[Albion] Did the break do us a favour?

[Steve in Japan]

Might want to check that Arsenal bench again. Ozil and Martinelli players we can only dream of!

And yet the head coach won't give either of them game time.

Somethings up.

 

[Shooting Star]

It stopped our non-winning, downwards momentum, a squad who’d forgotten how to win. Tired minds and bodies given a sabbatical.

I agree with this and others who have suggested the same. I don't think we would have beaten Arsenal before the break the way our home form was going.

 

[vagabond]

The fact that our squad has been used throughout the season and is interchangeable without any star players is a big plus with the ability to use 5 subs imo. The whole squad can be considered first team players, not many of the other relegation candidates have that luxury.

This is my thinking also.

Funnily enough one of the expert journos on Sunday Supplement this morning commented that Arsenal should benefit with the extra subs more then us as “they have far more quality in their squad”..

I think that is highly debatable. We still lack a replacement for Andone, but aside from that Ashworth and Potter have been quietly building an impressive squad. And will only get better as MacAllister and Lamptey get more involved, as well as Ben White and Molumby next season.

 

[Return of the Rev]

Thought we didn't look any better after break but Arsenal looked worse, 3 points, win something to build on

 

[NorthstandRacoon]

Yes, no question. I've been in a bloody good mood today due to our win yesterday. I don't care about the hangover either, well worth it.

Having Alex Mac', Lamptey etc all on the bench and of excellent quality, I feel we've got enough to stay up, we just need to keep our heads held high and approach each game with confidence. Macallister really excites me, I think he's going to be class. Really would like to see him start next weekend, I don't mind if he doesn't though as our midfield had a great game yesterday.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

We weren’t on a terrible run of performances just results. We had some good points but dropped some we shouldn’t have

This. Away draws at Wolves and Shef U? I think some people's minds had curdled after the Palace defeat.

It's a funny old game.

 

[blue-shifted]

Did the enforced break do us a favour, allowing the team to digest the huge shift in play that’s been asked of them?

I’m a great believer in stepping away from things can help you process and adjust, maybe this is what the team needed?

I don't see it like that. A big result had been coming. Remember we've been in the game for every (with I think 3 exceptions) match this season going into the last 10 minutes. If you do that you give yourself a chance.

 

[Gazwag]

I wonder also if we would have come back from behind if the stadium had been full.

 

[warmleyseagull]

No question about it. When you are on a bad run of form, there is nothing you want more than a break, an opportunity to regroup and a restart later.

Like Norwich, Villa, West Ham and Bournemouth you mean?

 

[warmleyseagull]

Thought we didn't look any better after break but Arsenal looked worse,

Exactly. we always look at games with blue and white tinted specs - overreact to defeat, overreact to victory, thus ignoring how good or bad the oppo was. 'Twas ever thus.

 

[Doc Lynam]

Like Norwich, Villa, West Ham and Bournemouth you mean?

So you didn't see any improvement in our players or play yesterday?

 

[Creaky]

I wonder also if we would have come back from behind if the stadium had been full.

Full? - on the 95th minute?

 

[Spicy]

Did the enforced break do us a favour, allowing the team to digest the huge shift in play that’s been asked of them?

I’m a great believer in stepping away from things can help you process and adjust, maybe this is what the team needed?

Hope so. Having that "No win in 2020" sign hanging round our necks must have been demoralising to all at the club. Gone now

 

[blue-shifted]

I don't see our performances in that Arsenal game as any different to the ones we played before the break.

The difference is that we were the right side of the wafer thin margins, eg Aubamyang's offside goal, a 95th minute winner. We've been competitive in every match in 2020. Even when we've not played that well, like against Palace, we were right in the game until the end and that gives you a good chance to get the break to turn things around.

 

[NooBHA]

Did the enforced break do us a favour, allowing the team to digest the huge shift in play that’s been asked of them?

I’m a great believer in stepping away from things can help you process and adjust, maybe this is what the team needed?

I don't think the Break was beneficial to anyone.

I think what did help though was the fact that no scouts from other Clubs got to watch the team play in a previous match, so there was a bit of the unknown to the game for both sides and that might have helped.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

I reckon this break has really helped those managers who are good coaches, more than those managers whose main skill is their motivation.

 

[dingodan]

Like Norwich, Villa, West Ham and Bournemouth you mean?

I said it is what you want, and that we have benefited.

I never said it was guaranteed to help.

 

[Rogero]

Too early to say but it has put me on cloud nine.

 

[warmleyseagull]

So you didn't see any improvement in our players or play yesterday?

Overall, no. They were good at Wolves and this was no better, arguably slightly worse against a weaker side. Don't forget the oppo: they can make you look better than your are, and vice versa. Arsenal are no Wolves.

 

[Iovan The Sweeper]

My take all along is that given the players have had the longest break in their careers, and return to alien surroundings adaptability and intelligence and professionalism with fitness will play as much a part as technical ability. We have a very shrewd and bright young coach, who will have realised this and prepared the team according. So to answer the OP’s question, yes it did, because non technical things will give us an advantage over less smart teams.

Agree with this - in what has been a hugely stressful situation for everyone, we have a manager who talks about the importance of taking responsibility, showing empathy and building relationships.

I know it's not a great comparison against a squad with clear issues - but we looked much more 'together' than Arsenal on Saturday. Tonight will be a test, as Rodgers has fashioned a similar spirit at Leicester.

We also looked fitter.