We're getting harder and harder to score against.
The latest to try was West Brom, who are no dummies.
Yes, the "goals for" column will obviously need a bit of work, but defensively we've got to be the meanest in the Championship. (Six conceded, the lowest in the division)

We have some really good players out injured, some of whom are on their way back.

A goal scorer is a priority in January, as is keeping hold of players like Esteve and Egan-Riley who've formed a really good partnership in central defence.

All in all, with the depth of squad we've got, and January additions, I reckon
we'll be heading for at least a top three finish.

UTC

If we can sort the goals for column quickly we will win the league.

West Brom are more impotent than us.

Just check their lack of goals out.

At last some optimism.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 09, 2024 6:55 am

West Brom are more impotent than us.

Just check their lack of goals out.

This. 4 without scoring wba.
Very much like us.

We need to avoid complancy and start winning We dropped another place last night and now need a win on Sunday no excuses

ElectroClaret wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 09, 2024 12:49 am

We're getting harder and harder to score against.
The latest to try was West Brom, who are no dummies.

In fairness they pretty much are dummies in front of goal. They've only scored twice in their last 7 games.

That said I'm not worried about us defensively at all. We've looked pretty solid and hard to score against all season.

Our midfield and attack is a real concern. You've got to go back a long way before you'll find a Burnley team that's looked so average in those departments at this level. Probably back to either Laws' or Cotterill's era.

One positive is that the quality of the teams around us is pretty low as well. It's possible that we can stay in the mix until January when we (hopefully) have another opportunity to strengthen.

West Brom were literally woeful and yet they're within one win of overtaking us which is ridiculous. We've got to turn our much more positive performance from Thursday into a win tomorrow, but it's going to be really hard. WBA played a much more open game than many teams. Swansea at the Turf will be exactly like Plymouth, Portsmouth, Preston and QPR etc and that's where we struggle to break teams down, so I'm not hopeful of a goal fest tomorrow. Get an early goal and their game plan falls apart. That's the key, but a series of 1-0 wins would definitely be welcome and better reflect our superiority over much of this division.

Shame that what will likely be the focus of most replies on this thread will be reminding you that West Brom can't score and the ensuing negativity.

Hope you're right with the rest of your post

Dark Cloud wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 09, 2024 8:11 am

West Brom were literally woeful and yet they're within one win of overtaking us which is ridiculous. We've got to turn our much more positive performance from Thursday into a win tomorrow, but it's going to be really hard. WBA played a much more open game than many teams. Swansea at the Turf will be exactly like Plymouth, Portsmouth, Preston and QPR etc and that's where we struggle to break teams down, so I'm not hopeful of a goal fest tomorrow. Get an early goal and their game plan falls apart. That's the key, but a series of 1-0 wins would definitely be welcome and better reflect our superiority over much of this division.

I'd be very surprised if Swansea try to stick 10 men behind the ball and play for the draw. They average more possession than us and in their last 3 games generated same xG than we did in our last 7.

ArmchairDetective wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 09, 2024 8:23 am

Shame that what will likely be the focus of most replies on this thread will be reminding you that West Brom can't score and the ensuing negativity.

Hope you're right with the rest of your post

80% of the board is negativity unfortunately. Match threads I hardly see any replies due to so many hidden. In fact it's probably more than 80% I'm just being optimistic with the numbers!

I'll stick with what I have said previously.

I think SP will get us promoted, it will be a painful watch but we will be relegated again the following year and he will be long gone by the end of the 25/26 season.

Only if the guy who recommends players decides we need a balanced side and squad.
Needs to give his a wobble he does

Spike wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 09, 2024 9:40 am

Only if the guy who recommends players decides we need a balanced side and squad.
Needs to give his a wobble he does

If you mean Mooney, I very much doubt he does anything other than search for players in all positions, and who they then buy is ultimately down to the manager and chairman who writes the cheque.

There’s an interesting part in MtB2 where they have all the candidates for each position on a (blurred) screen and Kompany is selecting which ones to go for.

Imagine it’ll be the same now and I really hope they are organised for January!

I really hope you’re right Electro.

I think we’re getting there with the team now, although it’s a bit frustrating that it’s taken this long to get there.

Being tight defensively will pay dividends over the season, definitely. I can’t get excited about it though and want to see a more direct, aggressive, faster team in possession. If we can get there, we’ll be a very strong team indeed, but don’t expect we’ll make an easy job of it as things stand.

hoosier-daddy wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 09, 2024 9:03 am

80% of the board is negativity unfortunately. Match threads I hardly see any replies due to so many hidden. In fact it's probably more than 80% I'm just being optimistic with the numbers!

It's 85 per cent when you include the negativity about the negativity...

ClaretPete001 wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 09, 2024 11:44 am

It's 85 per cent when you include the negativity about the negativity...

The negativity about the negativity about the negativity makes it 88% tbh

Bosscat wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 09, 2024 11:46 am

The negativity about the negativity about the negativity makes it 88% tbh

And then there's also the non positive stuff to take into account too.

Bosscat wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 09, 2024 11:46 am

The negativity about the negativity about the negativity makes it 88% tbh

Now im confused not difficult to do but if two negatives make a positive does that mean you are positive about the negativity ?

pureclaret wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 09, 2024 12:41 pm

Now im confused not difficult to do but if two negatives make a positive does that mean you are positive about the negativity ?

Negatively speaking no