Leicester.

We bettered them in

possesion 53% -47%
Duels won 51 to 49
Aerial Duels win 59%- 41%
Total shots 11 to 10

I could go on with the stats which go against your theory on this... we won 4-2 that day.

All I'm saying is let's not let the doom and gloom permeate everything....we need some work...but we could be a Arsenal or even a Leicester with a stable manager and just finished ahead of us.

I never said we were outplayed. I said we were woeful (Leicester weren't much better) up to the 75th minute and then Schmeichel handed us the initiative which we took.

I'm just trying to be a realist. I know this is going to be a painful next few seasons and i'm ready for it. I have posted as much in many other threads. I just wonder if other people are ready for it.

My optimism extends to things can only get better but, regardless of who the new coach is, that is as far as my optimism goes currently.

 

[piedpiper]

I never said we were outplayed. I said we were woeful (Leicester weren't much better) up to the 75th minute and then Schmeichel handed us the initiative which we took.

I'm just trying to be a realist. I know this is going to be a painful next few seasons and i'm ready for it. I have posted as much in many other threads. I just wonder if other people are ready for it.

My optimism extends to things can only get better but, regardless of who the new coach is, that is as far as my optimism goes currently.

I dont think we were woeful either.....however I get the gist of your message in this post. Yeah I'm a realist too and I think we'll be okay. I'm not sure why because for 24 months plus I felt we were on the wrong track. It's not as bad as some make it out to be.... if as is being speculated in the next manager thread.... I look forward to it being E.T.H if it is him.