jd1981
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 26, 2011
- Messages
- 15,834
- Reaction score
- 4,232
Just on O’Neil i think the reaction to his comments are bizarre, like a validation that you think he’s shit so will take it that way. Been done to death but we all know not one fan would have chosen him and in all likelihood we’ll be looking for another manager this season but I don’t understand how it seems 95% of fans can’t be open minded on comments/decisions etc…
His comment regarding not being judged originally came from Joe Cole and they were basically saying where we finish will generally come down to how we play against “the other 14” which it definitely is. Beat the teams around you and you’ll finish above them and then hopefully you play well and take points against the best teams. We aren’t the team Nuno had in the first 2 seasons and we need to realise that, again some are finding it hard to do.
In his other press conference he basically outlined the plan which was executed perfectly in the first half. Second half it wasn’t but that was down to a combination of things, Liverpool going 424, our players tiring, our forward players being too far apart and none of them holding it up. Subs look odd but i think we actually improved slightly with them ( i would have brought Sasa on) and started to get out again, get a couple of passes right and we have good chances and with a different ref we might have too. Possibly could have gone to a back 5 against the 4 to cut down on the amount of ground to cover but can also see why he didn’t.
As O’Neil has said we then caused chaos with our decision making for the 2nd goal something they have spoken about, being less chaotic and more predictable until they get to the final third. That’s a fair way of looking at it but we’ve got a long way to go.
In short, well set up first half and should have been 2 up. Always going to have less of the ball in the 2nd but didn’t look after it enough when we had it but weren’t being battered. Sa then does something stupid and we don’t react and the game was gone. The first half has to be a blueprint going forward, there are positives and we desperately need to see more of them from next week.
I’m not sure anyone is expecting or has said they expect Nuno levels of results and performances.
Unfortunately one half of good football is pattern not a one off, highlights huge mental weaknesses and genuine lack of leadership.
11 goals against in 5 games is huge concern and should it continue it’ll almost certainly see us go down.