My opinion is that even factoring our injuries this season, we should be around mid table. People can blame injuries all they want, but it's very likely that our playing style, instructed by the Manager, contributes to these a lot - which brings me to my next point.
Idealistically, we all want a front-foot, attacking, energetic and pressing side. The problem I have with this team is that it presses way, way too aggressively and chases down too many lost causes, leaving huge gaps, contributing to muscle injuries and leaving the defence vulnerable and unprotected. That for me is on Ange. The half-time analysis yesterday, Defoe in particular, covered this well. Yes let's press, but pick the right momnts.
The forwards are constantly making 30-50 yard sprints to chase down goalkeepers who are not going to get caught out. We invert both full-backs high up the pitch and press with no second thought, this style is too extreme and I do believe Ange is poor tactically. Even if you think it works with a full squad, when you're playing two games a week for three months with 14/15 first team players available, this isn't sustainable.
There was a moment in open play yesterday where Villa had the ball and all three of our CMs were within ten metres of each other on the wing, pressing without a second thought of protecting the defence!
In my opinion we have a strong squad, unfortunately I don't think that this Manager can get us to where we should be even if we get injured players back and keep them fit.
Injuries Only Partly To Blame
posted on 11/2/25
comment by sandy, golden boot winner fa cup 1901 (U20567)
posted 16 hours, 23 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 1 hour, 51 minutes ago
Hilarious Sandy
You've triggered this lot good and proper. Foaming at the mouth some of them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They are hilarious the way they take an internet forum so seriously. Feck knows how they behave in real life.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
real life they're cowards.
Moan like the mother of all Karens on here. Do feckall about it in real life.
posted on 11/2/25
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by sandy, golden boot winner fa cup 1901 (U20567)
posted 16 hours, 23 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 1 hour, 51 minutes ago
Hilarious Sandy
You've triggered this lot good and proper. Foaming at the mouth some of them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They are hilarious the way they take an internet forum so seriously. Feck knows how they behave in real life.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
real life they're cowards.
Moan like the mother of all Karens on here. Do feckall about it in real life.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you for real Devonshire? Is it not coward to go back and edit an article because you’ve been shown up as a hypocrite?
posted on 11/2/25
Sandy doesn't respond to posts where he's been found out. He's such a coward.
He's totally lost all credibility yet he swans in and out of articles with the same gusto he had before. He's completely shameless.
He's so ridiculous he's practically a caricature at this point.
posted on 11/2/25
comment by Grinch (U23226)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by sandy, golden boot winner fa cup 1901 (U20567)
posted 16 hours, 23 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 1 hour, 51 minutes ago
Hilarious Sandy
You've triggered this lot good and proper. Foaming at the mouth some of them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They are hilarious the way they take an internet forum so seriously. Feck knows how they behave in real life.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
real life they're cowards.
Moan like the mother of all Karens on here. Do feckall about it in real life.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you for real Devonshire? Is it not coward to go back and edit an article because you’ve been shown up as a hypocrite?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Good bantz. He's really pulled your chain.
posted on 11/2/25
You’ll love this one Sandy…
https://x.com/thfcxdaniel/status/1889273668850860168?s=46
Doubt it’s legit but I really hope it’s true because I really want to see that puce head of yours burst with rage.
posted on 11/2/25
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Grinch (U23226)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by sandy, golden boot winner fa cup 1901 (U20567)
posted 16 hours, 23 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 1 hour, 51 minutes ago
Hilarious Sandy
You've triggered this lot good and proper. Foaming at the mouth some of them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They are hilarious the way they take an internet forum so seriously. Feck knows how they behave in real life.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
real life they're cowards.
Moan like the mother of all Karens on here. Do feckall about it in real life.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you for real Devonshire? Is it not coward to go back and edit an article because you’ve been shown up as a hypocrite?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Good bantz. He's really pulled your chain.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So you have no problem with people that are hypocrites and liars?
posted on 11/2/25
comment by Grinch (U23226)
posted 1 hour, 40 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Grinch (U23226)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by sandy, golden boot winner fa cup 1901 (U20567)
posted 16 hours, 23 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 1 hour, 51 minutes ago
Hilarious Sandy
You've triggered this lot good and proper. Foaming at the mouth some of them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They are hilarious the way they take an internet forum so seriously. Feck knows how they behave in real life.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
real life they're cowards.
Moan like the mother of all Karens on here. Do feckall about it in real life.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you for real Devonshire? Is it not coward to go back and edit an article because you’ve been shown up as a hypocrite?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Good bantz. He's really pulled your chain.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So you have no problem with people that are hypocrites and liars?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He’s another one that just doubles down at every given opportunity. You are wasting your time here. He’ll respond with some complete and utter bollox.
posted on 12/2/25
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 17 hours, 34 minutes ago
Sandy doesn't respond to posts where he's been found out. He's such a coward.
He's totally lost all credibility yet he swans in and out of articles with the same gusto he had before. He's completely shameless.
He's so ridiculous he's practically a caricature at this point.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Still waiting for you to to post a team from other clubs on my article, when they have a dozen players missing.
Not taking lectures of you Fridge. You only have your own narrative. You never see any other view bar your own.
posted on 12/2/25
comment by sandy, golden boot winner fa cup 1901 (U20567)
posted 6 hours, 36 minutes ago
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 17 hours, 34 minutes ago
Sandy doesn't respond to posts where he's been found out. He's such a coward.
He's totally lost all credibility yet he swans in and out of articles with the same gusto he had before. He's completely shameless.
He's so ridiculous he's practically a caricature at this point.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Still waiting for you to to post a team from other clubs on my article, when they have a dozen players missing.
Not taking lectures of you Fridge. You only have your own narrative. You never see any other view bar your own.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't think it's relevant because the injuries are a consequence of Ange's style of play. Your exercise only works if you're applying bad luck. It's not, so it's moot.
posted on 14/2/25
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 1 day, 17 hours ago
comment by sandy, golden boot winner fa cup 1901 (U20567)
posted 6 hours, 36 minutes ago
comment by fridgeboy (U1053)
posted 17 hours, 34 minutes ago
Sandy doesn't respond to posts where he's been found out. He's such a coward.
He's totally lost all credibility yet he swans in and out of articles with the same gusto he had before. He's completely shameless.
He's so ridiculous he's practically a caricature at this point.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Still waiting for you to to post a team from other clubs on my article, when they have a dozen players missing.
Not taking lectures of you Fridge. You only have your own narrative. You never see any other view bar your own.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't think it's relevant because the injuries are a consequence of Ange's style of play. Your exercise only works if you're applying bad luck. It's not, so it's moot.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total nonsense. Far to much made of it's all Ange's fault. Devonshire posted an excellent post completely putting that theory in the bin.