I think its symptomatic of having so many changes. For the biggest games, you need a settled team. There just isn't the margin for error that you get in the 'lesser' games. For example, we would not have come back from the mistakes against Southampton if they were a top 4 team.
All season we've had upheaval. From Bale staying/ out, to a load of new players we didn't know what to do with, to changing formations, managers, injuries. As a player if you come into the Spurs side returning from injury or starting to show some form, there is no establish team for you to slot into. Its just a bunch of equally unsure players and manager trying to get by. In fact we've got by okay and some credit is due. But there is almost no consistency or stability.
does anyone have to hand the records for Arsenal Everton and United against the top 4/3 - just for comparison purposes ?
Why is so much emphasis placed on beating the top four? Its all I hear and its what was aimed at Harry as one of the reasons for him being '****'
If we won our games against the lesser sides this season we WOULD be top four right now. Beating the others will win you the league but baby steps yeah.
Hmm...the 2006-07 season with Jol?
Or was it Hoddle's last full season, 2002-2003?
If not either of those then has to be the Francis/Gross season of 1998/99 surely?
We conceded four or more on five occasions that season but only three of those defeats were by a margin of four or more.Wouldn't surprise me if you had to go back to our relegation season in '76/'77.
First off, great post by magna.
Couldn't resist checking so here's what I found -
2006-07: just one defeat by four or more in 49 League and Cup games
2002-03: a total of three defeats of that magnitude in 41 League and Cup games
1998-99: NO defeats by that margin in 53 League and Cup games. Suspect you meant the Gross season 1997-98 but even then we lost by that margin on only three occasions in 44 League and Cup games.
I'm pretty certain you have to go all the way back to season 1934-35 when we lost six games by a margin of four or more, all of them in the League. A season when we were decimated by injuries (iykyh!) and were relegated from the top flight.
Fair point, even so we've used seven fewer so far than the 36 used in 1934-35. It was different back then because no subs were allowed whereas now we have the concept of a squad system of 25 plus youngsters that allows three subs per game, making straight comparisons difficult.When did we play our "starting XI" for more than 2 games in a row without suffering from injuries this season?
When did we play our "starting XI" for more than 2 games in a row without suffering from injuries this season?
First off, great post by magna.
Couldn't resist checking so here's what I found -
2006-07: just one defeat by four or more in 49 League and Cup games
2002-03: a total of three defeats of that magnitude in 41 League and Cup games
1998-99: NO defeats by that margin in 53 League and Cup games. Suspect you meant the Gross season 1997-98 but even then we lost by that margin on only three occasions in 44 League and Cup games.
I'm pretty certain you have to go all the way back to season 1934-35 when we lost six games by a margin of four or more, all of them in the League. A season when we were decimated by injuries (iykyh!) and were relegated from the top flight.
My concern is not the losing to top 4 teams but the manner of the defeats.
... Levy and the board really have f***ed up in his post-Redknapp decisions/choices.
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