Bilbo
TeaBaggins
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2004
- Messages
- 14,597
Most are saying this in light of the "5 wins in 6" stat - conveniently ignoring league form - where we are yet to log back-to-back wins and have a WDL or 4-4-4. We're struggling where (and when) it matters most. Frankly, if you ignore the playing styles, this is reminiscent of LvG; we manage to play the big teams well, but just can't seem to penetrate those that defend deep in a compact and organized manner.
Until Ole can consistently swat aside the lesser lights, we have no chance of threatening the top 4. If you feel 8/9 of our players are good enough for top 4, well, we should be beating the bottom teams easily, with the right tactics. That we are not indicates that either our players are not as good as you think - or that the coaching and / or tactics are not good enough. This is where most of us feel that even if not Top 4 quality, there is at least enough quality in our squad to not be losing to relegation-threatened teams each time we face them, indicating that the management / coaching is indeed an issue.
I'm coming at this from the opposite end of the spectrum. When we have our best team, or very close to it, available we do look like a pretty good side, certainly the equal of Chelsea and Leicester.
I'm willing to give Ole and staff the time they need to plug the obvious holes in our squad and build some strength in depth. If we add two or three quality players (RM, CAM, CM) to this squad as it is now we wont suffer quite as much when we have injuries, we wont have to rely on the likes of Andreas & Lingard (neither good enough for me) and we should start to see performances like we have recently on a more consistent basis.
Do I think Ole can elevate us to the level that City & Liverpool are currently at? I have my doubts about that, and also about whether that is even the plan for him. I think he has shown an ability to identify our problems and deal with them, and to know the right type of players to bring in. Maybe he gets two seasons to put the foundations in place and then we look for another man to come in and take this club back to the very highest level.