Same as a year ago in the Prem.

[messerschmitt]

4 hours ago, acb said:

Lack of squad depth is the wrong way to look at things. With the massive amount of injuries we have had throughout the season both long and short term, its the squad depth that has enabled us to stay in the top four all this time.

yeah its easy to say lack of squad depth but imo we've the best squad depth we've had, after all you can only register 25, some squad players have really stepped up this season, people who wouldn't be considered first choice, Justin, Mendy. Amarty, Iheanacho, for me its the number of injuries. You can't have 4 palyers for each position.

[OhYesNdidi]

47 minutes ago, messerschmitt said:

yeah its easy to say lack of squad depth but imo we've the best squad depth we've had, after all you can only register 25, some squad players have really stepped up this season, people who wouldn't be considered first choice, Justin, Mendy. Amarty, Iheanacho, for me its the number of injuries. You can't have 4 palyers for each position.

Squad depth and squad strength are different. Defensively I’d say we have really good depth but Tielemans has no replacement, we also only have one winger within the whole first 26 who is at a required level, which is why the manager is having to play a RB in that position, because he’s seen as a better option than Albrighton or Under. 

[Corky]

Although we're on the same points and position, the current form is vastly different. We'd lost 5 of the previous ten on reaching 27 games- this year we've lost 2 in 14. 

 

This season feels different even though the outcome may be the same.

[Analysethis]

If you asked Brendan if he would like us to be here a year on, and above Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs along the way, he would have ripped your hand off in taking it.

 

Yes we are unfortunate with injuries but I am not binning this season quite yet. There are loads of points up for grabs and whether its against Man City or Sheff United, we still start 0-0 and get three points against anyone. We have played a strong first team against the likes of Villa and Fulham and got turned over, lets hope these back-ups and first teamers combine to get us some much needed victories.

[M0901]

10 hours ago, goose2010 said:

The difference this season is we are getting players back in the next few weeks instead of getting injuries like we did last season. Yes if you are a pessimist you could say that we could pick up injuries but looking at the squad there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. 

 

We had Fofana back last night, Perez more that likely involved at the weekend. Evans I imagine was just rested / given a week to recover. Praet will be back soon and Maddison may be involved against Sheff United. 

 

After Brighton we have 1 league game in 3 weeks! with the FA cup in there as well. 

 

If Barnes is only out for 6 weeks (might be longer) he could potentially be back for the West Ham game which is only 3 league matches away. 

 

The figures might look the same as last season but the squad certainly doesn't. 

Love this 

[Koke]

Last year was inexcusable. Not only did we have a 15 point cushion but we also didn't have this huge injury crisis. This year the gap between 2nd and 7th is only a few points and we have about 15 senior players available. I would take 6th right now because we could easily finish 8th with our injury problems.

[HighPeakFox]

Just now, Koke said:

Last year was inexcusable. Not only did we have a 15 point cushion but we also didn't have this huge injury crisis. This year the gap between 2nd and 7th is only a few points and we have about 15 senior players available. I would take 6th right now because we could easily finish 8th with our injury problems.

I'm in a minority on last year - it was awful, painful and sad, but I excused it a long time ago. That we challenged at all was a massive bonus, and I forgive the evident inexperience that led to our downfall.

[Lineker's Left Foot]

So because it was a Fulham goal VAR had to check the legitimacy of it, but if United scored, then it wouldn’t have been checked?  Just asking for  friend?

[ARM1968]

It’s all about the mindset now. Will the players be thinking, here we go again. The rot sets in quickly. 

[st albans fox]

11 hours ago, goose2010 said:

The difference this season is we are getting players back in the next few weeks instead of getting injuries like we did last season. Yes if you are a pessimist you could say that we could pick up injuries but looking at the squad there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. 

 

We had Fofana back last night, Perez more that likely involved at the weekend. Evans I imagine was just rested / given a week to recover. Praet will be back soon and Maddison may be involved against Sheff United. 

 

After Brighton we have 1 league game in 3 weeks! with the FA cup in there as well. 

 

If Barnes is only out for 6 weeks (might be longer) he could potentially be back for the West Ham game which is only 3 league matches away. 

 

The figures might look the same as last season but the squad certainly doesn't. 

You do realise that players who aren’t currently injured can still get an injury ?

 

15 minutes ago, Lineker's Left Foot said:

So because it was a Fulham goal VAR had to check the legitimacy of it, but if United scored, then it wouldn’t have been checked?  Just asking for  friend?

apparently every goal is checked ......

[Jobyfox]

11 hours ago, goose2010 said:

The difference this season is we are getting players back in the next few weeks instead of getting injuries like we did last season. Yes if you are a pessimist you could say that we could pick up injuries but looking at the squad there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. 

 

We had Fofana back last night, Perez more that likely involved at the weekend. Evans I imagine was just rested / given a week to recover. Praet will be back soon and Maddison may be involved against Sheff United. 

 

After Brighton we have 1 league game in 3 weeks! with the FA cup in there as well. 

 

If Barnes is only out for 6 weeks (might be longer) he could potentially be back for the West Ham game which is only 3 league matches away. 

 

The figures might look the same as last season but the squad certainly doesn't. 

.... and the award for the most positive post ever posted on Foxestalk goes to ...... 

[Grebfromgrebland]

18 hours ago, Guy said:

Funnily enough after the 1-1 draw with Burnley last night we now have identical points and league position to this time last year.....3rd place with 50 points basically. Except we had a superior goal difference a year ago of +26. It will be interesting to see how this season pans out but you cannot help but think we might finish exactly where we did in the end last season also in 5th!  

I think 5th would be a good result, there's too many other teams sniffing around this year and they seem to be in good form.

[Guy]

20 minutes ago, Grebfromgrebland said:

I think 5th would be a good result, there's too many other teams sniffing around this year and they seem to be in good form.

My fear exactly. Top 6 would still be a relatively good achievement come the season's end, especially with our injury crisis - possibly only second to Liverpool's this season. With 5th or 6th comes the dubious Europa League qualification again of course, call it deja vu - but overall it would still be a disappointment for most of us. All in all it's been a very lop sided season for everyone bar Man. City and the phrase "away advantage" rather than "home" is surely a phrase exclusive to the back end of last season and this entire one to date.....so in the words of Ellie Goulding's song "Anything Could Happen".....top 4 fast becoming a pipe dream now though I personally feel.