Nope. The bullshit on this thread and the main game thread was that we had a fundamental problem that required a complete change in playing style at a minimum with some calling for a new coach. Welbeck was saying they were playing the game plan piss poorly.
[Albion] We look such a poorly coached team
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Weststander
Well-known member
Second half we left the insurance of pacy Estupinan and others at the back at times for their counters, sometimes many here have mentioned.
If the players can be bitterly disappointed, the paying public can be gutted too.
To be fair to the OP, I don't think it was just the first 27 minutes this afternoon that was being questioned. Serious doubts had been expressed about the defensive frailties and the vulnerability of such a high line long before we kicked off today - starting several matches ago.
The second half was great, fantastic result, and we're all happy. Still some work to do on defending though.
London Irish
Well-known member
Honest question. Did you go to Stamford Bridge last week and say, wow I enjoyed that! At halftime today did you turn to your mate next to you and say bit bad conceding two goals but this is an enjoyable ride
London Irish
Well-known member
Who did we sell over the summer? The question was a comparison with last season not the 6th place one of two seasons before
Pavilionaire
Well-known member
- Jul 7, 2003
- 31,274
I do worry that Hurzeler does not have the defensive coaching ability for a top half Prem side.
However, I like what I've seen in attack, and he is very positive in his thinking.
However, I like what I've seen in attack, and he is very positive in his thinking.
SkirlieWirlie
Well-known member
- Jan 6, 2024
- 140
Honest question. Did you go to Stamford Bridge last week and say, wow I enjoyed that! At halftime today did you turn to your mate next to you and say bit bad conceding two goals but this is an enjoyable ride
I did go. Disappointed? Yes. Surprised. Not really.
We have played some good stuff and ridden our luck at times.
But as I and others have commented elsewhere, new young manager getting to grips with a new country, team and league.
A significant number of new, young players also new to the league / team / manager.
My expectation was always that it will take time to gel and it will be 'bumpy'.
It's playing out as I expected. Anyone thinking just because we'd splashed a significant amount of cash over the summer that it was all going to click and we'd be firing on all cylinders is quite simply naive...
Thought the defending was good in the second half. Pragmatic, especially at 3-2. I’ve been worried at times this season but very heartened by the use of subs and way we adapted today.
I think it’s far far too early to be talking about changing coaches or writing off any of the players we have. Everything is still new and will take time to learn what FH wants and the style etc.
To be honest though, we’ve really not played all that well recently, last week against Chelsea was awful, the first half today was awful and tbh neither Ipswich nor Forest were especially great, though not as bad.
It’s not just the high line. We constantly give the ball away in bad areas, pass it to opposition players and we look generally poor.
The second half today was superb and I hope we take it forward, but I don’t get those who laugh at folks who bring up the bad play, or call people bedwetters etc like we’ve been playing like prime Barcelona. As though the quality of our play shouldn’t be a concern? Or pretend we were actually quite good but we just didn’t do X? It’s quite frustrating, like any criticism is unjustified when really for most people it’s just part of the discussion around the team.
To be honest though, we’ve really not played all that well recently, last week against Chelsea was awful, the first half today was awful and tbh neither Ipswich nor Forest were especially great, though not as bad.
It’s not just the high line. We constantly give the ball away in bad areas, pass it to opposition players and we look generally poor.
The second half today was superb and I hope we take it forward, but I don’t get those who laugh at folks who bring up the bad play, or call people bedwetters etc like we’ve been playing like prime Barcelona. As though the quality of our play shouldn’t be a concern? Or pretend we were actually quite good but we just didn’t do X? It’s quite frustrating, like any criticism is unjustified when really for most people it’s just part of the discussion around the team.
Sure every game requires a tweak to the tactics, (which is the job of the coach and one FH managed beautifully). And yes I was gutted with how we were playing. It wasn't FH fault that every time we got possession Spuds took it off us, that wasn't the fault of playing high, it was the fault of the players being crap at their job, (which again FH dealt with superbly). This is entirely different from the calls for a change of style and coach that the "potter out" brigade were calling for.
Weststander
Well-known member
I haven’t compared the poster names from three/four years ago. But at that time it was huge number of thoroughly pissed off people sick of seeing incredibly long runs of non winning home football. This included long term supporters including mods.
This feels different. FH isn’t being hung out to dry, just venting during halves/post match when one or two passes is leaving opposition forwards clean in on goal, even Ipswich. Just a mix of views, when it seems so obvious. Healthy to vent imho. The same people are in the main full of praise for the creative play.
Talk of changing coaches is not only too early it's utterly ridiculous, For pity's sake we have played 7 won three, drawn 3, and lost 1 sure we have rode our luck at times, but you don't start talking about sacking a new manager coaching a very young team with those stats.
The fact that after looking piss poor (let's face it getting the ball from us in the first half was like shooting fish in a barrel) the team got their shit together and after their first goal never looked like losing. The passing in the second half was exquisite and a clear sign of times to come. We had this same negative crap with Potter, I dare say an analysis of the posts will show it's pretty much the same people.
SkirlieWirlie
Well-known member
- Jan 6, 2024
- 140
Same last week. Damage was done in the first half. Changes were made and we were a lot more solid second half defensively.
So you skipped over the calls to get rid of FH? As to Potter, I was always "Potter in" simply because I could see how we were playing and how the games had gone against us, as it turned out the Potter Ins (although there are still hardcore twits who will not admit they were wrong) were shown to be correct. The way people carry on you'd think the squad and manager haven't got a clue, don't care, are just in it for the money. The second half showed how FH wants us to play, really exquisite passing, and everyone helping out. He has already said the defense needs looking at, give the bloke some slack 6th in the PL after 7 games is f***ing magic, yes we have rode our luck but the second half showed where we are heading.
Sure not many overtly called for his sacking but many said it in their analysis of him and his appointment. As to what is going on clearly they are being very well coached, they just had a shit start to the game.
Justice
Dangerous Idiot
Second half he did what the majority of fans had already pointed out was the problem on this thread and dropped the defence back 10 yards.
No longer were we getting shredded and started to play football.
The high line was making the players nervy different game at Chelsea if we had adopted the same strategy from kick off.
Those now being smug did you place a bet on us to turn it around second half? Of course you didn’t nobody would we were garbage.
Nothing wrong with the OP discussing his concerns the majority agreed the same after Chelsea.
No longer were we getting shredded and started to play football.
The high line was making the players nervy different game at Chelsea if we had adopted the same strategy from kick off.
Those now being smug did you place a bet on us to turn it around second half? Of course you didn’t nobody would we were garbage.
Nothing wrong with the OP discussing his concerns the majority agreed the same after Chelsea.
I just love how you lot are retroactively turning down the rhetoric.
Fab, like loads of the players we bring in, is nowhere near the finished article. He’s learning - probably quite quickly - but like our developing players he’s going to **** it up quite often as he does 
Agree to an extent. Last week I felt Chelsea took their foot off the gas a bit as it was so comfortable. Yesterday Spurs still had to go for it. For the first time in a long time, we pretty much retreated to doggedly protect what we’d got and look for the occasional counter rather than chase a 4th. Nailbiting but better than losing 4-3.
Light_Bulb
Member
- Aug 20, 2024
- 25
Under RDZ we seemed to have heavily drilled positional play, especially through midfield that created lots of passing triangles that were very easy on the eye. RZB wanted us to draw the press and play late passes (often through the eye of a needle). It's why Caicedo and Ali Mac did so well playing in 'the shadow' - just behind their markers in midfield in RDZ's first year. I miss those little flicks round the corner!
Under FH it seems players are encouraged to carry the ball more much more in order to draw the press and we have much more fluid positional play in midfield. The downside to this is that positionally it can look chaotic, especially when we lose the ball and occasionally we see own players get in each others way. One upside is that this strategy really suits Baleba as he's strong and can dribble well.
A little more structure within midfield and slightly less carrying of the ball would probably help resolve a lot of our issues in the quick turnover.
I think FH has great potential as a coach, he's raw and will need time, but will definitely need to adapt his tactics. It'll be interesting (and a bit frustrating) to watch his tactics adapt between now and Christmas. This may well be a year of 'transition', but that is no bad thing given the new signings and average age of the squad.
Under FH it seems players are encouraged to carry the ball more much more in order to draw the press and we have much more fluid positional play in midfield. The downside to this is that positionally it can look chaotic, especially when we lose the ball and occasionally we see own players get in each others way. One upside is that this strategy really suits Baleba as he's strong and can dribble well.
A little more structure within midfield and slightly less carrying of the ball would probably help resolve a lot of our issues in the quick turnover.
I think FH has great potential as a coach, he's raw and will need time, but will definitely need to adapt his tactics. It'll be interesting (and a bit frustrating) to watch his tactics adapt between now and Christmas. This may well be a year of 'transition', but that is no bad thing given the new signings and average age of the squad.
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