[Archived] Reasons for Optimism

[Parsonblue]

Forget the goals for a second, our general play was far more pass and move than hoof ball under Kean. Now with the likes of Formica, Rochina, Goodwillie, Petrovic and others we have players who should be technically good enough to play a better standard of football.

Under Sam end of season we played a better style of football which was mixed, that's all I want, a variety not EVERY ball hit aimlessly into the box because stats showed that if you hit 20 random balls into the box then you'll eventually score ax goal...

I assume that you've not watched how Robinson and Hanley distribute the ball under Kean. It was described as "hoofball" under Sam, I suppose we'll be calling it "a long pass" under Kean. The reality is that the only style that matters is winning and at the moment Kean still has to prove that he can win matches in sufficient number to keep us away from the drop. My only optimism is that if we get off to a poor start then even Mrs Desai won't be able to save him from the axe. However, if he picks up a few points early on, he might, with a bit of luck, just about keep us out of the bottom three. At the moment I'm optimistic that we can finish between 15th and 17th - if we get a bit of luck.

[imy9]

Course we hit long balls under Kean but there is a clear difference in the way we are trying to retain possession, I expect to see us play better this season with regards our general play and.think 11th is realistic if we get a top striker in.

[sentient]

Reasons to be cheerful part 3 ... its friday evening with a juicy little spanish red number

[den]

Course we hit long balls under Kean but there is a clear difference in the way we are trying to retain possession,

Thus we lost more games and went on our worst run in 25 years. You make it sound as though last season was enjoyable imy.

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[imy9]

Thus we lost more games and went on our worst run in 25 years. You make it sound as though last season was enjoyable imy.

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I expect us after a full pre season for us to play better this season.

Liverpool home, West brom away and wolves away were three very enjoyable games IMO.

[Mattyblue]

Come off it imy. Of course there were decent games and performances over 5 months, there's bound to be!

However we were still in relegation trouble on the LAST DAY of the season! I didn't enjoy us hurtling down the table one bit, not sure how any fan would.

[John]

Matty, I think some fans did enjoy the excitement of it though (the relegation battle) - anything but "hoofball" eh...

[rogerjonesgloves]

Reasons to be cheerful part 3 ... its friday evening with a juicy little spanish red number

What's she called?

[imy9]

Come off it imy. Of course there were decent games and performances over 5 months, there's bound to be!

However we were still in relegation trouble on the LAST DAY of the season! I didn't enjoy us hurtling down the table one bit, not sure how any fan would.

Nor did i! I merely highlighted some good games.under Kean and something to aspire towards this season, nothing more lol.

[jim mk2]

Liverpool home, West brom away and wolves away were three very enjoyable games IMO.

Three good wins amid a sea of dross, and Liverpool were about to fire Hodgson and Albion were in freefall under Di Matteo.

However, enough of this negativity because this is the optimistic thread and I would like to record that I am looking forward with feverish anticipation to 3 good games out of 38 next season.

[imy9]

Three good wins amid a sea of dross, and Liverpool were about to fire Hodgson and Albion were in freefall under Di Matteo.

However, enough of this negativity because this is the optimistic thread and I would like to record that I am looking forward with feverish anticipation to 3 good games out of 38 next season.

I bet you could make a case for EVERY game that we lost too.

In the end we finished where we deserved to finish. Period. As has been shown enough times Kean's points would have been enough to survive last season.

Changing a formation and the style of play mid season was a tough ask and the players clearly found it tough.

On a positive however we seem to be purchasing players who are capable of keeping the ball so I expect more than 3 excellent games out 38 next season.

[rogerjonesgloves]

I bet you could make a case for EVERY game that we lost too.

In the end we finished where we deserved to finish. Period. As has been shown enough times Kean's points would have been enough to survive last season.

Changing a formation and the style of play mid season was a tough ask and the players clearly found it tough.

On a positive however we seem to be purchasing players who are capable of keeping the ball so I expect more than 3 excellent games out 38 next season.

Trouble is fans expect two passes at the back and welllllllllyyyyyyyyyyy.

[Mattyblue]

Trouble is fans expect two passes at the back and welllllllllyyyyyyyyyyy.

Who does?

[grizfoot]

Who does?

All the morons who boo when we try and maintain possession for any period of time.

[rogerjonesgloves]

Who does?

Most English fans get impatient with possession at the back, one of the reasons we never win anything at international level, get the ball forward early, live off the second ball.

Everything at pace.

Why do Arsenal stand out? because the play the ball on the floor and move it around at the back and through midfield.

Haven't seen our midfield play since Hughes was at the club.

[OJRovers]

Why do Arsenal stand out? because the play the ball on the floor and move it around at the back and through midfield.

Why don't Arsenal win anything.....?

[rogerjonesgloves]

Why don't Arsenal win anything.....?

Because they can't defend (admittedly had some injuries recently) and have @#/? goalkeepers.

[Kelbo]

Because they can't defend (admittedly had some injuries recently) and have @#/? goalkeepers.

Thay may not have soon

[Athlete]

Thus we lost more games and went on our worst run in 25 years. You make it sound as though last season was enjoyable imy.

did our worst run for years have nothing to with SK's style of play then or his inexperience , incompetence , etc ???

.

[den]

did our worst run for years have nothing to with SK's style of play then or his inexperience , incompetence , etc ???

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Yes.

Naievity.

I sometimes think the reason coaches don't usually make good managers is down to the fact, that they put too much emphasis into the finer details of the game - and not enough into the way to win a game.

For example, I always reckoned Bryan Kidd thought he could turn his average buys into top PL players simply through his coaching.

A coach coaches. A manager wins which ever way he can.

So for Kean to make that transition from coach to manager, he needs firstly to ditch the fancy tactics and to focus first and foremost on making us hard to beat. Just as Howard Kendal did.

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[yankrover]

Personally, I'd rather my team play winning football over any other style. Hoofball, counterattacking, possession passing-whatever works with that particular group of players. What gives me some optimism going into this season is that Kean seems to have assembled more players that fit the style of play he wants to implement. Last year he was trying to fit a bunch of square pegs through round holes. Say what you will about Sam's style, the man new the kind of players he needed to make it effective.

[Andy]

Yes.

Naievity.

I sometimes think the reason coaches don't usually make good managers is down to the fact, that they put too much emphasis into the finer details of the game - and not enough into the way to win a game.

For example, I always reckoned Bryan Kidd thought he could turn his average buys into top PL players simply through his coaching.

A coach coaches. A manager wins which ever way he can.

So for Kean to make that transition from coach to manager, he needs firstly to ditch the fancy tactics and to focus first and foremost on making us hard to beat. Just as Howard Kendal did.

.

Agree with all of that, particularly the bit in bold.

[John]

Some fans really want entertainment which is fair enough.

For me, you cannot beat that winning feeling, I love it - if we win a good amount of games there will be genuine reasons to be optimistic.

[roverandout]

the best manager for playing long direct football and winning is tony pulis

[onlyonejackwalker]

Reasons to be optimistic.

1) An established group of senior players who are loyal to the club and knowledgeable of this standard. MGP, Roberts, Admiral, Robbo, etc

2) A group of exciting younger players all coming through together.

3) A couple of young new signings that can only get better as they fully acclimatise.

4) Poor quality teams promoted with small budgets.

5) A lack of quality at the lower end of the league and teams with worse squads and players than ours.

6) The harmony and team spirit generated in those that remain through the last ditch survival last year.

7) The fact we remain well respected on the pitch and are a handful for anyone on our day.

8) The manager up in court and soon to be removed...