Worry more about our home matches

[Arriba Los Zorros]

This is probably ridiculously pessimistic, but I'm starting to be concerned that now we have been at the top of the PL, there or thereabouts, for a few weeks, teams especially those in the mid-table and lower halves, will see us as a scalp and will come to the KP and defend deep and in numbers and look to ncik a result, i.e. goals on the break or set-pieces. This will lead to us having to take the game to them, have most of the possession, which is not where we excel, because we are a pacy counter-attacking side.

 

I'm worried that a lot of the home games we are expecting to win will become difficult, tight affairs and we may find ourselves dropping points at home taking most of our points on the road and this will affect our chances of top 4 or top 6.

 

It's a problem faced by top teams, but a lot of them have more guile than us to break down packed defences.

 

is this likely and how can we overcome it? 

[EGBFitness]

This is probably ridiculously pessimistic, but I'm starting to be concerned that now we have been at the top of the PL, there or thereabouts, for a few weeks, teams especially those in the mid-table and lower halves, will see us as a scalp and will come to the KP and defend deep and in numbers and look to ncik a result, i.e. goals on the break or set-pieces. This will lead to us having to take the game to them, have most of the possession, which is not where we excel, because we are a pacy counter-attacking side.

I'm worried that a lot of the home games we are expecting to win will become difficult, tight affairs and we may find ourselves dropping points at home taking most of our points on the road and this will affect our chances of top 4 or top 6.

It's a problem faced by top teams, but a lot of them have more guile than us to break down packed defences.

is this likely and how can we overcome it?

I would rather watch a city game with us being all over the opposite team than the other way like last season

[tom27111]

It's part of being successful. Teams tried it in the championship.

Teams do it at Arsenal, Chelsea, City and United. They still win things.

It means we'll have to probe until the final whistle. Their defense will switch off at some point, 90 minutes is a long time to concentrate.

We have to be ruthless when we get a chance.

Stop worrying about it!

[Izzy]

This is probably ridiculously pessimistic, 

 

This

[ScouseFox]

bar west brom i doubt anyone will genuinely come to our ground and sit with eleven men behind the ball. west brom would've done it even if we were bottom so it's no big deal. 

[Captain...]

We will  have to be careful that teams don't sit deep, counter attacking and quick breaks are a source of so many goals for us that a team that comes to sit deep and not commit men forwards will stifle our outlets. Fortunately teams have tended to start favouring the pressing game and are pressing high up the pitch which will play into our hands, but teams like West Brom and Sunderland will try and stifle our game.

 

This is where a possession game might have to come in, draw the opposition out  get them chasing the ball, it is also where we need to be better from set pieces as teams will look to limit our chances on the break we need to be able to carve out chances from corners and free kicks and not just waste good positions.

 

It is something I would be working on as a plan B if I was Claudio, but not something to focus on.

[foxes_rule1978]

bar west brom i doubt anyone will genuinely come to our ground and sit with eleven men behind the ball. west brom would've done it even if we were bottom so it's no big deal.

ManU

[kingcarr21]

The fact that we are on 32 points already the word worry shouldnt even enter your minds. Just enjoy the rest of the season knowing that there is absolutely no way(realistically) we are going to be relegated.

 

I fear that fans will moan now if we dont finish in the top 4. Let that sink in a minute. As far as im concerned lets enjoy every game and see how we are looking come Feb/March time. If we lose a few then so be it. It was crucial we survived this season with the TV deal coming in, looks like happy days will be here to stay

[Guest]

fact is we can still beat them with space if they sit deep, plus we have the trickery of Riyad and the passing of the team.

[Izzy]

The fact that we are on 32 points already 

 

And its not even Christmas yet. Just incredible really.

[ScouseFox]

ManU

 

and as said if we took our chances we'd have won. pretty simple really. 

[AKCJ]

We're one win off from having a high enough goal difference and points total to have survived last season.

 

and we've still got 23 games to go.

 

 

 

Typing that has got me laughing like a maniac. We're so ****ing good.

[Gerard]

This is probably ridiculously pessimistic, but I'm starting to be concerned that now we have been at the top of the PL, there or thereabouts, for a few weeks, teams especially those in the mid-table and lower halves, will see us as a scalp and will come to the KP and defend deep and in numbers and look to ncik a result, i.e. goals on the break or set-pieces. This will lead to us having to take the game to them, have most of the possession, which is not where we excel, because we are a pacy counter-attacking side.

 

I'm worried that a lot of the home games we are expecting to win will become difficult, tight affairs and we may find ourselves dropping points at home taking most of our points on the road and this will affect our chances of top 4 or top 6.

 

It's a problem faced by top teams, but a lot of them have more guile than us to break down packed defences.

 

is this likely and how can we overcome it? 

 

Welcome to the pressures of a team trying to be Premier League Champions.

[Arriba Los Zorros]

Going to bump this.... we are awful against any packed defence and lack a Plan B. Ranieri is encouraging long balls and counter attacking, but we lack any ability to pass cohesively and any guile, horrible.

[Tuna]

We lack any real height unless Ulloa is playing and he's not good enough. Our set pieces are just awful.

[STUHILL]

Going to bump this.... we are awful against any packed defence and lack a Plan B. Ranieri is encouraging long balls and counter attacking, but we lack any ability to pass cohesively and any guile, horrible.

 

Oh FFS, get a grip will you!

 

We played against a team who packed 10 players in their final 3rd for most the second half. We tried long balls, we tried getting it out wide, we tried through balls, we tried little intricate passes and we created chances that on another day we would have taken and could have been 3-0. Yes, we lacked a little quality at moments but fair play to Bournemouth, they defended brilliantly, just like we did against Man City. 40 points from 20 games in the PREMIERSHIP and 2nd in the table!