[Albion] The Collapse(s)

[Bodian]

Using a boxing analogy is useful here. We start by dancing around our opponents. We entice the jab, duck and dive, wear them out and work them out.
Sometimes though we are sluggish, leave our chin exposed and are knocked out in the first round.

We didn't even start tonight. We were 2-0 down before we had made more than about four passes.

 

[seagullwedgee]

For me, it is extreme arrogance that brings us down. We should play the game deep in the oppo half for the first 5 minutes, just punt it up there and press hard, and as we settle 5 to 10 minutes into the game, then invite them on, pass and play out as we do. But our arrogance tells us we must play pretty ball from ball one, and we get punished. It’s not rocket science, just play the game up their end and chase them hard for 5 minutes, then there still 85 to do our normal thing. They came out the blocks with a full head of steam, on a small narrow pitch, where it’s much easier to chase and harrow, did anyone in our coaching team take that into account? If their pitch is 10% narrower, they will close 10%+ quicker - and we were not ready. For me, it is extremely arrogant, even against a bottom 3 side, to think we can play pretty ball right from the off. And it mighty pisses me off that we can’t actually be slightly more streetwise until the game settles, and their initial blow and puff is done. Angry. It’s so simple.

 

[mile oak]

I do not see the team has collapsed in fact I find it quite ridiculous HOWEVER RDZ could do a lot worse than speak to Adam L, Danny W and James M aside from the other players and gather their thoughts they've been here there and everywhere and fitness permitted I would without any hesitation start all 3 Saturday and for the next few games and again gather their collective thoughts aside from others. These players are absolute geniuses - yes we have others but for me these 3 hold the key to stopping any rot setting in. Keep the faith with these 3 players and learn from their wealth of experience. RDZ I hope will take on board what they are saying there is no better angle than ON the pitch, what are they seeing, experiencing, feeling. TAKE NOT RDZ.

 

[Justice]

We always struggle against aggressive physical teams

Dunk can’t deal, Wood, Mitrovic types.

No plan B? What do you think we have been doing since we have had no wingers. We have been very unlucky with the injuries to our wide attacking players. Any team and manager would struggle.

This, don’t get all the drama Mitoma is our star player without him we really don’t carry the same threat, Enciso was on his way to having a break out season and Fati was starting to look the biz. We were winning easily beginning of the season with Pedro starting on the bench in a few of the games. The Mitoma Pervis link up is hurting us for sure.
Ferguson is a finisher yet recently we are short of goals so somehow he’s being compared to a backing into opponents Murray type which he isn’t. He was happily banging them in with plenty of service.
Adingra was adding a few goals until we flogged the lad as again the injuries piled up.
A manager is only really as good as his players to a much lesser extent Man City suffered without KB and Haaland they won a few drew a few lost a few, now they are back to winning.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

what’s perhaps most frustrating is the way in which we tend to lose these games. accept people will say “we have an attack-minded manager, this will happen sometimes”, but i really don’t think it’s as simple as that.

everton, villa and today, three games off the top of my head where we have conceded very early and then subsequently disintegrated, conceding two or three before half time. why is it that we are not able to steady the ship whatsoever after conceding so early? were the players just not up for it in these games? fatigued? did RDZ just set up abysmally and then not change anything? or are our personnel just not able to go toe to toe with strong, physical teams like those listed above?

Your last point is very valid l think, we have long struggled against teams who are very physical and play with a big front man. We are far too easily bullied and have a soft centre.

 

[HastingsSeagull]

Serious question, you're a manager, you're 2-0 / 3-0 or 4-0 down to a side you should beat (all be it a very tough game). Do you shift to plan B/C/D that's more defensive, or one that gives you a chance to get back into the game?

 

[Stat Brother]

No mention of Luton in this fred.
Unlike Villa, Luton absolutely won this game, we didn't lose it by nefarious means.

They were on it and on us from the first second.
We had no out ball, no lay off pass, it was impossible to put 'studs on ball' and look up, even for a second.

Dross Townsend came on with the game won and still charged at Steele twice from the halfway line, in one passage of play.

On the night we were beaten by a better manager and a TEAM who would have smashed through brick walls to get to our players and the ball.

That all rather makes our circle-jerks around Wilder (and Moyes) comments at the weekend, look somewhat premature.
Pop, pop, pop - more like plop, plop, plop.

 

[junior]

I wonder what Bloom will think after that.

 

[rebel51]

Think our performances in the final 4 Europa League games disprove that theory as well.

We were shit all over tonight and badly lacking in wide options, i really don't think there's much more to it.

Too many vital injuries, not enough strength in midfield which hasn't been addressed. Teams will be licking there lips now unless we get a load of players back from Injury and get someone in who can bolster that midfield.As for the defense that is for another day

 

[nwgull]

I wonder what Bloom will think after that.

I expect he'll look at it in a calm considered manner, becuase he hasn't become so succesful in business and mathematical analysis of football by having knee-jerk reactions to one isolated result in a season where, despite an unfortunately long injury list and currently missing our 3 best wide players, we're having unprecented success.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

I wonder what Bloom will think after that.

How can a place like this exist so close to London?

 

[Bold Seagull]

For me, it is extreme arrogance that brings us down. We should play the game deep in the oppo half for the first 5 minutes, just punt it up there and press hard, and as we settle 5 to 10 minutes into the game, then invite them on, pass and play out as we do. But our arrogance tells us we must play pretty ball from ball one, and we get punished. It’s not rocket science, just play the game up their end and chase them hard for 5 minutes, then there still 85 to do our normal thing. They came out the blocks with a full head of steam, on a small narrow pitch, where it’s much easier to chase and harrow, did anyone in our coaching team take that into account? If their pitch is 10% narrower, they will close 10%+ quicker - and we were not ready. For me, it is extremely arrogant, even against a bottom 3 side, to think we can play pretty ball right from the off. And it mighty pisses me off that we can’t actually be slightly more streetwise until the game settles, and their initial blow and puff is done. Angry. It’s so simple.

If we played differently against better sides THEN decided we could play out from the off against lower opposition - then maybe you could call it arrogance. But it's not arrogance at all, that is just the way we play. Are you telling me sides don't lose or concede early just because they punt it and press hard in the first 5 or 10 mins?

Regardless of tactics, whether hoofing it upfield or not, if you start a game like we did- well under par, and your opposition start like they did - well over par, then you are in trouble regardless of hoofing it or not.

Your accusation of arrogance is unfounded though, we try to play the same at Man City as we did against Luton, it's just the tactics and style we choose to play, it's not arrogant, it's just a way of playing the game. Last night came as a collective off day, not arrogance.

 

[Perfidious Albion]

We should have known how hard it would be. Albion always struggle against hard physical sides who don’t allow you to play football. Also… it’s the Albion isn’t it we know them of old , just when you think all is well, they go and blow it. “Perfidious “ indeed.
Ok it was a bad night. RDZ has said he feels responsible, whatever ! ….. Come Saturday though, all will be different.

 

[portlock seagull]

Evidently we need a new strategy for playing bottom sides. We’ve an unenviable record against regardless of who’s in charge or in our team.

 

[el punal]

I don’t know how you can explain so many heavy defeats in a short space of time under a single manager. So many of those games have seen us concede the same type of goal multiple times

I don’t know how you can explain so many heavy wins in a short space of time under a single manager. So many of those games have seen us score the same type of goal multiple times.

 

[Not Andy Naylor]

No plan B? What do you think we have been doing since we have had no wingers. We have been very unlucky with the injuries to our wide attacking players. Any team and manager would struggle.

And trying to compensate by using wing backs leaves us exposed in wide areas at the rear. Pervis isn't great at tracking back when playing as an orthodox left back but hardly even tries when playing wing back.

 

[um bongo molongo]

We didn't even start tonight. We were 2-0 down before we had made more than about four passes.

Knocked out during the ring walk

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

Evidently we need a new strategy for playing bottom sides. We’ve an unenviable record against regardless of who’s in charge or in our team.

Can't argue with that. RDZ's biggest flaw IMO is game management. He knows how to get us to play in a way I could never imagine. BUT SOMETIMES I'd like it if we just sat back, were solid for a few minutes and absorbed pressure.

It was so obvious Luton would come out like a rocket last night. Why wouldn't we sit a bit lower, let them fluff a few chances, then ease our way into the game... That's what the best teams do.

The 43rd minutes DANGER ZONE is really starting to piss me off quite frankly.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

The last 16 league games 3 wins 8 draws 5 defeats - 17 points. It was obvious that when we sell Trossard, McAlister and Caicedo and lose Colwill the team is not going to be as strong and their replacements have been much inferior. De Zerbi has done very well with a weaker squad this season

 

[GJN1]

what’s perhaps most frustrating is the way in which we tend to lose these games. accept people will say “we have an attack-minded manager, this will happen sometimes”, but i really don’t think it’s as simple as that.

everton, villa and today, three games off the top of my head where we have conceded very early and then subsequently disintegrated, conceding two or three before half time. why is it that we are not able to steady the ship whatsoever after conceding so early? were the players just not up for it in these games? fatigued? did RDZ just set up abysmally and then not change anything? or are our personnel just not able to go toe to toe with strong, physical teams like those listed above?

Not buying fatigue as a reason/excuse. They had two weeks off.