Thoughts on the start to the season? | October thoughts (p12)

SaintColin said:
Okay? And last year we were awful. That doesn’t mean we have made a great start
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Some of last year, we actually started a lot better than this, and we finished the best team in the league in the last 15 games. We had a bad spell when we were ravaged by injuries.

We've had 2 bad results this season so far, the rest has been good, why not just enjoy the last week, instead of looking for the negatives ?
 
cleavers said:
Some of last year, we actually started a lot better than this, and we finished the best team in the league in the last 15 games. We had a bad spell when we were ravaged by injuries.

We've had 2 bad results this season so far, the rest has been good, why not just enjoy the last week, instead of looking for the negatives ?
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Do you even remember my post? All I said was “not a great start, dropped more points than we have gained”. The thread is our opinion on the start to the season, that’s not looking for negatives, it is a fact. I then follow up with my opinion on how to move forward…
 
Mixed bag, the bad.... Spurs and the second half against Brighton. Good... Wolves, Rags and the Arsenal game. Considering the injuries and new players still finding their feet we are doing ok, still plenty to work on, but we will get better as the season progresses.
 
cleavers said:
Some of last year, we actually started a lot better than this, and we finished the best team in the league in the last 15 games. We had a bad spell when we were ravaged by injuries.

We've had 2 bad results this season so far, the rest has been good, why not just enjoy the last week, instead of looking for the negatives ?
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During that bad spell is where the games you are comparing are.

November - March 20 games and 25 points, better towards the end but tended to have a good win then lose.

1.25 points per game - The other 4 games.

First 9 games 23 points. 2.56 points per game. Wolves.

Last 9 games 23 points. 2.56 points per game.

In the bad run we played every team at least once so it wasn't down to the opposition, but that nadir in form doesn't make a good benchmark to measure success, not doubt we will improve on those fixtures overall, but nowhere near the 2.5 recurring which I rounded up, which is 97.1 points extrapolated compare to 47.5 for the nadir and 53.2 this year so far.

On a positive we should get around 3rd again.
 
SaintColin said:
Do you even remember my post? All I said was “not a great start, dropped more points than we have gained”. The thread is our opinion on the start to the season, that’s not looking for negatives, it is a fact. I then follow up with my opinion on how to move forward…
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Corky said:
During that bad spell is where the games you are comparing are.

November - March 20 games and 25 points, better towards the end but tended to have a good win then lose.

1.25 points per game - The other 4 games.

First 9 games 23 points. 2.56 points per game. Wolves.

Last 9 games 23 points. 2.56 points per game.

In the bad run we played every team at least once so it wasn't down to the opposition, but that nadir in form doesn't make a good benchmark to measure success, not doubt we will improve on those fixtures overall, but nowhere near the 2.5 recurring which I rounded up, which is 97.1 points extrapolated compare to 47.5 for the nadir and 53.2 this year so far.

On a positive we should get around 3rd again.
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I can't really be arsed replying to those who want to be negative, all of the above is history, I prefer thinking of the future.

Fact is, in the equivalent games this season we have gained 4 points we didn't get last season.
 
cleavers said:
I can't really be arsed replying to those who want to be negative, all of the above is history, I prefer thinking of the future.

Fact is, in the equivalent games this season we have gained 4 points we didn't get last season.
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You mean you are unable to put together a coherent response, complain about references to last season as history but take solace in comparison to the worst period in recent history? A prediction of third is hardly negative.

Then repeat something that has been said at least 10 times this thread, but fail to acknowledge why the comparison is disingenuous.

I don't think we are doing better than last season at this stage by any metric, but think it is likely we will beat last season's points total given the new signings and potential, but if you gave me a £1 in free bets I would put it on third and be delighted if we get higher. I think GD will drag us over 80 points just, but the two teams above us last season will do a bit better. Hope I am wrong.
 
I haven't been impressed by either Arsenal or Liverpool any more than last season, so, on the assumption that we will continue to improve as the season progresses, 7 points from those 1st 5 games isn't a bad return, considering:-

1 was a derby
1 was Spurs at home
1 was the Arse away
1 was Brighton away.

We lost all of those equivalent matches last season. We've got a lot of positives imho so far and look more likely to improve as the season progresses. Get the points against Burnley - with no injuries - and that'll be good enough. Par, or better than last season - 3rd place or above - will be fine.
 
Nice bit of context compared to our rivals:
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So we're one of the 8 teams with less points than expected based on performances.

If Liverpool were even remotely close to their expected points, I think people would be even more positive about us.

Long way to go.
 
Withnail said:
Mixed bag, the bad.... Spurs and the second half against Brighton. Good... Wolves, Rags and the Arsenal game. Considering the injuries and new players still finding their feet we are doing ok, still plenty to work on, but we will get better as the season progresses.
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I really really hope the way we played against Arsenal was a one off and city gets back more control in midfield and startes to look a bit more like a few years ago.
 
Wirral Blue8 said:
Need to get a minimum of 13 points from the next 5 games. 20 points from the first 10 games would be decent.

Ideally 5 wins from 5 and 23 points would be a very good return with our next game then being home v Liverpool on 9th November
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Win next 6 and we are in with a shout. Don't see it happening.
 
cleavers said:
Yes, and from the equivalent games last season we'd dropped 12.
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Never paid much attention to the equivalent games stat as your not really comparing like with like. Our start has been average which is not good enough to challenge but does show signs of improving, so half full rather than half empty for me.
 
We look a lot stronger mentally and focused again from Pep down to the players. I think we'll win something this season, probably not the prem but a cup.
 
Will be interesting how this new style develops over the next few weeks and whether it can bring about a run of consistent form
 
I'm fine with not challenging for the league title, but I want to see effort, togetherness and signs things are moving in the right direction.

Last season went into freefall and we needed to resort to playing slow suffocating tedious stuff coupled with a fair amount of fortune to sneak into the CL spots.

The last 3 games have been a definite positive for me, feels like the first time in ages we have a solid base to work from again with Donnarumma coming in and finding a back 4 that seems to look solid.

I expect a few more hiccups along the way but if were in a place similar to the end of Peps first season at the end of it, where you could clearly see the signs of a superb team forming even if it wasn't perfect, be great to see some of our young players forming an attacking threat similar to what Sane Jesus and Sterling offered towards the end of that season.

That is my aim really, to finish in the top 4, be on an upward trajectory at the end of the season and play quicker more entertaining stuff. We're not currently at the same point in our cycle as Liverpool and Arsenal who are at peak strength. I don't really think we're in a title race, I don't want to judge us on cups either as a lot depends on who you draw, we could be at Anfield 3rd round of the FA Cup for example or Madrid in the last 16 again.
 
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