Josh L

Other way round re swelling.

I did doubt to be honest.
Good to see they aren't completely broken.

It's a major flaw with the Frank approach and our squad.

I think a bit of both. Given how we've been playing against almost everyone I'm taking massive positives from this.

By miles.
There were passes!
Between forwards and midfielders!

x1000

And that's their strength as well, so good to beat them at it.

Oh i still don't think he's a good manager for us.

Today was infinitely better though.

Play 5 more home games like that and I'll be much closer to convinced.

Best performance since Burnley. Played with intent.

Brentford awful, which helped, but we actually moved the ball around well today for larger portions.

Holy shit we actually look good

Why not both?

...I started building my own but i think you're just correct. Odobert over Xavi maybe? Not sure which of those he trusts least.

Tel and whichever if those doesn't start will come on 70m in.

Imagine having any to call upon.

Rivalry is odd. If Arsenal football club were dissolved tomorrow i would feel like i had lost something (after a respectful period of lmao).

Chelsea and West ham would be pure upside.

Is it a consequence of valuing physical over technical traits in the middle combined with not committing players forward?

I guess they're actually trying to win free kicks out wide, and sometimes you don't get fouled.

Or at least a defensible approach.

... It didn't even look effective against Chelsea, Arsenal Bournemouth.
It's failing worst of all in the games where it should be a good approach.

That's interesting but we're usually looking at xG not shots, so 'better quality' would be reflected.

The eye test would say we're generally creating nothing at all and chucking crosses into packed boxes when we do 'create'.

So id say it's not working no matter the intent.

RKM, Kudus, Xavi do not lack quality or experience imo.

Midfield is only lacking because we chose to make it so. Palhinha is good and experienced at what he does... It's just not what we need

4th.
5th-6th acceptable if in the running for 4th but just feel short.

If we were to get to a final in any cup i would adjust down.

Is some of that game state related though? If you are behind a lot then usually your xG usually gets a boost as you often attack more until you score. Obviously WE don't really do that effectively but other sides do...

Wait, which side of the debate was my point backing up again...

On current form should we consider ourselves in the relegation fight?

Lots of games where we were crying out for another technical player in that three though.

Ultimately though it simply isn't what Frank wants from those positions, or we wouldn't have signed Palhinha, extended Bentancur and then played them both ad nauseum.

Diamonde hearts club? (spurs specifically)

Bissouma was absolutely key at 6 in Ange's system. But he turned and carried rather than passed. We got much worse when we had Bentancur there because he can't turn with the ball.

Underlapping full backs bombing forwards and Maddison floating gave options and broke pressure.

Super, super Yan, super super Yan super Yan Diamonde

I predicted us to finish 8th (not complimentary) and that was seen as pessimism. Looks like a dream now.

This might be low ceiling football but the trade off is supposed to be a high floor... I don't understand how we're so so poor, even if i don't like the approach.

...Or go full LangeOut.

Frank will continue trying to make this style work. If we sack Frank then Lange/Paratici will continue trying to make something similar work.

Whereas a significant proportion of fans think this is fundamentally the wrong route to go.

So maybe we should start asking: how do we make 'this' work.