Eddie Howe

[Keegans Export]

3 minutes ago, Stifler said:

Yeah, the worry is that we can only do that against teams who want to win themselves. Liverpool needed to win, and it’s in their nature to go for one.

Brentford are quite attacking, and at home, so I’m a lite more positive about it than other games, although they bring their own dangers with that.

Leicester, and Ipswich though, they will both be very happy point against us. They won’t attack and leaves gaps like others do. So far we haven’t found any answers for games like that.

That's what our season will depend on. Howe has come up with a fantastic strategy for games like this, shape, team selection etc all spot on. Now we need to do the same for the teams that are happy to let us have the ball. 

 

Assuming we're going to stick with the 4-3-3 I reckon our best bet is Tonali at 6, Bruno playing further up on the right side. I'd also have Barnes on the right, I think he'd link up well with Bruno and he's more two-footed than Gordon. 

[La Parka]

We just need an answer for anything but a high line. We smash anyone who doesn't sit back. 

[Sibierski]

3 goals against a side that will win the league (having conceded just 8 in 13 before), along with creating another load of good chances, should give us the world of confidence moving forward in final third.

That’s been the thing that’s hurt us the most this season. Mistakes happen and they always will unless you are a proper top level side, but the goal scoring for us over the years has powered us through. Need that mojo to come back and hopefully it does now.

 

When you see what Murphy give us (directness), I can see why we’re linked with guys like Elanga. Like if we had Guler last night, think we’d be worse off, but other games he’d be so key. Almost need two RWs  

[Displayname]

If he can get Isaks and Gordons confidence back I think alot of our problems will lessen significantly. 

[PauloGeordio]

3 minutes ago, Displayname said:

If he can get Isaks and Gordons confidence back I think alot of our problems will lessen significantly. 

Plus the Sandro effect! 

[Holmesy]

1 minute ago, PauloGeordio said:

Plus the Sandro effect! 

Narrative!

[SteV]

Post-match presser:

 

https://youtu.be/2wFS7bSdjE0?si=BjX8UtBCpeBh9WNt

[Conjo]

Brentford has been good at home this season, but they haven't really faced any top teams at home either. They've played Palace, Southampton, Leyton Orient, West Ham, Wolves, Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday, Bournemouth and Leicester.

 

The real test as many has already said is how we once again now have a chance to replicate our good performance against a team that may not motivate the players as much as the top teams. I don't expect a win necessarily, as Brentford are obviously really good at home despite not facing top teams, but I'd like to see the same desire/commitment/effort from the players here as against Liverpool.

 

 

Edited December 5 by Conjo

[SUPERTOON]

Just now, Conjo said:

Brentford has been good at home this season, but they haven't really faced any top teams at home either. They've played Palace, Southampton, Leyton Orient, West Ham, Wolves, Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday, Bournemouth and Leicester.

 

The real test as many has already said is how we once again now have a chance to replicate our performance against a team that may not motivate the players as much as the top teams. I don't expect a win necessarily, as Brentford are obviously really good at home despite not facing top teams, but I'd like to see the same desire/commitment/effort from the players here as against Liverpool.

We also aren’t a top side in fairness. I think we will do well to get a point tbh.

[JEToon]

It’s not to throw a player under the bus but this is the season of Gordon like,

 

Brighton chances, Everton pen, goes 2-0 last night, it massively turns the season even disregarding Palace and West Ham.

 

The chances not taken in those games aren’t just “oh well” chances either they are the kind of chances you build a game for your big money players to take.

 

I have never felt the issues with Howe are as deep as some want them to be, we have been a bitty this season and defined by small moments like that to me rather than ever needing to set the world on fire.

[Gallowgate Toon]

It goes without saying but this is a huge, huge period for us now.

 

We've got a largely fit squad, no international breaks for a while, top teams crunched in Europe, and we've just put in a good performance that should be a momentum builder. 

 

Howe has had us on some tremendous streaks in the past; we're due one and this would be the perfect time. Going into January in good form might encourage us to take more risks too...

[TheBrownBottle]

1 hour ago, JEToon said:

It’s not to throw a player under the bus but this is the season of Gordon like,

 

Brighton chances, Everton pen, goes 2-0 last night, it massively turns the season even disregarding Palace and West Ham.

 

The chances not taken in those games aren’t just “oh well” chances either they are the kind of chances you build a game for your big money players to take.

 

I have never felt the issues with Howe are as deep as some want them to be, we have been a bitty this season and defined by small moments like that to me rather than ever needing to set the world on fire.

Not sure what you mean - 'the season of Gordon' suggests that he's been performing?

[JEToon]

3 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Not sure what you mean - 'the season of Gordon' suggests that he's been performing?

 

There are words after that bit bud. 

[TheBrownBottle]

1 minute ago, JEToon said:

 

There are words after that bit bud. 

Sure, just not clear if you're singling out Gordon or suggesting a general malaise.  I'm honestly not having a go, just not sure what you're saying  

[JEToon]

3 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Sure, just not clear if you're singling out Gordon or suggesting a general malaise.  I'm honestly not having a go, just not sure what you're saying  

 

I have read it back and it reads pretty clear to me TBH 

[Checko]

3 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

Sure, just not clear if you're singling out Gordon or suggesting a general malaise.  I'm honestly not having a go, just not sure what you're saying  

I think in the 'Time person of the year' context maybe - where it's the person who "for better or for worse... has done the most to influence the events of the year"

[TheBrownBottle]

Just now, JEToon said:

 

I have read it back and it reads pretty clear to me TBH 

Fair enough - it isn't to me and would have taken less time to explain than to have a back-and-forth.  I still don't know if you're referring to Gordon re chances missed or the team generally.

[TheBrownBottle]

1 minute ago, Checko said:

I think in the 'Time person of the year' context maybe - where it's the person who "for better or for worse... has done the most to influence the events of the year"

Got you - like Hitler being 'TIme Man of the Year 1938', which wasn't because he was a little Lebowski urban achiever

[Kanj]

Said it the other day but it can be as simple as just taking your chances. Gordon putting away half of the ones he’s missed and we’re up in like 5-7th place. It’s really that simple. Get his mojo back and we’re firing. 
 

at this point we should be focusing on getting his head right. When he’s got that mentality that he’s unstoppable like he did last season there’s not many who can keep up with his energy and execution. 

 

 

Edited December 5 by Kanj

[TheBrownBottle]

I think the problems are far greater than simply missing a few chances.  The performances have been poor generally.  I'm not counting Liverpool - the players self-motivate for games like that.  Every club in the PL ups their game for games like this - and the vast majority don't have the talent we have at our disposal.

 

Next four games will be far more instructive as to whether or not a corner is turned.  We've been average to dogshit in far more games this season than we've been good.  Having watched pretty much all of our games I can't go with a narrative that we've been unlucky - we haven't.

[Holmesy]

There have been countless times in the past 6-7 games where our play around the box has been utter shite, and it highlights how much of a different proposition we would be if we had a proper #10 with some craft and guile. Someone in the Odegard mould but obviously not as expensive.

That little ball Isak played through to Hall is exactly what I mean. We need someone clever we could base our movement around who can do that every game. Isak has it in spades but he needs to be the one on the end of those balls ideally.

It would break our existing 4-3-3 setup but I don't think that's a bad thing if it gave us a new attacking dimension.

[JEToon]

30 minutes ago, Kanj said:

Said it the other day but it can be as simple as just taking your chances. Gordon putting away half of the ones he’s missed and we’re up in like 5-7th place. It’s really that simple. Get his mojo back and we’re firing. 
 

at this point we should be focusing on getting his head right. When he’s got that mentality that he’s unstoppable like he did last season there’s not many who can keep up with his energy and execution. 

 

 

 

 

100%, it is a pretty wild and erratic league where a fair old clutch of teams can just about beat anyone and a lot of it is around the edges and fine margins.

 

The chances Gordon missed v Brighton and Liverpool were relative sitters and massively change those games, as was the missed penalty and botched header at the back post v Everton.

 

The notion of free flowing easy on the eye football every other week where teams create multiple chances are great, there are as often when games aren’t like that and are decided by pretty fine details.

 

[The College Dropout]

We are good when we have space in behind to attack. Fast transitions. Especially at home against bigger sides. We’ve faced 4 of the top 5 at home, non away.  
 

Away from home against a midtable club that would be happy to nick it 1-0 or 0-0 we’ve largely been pants.  

[Ellis H]

Considering we’ve only got 3 genuinely good finishers in the squad (2 of which barely play) and a real lack of creativity it’s amazing we score so many goals. I think we averaged about 2.5 a game last year in all competitions.
 

Really does keep coming back to Howe getting far more out of a lot of these players than we could expect and we should remember that when people are sticking the knife in after a poor performance.

[DahnSahf]

40 minutes ago, TheBrownBottle said:

I think the problems are far greater than simply missing a few chances.  The performances have been poor generally.  I'm not counting Liverpool - the players self-motivate for games like that.  Every club in the PL ups their game for games like this - and the vast majority don't have the talent we have at our disposal.

 

I've been wondering recently if PSR issues have had an effect on the squad morale.

There was a general belief in the football world that we would be on the rise after the takeover. Players joined with that in mind. The realisation that fair competition is simply not going to be allowed might have caused a degree of demoralisation.