This is it for me. We absolutely need to target the first half of the season and build a base from there. 20 point by the new year. We do that and we will be ok.
Last couple of years we have tanked the first half of the season either due to still working in the window, or instability from Oct to Dec particularly.
First half of the season is crucial, we cant leave it behind us again and create a mountain we have to climb in the second half.
Worst thing is last season we had a "reasonable" start as well, not losing many, not conceding a bunch but jsut didnt take our chances (to nobodies surprise). So many more winnable games squandered. Then we just absolutely tanked over and over where we were being punished every single game for mistkaes and not takking chance.
We have seen the same group of players, pull out some wins and results and it all comes down to confidence. Being confident when things are going well is pretty easy.
REGAINING that confidence when you're in a low, low place is probably one of the hardest things for a human to do. I dont think some people appreciate just how important that injection of confidence that Dyche provided played last season. That first win against Arsenal, huge.
The players were evidently unfit as well. The fact Dyche came in and had to do a mini pre-season says it all. Had we had a proper pre-season and been fit from the first game not the 20th, we'd have got 7/8/9 more points im sure of it. Wolves, Southampton at home, the players looked as if they were knackered from the off. Dyche is too professional to ever say "i got here and the players were remarkably unfit", but I bet you he couldn't believe just how much lack of energy there was behind closed doors.
We will be fitter by the first game, we will be better im sure, but we have to start the season on the front foot, keep that confidence going as well as get some much needed additions in the attacking others.
While I dont think Patterson and
Mykolenko are particularly strong full backs (yet at least), I think they're alright for a mid-table team, it's the fact that we have so little going forward, our defence never gets a break or a breather, its just wave after wave.