I’m happy with what Lage is doing. He’s doing a good job with limited resources, but he’s not working wonders either.
I agree with what has been said from both sides. But my main issue is that we aren’t scoring goals (or genuinely look like scoring). Yes we got 3 against Saints (set peice, penalty and late goal when they pushed forward and Lyanco decided to stop playing giving Adama the space) and 2 against Brentford which were our only 2 shots on target. And then a terrible run of goals before that.
We still aren’t getting enough out of the WBs. We keep saying Semedo and RAN are playing really well, but they aren’t creating anything (we aren’t getting people in the box) and their attacking stats (excluding RANs set pieces) are not good enough.
The same goes for all the forwards. Podence, Trincao and Adama’s stats are horrific, Hwangs 4 goals paper over huge cracks (bottom 1 percentile for SCA, basically means he’s done fuck all outside 4 goals), and Raul is in the bottom 10% for xG/90 so it’s not like he’s missing chances, he’s not getting any (helps getting in the box).
Now it could be that all these players are terrible, they aren’t doing what they’re told, the attacking set up isn’t very good or a combination. But we all keep saying how good all of them are…
It’s obviously more entertaining than post lockdown Nuno but it’s hard to compare earlier on. The low block counter was entertaining and got results. I prefer that we are on the front foot more now but it still isn’t translating to shots on goal. Different styles, Similar end product, but hopefully A higher ceiling with Bruno’s style.
As for the who had the best squad debate, there probably isn’t much in it. Obviously the deeper set up protected weaker players and Jota, Raul and then later peak Adama was much better what we have now, and goal threat is the hardest most important part of football.
I also think the top end of the league is much better now than it has been, but of course that is subjective.
I doubt he will walk but he might just do it out of principle if Fosun really take the piss. He could get another job in the PL or abroad with his agent and current record I’m sure, but not at a top 6 club, which I think is where the conversation started before I got carried away.
Hoefully Fosun give him some Money and we won’t find out.
You'll forgive me though if I think guiding this team to 8th is somehow unprecedented, or matches a demonstrably better season. I DO think he has the chance to push on now and get us in that top 7, with the ability he's shown to date and the players at his disposal (and, yes, despite not being supported as we'd all like with transfers, something I suspect we all agree on). No need to be taking our ball home just yet.
