The highlighted cannot be overstated. If and when everything starts to well and truly click, we could be set up very nicely in the second half of the season.
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Stav1985
I was Sapie88
OVER
Blue Roo
Player Valuation: £20m
Good article.
The 1st and 2nd tier context is for me where things are at.
While watching the derby my neutral mate turned to me two thirds of the way through the game and said that a goal would ruin this match. I can't remember what I said at the time but it wasn't nice, maybe it was the timing of having seen the Blues make another incursion into their box.
But it gave pause later that the intensity felt proper.
It wasn't just an intensity based on hope and effort, nor was it confused and clouded by niggling doubts and fears.
The intensity seemed clear, match them and beat them.
While the Arsenal and Man U matches may have been a feeling out process, the Chelsea and RS matches were of competitive will.
This to me is the progress made so far.
Sure the Newcastle and Watford results felt like a couple more punches to the midriff after being winded,
but the results against the second tier sides don't really matter so much at the moment.
Its far more important that they play quality football in these matches...and that is going to take time.
I think I got it wrong early on in being critical of Silva for not having game plans for each opponent, not managing the result.
To change too much, to try and do it all at once would be to set up for fragility and failure.
To have a go at the second tier while competing with the first makes sense - to simplify, then develop, both tactically and psychologically.
It's probably also an overall quicker and more effective way of identifying the individual and team strength and weaknesses.
Fortunately, the Silva/Brands Blues are no real threat of relegation if managed well enough.
And it gives players like Rico and Bernard time to adjust.
More so is the way the fixtures are, if this season is about competing with the first tier then the run of home games against them at the end is set up perfectly.
The real challenge between now and then is for Silva to get his side playing well in tight compressed spaces in the final third.
This does not exactly fit into his system. But it is something he's going to have to do if he is going to get the team out of the second tier in his 2nd or 3rd season. Both tactically and psychologically, its the next step.
The 1st and 2nd tier context is for me where things are at.
While watching the derby my neutral mate turned to me two thirds of the way through the game and said that a goal would ruin this match. I can't remember what I said at the time but it wasn't nice, maybe it was the timing of having seen the Blues make another incursion into their box.
But it gave pause later that the intensity felt proper.
It wasn't just an intensity based on hope and effort, nor was it confused and clouded by niggling doubts and fears.
The intensity seemed clear, match them and beat them.
While the Arsenal and Man U matches may have been a feeling out process, the Chelsea and RS matches were of competitive will.
This to me is the progress made so far.
Sure the Newcastle and Watford results felt like a couple more punches to the midriff after being winded,
but the results against the second tier sides don't really matter so much at the moment.
Its far more important that they play quality football in these matches...and that is going to take time.
I think I got it wrong early on in being critical of Silva for not having game plans for each opponent, not managing the result.
To change too much, to try and do it all at once would be to set up for fragility and failure.
To have a go at the second tier while competing with the first makes sense - to simplify, then develop, both tactically and psychologically.
It's probably also an overall quicker and more effective way of identifying the individual and team strength and weaknesses.
Fortunately, the Silva/Brands Blues are no real threat of relegation if managed well enough.
And it gives players like Rico and Bernard time to adjust.
More so is the way the fixtures are, if this season is about competing with the first tier then the run of home games against them at the end is set up perfectly.
The real challenge between now and then is for Silva to get his side playing well in tight compressed spaces in the final third.
This does not exactly fit into his system. But it is something he's going to have to do if he is going to get the team out of the second tier in his 2nd or 3rd season. Both tactically and psychologically, its the next step.
Toffeelover
Player Valuation: £80m
Are we half way through the season?
...17 games played, 2 games to go I reckon but we are thereabouts.
Toffeelover
Player Valuation: £80m
Nope still the FA Cup to go, need to be factual friend.
radiostar
Player Valuation: £20m
To be honest i was shocked when Eggs put it out there that we were actually worse off this time this season than we were last under unsworth and Allardyce.
Its felt a lot different this season up until the derby, however, being worse off this season than last, when we needed that dreadful manager to bail us out of a relegation battle, is clearly unacceptable.
Seems to have been a few strikes against Silva recently and I know a fair few have been left disappointed with him.
Still half a season to go but the half time report is clearly a poor one.
D- - MUST do better.
Its felt a lot different this season up until the derby, however, being worse off this season than last, when we needed that dreadful manager to bail us out of a relegation battle, is clearly unacceptable.
Seems to have been a few strikes against Silva recently and I know a fair few have been left disappointed with him.
Still half a season to go but the half time report is clearly a poor one.
D- - MUST do better.
RS- MUST do one
After 17 games....right ho.
radiostar
Player Valuation: £20m
Bore off x
We had 28 points on January deadline day last year so we’ll see how that one goes I guess.
Stav1985
I was Sapie88
I honestly think we can write the season off now unless we’re very possibly dragged in to a relegation battle!
Gonna have to put you on ignore because every time I see your picture I burst out laughing sometimes in public.
radiostar
Player Valuation: £20m
Agree, we need to be some way past that.
Stav1985
I was Sapie88
Soz mickers x
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