At the halfway point of this season, we might have actually improved on last.

[Roynie]

Where have you got that from?

My spreadsheet! Being the sado pedant that I am I noted the scores from last year, added the results from this year and did some simple calcs.

EDIT: I also included the points from last year and this. I must have way too much time on my hands!

 

[thinktank]

We were the same the first half of last season. You're just comparing to the second half.

First quarter/third iirc? First few string of games were frustrating. And my position still stands on our forward play.

 

[thinktank]

Agreed am curious how much injuries have impacted though.

It's a fair point. But, regardless, our final third play has been abysmal imo, on the whole. That has been the key area to improve on last season. Not done.

 

[shelfboy68]

It's a fair point. But, regardless, our final third play has been abysmal imo, on the whole. That has been the key area to improve on last season. Not done.

Correct if it had been better a lot of those draws through October and November would likely have been wins and would see us in a lot stronger position than we currently are.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

My spreadsheet! Being the sado pedant that I am I noted the scores from last year, added the results from this year and did some simple calcs.

EDIT: I also included the points from last year and this. I must have way too much time on my hands!

I thought others had done the same as you and come out with more points/goals?

 

[chinaman]

It's a fair point. But, regardless, our final third play has been abysmal imo, on the whole. That has been the key area to improve on last season. Not done.

Anyone who could improve our play in the final third will be out of Levy's reach financially.

 

[thinktank]

Anyone who could improve our play in the final third will be out of Levy's reach financially.

Poch/coaching team should be.

 

[Roynie]

I thought others had done the same as you and come out with more points/goals?

I have compared the same teams as last year, others have done the first number of games. The same team comparison gives us 1 point improvement, the same match number gives us a 4 point gain, I think!

 

[Mark_147]

I have compared the same teams as last year, others have done the first number of games. The same team comparison gives us 1 point improvement, the same match number gives us a 4 point gain, I think!

How can you compare the same teams when we have 3 newly promoted teams?

 

[Roynie]

How can you compare the same teams when we have 3 newly promoted teams?

I substituted the relegated teams for the promoted ones so that 1st replaces 18th, 2nd for 19th and 3rd for 20th. I'm fairly certain that most of the guys who do a similar comparison do the same.

 

[Drink!Drink!]

Apparently all teams in the top have got more points than this time last season, and all have improved on their points from equivalent fixtures

 

[Lighty64]

Last year we were exceptionally unlucky in terms of performance to points return. We played with a system and through it played better football than this year. This year we've been luckier with turning performances in to results and have had some solid performances from lots of players at different times keeping us in the race. People are negative because it's very clear the team football hasn't been as good and it's frustrating as if we put this years individual form in to last years playing style we could be unstoppable.

the thing is this year we haven't once played the same line up that was so entertaining last season, our season has been badly disrupted with injuries and early suspensions and other teams have approached our matches against them to defend against our strengths of last season. I'm not even sure we have had the same line up for 2 games running this season, and compare that to Chelsea who have played the least amount of games out of any of the top 6 (as did Leicester last season), and perhaps it's the reason why we haven't been as exciting.

if we had suffered the injuries we have had this season, I honestly don't think we would of made the top 4 last season, yet at the moment the only reason we are not in the top 4 is due to those injuries and having to use a stronger squad in the CL, yet we still never had our strongest XI available for 1 match in the CL.

i know it's a long way off, and really wished we had 1 more season at WHL, but it looks like this squad with all the contract renewals will be together for sometime, but this summer might be the 1st one where all our team get a well deserved break, and will all be together for a pre-season going into a new season possibly fit and not fatigued from the start, no international tournaments, but my only downer is us playing at Wembley next season.

yes it's the choice of many supporters, but every opponent in every comp will raise their game at the so called "home of Football", a ground where at the start of every season once upon a time, every single kid wanted to step on to the pitch at sometime in their career, yes winning the title was something a kid might of dreamed of, but playing in an FA Cup was the dream, now it's get top 4 and a place in the CL, and becoming rich

 

[chinaman]

Yes, and the England commitments resulted in 5 of our first 11 being jaded when the season opened.

 

[Lighty64]

It's a fair point. But, regardless, our final third play has been abysmal imo, on the whole. That has been the key area to improve on last season. Not done.

but the difference last season was our front 4 played near enough week in week out, until the end. this season due to injuries and playing CL instead of EL our starting XI and formations have meant a disruption to gaining any real rytheme

 

[Lighty64]

Yes, and the England commitments resulted in 5 of our first 11 being jaded when the season opened.

don't forget the Belgiums, Davies and Lamela, none of them had much rest

 

[Lighty64]

Comparing the same games last season with this, we have scored 7 fewer goals and conceeded the same, hence a 7 goal difference worse than last season. The remaining games we didn't score more than 3 last year and I think we will do better this season. We have struggled with injuries more this season than last and I think we are finally starting to hit form. The crucial game, I think, will be the Chelsea game. If we can get a result on Wednesday it will be a real boost to the confidence and set us up for the run in.

well after our last game in the comparison side of things after 19 games v the same ops, but taking into account the promoted and relegated we scored 40 compared to 37 so far, and conceded 16 to this seasons 14, so our GD is down by 1, yes we scored 3 less, but last season we had our main striker available for all 19.

 

[thinktank]

but the difference last season was our front 4 played near enough week in week out, until the end. this season due to injuries and playing CL instead of EL our starting XI and formations have meant a disruption to gaining any real rytheme

Doesn't stop you getting in behind and moving off the ball. Basic shit.

 

[Lighty64]

Doesn't stop you getting in behind and moving off the ball. Basic shit.

when you play with the same old faces week in week out, you tend to get to know their movements, which then if that moving the ball to an area you know that player will be heading to makes it easier, providing there's a gap.

didn't our front 4 score or assist each other more than any other team last season?

Alli and Kane, or Kane to Alli, yet the injury to Kane missing 5 league matches and both looking pretty knackered after the Euro's had an effect, Lamela and Eriksen both scored and had loads of assist, how often have that 4 featured in the same game this season, or looked fresh or been on form?

yet we have plus 4pts and have scored more, i reckon had we not suffered the injuries we have, and those 4 had been on their main form of last season, we would be 6pts better off and a good few goals too

 

[dudu]

It's a fair point. But, regardless, our final third play has been abysmal imo, on the whole. That has been the key area to improve on last season. Not done.

Hyperbolic nonsense.

abysmal???

 

[Shadydan]

Doesn't stop you getting in behind and moving off the ball. Basic shit.

Last season we were the 2nd highest scorers in the league and in many people's eyes the best footballing team to watch, this season we've had a shit load of injuries and players off form...is there REALLY any surprise that we are starting to return to form now and our forward play is better than it was a month ago?

You have such a basic compression about football, you surprise me.