The PL Has Moved On

[Tall Paul]

Three points could end up separating 5 or more teams -whats the PL worth £130m ???. As SD says its "fine margins"

As for our strikers don't think they are pulling up any trees Colburn. If we look at all clubs below us

Mitrovic Fulham 8 Signed this season as permanent
Ings Saints 8 Signed this season
Rondom Newcastle 6 Signed this season
Redmond Saints 5
Paterson Cardiff 4
Barnes 4
Wood 4

Barnes and Wood both have five goals this season, unless you're including league goals only, in which case why haven't you done that for Redmond, Rondon and Ings?

[MattBFC]

It’s only recently that we actually started playing Wood and Barnes together again. I’m sure they would both have scored more had they been in the starting 11 together since August (and who knows how many more points we would have achieved)

[duncandisorderly]

Barnes and Wood both have five goals this season, unless you're including league goals only, in which case why haven't you done that for Redmond, Rondon and Ings?

I hate to correct the master correcterer but Wood has 6.

[Devils_Advocate]

Probably more a case that we have moved backwards then the Premier League has moved on.

Dyche struggled in the transfer window and then struggled to manage and motivate his squad in the first half of the season. He seems to have recovered things and we are now looking like a side who although lacking in quality has enough about them to keep 4 or 5 teams behind us and remain a Premier League club

What we did mess up in the summer was a chance to utilise our 7th place finish and qualification for Europe to move the club forward but that ship has now long since sailed

[Lancasterclaret]

Move the club forward?

From 7th place?

Tad unrealistic I feel that

[Devils_Advocate]

Move the club forward?

From 7th place?

Tad unrealistic I feel that

I didnt mean move forward as in finish higher. Finishing 7th was a bit of a freak season but moving forward would have been comfortably being between 10th-14th and with a stronger team and squad. That in my opinion would be a massive step forward for a club with our limitations

[jrgbfc]

Don't think anyone realistically expected 7th again. But on the other hand no one can argue that our starting XI has been improved.

[Tall Paul]

I hate to correct the master correcterer but Wood has 6.

So he does, I was wrong.

[Spijed]

I raised this about 5 weeks ago and got shot down. I cited Brighton, Bournemouth, Wolves and Watford, but was told they would not keep it up. Even Dyche in his interview has said the top 6 have moved on-so its throughout the Division that's happened and I am not quite sure if we have stood still or gone backwards.

Brighton & Bournemouth are still no better than we are.

[IanMcL]

The real reality is that the top 6 stepped up again and the rest sign the next best players and stay the same.

What gets folk relegated, is disruption to pre-season (us), change of style to 'more attractive', with largely the same players adapting, change of manager who has his own ways...inc new coaches etc, signing lots of new foreign players, at the same ti.e as releasing lots of the existing squad and for the promoted clubs, dumping the promoted team for newbies.

The 14 have not moved on.

[Guich]

The real reality is that the top 6 stepped up again and the rest sign the next best players and stay the same.

What gets folk relegated, is disruption to pre-season (us), change of style to 'more attractive', with largely the same players adapting, change of manager who has his own ways...inc new coaches etc, signing lots of new foreign players, at the same ti.e as releasing lots of the existing squad and for the promoted clubs, dumping the promoted team for newbies.

The 14 have not moved on.

Spot on

[IanMcL]

Thank you!

[ClaretMoffitt]

The real reality is that the top 6 stepped up again and the rest sign the next best players and stay the same.

What gets folk relegated, is disruption to pre-season (us), change of style to 'more attractive', with largely the same players adapting, change of manager who has his own ways...inc new coaches etc, signing lots of new foreign players, at the same ti.e as releasing lots of the existing squad and for the promoted clubs, dumping the promoted team for newbies.

The 14 have not moved on.

Fully agree with that

[IanMcL]

Thank you, too!

[Bfcboyo]

We had a lot of luck last season and less injuries in the first half of it. As well as an instrumental Defour. The 2nd half of the season our form wasn't as good and with injuries and confidence knocked it continued into this season. We just need to keep building slowly. And VAR should hopefully even things out for more points . I don't think Arsenal would have half the points off us in the premiere league with VAR.
And with only one natural diver in our team we should be set up for VAR ( I tell my lad off for saying he dives ).

[IanMcL]

The problem with VAR, is that like refereeing and pundits, it depends who is under the spotlight, to determine the outcome.

The top 6 will remain the top 6.

[Chester Perry]

Posted this on the Magic Money Tree thread today - feels relevant to this thread also

https://www.football365.com/news/whats- ... nt-seventh" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Spijed]

I raised this about 5 weeks ago and got shot down. I cited Brighton, Bournemouth, Wolves and Watford, but was told they would not keep it up. Even Dyche in his interview has said the top 6 have moved on-so its throughout the Division that's happened and I am not quite sure if we have stood still or gone backwards. I sense net-wise backwards

We played brilliantly defensively last year v Utd away, Liverpool away, Chelsea away, Spurs away now its whether we can keep the score to 4 or 5.Is it me or have we lost the physicality to our game. Our strikers are largely the two that played in the Championship that cost us a million pound combined then two money breaking transfers that are not getting a game.

Lets hope recruiting a Director Of Football is better than the player recruitment. I was at the Leicester game yesterday and saw Antonio come on for the last 15 minutes. Wow what a player to have up front-he played the lone game as they were down to 10 men. Blistering pace and aggression and he was giving McGuire a hard game. Just someone that was available pre-season

Aside from Liverpool & Man City does anyone think the other four teams are any better than they were last season?

Whichever way you look at it, Chelsea, Spurs, Man U. and Arsenal have been very poor at times this season and we are one the clubs that's benefitted since the turn of the year.

[Spijed]

I would give anything to be in Brightons position. 3 wins and a draw and that should secure safety. 16 games to go with 7 wins achieved to date. Good squad with good cover for injuries/suspensions

[warksclaret]

Hands up I was wrong about Brighton but not too big to admit I was wrong. I also have to admit after the Everton trashing and the home loss v Leicester I was doubting our future, but the turn round has been quite remarkable.

Don't see you make reference to Wolves and Watford who I praised for their transfer business and who in my humble opinion been quite sensational this year, and Bournemouth who have acquired some great players who would generate very significant transfer fees if sold-Wilson, Fraser, Brooks.....and not finished too badly either. They really like us are punching above our weight.

Have you ever been wrong

[Devils_Advocate]

Hands up I was wrong about Brighton but not too big to admit I was wrong. I also have to admit after the Everton trashing and the home loss v Leicester I was doubting our future, but the turn round has been quite remarkable.

Don't see you make reference to Wolves and Watford who I praised for their transfer business and who in my humble opinion been quite sensational this year, and Bournemouth who have acquired some great players who would generate very significant transfer fees if sold-Wilson, Fraser, Brooks.....and not finished too badly either. They really like us are punching above our weight.

Have you ever been wrong

Nope he never gets owt wrong

One thing in our favour is that our defensive organisation and quality of defending is a class above anything Wolves will offer this season.

When you look at the way Wolves defended yesterday, for example, and us in our game we are simply light years ahead.

[Spijed]

Hands up I was wrong about Brighton but not too big to admit I was wrong. I also have to admit after the Everton trashing and the home loss v Leicester I was doubting our future, but the turn round has been quite remarkable.

Don't see you make reference to Wolves and Watford who I praised for their transfer business and who in my humble opinion been quite sensational this year, and Bournemouth who have acquired some great players who would generate very significant transfer fees if sold-Wilson, Fraser, Brooks.....and not finished too badly either. They really like us are punching above our weight.

Have you ever been wrong

Many times, but this idea that the Prem has suddenly moved on simply isn't true. It moves at the same pace it has in the last few seasons, nothing more, nothing less. Look at the top six sides. Only Liverpool have improved this season.

[warksclaret]

Goals against WOLVES 44/ BURNLEY 62 and we have played one less game (oh and its against Man City!!!!)

[Spijed]

Nope he never gets owt wrong

Taking Wolves as an example, when we are at our best, yes we are better defensively than they are and I doubt you'd find anyone in football who would disagree with that. Obviously you missed the Chelsea game.

That's why we are seen as a far harder test for Man City than Man U. were.

[Spijed]

Goals against WOLVES 44/ BURNLEY 62 and we have played one less game (oh and its against Man City!!!!)

Everyone knows that's purely down to the first half of the season. At this current moment in time I bet you'll find no-one in football who would say they have a better defence than ours.