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The 2020-2021 Football Thread
- Thread starter Scepticalscribe
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And Arsenal currently lead, by two goals to nil, in heavy snow at The Hawthorns, where they are playing West Brom.
They really "Arsenaled it into the net" for the second one.
Continuing to curse the timing of Liverpool's recent match against West Brom...they don't look so great, I think we caught the new manager bounce and it's all downhill from there for them.
I can’t see Sam turning this one around and keeping them up. Not unless he does some good business this month.
Yes a good start. But a goal from West Brom and you will have the usual nervy finish to the match.
Well, so far, Arsenal have had ten or eleven shots on goal, to West Brom's two.
I like the fact that they have been attacking, creating chances, and actually scoring goals from play.
And this, in difficult enough physical conditions.
Surviving relegation typically depends as much on the teams around you failing as you getting results. So they may yet make it. But they are certainly not doing much to stay up right now.
Survival this season will depend a lot more on not losing than winning matches. Everyone is inconsistent and dropping points. So if Big Sam can get them drawing match after match, with the odd win thrown in, it will likely be enough to keep them up. Sheffield are gone. So they only need two more teams to be just a little more crap than they are to survive.
Arsenal are starting to fade, which is very on-brand for them. Two goals may still be enough, but they can't afford to let West Brom back into the match.
EDIT: And as I type the above Arsenal ices it with a third goal. No Big Sam masterclass today, I should think, barring a major collapse.
EDIT: And as I type the above Arsenal ices it with a third goal. No Big Sam masterclass today, I should think, barring a major collapse.
And now, they have scored a fourth.
I don't see West Brom coming back from that.
A happy sigh from this Gunner.
The thing is Arsenal have attacked, created chances (leading 16-3 on shots so far, and 10-1 on shots on target).
Plus, they have now scored four goals from play in this game.
This is a massive improvement on their form of only a few games ago; nine points from three games.
I’m sure! Nice to get a win against a fellow relegation rival!
I think that we have become a safe, mid table, side by now.
In truth you always were. I can’t see anyone outside the current bottom four or five going down.
And we almost made it five, just now.
Strange how a horrid flirtation with the relegation zone makes the idea of mid level stability a lot more attractive.
Arsenal did look like they were fading a bit before the third goal came, but that took the wind out of West Brom's sails and in the end it was rather easy for the Gunners.
They scored several goals from play (something that seemed almost impossible just a few short weeks ago), created several more decent chances from play, attacked consistently, and conceded nothing, neither moronic red cards, nor a silly goal as a result of falling asleep in defence.
To me, that is a good night's work.
I know it is still pretty early in the season but how many team have been on top of the table already?
It seems to be a mix of Covid, compressed fixture lists, injuries, lack of crowds, but the way the game is played seems to have changed a bit this season, probably in response to circumstances engendered by Covid.
A few weeks ago, the Guardian had a fascinating piece on how tactical battles are now more similar to those you may have seen well over a decade ago - which might also serve to explain why Spurs are doing so well under Mourinho at the moment - rather than the sophisticated pressing game adopted by some continental managers in recent years.
A few weeks ago, the Guardian had a fascinating piece on how tactical battles are now more similar to those you may have seen well over a decade ago - which might also serve to explain why Spurs are doing so well under Mourinho at the moment - rather than the sophisticated pressing game adopted by some continental managers in recent years.
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Manchester City had destroyed Chelsea in the first half; they just had to ensure that Chelsea couldn't make a comeback.
Re games in hand, in theory they strengthen your position, but, if the fixture list becomes too congested (because of delays caused by scheduling clashes, or injuries, or weather, or Covid), then, they can become something of a liability; at that stage it is better to have points on the board than games in hand.
Elsewhere, Leicester managed a tidy victory over Newcastle.
Re games in hand, in theory they strengthen your position, but, if the fixture list becomes too congested (because of delays caused by scheduling clashes, or injuries, or weather, or Covid), then, they can become something of a liability; at that stage it is better to have points on the board than games in hand.
Elsewhere, Leicester managed a tidy victory over Newcastle.
As we have been discussing, the top teams have all been underperforming. It makes the season quite unpredictable because when any of the most expensive squads finally decide to have a good day, watch out - but next week the same team might stumble badly against a mediocre opponent.
Man City have been possibly the biggest under-performers this season so far, so they have perhaps the most potential to shoot up the table if they get their act together.
I think in the long term having more than a couple games in hand is undesirable because it means the next injury/COVID crisis could come right when you are having to make up extra matches.
Man City have been possibly the biggest under-performers this season so far, so they have perhaps the most potential to shoot up the table if they get their act together.
I think in the long term having more than a couple games in hand is undesirable because it means the next injury/COVID crisis could come right when you are having to make up extra matches.
Nice to see Saints leading Liverpool at the moment (approaching half time)
Considering the injury woes befalling us, we are doing relatively well.
One goal won't be enough against this Liverpool team though. Need to ensure Thiago gets sent off and we score another goal or two...we've had the chances
Considering the injury woes befalling us, we are doing relatively well.
One goal won't be enough against this Liverpool team though. Need to ensure Thiago gets sent off and we score another goal or two...we've had the chances