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Posted

Just now we have:

1. What I consider to be the most tactically inept manager we have had since Ian Porterfield.

2. A decidedly average centre forward in Anelka

3. Two very below average wingers in Kalou and Malouda and a decent winger who is nowhere near his best in Joe Cole

4. A captain who is a shadow of the player he can be and, for me, shouldn't be in the first team (at least shouldn't be when all players are fit)

5. Umpteen injuries to key players to contend with

And despite this we are still top of the league (although I don't think we will be in a week or twos time)

Is the quality of the league on the slide or am I being over dramatic?



Posted

Sorry, Loz, but i think youre off base with a few points

-Ive never been a fan of Anelka, but he has done the job this season and is, by the numbers, playing above his level.

-Our injuries have come where we are deepest: CB and Midfield. I think we just got lucky

Everything else, though, you got pretty spot on. JT is not untouchable, and if he cant play to the level of a 20 year old making his debut in England, then he shouldnt be out there.

All in all, I think England is still at the apex, as a league. How we are at the top I have no idea, but its clear we are nowhere near the sides that demolished their way to two straight titles

Posted (edited)

I think your points are pretty acurate and can see how it seems unreal that we have got the points we have so far,

my thoughts on it are that Anelka is a decent striker and as good as all but the best in the Prem..Torres, Berbatov I wont jump on the Zaki bandwagon as I still think Anelka is a better player than him.

Anelka has taken some goals (tonight again) very well and if he had have stayed on he may have added to his tally, ok some scrappy goals as well but I would love to see him play week in week out with a decent strike partner instead of the 4-3-3 before I give up on him.

Wingers, I feel Kalou keeps frustrating as he looks to have potential and then looks to have nothing in a SWP way, my fear is he could go somewhere else and become a very good player but as he is playing now..not good enough,

Joe, seems to have really gone off although he has had a couple of good games this season he looks a shadow of his best, I would include Deco in this as he has been for me

a liability since his comeback from injury

Malouda, Frustrating is the keyword again here, I think he does more for the team than we give him credit for and works hard, I think he has more to offer and needs to learn to shoot better but how many wingers are out there that are better...Ronaldo maybe the only great winger in the Prem(again your point)

J.T full agree, Alex Ricky and Ivanovich have all been good when called upon and the first two at this time would be my first choice.

Our Injuries have not hurt us that badly because when they are to our defenders we have good cover and Essien is well covered (although his power is missed) by Ballack and or Mikel.

I think some of the below average teams in the Prem are actually a bit better than they were but the top 4 not quite as good and would say that if and when UTD hit form if we carry on like we are we might as well give up.

I think UTD on paper are better than ever but again something has not quite clicked.

I dont think Scolari is doing a great Job although I love some of the passing and moving we do when we have a team on the ropes, It's not just a goal thing I do like to see the wing backs bombing forward and to have the feeling we can score with almost every attack.

what has happened though is teams have learned to play against our style already and Scolari seems to not be able to alternate it in any way.

that may get you through a World Cup but a season where everything is watched over and over means there has to be more than one way.

I think Liverpool are one player better than they have been the last three seasons and they are top with us

that to me suggests that the Prem is weaker now than the last few seasons for sure

adding to this the trouble we are having with very average teams in Euope,

to answer your question, in a word Yes

Edited by Chippy
Posted

This is just my limited view.

regarding point 1): I'm not sure if it's because he wants a Samba revolution or a beautiful game that caused us those problems. If it's the Samba revolution then maybe our players having been successful under Mourinho and partially successful under Grant haven't adapted to his revolutionary Samba style yet, or aren't able to adapt because they're suited for another style or it's too cold in Europe for Samba. If it's the beautiful game then I have to admit frankly his playing is nowhere near beautiful imho.

regarding point 2): Agree, but at least sometimes he's been able to surprise me positively. At least look - we had one real (real real real) goal scoring opportunity this night and he took it. That's more than I've expected; normally Anelka needs more than 3 ... by average.

regarding point 3): I'm missing somewhat SWP. He hasn't been a genius all time but he's provided some freshness to a game sometimes. As Scolari's game relies much on wingers it's a pity that they've sold him.

Regarding the quality of the league: makes me think twice, though. We've seen that both ManU and the Gooners are struggling this season, too ... much earlier than I've expected of those. They're lacking the same consistency as we do ... so this might be a hint we're not really bad off just not good enough. One must see it relatively; you don't need to be really good. Just better than the others ...



Posted

Point 1. Beginning to change my thoughts on Scolari, but it is not his team and I think we have to wait until next season to see what unfolds. However he is beginning to worry me as being a bit one dimensional. Must say I do love watching attacking fullbacks.

Point 2. I think one of the best finishers in the game and only behind Torres and perhaps Berbatov. I know this shouldn't really count but I think he's a decent bloke.

Point 3. Kalou, I don't think will ever be good enough and malouda is just average. JC we know is quality and hopefully the real JC will soon return.

Point 4. Not the player he was; at the moment, but he's our captain and his leadership qualities are still necessary.

Point 5. Our injury list may be poor but I think we've coped with worst this past two seasons so not an excuse.

I think the league is as strong but like the scum we're lucky to be were we are. Arse are not the same team they were when the likes of Henry, Pires, Vierra,Beauchamp and Lundberg were in the team. Manure are as strong as ever and if we finish above them we'll win the league.

Posted

Individually, we're not playing to our potential, but inter-individual play has been improved by Scolari.

And we are the best in the league in certain key areas, for example our full backs are playing better than any other set of full backs, and our midfield is not doing badly.

And one key thing, we're not conceding any goals. Our "team defense" is good.

Verdict? "Over-dramatic, sir!"

Cheers,

Butch



Posted
Individually, we're not playing to our potential, but inter-individual play has been improved by Scolari.

And we are the best in the league in certain key areas, for example our full backs are playing better than any other set of full backs, and our midfield is not doing badly.

And one key thing, we're not conceding any goals. Our "team defense" is good.

Verdict? "Over-dramatic, sir!"

Cheers,

Butch

The reason we're top is that Manu aren't firing on all cylinders yet and have a game in hand. Plus our away form, of which we've played the 3 sides promoted from the championship, the mighty Wigan, a woeful Boro team and Blackburn who are not having the best of seasons.

Considering how 1 dimensional we look I'm suprised we are top, but I think we've been sussed out and it won't be for much longer.

If Barnsley can get something at the bridge, or the measure of our manager, along with Newcastle and Spurs who were both in the bottom 3 when visiting the bridge, then other sides believe they have a chance, just like Bordeaux last night

Posted
If Barnsley can get something at the bridge, or the measure of our manager, along with Newcastle and Spurs who were both in the bottom 3 when visiting the bridge, then other sides believe they have a chance, just like Bordeaux last night

So have we now turned in Scum ourselves? It's their tradition to drop points against bottom table teams in the league! Though sitting top of the league this is what disgusts me most about!

Posted
The reason we're top is that Manu aren't firing on all cylinders yet and have a game in hand. Plus our away form, of which we've played the 3 sides promoted from the championship, the mighty Wigan, a woeful Boro team and Blackburn who are not having the best of seasons.

Considering how 1 dimensional we look I'm suprised we are top, but I think we've been sussed out and it won't be for much longer.

If Barnsley can get something at the bridge, or the measure of our manager, along with Newcastle and Spurs who were both in the bottom 3 when visiting the bridge, then other sides believe they have a chance, just like Bordeaux last night

Basicslly agree, Except for the Barnsley bit ;)



Posted

Lampard was never an effective captain when he stepped in for an injurd JT. I see no reason why he would be an effective one now.

If I had my choice of managers it wouldm't be Claudio but if the voice was just between Claudio and Scolari I would choose Claudio.

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