Are We Going Down?

[Cornish forest]

Hate to say it but the euro games are a real millstone round the neck.
Yesterday was our 3rd game in eight days and it showed.
I think Villa last year didn’t win a league game immediately after their Euro games, certainly in the first part of the season.
Doubt the big man would find it acceptable but really need to be out of it at earliest opportunity and fielding where possible not our first 11.

[Username]

9 games in, you'd think after the next game would be a legit time to start looking at the table. A few worrying things have already emerged, us being terrible for one. Also, Leeds, Sunderland and even Burnley showing fight. Thankfully Wolves/West Ham look terrible. If we can stay in front of then you'd fancy us overtaking Leeds or Burnley at some point.

Its really the Sunderland and West Ham games that are hurting us right now.

Brentford - Win - expected
Palace - Draw - good result
West Ham - Loss - Result looks worse every week.
Arsenal - Loss - expected
Burnley away - disappointing but not crushing.
Sunderland - Loss - terrible
Newcastle - Loss- expected
Chelsea - Loss - would've hoped for at least a draw
Bournemouth - Loss - expected

It's those home games that are hurting us so far, badly. Got to turn it around in these next two. Really need 4 points at least.

We’ve not beat Chelsea at home since we got promoted, three defeats and one draw (which was under Cooper). 

Otherwise I agree with all of the above.

[wassy04]

9 games in, you'd think after the next game would be a legit time to start looking at the table. A few worrying things have already emerged, us being terrible for one. Also, Leeds, Sunderland and even Burnley showing fight. Thankfully Wolves/West Ham look terrible. If we can stay in front of then you'd fancy us overtaking Leeds or Burnley at some point.

Its really the Sunderland and West Ham games that are hurting us right now.

Brentford - Win - expected
Palace - Draw - good result
West Ham - Loss - Result looks worse every week.
Arsenal - Loss - expected
Burnley away - disappointing but not crushing.
Sunderland - Loss - terrible
Newcastle - Loss- expected
Chelsea - Loss - would've hoped for at least a draw
Bournemouth - Loss - expected

It's those home games that are hurting us so far, badly. Got to turn it around in these next two. Really need 4 points at least.

We’ve not beat Chelsea at home since we got promoted, three defeats and one draw (which was under Cooper). 

Otherwise I agree with all of the above.

Yeah, normally a tough game but they did have about half their first team out so that was the only reason I'd of expected/hoped not to lose.

[Username]

With Ange?

[wassy04]

With Ange?

Ha, well maybe until I saw the team sheet.

[Username]

I’ve been saying for some time that last season was an aberration, the players and manager overachieved and performed right to their ceiling, for the most part.

We were actually pretty crap post January with the odd exception.

The previous two seasons we survived by the skin of our teeth. In fact, in our second season, our points tally was pretty shocking.

We are now back to our current level in my opinion. It was always going to be a relegation battle again notwithstanding who was signed in the Summer.

We have tended to overrate too many players based upon probably what was twenty decent games.

Perhaps Nuno could see it and knew what was coming?

[Cornish forest]

I’ve been saying for some time that last season was an aberration, the players and manager overachieved and performed right to their ceiling, for the most part.

We were actually pretty crap post January with the odd exception.

The previous two seasons we survived by the skin of our teeth. In fact, in our second season, our points tally was pretty shocking.

We are now back to our current level in my opinion. It was always going to be a relegation battle again notwithstanding who was signed in the Summer.

We have tended to overrate too many players based upon probably what was twenty decent games.

Perhaps Nuno could see it and knew what was coming?

I think both Nuno and EM knew deep down that he wasn’t the type of manager the big man wanted. But neither wanted to pull the plug before it was too late. 
That indecision I fear is going to prove very costly.

[wassy04]

I’ve been saying for some time that last season was an aberration, the players and manager overachieved and performed right to their ceiling, for the most part.

We were actually pretty crap post January with the odd exception.

The previous two seasons we survived by the skin of our teeth. In fact, in our second season, our points tally was pretty shocking.

We are now back to our current level in my opinion. It was always going to be a relegation battle again notwithstanding who was signed in the Summer.

We have tended to overrate too many players based upon probably what was twenty decent games.

Perhaps Nuno could see it and knew what was coming?

Last season we overrachieved but I'm not sure 18th is our level either. The previous two years we had a lot of various things that led us to be down there. We've got some really good players now too which we didn't have two years ago. Anderson is now an established England international, Luiz, the expensive wingers, Murillo linked with big money moves, MGW literally had a 60m offer. Lets not put ourselves down too much, we have a better or as good a team to at least half in the league so far.

I wouldn't credit Nuno's decision making too much either, given he willingly accepted the West Ham job!

I think things will improve, just be slow and painful. Would imagine it'll get easier when the Euro games stop for winter.

[wassy04]

We also have lost Elanga and Aina from last year's team, plus Wood has been injured a bit too. Elanga was our best attacker last year, very big void to fill.

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

I don't believe that the Euro games are a problem and I hope we stay in it and go all the way.

For me the problem is lack of squad rotation.

We all thought that we built a good squad in the summer and most of us still do so why are we not using it more?

We have 2 quality players in my opinion for every position but too many are being under used.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

I’ve been saying for some time that last season was an aberration, the players and manager overachieved and performed right to their ceiling, for the most part.

We were actually pretty crap post January with the odd exception.

The previous two seasons we survived by the skin of our teeth. In fact, in our second season, our points tally was pretty shocking.

We are now back to our current level in my opinion. It was always going to be a relegation battle again notwithstanding who was signed in the Summer.

We have tended to overrate too many players based upon probably what was twenty decent games.

Perhaps Nuno could see it and knew what was coming?

I can accept we over achieved last season and we ran out of gas at the end. But I would also expect that we approached this season from a position of strength and the assumption that a net spend of £150 would have improved us.
How come Bournemouth sold most of their defence and look stronger, Brentford replaced their manager with a set piece coach, sold their 2 best forwards and have still scored nearly 3 times as many goals as we have.

[wassy04]

I don't believe that the Euro games are a problem and I hope we stay in it and go all the way.

For me the problem is lack of squad rotation.

We all thought that we built a good squad in the summer and most of us still do so why are we not using it more?

We have 2 quality players in my opinion for every position but too many are being under used.

In fairness yesterday McAtee, Bakwa, Wood, Aina, Zinchenko were all out. Doesn't leave tons of options for rotation. 

That said he could've gone with Yates, Dominguez, Hutchinson, Kalimuendo/Taiwo still. As I mentioned on the other thread, this is a big learning curve for Dyche too the Euro games and particularly with his style being to run more than the other teams. Hopefully this has taught him that he will have to rotate around the Euro games at least a bit if he wants us to be able to play the way he'd like, so that will hopefully be a good lesson.

I do agree though we need to get the likes of Kalimuendo, Hutchinson, Bakwa, Dominguez, McAtee going (when available).