A glimmer of hope

[tickler28]

I think we can all agree that Leicester are useless at breaking teams down...teams can easily get a draw against us if they sit deep or even snatch a win. 

 

Our next 2 matches are against sides safe from relegation and whose only hope of getting Europa League is to win matches so I guess what I'm saying is Everton and Palace are going to go for 3 points against us as 1 point is useless.

 

Add to that Bournemouths next 3 matches against tough opposition may yield no points so they to will need all three points most likely by the time they play us.

 

I guess the point I'm making is that we play miles better against teams that attack us.....so in these 3 matches we are most likely to see that and not have teams sitting deep in their own halves

[Wolfox]

I suspect we’ll do better against teams not scrapping for their lives….
 

It’ll be a little more open and we’ll be able to be a little more expansive…

 

We were a whisker away from 4pts out of 6…. Even though the performance was a little suspect…

 

I think two positive results are entirely possible…. And will be just the tonic

 

i share your optimism @tickler28

 

[tickler28]

5 minutes ago, Wolfox said:

I suspect we’ll do better against teams not scrapping for their lives….
 

It’ll be a little more open and we’ll be able to be a little more expansive…

 

We were a whisker away from 4pts out of 6…. Even though the performance was a little suspect…

 

I think two positive results are entirely possible…. And will be just the tonic

 

i share your optimism @tickler28

 

Believe me I've been super negative about things but I do feel that whilst things are still in our hands and the very realistic threat exists of this season being thrown away there is hope.....Brendan must know that the shite we've witnessed can't continue and has to just go for it!!

[tickler28]

The more I think about it I can't see any of the last 7 teams we have to play plus FA Cup matches where any team will need or want to park the bus

[Matt]

But how about we (when I say we, the club, management, staff, players) look at ourselves, how and why can't we break teams down? What can we do to be better? Instead of persisiting with this shitty style and blaming it on 'transition'.

 

A transition that has been going on for a few years now and hasn't really changed too much within that time.

 

We're quick to blame the opposition for dragging us down to their level or for being defensive - it doesn't help when we're one of the most boring teams around, especially given the potential talent that's being wasted here in this negative style.

 

But nope, lets just continue the sideways and backwards passes and hope for the best.

 

Get ****ing forward, there is time and a place for sideways and backwards, I appreciate and understand those time but when we're hardly going forward teams we're doing more than half the job for teams setting up to get an easy draw or snatch a win against us.

 

I didn't like the last bloke, I hold my hands up but everything I said about his style was due to it being what it was, poor, I see quite a few parallells in style since he was replaced but people let them slide because Rodgers is more likeable and understandable, now i'm not calling for him to be sacked, nothing near that but this style stinks, such a negative, boring style especially as i've said given the potential talent and pace in our team yet we choose to be slow and labourious, rarely playing a forward pass.

 

[goody2028]

Imagine thinking years ago we’d have a thread called ‘a glimmer of hope’ about bottling the champions league places whilst sat in third. How times have changed eh?

 

On a serious note I think we’ll finish 4th just behind Chelsea. Despite united and wolves push I think they’ll come up just short. 

[Fox92]

Everton A will not be easy.

Chelsea will win their next game ... West Ham A.

 

Our goal difference is a massive positive compared to Wolves and Chelsea.

 

That's all now. One game at a time. Wolves have got Arsenal H next.

[Brainy]

On the positive side (withdrawing Wolves from the conversation) we can go into the last game 3pts behind Man Utd and win, with probably superior goal difference leapfrogging them

 

On the negative side, if we go into the last game 3pts behind Man Utd then we have no ****ing chance of beating them anyway

[sacreblueits442]

20 minutes ago, tickler28 said:

The more I think about it I can't see any of the last 7 teams we have to play plus FA Cup matches where any team will need or want to park the bus

...without meaning to sound too pessimistic, Pressing us is just as effective as the Low Block!!!!

  Our biggest problem apart from Rodgers inability to adapt is our lack of leadership in the midfield. 

[urban fox]

I despair. Finally a thread expressing a bit of optimism and within half a dozenew posts it's back to doom and gloom. Fck me we are a depressing lot. Time to hitch up to the optimism bus again methinks. Foxes never quit. 

[CosbehFox]

30 minutes ago, Matt said:

But how about we (when I say we, the club, management, staff, players) look at ourselves, how and why can't we break teams down? What can we do to be better? Instead of persisiting with this shitty style and blaming it on 'transition'.

 

A transition that has been going on for a few years now and hasn't really changed too much within that time.

 

We're quick to blame the opposition for dragging us down to their level or for being defensive - it doesn't help when we're one of the most boring teams around, especially given the potential talent that's being wasted here in this negative style.

 

But nope, lets just continue the sideways and backwards passes and hope for the best.

 

Get ****ing forward, there is time and a place for sideways and backwards, I appreciate and understand those time but when we're hardly going forward teams we're doing more than half the job for teams setting up to get an easy draw or snatch a win against us.

 

I didn't like the last bloke, I hold my hands up but everything I said about his style was due to it being what it was, poor, I see quite a few parallells in style since he was replaced but people let them slide because Rodgers is more likeable and understandable, now i'm not calling for him to be sacked, nothing near that but this style stinks, such a negative, boring style especially as i've said given the potential talent and pace in our team yet we choose to be slow and labourious, rarely playing a forward pass.

 

I agree we’ve been playing to defend our points lead rather than playing to extend it. 
 

You don’t win games without attacking and being up tempo. 
 

Don’t overthink the wheel

[Webbo]

I never didn't have hope.

[Cecchini1976]

I think we have had an amazing season, it’s just with a small squad and not having the luxury of an amazing bench like the traditional top 6, it makes it hard to be consistent. I think our defence and midfield  is up their with the best in the world, our issue is the front 3. Compare ours to the top teams. 

[sacreblueits442]

20 minutes ago, Cecchini1976 said:

I think we have had an amazing season, it’s just with a small squad and not having the luxury of an amazing bench like the traditional top 6, it makes it hard to be consistent. I think our defence and midfield  is up their with the best in the world, our issue is the front 3. Compare ours to the top teams. 

...we were very consistent in 2015/16 and used a very small squad!!!

The front 3, is not the problem, when all you are doing is passing it around the back four and unable to go past the halfway line. We have to attempt to impose ourselves on teams and that will mean being brave and moving our back line further up the pitch.

  The way we have been set up cuts the support to midfield and forwards, with the passing lanes shutdown, so we go backwards or laterally.

[Sampson]

Have to agree the front 3 can't be said to be the problem when we've created 2 chances in 3 hours against 2 relegation strugglers.

 

Let's be honest, we're lacking creativity. Maddison's performances have dropped off a cliff since December and Tielemans has had a pretty poor season overall, especially in comparison to last season. But it doesn't help that they've been pulled back to essentially play with two number 8s and no number 10, which is Maddison's best position. Wish we'd push him forward again and play him behind Vardy again.

[sacreblueits442]

7 minutes ago, Sampson said:

Have to agree the front 3 can't be said to be the problem when we've created 2 chances in 3 hours against 2 relegation strugglers.

 

Let's be honest, we're lacking creativity. Maddison's performances have dropped off a cliff since December and Tielemans has had a pretty poor season overall, especially in comparison to last season. But it doesn't help that they've been pulled back to essentially play with two number 8s and no number 10, which is Maddison's best position. Wish we'd push him forward again and play him behind Vardy again.

..very strange that Maddison came out and insisted that he is an 8 and not a 10!!!

  He seems to be under the impression that playing at 8 is his natural position, perhaps someone should tell him.

[l444ry]

1 hour ago, sacreblueits442 said:

...without meaning to sound too pessimistic, Pressing us is just as effective as the Low Block!!!!

  Our biggest problem apart from Rodgers inability to adapt is our lack of leadership in the midfield. 

How ever did we get into the top three?

[Cecchini1976]

30 minutes ago, sacreblueits442 said:

...we were very consistent in 2015/16 and used a very small squad!!!

The front 3, is not the problem, when all you are doing is passing it around the back four and unable to go past the halfway line. We have to attempt to impose ourselves on teams and that will mean being brave and moving our back line further up the pitch.

  The way we have been set up cuts the support to midfield and forwards, with the passing lanes shutdown, so we go backwards or laterally.

2015/16 we had 20% possession and then teams worked that out. The reason the passing goes sideways is because they are waiting for the right pass from the front 3, just like Man City and Liverpool, they pass sideways and backwards, but the front 3 constantly move and that creates pockets of space. We have not mastered that yet So we don’t move the oppositions defence round, so easy to defend against 

[surrifox]

6 minutes ago, l444ry said:

How ever did we get into the top three?

We got there by playing to our strengths and by making the oppo worry about us instead of worrying about them . Something changed and an element of caution or fear has taken over . This is reflected in the selection policy of which much has been said and has translated into our playing style . Perhaps if we go out with a mindset and game plan to win games rather than await developments and hope for things to go our way ( which is what it looks like at the moment) results will reflect this 

[Cecchini1976]

32 minutes ago, Sampson said:

Have to agree the front 3 can't be said to be the problem when we've created 2 chances in 3 hours against 2 relegation strugglers.

 

Let's be honest, we're lacking creativity. Maddison's performances have dropped off a cliff since December and Tielemans has had a pretty poor season overall, especially in comparison to last season. But it doesn't help that they've been pulled back to essentially play with two number 8s and no number 10, which is Maddison's best position. Wish we'd push him forward again and play him behind Vardy again.

We are third in the table, third top scorers and is it second best defence? Check the heat map of maddison and tielemans and think you will see they spend the vast majority of the game in the last 3rd if the oppositions half. Our defence plays a very high line, as it is pace. The problem is when teams defend so deep you need movement, you have to move the oppositions defence around and be patient. 

[coolhandfox]

17 hours ago, Matt said:

But how about we (when I say we, the club, management, staff, players) look at ourselves, how and why can't we break teams down? What can we do to be better? Instead of persisiting with this shitty style and blaming it on 'transition'.

 

A transition that has been going on for a few years now and hasn't really changed too much within that time.

 

We're quick to blame the opposition for dragging us down to their level or for being defensive - it doesn't help when we're one of the most boring teams around, especially given the potential talent that's being wasted here in this negative style.

 

But nope, lets just continue the sideways and backwards passes and hope for the best.

 

Get ****ing forward, there is time and a place for sideways and backwards, I appreciate and understand those time but when we're hardly going forward teams we're doing more than half the job for teams setting up to get an easy draw or snatch a win against us.

 

I didn't like the last bloke, I hold my hands up but everything I said about his style was due to it being what it was, poor, I see quite a few parallells in style since he was replaced but people let them slide because Rodgers is more likeable and understandable, now i'm not calling for him to be sacked, nothing near that but this style stinks, such a negative, boring style especially as i've said given the potential talent and pace in our team yet we choose to be slow and labourious, rarely playing a forward pass.

 

I think the style is fine when we are fully of confidence, early in the season we move the ball quickly and broke quickly! Unfortunately as confidence has drain away, players try to bet more careful, take less risks, be safe with the ball which leads to lots of backwards side was passes. 

 

You mention transition, we have to be honest that the transfer work of the club in 2016/17 and the summer 2017/18 and an ageing squad left us with a poor and unbalanced squad which was going to take a long time to address.

[ealingfox]

We've flattered to deceive and have been dining off the back of an admittedly impressive string of performances during a very favourable run of fixtures in October and November. Otherwise to be honest we've been average most of the season and dont deserve top 4 at all. I think we will finish 6th or 7th. Before the season started we might have taken that, but knowing how bad certain clubs have been and the position we were in, it's not a good result.

 

Think about it - we haven't won a single 'big' game all season. We haven't won a single game against the other 5 teams in the top 6. We bottled a plum semi-final tie against the worst team in the league. Have we really gone into any game this season and gotten a result against the odds? Won a game where you thought it was particularly unexpected? Maybe at the time Arsenal or Spurs at home, but we can see now that they're both dogshit and beating them at home isn't impressive. Sheffield United away maybe in hindsight, but at the time it was just a game against a newly-promoted team we should be getting a result from all day long. 

 

Sad to say I think there are too many losers in the current squad and the mentality isn't right - Maddison is a prime example, and Rodgers is in on it too. We're really seeing just how tinpot the SPL is now.

 

We've had our fair share of bad luck and the use of VAR in our matches has been genuinely suspect for a long portion of this season now. But there's been too many poor performances and too much weakness. We should have been able to rise above it in some of those games, but havent been.

 

The worrying thing is, as I know I keep saying, that now Congerton's feet are under the table things are only going in one direction from here, and it's not up. Missing out on the Champions League will be a devastating blow for the club and our future and will likely accelerate the decline.

 

I know this is a 'glimmer of hope' thread but this isn't meant to be positive or negative, this is just the facts.

[Foxin_Mad]

There is a clip of Lampard and team member telling Chelsea to play it long against Man City. This is what we need to do, on occasions you got to lump it long and play ugly to win. It's all very well playing tippy tappy beautiful football but on occasions you have to mix it up a bit be more direct. Why having a Ulloa or Slimani figure in the squad is a good idea for me. Nacho does not offer anything different to Vardy really especially when there is no service.

 

Against teams sitting deep we should invite them into us, then knock it over the top for Vardy/Nacho to run on to.

[CloudFox]

19 hours ago, Matt said:

But how about we (when I say we, the club, management, staff, players) look at ourselves, how and why can't we break teams down? What can we do to be better? Instead of persisiting with this shitty style and blaming it on 'transition'.

 

A transition that has been going on for a few years now and hasn't really changed too much within that time.

 

We're quick to blame the opposition for dragging us down to their level or for being defensive - it doesn't help when we're one of the most boring teams around, especially given the potential talent that's being wasted here in this negative style.

 

But nope, lets just continue the sideways and backwards passes and hope for the best.

 

Get ****ing forward, there is time and a place for sideways and backwards, I appreciate and understand those time but when we're hardly going forward teams we're doing more than half the job for teams setting up to get an easy draw or snatch a win against us.

 

I didn't like the last bloke, I hold my hands up but everything I said about his style was due to it being what it was, poor, I see quite a few parallells in style since he was replaced but people let them slide because Rodgers is more likeable and understandable, now i'm not calling for him to be sacked, nothing near that but this style stinks, such a negative, boring style especially as i've said given the potential talent and pace in our team yet we choose to be slow and labourious, rarely playing a forward pass.

 

I think the biggest problem is that we're just not quite there yet as a team. Couple of pieces are missing. The most obvious is a right winger who can stretch play.

 

We all know on his day Youri helps us tick. Teams sussed that out and so don't give him or Maddison the space in the centre of the park any more. This forces us out wide, where we're no longer much of a threat aside from Barnes (who is still in his first full PL season, remember). 

 

We need a creative, fast player who teams have to commit more than one man to in order to stop. Just imagine how difficult it would be to play against us if we had an Adama Traore-esque player on the right. Who do you choose to stop?!

 

That's the next stage in our development.

[1972 Fox]

18 minutes ago, ealingfox said:

We've flattered to deceive and have been dining off the back of an admittedly impressive string of performances during a very favourable run of fixtures in October and November. Otherwise to be honest we've been average most of the season and dont deserve top 4 at all. I think we will finish 6th or 7th. Before the season started we might have taken that, but knowing how bad certain clubs have been and the position we were in, it's not a good result.

 

Think about it - we haven't won a single 'big' game all season. We haven't won a single game against the other 5 teams in the top 6. We bottled a plum semi-final tie against the worst team in the league. Have we really gone into any game this season and gotten a result against the odds? Won a game where you thought it was particularly unexpected? Maybe at the time Arsenal or Spurs at home, but we can see now that they're both dogshit and beating them at home isn't impressive. Sheffield United away maybe in hindsight, but at the time it was just a game against a newly-promoted team we should be getting a result from all day long. 

 

Sad to say I think there are too many losers in the current squad and the mentality isn't right - Maddison is a prime example, and Rodgers is in on it too. We're really seeing just how tinpot the SPL is now.

 

We've had our fair share of bad luck and the use of VAR in our matches has been genuinely suspect for a long portion of this season now. But there's been too many poor performances and too much weakness. We should have been able to rise above it in some of those games, but havent been.

 

The worrying thing is, as I know I keep saying, that now Congerton's feet are under the table things are only going in one direction from here, and it's not up. Missing out on the Champions League will be a devastating blow for the club and our future and will likely accelerate the decline.

 

I know this is a 'glimmer of hope' thread but this isn't meant to be positive or negative, this is just the facts.

Certainly not a positive post in any way but definitely a very negative one.

 

I can understand the concerns about our form but let's get behind the team for the rest of the season and see where it takes us. CL qualification and glory in the FA Cup are still possibilities.