Relegation 2022/23

[Saint Domingo]

To spin the weekend’s result another way. Forest would have looked at that fixture of a bottom three team at home as their best chance of a win in their remaining games. That team led them twice, scored two, and ended up taking a draw. All this from the worst away team in the league with no striker. It’s a far worse result for them than us. It’s only not viewed that way because they’ve currently got a few points on us but in a few weeks things might look very different and they might see yesterday as their best chance of 3 points passed up.

 

[Drico]

It’s tough because with hindsight we should’ve binned Lampard after Bournemouth but truth be told I’d have disagreed with that decision at the time.

But it's not hindsight. So many of us said it at the time. And now we are in grave danger of paying for that misguided loyalty/misjudgement.

 

[Jamiednm]

This was how we stayed up last season...

Well we stayed up last season due to Richarlison being a beast for the last few months and single-handedly getting us points. We don’t have that any more.

 

[4737carlin]

I believe changing the manager is pointless when you do not address the massive problems with the squad in the January window.

I don't think it matters who the manager is. I'm not totally convinced on Dyche, but I'm not sure any manager can provide the solutions we need right now. I just don't want to see managerial changes while this board and owner remain in charge. It makes it look like managers are the problem when they most certainly are not.

So becauee we cant fix one problem you igmore the other?

 

[davek]

Forest are not a handy team. They have won one of their last nine games, home and away. We have lost far too much ground to be generous to our opponents now.

I said they're a handy home team. And they are.

 

[4737carlin]

But it's not hindsight. So many of us said it at the time. And now we are in grave danger of paying for that misguided loyalty/misjudgement.

We did then Moshiri rang Talk Sport, gave him a vote of confidence then blamed the fans

 

[Tony’s Carp]

If we were going to do it, then after Bournemouth or especially brighton at home, were the times to do it. There was absolutely no way back after that thrashing by Brighton, and it would have caused far less disruption to the transfer window. Not that I think sacking the manager gives them a valid excuse for no business being done either.

I agree with you that Brighton at home was the point of no return. Everything about that game screamed a manager whose time was up.

Like I say, I’d have considered sacking him after Bournemouth harsh, but I’m not paid to analyse football, and from the stats I’ve seen the underlying numbers would’ve probably justified sacking him.

 

[Drico]

To spin the weekend’s result another way. Forest would have looked at that fixture of a bottom three team at home as their best chance of a win in their remaining games. That team led them twice, scored two, and ended up taking a draw. All this from the worst away team in the league with no striker. It’s a far worse result for them than us. It’s only not viewed that way because they’ve currently got a few points on us but in a few weeks things might look very different and they might see yesterday as their best chance of 3 points passed up.

This will look the correct take if we beat Brentford and go on a bit of a run to safety.

Right now, though, it looks optimistic veering into delusional.

I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm saying I'm not buying the rose-tinted specs just at the moment. But that's my issue...

 

[Drico]

I said they're a handy home team. And they are.

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So handy they lost at home to Bournemouth. Yup, our direct rivals.

As I said, it's actually immaterial if Forest are handy or not. We don't have the luxury of waving games like this away. It was a glorious opportunity to take three points and drag them in - and we fluffed our lines.

 

[LucBesson]

This will look the correct take if we beat Brentford and go on a bit of a run to safety.

Right now, though, it looks optimistic veering into delusional.

I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm saying I'm not buying the rose-tinted specs just at the moment. But that's my issue...

Yep. A point was fine yesterday. It won't be next week.

 

[Azza]

The last couple of years there’s been no real pattern to our results so I’ve more or less given up thinking of our games in terms of easy v hard or must win v expected defeat. Every game is an opportunity, it wouldn’t surprise me much if we lost at home to Brentford then picked up points in the three “harder” games that follow.

I posted a few months ago that we never just play ok. We never have a game where every player is just alright and the opposition have scored and ultimately won because of some amazing tiki-taki football or exploited a massive weakness in our formation.

Regularly have 3 or 4 players who perform terribly and then individual mistakes give goals away.

 

[Drico]

The worrying thing for those running with the "Forest are a tough side to play at home" and "We'll beat Brentford at Goodison" argument is that if, as the great @davek, says "Forest are handy at home", then Everton really aren't. We are one of the worst home teams in the league. The stats bear Dave out - in terms of Forest being decent at the City Ground, but they also suggest we are very poor at home. The only consolation is Brentford are, apparently, one of the worst away. Looks a draw to me...

 

[Tony’s Carp]

To spin the weekend’s result another way. Forest would have looked at that fixture of a bottom three team at home as their best chance of a win in their remaining games. That team led them twice, scored two, and ended up taking a draw. All this from the worst away team in the league with no striker. It’s a far worse result for them than us. It’s only not viewed that way because they’ve currently got a few points on us but in a few weeks things might look very different and they might see yesterday as their best chance of 3 points passed up.

I agree with this. It’s really only the sequence of the goals that makes that feel like a worse result for us.

 

[davek]

This will look the correct take if we beat Brentford and go on a bit of a run to safety.

Right now, though, it looks optimistic veering into delusional.

I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm saying I'm not buying the rose-tinted specs just at the moment. But that's my issue...

How is it optimistic/delusional? Forest will be away next Saturday to a Spurs team that desperately need the points to stave off Liverpool from that 4th CL spot. And we'll be playing at home to a team we've played 3 times in just over 12 months and been the better team in those games. If that happens then there's 1 point between us and Forest.

That's a very reasonable possibility.

 

[Drico]

I agree with this. It’s really only the sequence of the goals that makes that feel like a worse result for us.

I really hope you are right, but I've started to trust my gut about this Everton, this season. I was right about getting rid of Lampard in November - as were many others (though we were a definite minority) - and I swore at the time that if we didn't we'd sleepwalk into the Championship. We didn't, and it looks like it will be, at best, a very close run thing if we are to stay up - especially as Dyche has immediately improved the side. Imagine what he could have done with the World Cup break and a full window...

So, here's to me being badly wrong, but I think I'll be right on this again and it will be galling if that is the case.