Today’s Football 2020/21 Season

[catcherintherye]

@number4. I remember you said a couple of weeks back you expected the top 4 teams to go on runs of 10 wins in 12 games.

I pointed out no chance. Too much fatigue has set in already. Some of them have already slipped in twice since then. I doubt any of them will win 10 out of 12, never mind all 4.

None of the "big 6" won this week. Cant remember the last time that happened. Something bigger is happening here.

 

[matty1878]

Spurs will take a point I reckon

hopefully - they’re defence looks really vulnerable

 

[matty1878]

@number4. I remember you said a couple of weeks back you expected the top 4 teams to go on runs of 10 wins in 12 games.

I pointed out no chance. Too much fatigue has set in already. Some of them have already slipped in twice since then. I doubt any of them will win 10 out of 12, never mind all 4.

None of the "big 6" won this week. Cant remember the last time that happened. Something bigger is happening here.

as in fitness?

 

[Saint Domingo]

@number I remember you said a couple of weeks back you expected the top 4 teams to go on runs of 10 wins in 12 games.

I pointed out no chance. Too much fatigue has set in already. Some of them have already slipped in twice since then. I doubt any of them will win 10 out of 12, never mind all 4.

None of the "big 6" won this week. Cant remember the last time that happened. Something bigger is happening here.

If really makes you think. Even with all our problems, if we’d edged the Leeds game and not conceded against Burnley we’d be top of this league. Big teams are going to continue to drop points as the fixtures come thick and fast. There’s no City/Liverpool behemoths this season. If we can find form in the second half off the season, keep everyone fit, with no Europe we could yet have a very good league season because everyone else is having games being as patchy as we have been.

 

[the golden visionary]

Maddisons a bit of a player.

 

[H.H.]

If really makes you think. Even with all our problems, if we’d edged the Leeds game and not conceded against Burnley we’d be top of this league. Big teams are going to continue to drop points as the fixtures come thick and fast. There’s no City/Liverpool behemoths this season. If we can find form in the second half off the season, keep everyone fit, with no Europe we could yet have a very good league season because everyone else is having games being as patchy as we have been.

IF IF IF IF IF IF IF,
It’s the same for all teams.
If Spurs hadn’t conceded a last kick goal in consecutive home games they would be 4 points clear.

If Southampton had beat Spurs 5-1 at home instead of losing 5-1 they would be clear at the top of the league.
IF IF IF
But I do agree that cos the season is so condensed, all the teams who play in European competition will struggle more than normal so we will see IF one of the teams with less fixtures will be good enough to take advantage?

 

[catcherintherye]

as in fitness?

Partially yes. I think trends are for the league to become more even, but fatigue and fitness are a big hindrance.

 

[catcherintherye]

IF IF IF IF IF IF IF,
It’s the same for all teams.
If Spurs hadn’t conceded a last kick goal in consecutive home games they would be 4 points clear.

If Southampton had beat Spurs 5-1 at home instead of losing 5-1 they would be clear at the top of the league.
IF IF IF
But I do agree that cos the season is so condensed, all the teams who play in European competition will struggle more than normal so we will see IF one of the teams with less fixtures will be good enough to take advantage?

I do agree with that, and pretty much every season every team has the stories, without always counting it against them.

Like we could have won at Burnley, but lost at Fulham etc.

That being said, theres a couple of naive defensive displays where we have probably lost 4-5 points. I think that's the big difference between ourselves and Spurs. You just have more players with a winning mentality and get over the line when not at your best a bit more.

Mourinho wrote the book on it.

 

[Toast]

Maddisons a bit of a knob head.

Fixed that for you.

 

[zukai12_]

Very, Very good opportunity for Europa this year, need to string together a good run and (hopefully) reinforce in Jan

COYB

 

[Saint Domingo]

IF IF IF IF IF IF IF,
It’s the same for all teams.
If Spurs hadn’t conceded a last kick goal in consecutive home games they would be 4 points clear.

If Southampton had beat Spurs 5-1 at home instead of losing 5-1 they would be clear at the top of the league.
IF IF IF
But I do agree that cos the season is so condensed, all the teams who play in European competition will struggle more than normal so we will see IF one of the teams with less fixtures will be good enough to take advantage?

Of course it’s all ifs and buts, I’m just amazed that after going 1 win in 6 we’re still only 5 points off the top. Those first few games set us up so well, just a shame that we fell away so badly but nothing is lost yet (not that I think in a million years we’ll be top 4 in May).

 

[catcherintherye]

If really makes you think. Even with all our problems, if we’d edged the Leeds game and not conceded against Burnley we’d be top of this league. Big teams are going to continue to drop points as the fixtures come thick and fast. There’s no City/Liverpool behemoths this season. If we can find form in the second half off the season, keep everyone fit, with no Europe we could yet have a very good league season because everyone else is having games being as patchy as we have been.

I do think, every season you can do this, but it's a fair point. I think had we defended how we did in certain games in all games, maybe we draw with United, win at Burnley and draw against Newcastle/Leeds. So 5 points and as you say a share of top spot.

I am an optimistic guy though, and see it as where we can get to this season if we can tighten up. We will score goals. Each in their own way, James, Richarlinson and DCL are difficult to stop. It may take a year to fully cement that over our dead bodies attitude in this squad though. All we can hope is we see more of it as the season goes on.

As for the league, wide open. Normally youd rule each team out, and in truth none of them have any right to think about winning it, but it's out there for someone. If Spurs win Wednesday, it's a massive fillip.

Nobody is going through winning 10 from 12 and the lad predicted 4 or 5 would do. The league is too strong. Fulham in 18th have just taken points off Liverpool.

 

[the golden visionary]

Fixed that for you.

I thought that was a given

 

[H.H.]

I do agree with that, and pretty much every season every team has the stories, without always counting it against them.

Like we could have won at Burnley, but lost at Fulham etc.

That being said, theres a couple of naive defensive displays where we have probably lost 4-5 points. I think that's the big difference between ourselves and Spurs. You just have more players with a winning mentality and get over the line when not at your best a bit more.

Mourinho wrote the book on it.

Except for the two games I mentioned where in one a team (Newcastle) with no shots on target got a ludicrous last kick pen and then in the next game we threw away a 3-0 lead in the last 7 minutes.
We have many better players than Everton but what we haven’t yet got is a winning mentality.

 

[catcherintherye]

Except for the two games I mentioned where in one a team (Newcastle) with no shots on target got a ludicrous last kick pen and then in the next game we threw away a 3-0 lead in the last 7 minutes.
We have many better players than Everton but what we haven’t yet got is a winning mentality.

Well yes every team can do it.

You probably do, but I think the gap is getting closer, with some mean regression for Everton too.

I think a bit distinguishing feature though, is you know how to win games. Lots of players in your squad have been in teams that gets 80+ points. It makes a big difference.

I did a man for man comparison after the Arsenal game for you guys (which I felt you won at a canter) and I'm not sure theres that much between the teams.

Alderweireld/Dier v Keane/Mina/Holgate.
Digne v Reguillion
Hojberg/Sissoko v Allan/Doucoure
James/Richarlinson/DCL V Kane/Son

Not a million miles of difference. Right back and goalkeeper I think there is. But you look advanced in the art of winning games.