Yeah but until the other week we hadn't beaten a side in the top 9.
In fact, it was one of my biggest issues with Silva - up until Chelsea, I shared in this thread;
Teams
#efc have beaten this season – Burnley, Cardiff, Brighton, Palace, Leicester, Fulham, Southampton, Bournemouth, Huddersfield.
To then argue we just need to improve consistency against the lower sides to be in a good place is wrong IMO, when you look at points we've picked up.
We're inconsistent full stop, not just against "lower sides"
Can I ask, where did I say that we're inconsistent just against "lower sides"? I totally agree we're inconsistent in general which I had tried to allude to.
However, I said that if we can improve our consistency against the lower sides, then we'd be in a strong place. Personally, I still stand by this. Why?
Well, I would argue that it's easier for Silva to make improvements that'll gain improved results against sides below us rather than those above us.
Look at the results below:
- Watford: draw and defeat (1 point)
- West Ham: defeat and win (3 points)
- Bournemouth: draw and win (4 points)
- Crystal Palace: win (3 points)*
- Burnley: win (3 points)*
- Newcastle: draw and defeat (1 point)
- Southampton: win and defeat (3 points)
- Brighton: defeat and win (3 points)
- Cardiff: two wins (6 points)
- Fulham: win and defeat (3 points)
- Huddersfield: draw and a win (4 points)
*Still to play a fixture.
That's only one side out of all the opponents below us (of those we've played twice) where we've got a maximum of six points; only three are four or more points.
Yes our results against those above us are inconsistent and have only improved as of late, but if we can continue this AND improve our form against below us...
... then we'll be in a much better place. I look at those fixtures, compared with those from the teams above us, and I know where I feel more aggrieved.
For reference, here's the record from those above us which arguably should be more difficult. Potentially (big IF), it may not be too different from those below us.
- Liverpool: defeat and a draw (one point)
- Man City: two defeats (zero points)
- Spurs: defeat (zero points)*
- Chelsea: draw and win (four points)
- Man U: defeat (zero points)*
- Arsenal: defeat and win (three points)
- Leicester: win and defeat (three points)
- Wolves: draw and defeat (one point)