Relegation 2022/23

[YoboCopter]

@davek has kept me very calm in this relegation battle i must say

If we stay up i owe him a pint

 

[diggerdestroyer]

big results tonight. a draw v united would be great but a win v Fulham much more important.

 

[davek]

And we would be higher still if it just showed the 9 games he has been in charge.

The other take outs from this for me are:

Look at the bottom 7. I make that all 7 of our rivals, all in pretty awful-average form.

Secondly, we have played the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th twice. Our run in is easier.

They';re not as good as Everton, I think that is now abundantly clear.

I mean, we're our own team's worst critics, and rightly so. But we have a better quality first team than all of those at the bottom bar West Ham, IMO.

 

[davek]

@davek has kept me very calm in this relegation battle i must say

If we stay up i owe him a pint

 

[catcherintherye]

I actually fancy Everton to pick up more points than in the first 9 games under Dyche in our last 9.

12 has been a good return, but if we start taking more of the chances we create then we can get another 15/16 points. In fact, I'll be disappointed if we dont get more than 12 points in the last 9 games.

In our first 9 we have had
Top of the table x 2
"Top 6" x 5
Of the other 4, two of the best none top 6 sides on form (Brentford + Villa). And Forest away, who are disproportionately good at home. Essentially no "gimme" games, and a number of tough ones.

Our next 9 we have 2 top 6 teams and a lot more winnable fixtures. We also seem to be improving each week. Doucoure out is a miss, but Patterson and Garner back is a plus.

I wouldnt be surprised at all if we did better.

 

[COYBL25]

Mitrovic on an 8 game ban although they are appealing it

Dangerous game that, as they could hit them with a further ban, for a vexatious appeal.

Plus, abuse and violence towards refs is a hot topic at the mo.

 

[davek]

Our defensive play has improved a lot as well. Against Chelsea and Spurs we allowed one real chance against us (Kane free header from a cross). The three goals have been two pens and a mistake that was finished brilliantly by Felix. We’ve been extremely harshly punished in both games given how few chances we’ve allowed.

That’s been the story for ages though under Dyche and Lampard before. We give a team half a chance from anywhere and it’s in the top corner. Johnson for Forest, Felix for Chelsea, Ward Prowse both goals for Southampton. You then see them miss tap ins against other teams, so frustrating.

Dyche is doing an incredible job and with a bit of evening out of luck could very easily have had two or three more points.

I think a settled backline is key.

They may have their faults as individuals but they all battle like mad for each other.

Whatever you think about Keane, Coady being demoted has been a masterstroke.

 

[Evertonthat]

I love how Dyche has got us playing footy in a style that will give any team a tough game. So much fight in the team and it's great to see.

 

[catcherintherye]

They';re not as good as Everton, I think that is now abundantly clear.

I mean, we're our own team's worst critics, and rightly so. But we have a better quality first team than all of those at the bottom bar West Ham, IMO.

I also think we have a manager who knows how to utilise that squad.

People think in terms of binary, or it's a Fifq number on player ability. Take Michael Keane, stick him next to a small CB, defend high up the pitch etc he is woeful. Sit him deeper, next to a leader, tell him to head balls away, and make a nuisance of himself off set pieces he is another story.

You know I always liked Martinez, but I never understood the idea that set pieces werent important. All of our best teams made use of them. And we look a real threat.

I do take your point re West Ham, but I'm not convinced a lot of their great players are not overpaid dross signed by the divvy of a chairman, who Moyes has no idea how to utilise.

 

[knowing your history]

big results tonight. a draw v united would be great but a win v Fulham much more important.

Fulham is huge, as big as Palace last season despite not being as near the end.

The implications are huge. Last night's draw was a positive but does mean it's only 5 wins from 15 at home. To match last season's tally of 9 home wins need to win all four but that's a very very tough ask indeed.

If Fulham isn't won going to have to win two away games to be in a decent position on final day as Newcastle will be very tough to win aswell.

It's o.k having the insurance of Bournemouth at home on the final day but really don't want to be going into that fixture on 32/33 points as then you have to win and probably hope others on 35/36 don't (and it also could come down to GD).

 

[Bazlar]

Wouldn’t surprise me if Forest try a Hail Mary managerial change now, they’ve completely run out of steam. Their fixtures look horrific though whether it’s Steve Cooper managing them or somebody else.

Didn't they give Cooper a five year contract earlier in the deacon?

 

[davek]

In our first 9 we have had
Top of the table x 2
"Top 6" x 5
Of the other 4, two of the best none top 6 sides on form (Brentford + Villa). And Forest away, who are disproportionately good at home. Essentially no "gimme" games, and a number of tough ones.

Our next 9 we have 2 top 6 teams and a lot more winnable fixtures. We also seem to be improving each week. Doucoure out is a miss, but Patterson and Garner back is a plus.

I wouldnt be surprised at all if we did better.

Doucoure out is a big miss. Never mind his distribution that some get ratty about, he is a presence up front and his return has coincided with our better form.

Overall though we have been adaptable: Dyche has asked for goal contributions all over the team and he's got it from them.

The next big landmark for us and statement of intent is an away win.

 

[Bazlar]

Dangerous game that, as they could hit them with a further ban, for a vexatious appeal.

Plus, abuse and violence towards refs is a hot topic at the mo.

The FA have already said they want longer. He won't play against us anyway

 

[davek]

I also think we have a manager who knows how to utilise that squad.

People think in terms of binary, or it's a Fifq number on player ability. Take Michael Keane, stick him next to a small CB, defend high up the pitch etc he is woeful. Sit him deeper, next to a leader, tell him to head balls away, and make a nuisance of himself off set pieces he is another story.

You know I always liked Martinez, but I never understood the idea that set pieces werent important. All of our best teams made use of them. And we look a real threat.

I do take your point re West Ham, but I'm not convinced a lot of their great players are not overpaid dross signed by the divvy of a chairman, who Moyes has no idea how to utilise.

Dyche has taken a team that have been bought to play expansive football but aren't quite good enough to do it consistently in the PL and stripped it all back and handed them a far easier energy-centred way of playing.

So we have a basic style of play but being played by superior quality players that usually play a direct style of football.

 

[catcherintherye]

Doucoure out is a big miss. Never mind his distribution that some get ratty about, he is a presence up front and his return has coincided with our better form.

Overall though we have been adaptable: Dyche has asked for goal contributions all over the team and he's got it from them.

The next big landmark for us and statement of intent is an away win.

I agree re Doucoure, we just have to hope Garner can give us something different, I've not been his biggest fan but thought he did very well the other night.

Doucoure did do well, shades of how Fellaini/Cahill played the false 9. He will be a big part player for us in the final 6 games.

And Dyche has done very well to foster that dynamic. We look like we have a lot of players who fancy getting a goal now. Honestly Tarkowski and Keane look like they want to score at each set play.