Re: 27-2......
I think this is the biggest dissapointment of this season. I think it actually highlights the poor organisation and tactics more than anything, as if you have a team that is set up properly, properly drilled and is working well together as a unit, you can frustrate teams much better than you and potentially get results.
I'm not saying we would have won these games, as the teams above us are better and have better players (maybe Everton excepted, but we took 4 points off them), but we were NEVER in any of these games apart from the 1-1 home draw against Chelsea, when AVB's plan was still working from earlier in the season and we were looking very hard to beat.
Clearly, the players raised themselves against Arsenal, as the games against them were very close (even the FA cup tie was until Rose's brainfart).
I could take narrowly losing against Emirates Marketing Project, Chelsea and Liverpool as they are quality teams with some stunning players, like Suarez, Aguero, Silva, Hazard, Oscar etc. Once we sold Bale, we lost any right to expect to compete on even terms with these teams, but we can still organise ourselves as a unit and give them a tough game, especially at White Hart Lane.
It's so annoying and frustrating that none of these teams had to even break sweat against us. Compare us to say, Everton. I bet none of those teams would be looking forward to a trip to Goodison. They'd be thinking this was going to be a real test and even if they manage to win, as their talent carries them through, they'll be coming off that pitch in all liklihood sweating buckets and having been put through the mincer.
I honestly can't have it that a decent manager can't fashion a strong, tough-to-beat team out of what we have, even if we don't have a left-back.
This season has come from having two very inexperienced managers who are out of their depth at a club like ours and are both learning on the job and making mistakes. That isn't good enough and while I don't want him out, as i think overall he is a good chairman, Levy and the board really have f***ed up in his post-Redknapp decisions/choices.