What do we win for having the most possession at the end of this season?

It’s all well and good VK bringing City influences but everything is so slow and laboured, every game we’ve allowed teams to get everyone behind the ball before we make forward moves and it’s the same result every time.

So so poor in the final third again tonight.

Popcorn out here we go

ok i'll bite,

The possession is good, our general play is good all we are missing is putting it together with a bit of pace. Its the speed of thought thats letting us down at the minute. Heres the good part, that will improve once we start to get used to each other.

you can see on occasions when we do inject a bit of pace into our play we can cut right through sides. we just dont do it enough as the confidence just isnt there at the minute. It will come and someone is going to be on the end of an absolute thrashing when it does.

Hear what you say, but…….Long long way to go………much better technically, lots of positives, 15 shots, 88% passing accuracy, done by a breakaway……..get Twine fit plus maybe a couple more signings and we’ll be ok.

No need to panic.

Milltown1882 wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 9:41 pm

What do we win for having the most possession at the end of this season?

It’s all well and good VK bringing City influences but everything is so slow and laboured, every game we’ve allowed teams to get everyone behind the ball before we make forward moves and it’s the same result every time.

So so poor in the final third again tonight.

77/23 tonight

Twine’s injury probably hasn’t done us any favours.

It will start to click when the players become more familiar with each other, and the tactics.

We’re only 4 games in. No stress.

Very encouraging signs considering how many new faces we have. We certainly need to be more incisive in the final third but that will come with familiarity. I wouldn't be surprised if we absolutely destroy some teams later this season.

There are people already writing us off as relegation candidates on the match thread. This place is utterly bonkers.

While we are finding our feet it will be great to get the first goal in games. I think that if teams have to come out more, especially when we're at home, we'll start opening them up. In the meantime we should put a bid in for Kevin de Bruyne.

Billy Balfour wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 9:59 pm

There are people already writing us off as relegation candidates on the match thread. This place is utterly bonkers.

There were lots of people writing us down as champions off the 1st game.

I'm sticking with my pre-season prediction of 12th at the moment. Hoping it's better than that.

Billy Balfour wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 9:59 pm

There are people already writing us off as relegation candidates on the match thread. This place is utterly bonkers.

Are we not? We can’t score goals and have a keeper that can’t save shots.

Billy Balfour wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 9:59 pm

There are people already writing us off as relegation candidates on the match thread. This place is utterly bonkers.

Madness isn't it, 4 games in, a new manager and team still gelling, and we've only lost at Watford unlucky, a team that were in the PL along with us last season.

Patience is required, did folks really think it would all come together in a few weeks, far more hopeful signs than gloomy ones.

And we have players to return notably Twine and Westwood, plus we'll likely add.

Jay buries that chance then some folks would be talking about us romping the league, better to be creating chances and missing them than not creating chances in the 1st place.

There's going to be a thread like this after every game we don't win, isn't there?

Pickles wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:08 pm

There's going to be a thread like this after every game we don't win, isn't there?

Oh you can absolutely bet there is.

This particular bedwetter had us down to be relegated mid game.

Milltown1882 wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:04 pm

Are we not? We can’t score goals and have a keeper that can’t save shots.

Don't talk silly. By the way, I seem to recall that you used to call for Dyche to be sacked nearly every other week. I think you need to get a grip.

Milltown1882 wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:04 pm

Are we not? We can’t score goals and have a keeper that can’t save shots.

We've scored in 3 out of 4 games, and were only denied bagging at Watford due to the keeper and the woodwork.

Funny I'm sure Muric made a few saves 2nd half tonight.

Just have an element of patience, the goals and wins will come in time, and we're more likely to challenge for promotion than be involved in a relegation scrap.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:10 pm

Oh you can absolutely bet there is.

This particular bedwetter had us down to be relegated mid game.

Bedwetter is a good insult, bravo. Go to sleep happy you’ve got that little dig in

The worry for me is that we lack a goalscoring threat. Players that know where the net is. VK has said we need to share the goals around but the wider players he has signed have not got goalscoring stats.People can say we need a new striker but I don't see the difference it makes.Jay is quite capable but it's elsewhere where you wonder who else is going to contribute.
Loving the style..but we are toothless.

Our best chances are falling to Brownhill. Big problem

Brownhill and Bastien are just not attacking midfielders in any world, neither run at the defence, neither will regularly score goals.

I actually think a sale of Brownhill for decent money could be a blessing in disguise for this side, he's a good player at this level but that comes with problems because he HAS to start every game but where does he play? if it's not besides Cullen where I think Cork is probably better.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:18 pm

Our best chances are falling to Brownhill. Big problem

Brownhill and Bastien are just not attacking midfielders in any world, neither run at the defence, neither will regularly score goals.

I actually think a sale of Brownhill for decent money could be a blessing in disguise for this side, he's a good player at this level but that comes with problems because he HAS to start every game but where does he play? if it's not besides Cullen where I think Cork is probably better.

He would have had the easiest chance if Rodriguez had looked up for his early shot.

I would like to see us get an early goal against Blackpool and just open up the game.

Not trying to be pessimistic, genuinely curious of people's expectations:
Based on the last 4 games and the table. Does anyone think we're in with a realistic shout of an automatic place?
Are playoffs the extent of our ambition given the time the squad needs to gel?

Same posters that moan about the way we played under Dyche, I thought it was an enjoyable game myself, one we dominated without getting a bit of luck.

Swansea will win the possession cup

CombatClaret wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:24 pm

Not trying to be pessimistic, genuinely curious of people's expectations:
Based on the last 4 games and the table. Does anyone think we're in with a realistic shout of an automatic place?
Are playoffs the extent of our ambition given the time the squad needs to gel?

I’d not be disappointed, providing we keep improving which I think we will

tiger76 wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:06 pm

Madness isn't it, 4 games in, a new manager and team still gelling, and we've only lost at Watford unlucky, a team that were in the PL along with us last season.

Patience is required, did folks really think it would all come together in a few weeks, far more hopeful signs than gloomy ones.

And we have players to return notably Twine and Westwood, plus we'll likely add.

Jay buries that chance then some folks would be talking about us romping the league, better to be creating chances and missing them than not creating chances in the 1st place.

Good post. Nice sense of realism, Tiger.

CombatClaret wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:24 pm

Not trying to be pessimistic, genuinely curious of people's expectations:
Based on the last 4 games and the table. Does anyone think we're in with a realistic shout of an automatic place?
Are playoffs the extent of our ambition given the time the squad needs to gel?

Like Kompany said, in and around the play offs by the World Cup break is the aim. Then that gives him a full month to get on the training pitch with the new team and take it from there.

Neil wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:00 pm

While we are finding our feet it will be great to get the first goal in games. I think that if teams have to come out more, especially when we're at home, we'll start opening them up. In the meantime we should put a bid in for Kevin de Bruyne.

He wouldn’t be able to cope with the stick he’d get if he went a game without a goal. Seriously I wonder what some on here are drinking. 4 games in. Completely new team gelling under a new manager. Great football compared to what we’ve been used to. Still seeking a striker with an apparently excellent young man out injured. Possession stats are off the scale (and if you have the ball it’s hard for the opposition to score). What’s not to like? The goals will come and as some have said we will gel and someone will get battered. All this and our one defeat has come in probably one of the toughest fixtures in this league (and we even played them off the park most of the time).
I’d rather be in our position and improving than in Rovers. They are going well but they will almost certainly lose Brereton and when he was injured last season they didn’t win a game.
I’m feeling good about this season and I think we will enjoy it more than the last couple of seasons. Playing well and winning (which we will) at this level is better than playing scared football against teams you can’t live with most weeks.

What we really need to do is to take the lead again.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:18 pm

Brownhill and Bastien are just not attacking midfielders in any world, neither run at the defence, neither will regularly score goals.

They're cracking box to box midfielders but on this point I'm somewhat inclined to agree, although I think Bastien's roaming movement is what's giving Maatsen so much space out left.

Sad part is I think Bastien would actually have been the ideal CM improvement for us in Dyche's system but he's not really either of the CM roles in Kompany's. Still think there's a player in there though so I'm more than willing to give him time.

I just can't believe people are still moaning with the way we are playing football right now. Absolutely dominating teams, yes we need to turn that into wins, but it's great to watch and love seeing some of the talent we have pulled in. I would rather watch this all day that have to endure us try to hold out City and co for 90 minutes every week.

houseboy wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:27 pm

He wouldn’t be able to cope with the stick he’d get if he went a game without a goal. Seriously I wonder what some on here are drinking. 4 games in. Completely new team gelling under a new manager. Great football compared to what we’ve been used to. Still seeking a striker with an apparently excellent young man out injured. Possession stats are off the scale (and if you have the ball it’s hard for the opposition to score). What’s not to like? The goals will come and as some have said we will gel and someone will get battered. All this and our one defeat has come in probably one of the toughest fixtures in this league (and we even played them off the park most of the time).
I’d rather be in our position and improving than in Rovers. They are going well but they will almost certainly lose Brereton and when he was injured last season they didn’t win a game.
I’m feeling good about this season and I think we will enjoy it more than the last couple of seasons. Playing well and winning (which we will) at this level is better than playing scared football against teams you can’t live with most weeks.

Exactly my thoughts

I'm very confident that we'll be knocking around the top of the table by the end of the season. We've played 4 games against 4 good teams and we've dominated every one of them.

I must admit I was getting very frustrated with the fans around me tonight. I can't believe that there are people whinging about the style of play. I wouldn't mind, but it's the same people who have been whinging about Dyche's style of play for the last few years. What do people want? I might be wrong, but I really think we are very close to giving someone an absolute tonking.

We need our attackers to be a bit more braver and run forward and commit players. Still a lot of safety first and passing sideways and backwards so far. Still a lot of time for there to be 3 or 4 new players in our lineup come September.

houseboy wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:27 pm

He wouldn’t be able to cope with the stick he’d get if he went a game without a goal. Seriously I wonder what some on here are drinking. 4 games in. Completely new team gelling under a new manager. Great football compared to what we’ve been used to. Still seeking a striker with an apparently excellent young man out injured. Possession stats are off the scale (and if you have the ball it’s hard for the opposition to score). What’s not to like? The goals will come and as some have said we will gel and someone will get battered. All this and our one defeat has come in probably one of the toughest fixtures in this league (and we even played them off the park most of the time).
I’d rather be in our position and improving than in Rovers. They are going well but they will almost certainly lose Brereton and when he was injured last season they didn’t win a game.
I’m feeling good about this season and I think we will enjoy it more than the last couple of seasons. Playing well and winning (which we will) at this level is better than playing scared football against teams you can’t live with most weeks.

All I can add to this is when we score first again, it will open teams up as they’ll have too, and we’ll murder them on the counter. Nice early goal against the lashers and I’ll go for a 3 0 win..

For all our possession what's slightly worrying is that we currently look incapable of keeping a clean sheet.

Until that gets resolved we'll struggle to get a proper foothold in each game where we are having to force the issue, rather than being able to dictate the flow.

CombatClaret wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:24 pm

Not trying to be pessimistic, genuinely curious of people's expectations:
Based on the last 4 games and the table. Does anyone think we're in with a realistic shout of an automatic place?
Are playoffs the extent of our ambition given the time the squad needs to gel?

I'd love to be proved wrong but I think top half is best we can hope for this season, unless we bring in a commanding centre half and another striker. We look unbelievably lightweight.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:18 pm

Our best chances are falling to Brownhill. Big problem

Brownhill and Bastien are just not attacking midfielders in any world, neither run at the defence, neither will regularly score goals.

I actually think a sale of Brownhill for decent money could be a blessing in disguise for this side, he's a good player at this level but that comes with problems because he HAS to start every game but where does he play? if it's not besides Cullen where I think Cork is probably better.

Nailed it in one. Both Bastien and Brownhill in the advanced roles hinder the attacks so much

Other team can’t score if we have the ball

In terms of an attacking threat I thought Hull were the best team we've played this season, front lads were very lively and we limited them to not too much (shocking goal to concede again though). We will be a different beast with Twine in the team but we can't put it all on him, deffo need GOOD number 10 to come in

gandhisflipflop wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:57 pm

Other team can’t score if we have the ball

Haven’t we conceded in three of our 4 games so far?

Binary Burnley , we need to score 2 goals to win games as we are always going to concede 1

Had us down for finishing around 17th this season if I remember correctly what I posted on another thread before the season started. The performances have been better than I expected and the results have been okay, though before a ball was kicked I expected nearly to see a disaster, to be fair. That first half against Huddersfield has been a curse for two reasons: the lesser of which, 1. it has raised expectations to degree that might breed frustration and perhaps even a bit of toxicity when we fail to meet that performance level; the greater of which, 2. because of the fright we gave the league in that game every single team is going to try to do a Burnley on us, home or away. We're stuck with this challenge for the rest of the season, so we'd better get used to it.

It seems to me as though against any team in the league we can comfortably dominate every single inch of the pitch outside the boxes, and the opposition knows this, so they play with intent to keep us out of their box and get in ours as directly as possible, knowing we expose ourselves with the way we play. Now sure, every team wants to keep the opposition out of their box, this is obvious, but there are degrees to which a team sets up to stop the ball from coming into the box, just as there are differences between teams as to how far deep they defend, how many men they commit to defensive situations, etc. The challenge now is to perfect what we do in the box. This bit is really, really hard, and to be honest we need one or two better players added to the squad, we need the more recent signings to have a bit more time on the training pitch, and we need Twine fit.

The OP apparently has a problem with possession without end product, and that is fair, but the way the frustration is aired implies that dominating possession is so frivolous that it ought to be done away with. This is unreasonable, and to play more directly would undo everything we have built this summer. We're not set up to play direct football. More importantly, to play more directly would not correct the one or two mistakes/botched attempts at goal that have already cost us a few points so far. To play more direct would not necessarily create more chances (we have created many) without exposing this rather unphysical team to the need to play with more physicality. We're just not built to $hithouse our way to results. We've committed to a possession game. Deal with it. We need to add some finishing touches, because that's the main thing that's lacking, really. To be able to say this four games in puts us further ahead of where I expected us to be.

Rowls wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:27 pm

What we really need to do is to take the lead again.

This.

Imagine the story of our season will be: score first, we win; concede first, hopefully draw.

I can not believe what I am reading. Both here and on twitter. Everything is new, and we are knocking seven bells out of everyone we are playing.
It is coming together just fine, it needs a little time. Twine will be massive, he will be licking his lips at what he is watching. I think we need another striker, but this group is going to do amazing things. Chill out.

NewClaret wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 11:50 pm

This.

Imagine the story of our season will be: score first, we win; concede first, hopefully draw.

That sounds more like the story of the last few seasons in fairness. We're almost capable of putting in a complete performance. If we can sort out how to turn that constant pressure around the 18 yard box into a goal we'll tear teams apart. Then it won't matter if we go behind.

Reminds me a bit of Howe mark 2 without the strikers. We have been sussed already. Just like SD when he arrived the opposition are happy for us to play pass ball in our half get nowhere have nowhere to go as the midfield is packed with their players and if the opposition win the ball as with their goal tonight they are through us like lightening.
Messrs Pace and Kompany WE NEED A STRIKER
And poor Charlie Taylor looks like a fish out of water in his new role

Spiral wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 11:58 pm

That sounds more like the story of the last few seasons in fairness. We're almost capable of putting in a complete performance. If we can sort out how to turn that constant pressure around the 18 yard box into a goal we'll tear teams apart. Then it won't matter if we go behind.

Well, hopefully.

My fear is that big teams will just sit in with a low block which we know is har to break down. I think we’ll find it hard to turn this system in to one that generates a lot of goals. But also don’t expect many in the against column either.

mdd2 wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 17, 2022 12:03 am

Reminds me a bit of Howe mark 2 without the strikers. We have been sussed already. Just like SD when he arrived the opposition are happy for us to play pass ball in our half get nowhere have nowhere to go as the midfield is packed with their players and if the opposition win the ball as with their goal tonight they are through us like lightening.
Messrs Pace and Kompany WE NEED A STRIKER
And poor Charlie Taylor looks like a fish out of water in his new role

Come on, this is nothing like Howe. We couldn't get out of midfield with Howe. We never pressed teams back so consistently under Howe. Howe's style was more gung-ho, back-and-forth. We didn't control play like we do under VK. Very different.

gandhisflipflop wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 16, 2022 10:57 pm

Other team can’t score if we have the ball

Other teams are scoring.

Early days yet but we do need to be making more of the possession if we have any hope of avoiding a bottom half finish