So currently we are sitting joint top 4th with liverpool, Nonetheless,how many times have we been in this position in january after 22 games?
Like I said in previous post we have been here before.Now to keep it simple to win games you need to score goals and not concede them.The common narrative of the last three-four years has been one of falling short in both departments and a failure to address this problem.
Over the last three years we have finished on 72 ,69 and 62 points. Yes indeed we can call that progress but what is more disturbing at how close behind Woolwich we finished, one point behind in the last two years and six in the 3rd. So this tells me that's it is not a massive investment that was ever required in each of these season, just a little tweak to keep the ship sailing.
Currently the ship is sailing like it has done around this time of the year in the last three years, but where are the potential weaknesses that could see us miss out.
weaknesses
1) Left back. This is has been evident this season with teams constantly hammering down the left hand flank .Rose was missing for more than 2 months that ultimately lead to us having to shift our first choice central defender to left back. Paradoxically weakening our defence. This cannot happen again and no I do not believe eziekel is the solution.
2) Central defence: As much as I like the guy, Dawson is piss poor at reading the game at times.Despite having those problems at leftback, a fair share of our goals have come from Dawson's mistakes.Now ideally we should have four central defenders ( especially if our ambition is to still compete in europe). At the moment we have only two, one is returning and the fouth (kaboul) is perpetually injured.So maybe we can not let the shit hit the fan again and not have a repeat of the liverpool 5-0 and man city 6-0 where our defences were injury ridden.
3)Goals: Adebayor is scoring goals but will it continue?, I am not convinced by Soldado and I cannot see his season getting any better so what is the plan B if he (Ade) gets injured?.Where will the goals come from?I think this is the last of our concerns because we always find a way to score at least one goal and i think sorting out our defensive issues is cheaper and can be done in the 10 days we have left.
If we at least hit one of these three obvious problems, then we will have a much better chance of top 4 .
Rather than romanticizing and making why we failed ambigious and spursy levy should apply the patch now.,Sherwood is actually right about one thing he said. It is not only formations that win games but players, you aren't going to win piss all if your squad is so thin in key areas.
If nothing is done this window then the only logically thing to do is not sell capoue and keep him as our 4th choice central defender.O
Well over to you levy.
Note: Apoligies if I sound condecending, the tone of this writing is more directed at our daniel levy and co rather than the forum.
- we were fourth last season (2012-13).
- we were third the season before that (2011-12)
- fourth the season before that (2010-11)
- And indeed the historic season we actually qualified for the champions league we were 4th after 22 games.
Like I said in previous post we have been here before.Now to keep it simple to win games you need to score goals and not concede them.The common narrative of the last three-four years has been one of falling short in both departments and a failure to address this problem.
- ie: 2012-13, we needed a striker when Adebayor went missing ( failed solution :Holtby)
- ie:2011-12, we needed a decent defender when ledleys kings knees gave in (Failed solution:Saha &Nelsen)
- ie:2010-11, we needed a decent striker. (failed solution: steven pienaar)
Over the last three years we have finished on 72 ,69 and 62 points. Yes indeed we can call that progress but what is more disturbing at how close behind Woolwich we finished, one point behind in the last two years and six in the 3rd. So this tells me that's it is not a massive investment that was ever required in each of these season, just a little tweak to keep the ship sailing.
Currently the ship is sailing like it has done around this time of the year in the last three years, but where are the potential weaknesses that could see us miss out.
weaknesses
1) Left back. This is has been evident this season with teams constantly hammering down the left hand flank .Rose was missing for more than 2 months that ultimately lead to us having to shift our first choice central defender to left back. Paradoxically weakening our defence. This cannot happen again and no I do not believe eziekel is the solution.
2) Central defence: As much as I like the guy, Dawson is piss poor at reading the game at times.Despite having those problems at leftback, a fair share of our goals have come from Dawson's mistakes.Now ideally we should have four central defenders ( especially if our ambition is to still compete in europe). At the moment we have only two, one is returning and the fouth (kaboul) is perpetually injured.So maybe we can not let the shit hit the fan again and not have a repeat of the liverpool 5-0 and man city 6-0 where our defences were injury ridden.
3)Goals: Adebayor is scoring goals but will it continue?, I am not convinced by Soldado and I cannot see his season getting any better so what is the plan B if he (Ade) gets injured?.Where will the goals come from?I think this is the last of our concerns because we always find a way to score at least one goal and i think sorting out our defensive issues is cheaper and can be done in the 10 days we have left.
If we at least hit one of these three obvious problems, then we will have a much better chance of top 4 .
Rather than romanticizing and making why we failed ambigious and spursy levy should apply the patch now.,Sherwood is actually right about one thing he said. It is not only formations that win games but players, you aren't going to win piss all if your squad is so thin in key areas.
If nothing is done this window then the only logically thing to do is not sell capoue and keep him as our 4th choice central defender.O
Well over to you levy.
Note: Apoligies if I sound condecending, the tone of this writing is more directed at our daniel levy and co rather than the forum.