What about not being relegated at all? I'd probably plump for that.
And if promotion was so much of a sure thing, why did so many posters predict us finishing outside the top 2?
Our squad wasn't 'a gulf of class above every other'. Our starting eleven were the best in the league without doubt, out squad however weren't as great as some folk liked to make out. We lost a couple fo out players mid season and we looked every inch a much poorer team because of it. Yes, we could have changed the system which I am sure will be the argument but the personnel we had to use were still sub-par.
Oh, while we're at it, is thinking we will be beaten ten nil every game because you watched some Burnley games (who absolutely were not set up like us) really a logical path to follow?
Other than that, a barstormer of a post.
What about not being relegated at all? I'd probably plump for that.
Completely agree
And if promotion was so much of a sure thing, why did so many posters predict us finishing outside the top 2?
see my original post "Those who stated we would be beaten ten nil every game were looking at things judged on relegation from a league that was of a far higher standard. " I stated at the beginning of last season that we would finish top 2, that was based on the depth of our squad compared to the rest of the championship.
Our squad wasn't 'a gulf of class above every other'. Our starting eleven were the best in the league without doubt, out squad however weren't as great as some folk liked to make out. We lost a couple fo out players mid season and we looked every inch a much poorer team because of it. Yes, we could have changed the system which I am sure will be the argument but the personnel we had to use were still sub-par.
Our squad was miles better than other squads in the championship and by a significant margin, I would argue most pundits and those currently managing in the game stated this. It could be argued quite reasonably that the biggest achievement of last season was Ipswich.
Oh, while we're at it, is thinking we will be beaten ten nil every game because you watched some Burnley games (who absolutely were not set up like us) really a logical path to follow?
I did not say we would be beaten ten nil every game, you quoted that phrase not me. I said "
Those who stated we would be beaten ten nil every game were looking at things judged on relegation from a league that was of a far higher standard." The wording of
Those would suggest that I did not state that would be the case? again I said at the beginning of last season that we would finish top 2 that was based on the depth of our squad compared to the rest of the championship.
With regards to Burnley, Maresca did adopt the same philosophy last season (and I would have no reason for him to change if he were at the helm now) it is straight out of Pep's philosophy, funny old thing I believed Maresca worked under him at Man City? What Burnley did last season was stupefying, when you come up against the very best sides in the Prem, passing it out from the back when your opposition employs a very accurate and damaging high press was critical in their downfall. As an example look at our performance against Liverpool in the Cup game, Maresca employed the exact same way of playing as Burnley did all season.
It was interesting to listen to Marc Albrighton explaining how Maresca wanted his CD to follow the play forwards and overload the opposition defence thus keeping them pressed into their own half, even though he knew it would leave us exposed at the back. In the Championship you can get away with it, in the Premiership you are punished severely for it, the gulf in class is there for everyone to see.
The fact that those sides at the bottom of the Championship faired better against us than those at the top demonstrated the risk that Maresca employed, the sides that employed a low defensive block and hit us with a counter attack down our left and right sides exposed our weaknesses terribly. The difference was the lack of quality of strikers in the Championship compared to that in the Prem, I feared Maresca would have carried on with the same tactics regardless now we are in the Premiership.
Other than that, a barstormer of a post.
Why are you totally incapable of accepting someone's difference of opinion? Also I think you really should read and digest what someone has written before you respond with a subjective response rather than on that is objective.
One thing that is unknown, is whether or not we would have recruited better quality to slot into Maresca' style of play, Chelsea will show what he can do with a better caliber of player. As for SC lets just wait and see, 4 games in charge that were friendlies is no basis to make any judgement although, I take on board your concern that the players appeared to not know what was required of them. 15 games is about right to see if we can compete well in this league, he must be given that no matter how uncomfortable it becomes.
