• Our forms not that great

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 10:59 am**

When you look at our form at a high level. It looks great. Unbeaten away and steady at home. But when you dig a bit deeper its actually pretty poor. Even the away results. And we are actually in a bit of trouble. I fear for us today. Could be embarassing.

Chelsea away. Title winning hangover and team in dissaray. Great time to play them when we did. Absolutely under the cosh against 9 men and we would have lost by a clear margin against 11.

Wba home. Lost. Couldnt take the initiative at home when the onus is on us. Very familiar theme that becomes and has been since lincoln.

Spurs away. Notoriously poor at wembley. And huge pressure on them. Free hit for us amd we got lucky with Wood scoring on his debut as many strikers do.

Liverpool away. Good performance in the main. Deefensively very sound. Could have won it with Mee headers. But liverpool are terrible against teams outside the big 6 anyway.

Huddersfield at home. Probably the worse game ive ever watched at the turf against a newly promoted side their keeper had no saves to make zero creativity.

Everton away. Theyre in dissaray. Still dominated us but we nicked it.

West Ham at home. See west brom. Cant take the initiative when we should. Nearly lost against 10 men. West Ham are awful. Bottom three and we cant break them down at home.

Looking to today its our first genuine test. And without Heatons leadership and organisation I really fear for us.

If its true Dyche has a 2.5m release clause we shouldnt panic as that money will go a huge way for a club like ours and we have shown in the past we can pick great managers up for nothing.

Hope we win but can only see a 6-0er. Id take 1-0 now.

Utc

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 11:04 am**

cricketfield - it's being so cheerful that keeps you going!

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 11:04 am**

Subtle

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 11:07 am**

"Our first genuine test" lol

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 11:09 am**

Well Cricketfield I think you should keep to football. You're post resonates with me much more than your one on the NHS

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 11:09 am**

You can only bet the sides put in front of you. Do that enough times and you win the league. If we lose 10-0 today it makes no difference to the fact that we not only deserve to be at this level but deserve to be in the position we are in it. I half expect a mauling today, but if it happens so be it - its more a testimony of what this City side is doing to everyone right now, than a reflection on us.

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 11:12 am**

What bobbins

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 11:13 am**

They won't fancy todays weather, we will win.
Then next week you can report " but we only won because of the weather".
Points are all that matter, after 8 games we have 13. It doesn't keep you up but it's a start.

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 11:15 am**

I think you have to put everything into perspective, getting results against the big teams are great, but I’d much rather get win against the likes of West Ham, West Brom, Huddersfield etc.

Its better for our League stability taking points off the teams who are more likely to be around us at the end of the season.

But we are not going to put in a good performance against anyone in this league, not to the expectations of some supporters. We will have moments and good passages of play but I think we should start embracing our defending and look at that part of the performance in the way football fans look at attacking and scoring goals. Like the Italians do.

Besides, are games against the likes of Stoke, Brighton, Swansea et all ever going to be enthralling Total Football? No. They are like us, wanting to get a result.

The club is transitioning - and if that means grinding out results with less-than-positive performances, than so be it, in my opinion,

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 11:16 am**

Just wait until our form improves.

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 11:25 am**

Needy.

Needy people have low self-esteem. Often, they are attempting to compensate for the lack of attention experienced in childhood.

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 11:31 am**

You forgot to include re: Everton that it was their game immediately after Europe. Which has often been when they lose.

But of course, most of us could completely turn those points in the OP on it's arse and say where our form is good.

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 11:35 am**

cricketfieldclarets wrote:When you look at our form at a high level. It looks great. Unbeaten away and steady at home. But when you dig a bit deeper its actually pretty poor. Even the away results. And we are actually in a bit of trouble. I fear for us today. Could be embarassing.

Chelsea away. Title winning hangover and team in dissaray. Great time to play them when we did. Absolutely under the cosh against 9 men and we would have lost by a clear margin against 11.

Wba home. Lost. Couldnt take the initiative at home when the onus is on us. Very familiar theme that becomes and has been since lincoln.

Spurs away. Notoriously poor at wembley. And huge pressure on them. Free hit for us amd we got lucky with Wood scoring on his debut as many strikers do.

Liverpool away. Good performance in the main. Deefensively very sound. Could have won it with Mee headers. But liverpool are terrible against teams outside the big 6 anyway.

Huddersfield at home. Probably the worse game ive ever watched at the turf against a newly promoted side their keeper had no saves to make zero creativity.

Everton away. Theyre in dissaray. Still dominated us but we nicked it.

West Ham at home. See west brom. Cant take the initiative when we should. Nearly lost against 10 men. West Ham are awful. Bottom three and we cant break them down at home.

Looking to today its our first genuine test. And without Heatons leadership and organisation I really fear for us.

If its true Dyche has a 2.5m release clause we shouldnt panic as that money will go a huge way for a club like ours and we have shown in the past we can pick great managers up for nothing.

Hope we win but can only see a 6-0er. Id take 1-0 now.

Utc

I would say I`m usually on your side of the fence but after reading that I`ve just bolted to the other side. Get a grip man!

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 11:52 am**

You're definitely a glass half full person NOT

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 12:04 pm**

Firthy wrote:You're definitely a glass half full person NOT

He's probably not bothered, so long as the bar is still open.

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 12:08 pm**

Away form as been outstanding so can't agree with your reasoning for any of them.However the home form is a bit worrying,I was actually quite happy with the West Ham draw,I thought Jesus they have some serious players and even though they had ten men they still more than competed against us.But after seeing them last night they are absolutely awful and we should be putting them away really.We made there back 4 and the holding midfielder look really strong last week and there far from it.

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 12:23 pm**

I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to sit next to you at a game. PATHETIC!

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 12:24 pm**

West Ham was a good result. I think it's worth bearing in mind that they had already taken the lead before having a forward taken off, so we're able to not radically alter their defence and midfield and sit back to defend their lead whilst waiting patiently for opportunities to break if we were to over-commit. This nearly worked for them. The decision to play the last ten minutes or so with 3 up top for us was risky but in the end paid off. It was definitely a point gained for us.

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 12:28 pm**

Can't really take any comments seriously that state we haven't had
a "genuine test" yet.

Laughable.

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 12:33 pm**

bfc1984 wrote:Away form as been outstanding so can't agree with your reasoning for any of them.However the home form is a bit worrying,I was actually quite happy with the West Ham draw,I thought Jesus they have some serious players and even though they had ten men they still more than competed against us.But after seeing them last night they are absolutely awful and we should be putting them away really.We made there back 4 and the holding midfielder look really strong last week and there far from it.

Finally someone sees sense. Cant afford likes of city to pull away. Last week was a missed opporunity with Chelsea, Arsenal, United and Liverpool all dropping points.

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 12:35 pm**

We’ve ground out some great results. We’re flying high and personally I find negative threads depressing.

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 1:04 pm**

If the OP's point is that we need to keep a sense of perspective and assume we're going to end up in the relegation battle, then fair enough. But he clearly hugely overplays his hand with his critique of our away results. There's some truth in each of his observations, but irrespective of the circumstances of the individual results, to keep backing it up in the way we have over 4 seemingly very tough games is indisputably impressive.

I do think the home form is of significant cause for concern, though - the results at home aren't fantastic, but of more concern is the lack of goals and more tellingly, good chances created: it isn't like we've been wasting lots of guilt edged chances. West Ham may have retreated last week, and defended their box well, but this is a team who have conceded 16 goals in their other 8 league games, and have an obvious vulnerability at the back. The only team who have conceded more goals at home are Palace, and we were fortunate to notch a goal against them. Many pointed to Huddersfield's defensive record at the time they played us, but that was disguised by the fact they'd played a succession of goal-shy teams and they've subsequently conceded 6 goals in 2 games to Spurs and Swansea. Its the reverse of the away argument: you can plead mitigation for the individual results and even performances, but the overall trend is unmistakeable.

It means that overall, presuming we lose today, we will have 13 points from 10 games. Its a decent enough record, but its only 2 points better off than Brighton and no-one would suggest they are out of risk of relegation come May. And of course, for all weve had a tough start away, that record includes using up four of the most winnable home games of the season.

To some extent this is just part of the evolution of the team - you can see the way that we're progressing as a team, and at the minute that set up we're quite well suited to playing against opponents willing to open up against us at home, but not very well suited to playing against stubborn opponents at home. Its a bit frustrating that we didn't bring in the extra attacking wide player that might have made the difference in the transfer window, and it may be that Dyche has to look at whether he can make our 4-5-1 set up work better at home (I find it odd he hasn't been willing to try a more expansive version of that set up before reverting to 4-4-2 with two target men in the last two home games). But overall, its just a very good reason to be realistic about this season - 15th or 16th would be a very good finish. Anyone seeing that as negativity rather than realism needs to check themselves.

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 1:27 pm**

claretspice wrote:It means that overall, presuming we lose today, we will have 13 points from 10 games. Its a decent enough record, but its only 2 points better off than Brighton and no-one would suggest they are out of risk of relegation come May. And of course, for all weve had a tough start away, that record includes using up four of the most winnable home games of the season.

It'll be 13 from 9, which is still very good.

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 1:28 pm**

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Finally someone sees sense. Cant afford likes of city to pull away. Last week was a missed opporunity with Chelsea, Arsenal, United and Liverpool all dropping points.

Genius

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 1:33 pm**

Premier league, think that needs to sink in for a few people yet.

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 1:40 pm**

Chelsea losing again. Theyre shot.

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 2:10 pm**

Its happen a good job form means very little and its points on the board that do, picking up points when supposedly not in form is one of the differences between teams that stay up and teams that go down.

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 2:20 pm**

we got promoted from the division below not that long ago, we are currently 7th in the premier league, what more do you want ?
The idea that we dismiss opponents as weak or in disarray is pointless, that can be said of every fixture for every team in any given season.
We have injured players too, not able to field our strongest team, but we are where we are on merit.
Beating the reigning champions at stamford bridge or drawing at wembley is excellent form I would argue.
Hopefully we'll put 5 past city this aft, or will that be seen as them not liking rain at the etihad?

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 2:37 pm**

I would be happy for this 'poor' form to continue for the next 30 games (including today) - 62 'lucky' points at the end of the season would suit me totally fine, thank you!

Posted: **Sat Oct 21, 2017 4:46 pm**

United lose. Watford lose. Opportunity lost today.

Posted: **Sun Oct 22, 2017 7:04 am**

I'm also quite a bit concerned, not with the result today but with the fact we need to get better at taking the game to teams. We usually do better as the underdog but we lose out in games when we should press our advantage.

We need to be winning games against teams that will be around us at the end of the year, we can't afford to not beat these teams at home like west brom and west ham.

It makes very little getting results against larger teams if you lose points to those around you.

Posted: **Sun Oct 22, 2017 8:32 am**

9th after today ,with two winnable games coming up.We will soon be around half way to survival after 12 games.Bad form? Look at Palace for a real example,playing ok ,lots of effort but still getting beaten

Posted: **Sun Oct 22, 2017 8:38 am**

nyclaret wrote:I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to sit next to you at a game. PATHETIC!

Posted: **Sun Oct 22, 2017 8:46 am**

cricketfieldclarets wrote:When you look at our form at a high level. It looks great. Unbeaten away and steady at home. But when you dig a bit deeper its actually pretty poor. Even the away results. And we are actually in a bit of trouble. I fear for us today. Could be embarassing.

Chelsea away. Title winning hangover and team in dissaray. Great time to play them when we did. Absolutely under the cosh against 9 men and we would have lost by a clear margin against 11.

Wba home. Lost. Couldnt take the initiative at home when the onus is on us. Very familiar theme that becomes and has been since lincoln.

Spurs away. Notoriously poor at wembley. And huge pressure on them. Free hit for us amd we got lucky with Wood scoring on his debut as many strikers do.

Liverpool away. Good performance in the main. Deefensively very sound. Could have won it with Mee headers. But liverpool are terrible against teams outside the big 6 anyway.

Huddersfield at home. Probably the worse game ive ever watched at the turf against a newly promoted side their keeper had no saves to make zero creativity.

Everton away. Theyre in dissaray. Still dominated us but we nicked it.

West Ham at home. See west brom. Cant take the initiative when we should. Nearly lost against 10 men. West Ham are awful. Bottom three and we cant break them down at home.

Looking to today its our first genuine test. And without Heatons leadership and organisation I really fear for us.

If its true Dyche has a 2.5m release clause we shouldnt panic as that money will go a huge way for a club like ours and we have shown in the past we can pick great managers up for nothing.

Hope we win but can only see a 6-0er. Id take 1-0 now.

Utc

Prick list

Posted: **Sun Oct 22, 2017 9:26 am**

cricketfieldclarets wrote:When you look at our form at a high level. It looks great. Unbeaten away and steady at home. But when you dig a bit deeper its actually pretty poor. Even the away results. And we are actually in a bit of trouble. I fear for us today. Could be embarassing.

Chelsea away. Title winning hangover and team in dissaray. Great time to play them when we did. Absolutely under the cosh against 9 men and we would have lost by a clear margin against 11.

Wba home. Lost. Couldnt take the initiative at home when the onus is on us. Very familiar theme that becomes and has been since lincoln.

Spurs away. Notoriously poor at wembley. And huge pressure on them. Free hit for us amd we got lucky with Wood scoring on his debut as many strikers do.

Liverpool away. Good performance in the main. Deefensively very sound. Could have won it with Mee headers. But liverpool are terrible against teams outside the big 6 anyway.

Huddersfield at home. Probably the worse game ive ever watched at the turf against a newly promoted side their keeper had no saves to make zero creativity.

Everton away. Theyre in dissaray. Still dominated us but we nicked it.

West Ham at home. See west brom. Cant take the initiative when we should. Nearly lost against 10 men. West Ham are awful. Bottom three and we cant break them down at home.

Looking to today its our first genuine test. And without Heatons leadership and organisation I really fear for us.

If its true Dyche has a 2.5m release clause we shouldnt panic as that money will go a huge way for a club like ours and we have shown in the past we can pick great managers up for nothing.

Hope we win but can only see a 6-0er. Id take 1-0 now.

Utc

Christ! I bet you voted "remain" didn't you!

Stop moaning.

Posted: **Sun Oct 22, 2017 9:50 am**

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Chelsea losing again. Theyre shot.

Haha - Lazarus comeback

you then mention Watford and United losing and missing an opportunity !!!

You do realise that every week some teams lose ?

Yesterday your glass was definitely full - then empty...several times !

Posted: **Sun Oct 22, 2017 9:57 am**

I agree with the Op, we have lost two games now, not good enough at this level, I bet the 11 teams below us in the Premier league are furious we are so Crap, bye the way do you go Sea angling or just freshwater?

Posted: **Sun Oct 22, 2017 10:21 am**

2.5 million release clause for S.D. so not to panic you say, and you quote (we can pick great managers up for nothing) your post is nothing but panic, not forgetting we lost Chris Woods early on. Pep Guardiola said some matches are more difficult, Burnley have great physicality, and a strong work ethic,the 30th minute the scores were level, last week Stoke had let 3 in by then, you know i'm from Blackburn and walking on air at the moment about our Club (Burnley) and i do wonder just what some supporters are demanding from this Club.A very negative post in my view, wake up and face reality. PREMIER LEAGUE,

Posted: **Sun Oct 22, 2017 10:43 am**

Posssibly one of the worst posts ever to be posted but everyone is entitled to their opinion. Here's my viewpoint;

Chelsea: After only one away victory last season we went and beat the champions. The champions have only been beaten in their first game twice in the history of the premier league. Dyche brings back Defour, sets up 4-5-1 after sticking with 4-4-2. Progression. Sets up our season

WBA: We failed to take our chances and got punished. As will any team in this league. WBA sat back and unfortunately we don't have that player that can win us a game against a defensive side e.g Boufal against WBA yesterday.

Spurs: Dyche reverts back to 4-5-1 and gets a result. Record signing come of the bench to score a brilliant goal in the last minute. Spurs play full team and played well with Heaton making 3 great saves to keep us in it. Superb point. Progression. Spurs subsequently go to Real Madrid and get a point, hardly struggling for form.

Palace: Poor game. We played poor. Defended well and our Record singing did what he is paid to do and take his only chance.

Liverpool: Superb point. Liverpool do tend to struggle against teams out of the top 6, last season. They also had a great record against teams in the top 6, least season. If that was true they just got beat of City 5-0, City beat us 3-0. Jose was happy with a point at Anfield, so were we. Progression

Huddersfield: Poor game. Played Poor. Dyche got it wrong. They sat back and we will don't have that someone that can win a match on their own.

Everton: Dyche stuck to his guns and we battered them. They did well in the first 20 mins. After that we battered them. We scored an incredible goal after 24 passes showing progression. Everton are in trouble but we put them in deeper trouble after doing a number on them. Tarks was immense and rightly got the plaudits on MOTD. Progression.

West Ham: An unusual error from Ben Mee put us on the back foot. The red card made them defend. Credit to Dyche he makes 2 subs at half time and then one of them sets up the goal.

Sat 9th in the league after our fixture list is a superb achievement and we are only a couple of players away from being a top ten side in my opinion. UTC

Posted: **Sun Oct 22, 2017 10:51 am**

I think it's still a bit early for us to be worrying about what the usual top 6 are doing.

Next season we can have a proper crack at it.
I'd settle for finishing 7th this season in preparation for next season's title challenge.

Posted: **Sun Oct 22, 2017 10:57 am**

Fair assessment Ducksworth.
The only thing I might add to that is that our goal difference ( -1)
is not bad given who we've played so far.

If we can maintain that then it could be worth another point
at the end of the season.

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