Taking a step back........

[ALWAYS_SFC]

Yoshida probably is a bottom half player which is what he said and Martina at the time was poor. Given he has improved massively over the season though.

 

Not in my opinion

[SaintTex]

it's interesting to compare the last three seasons

 

2013-2014 : 15W 11D 12L | 54 46 +8 --- 56 points -- 8th place

2014-2015 : 18W 06D 14L | 54 33 +21 -- 60 points -- 7th place

2015-2016 : 15W 09D 11L | 49 37 +12 -- 54 points -- 8th place (thru 35 games)

 

very little drop off, even if we go out with a whimper in our last three matches.

 

pretty remarkable considering the turnover in the squad.

[washsaint]

Did not realize our record was so similar last 3 seasons. Guess the unanswered question is how, or even if, we can push on to the next level.

[CB Fry]

it's interesting to compare the last three seasons

 

2013-2014 : 15W 11D 12L | 54 46 +8 --- 56 points -- 8th place

2014-2015 : 18W 06D 14L | 54 33 +21 -- 60 points -- 7th place

2015-2016 : 15W 09D 11L | 49 37 +12 -- 54 points -- 8th place (thru 35 games)

 

very little drop off, even if we go out with a whimper in our last three matches.

 

pretty remarkable considering the turnover in the squad.

And all that negative net spend as well, which forum geniuses were very quick to remind me is the main driver of success for any club.

 

Well, Villa, Newcastle and Sunderland have been delivering positive net spend season in, season out (the last two over five concecutive seasons at least) and they are indeed proof positive.

 

Oh, and haven't Stoke and Palace strengthened, like, so well. So much strengthening in the summer and it's made such a difference that's for sure.

 

Skinflint, clueless, cheapskate Les and Ralph take note.

[whelk]

And all that negative net spend as well, which forum geniuses were very quick to remind me is the main driver of success for any club.

 

Well, Villa, Newcastle and Sunderland have been delivering positive net spend season in, season out (the last two over five concecutive seasons at least) and they are indeed proof positive.

 

Oh, and haven't Stoke and Palace strengthened, like, so well. So much strengthening in the summer and it's made such a difference that's for sure.

 

Skinflint, clueless, cheapskate Les and Ralph take note.

 

Explains why Spurs fans are livid

[CB Fry]

Explains why Spurs fans are livid

Spurs: no ambition.

[Turkish]

Do we still wish we were Everton/Stoke/Watford?

[CB Fry]

Do we still wish we were Everton/Stoke/Watford?

 

I think we are stuck competing with our natural rivals West Brom and Bournemouth while those three build on their foundations and leave us behind.

[doddisalegend]

Do we still wish we were Everton/Stoke/Watford?

 

 

Totally jealous of everton keeping calamity Stones was a master stroke that has cost them a bucket load points probably wont be getting 40 million for him now. The way they fended of zero interest in Lukaku was particularly impressive ambition from the Everton board.

[DuncanRG]

Totally jealous of everton keeping calamity Stones was a master stroke that has cost them a bucket load points probably wont be getting 40 million for him now. The way they fended of zero interest in Lukaku was particularly impressive ambition from the Everton board.

 

Harsh on Stones - he can't help that he's playing for a manager who can't coach defenders.

[Dig Dig]

Totally jealous of everton keeping calamity Stones was a master stroke that has cost them a bucket load points probably wont be getting 40 million for him now. The way they fended of zero interest in Lukaku was particularly impressive ambition from the Everton board.

 

Still being linked with Chelsea. £90M for him and Lukaku in the offing apparently.

[ghq]

I've been wondering how much Pelle's seeming inability to perform in the depths of winter

 

contributed to the poor runs we had in the past two years? I'm not blaming him alone for

 

the points dropped, perhaps some of the others are too reliant on better weather.

[wild-saint]

I've been wondering how much Pelle's seeming inability to perform in the depths of winter

 

contributed to the poor runs we had in the past two years? I'm not blaming him alone for

 

the points dropped, perhaps some of the others are too reliant on better weather.

 

yeah that really harsh winter we had must have really hit the team hard on thr training ground. i even remember some frost one morning.

[david in sweden]

Totally jealous of everton keeping calamity Stones was a master stroke that has cost them a bucket load points probably wont be getting 40 million for him now. The way they fended of zero interest in Lukaku was particularly impressive ambition from the Everton board.

 

 

Don't worry. They will both go..... along with Martinez ......in the summer, because their new manager will need some spending money PDQ.

[Shroppie]

I've been wondering how much Pelle's seeming inability to perform in the depths of winter

 

contributed to the poor runs we had in the past two years? I'm not blaming him alone for

 

the points dropped, perhaps some of the others are too reliant on better weather.

I'm with you on that one, and you can add Tadić. If you think it's stupid, watch their body language when they run onto the pitch in cold driving rain.

 

It's not that surprising. Would you rather walk to the ground in warm sunshine or driving sleet?

 

Yes, I know it's the same for both teams but I'm in no doubt there are some players who react more than others.

 

 

Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk

[Ice2Eskimos]

We've had a decent season.

 

Probably not enough to keep some of our stand out players but let's see.

[ScepticalStan]

Its been an outstanding season with talent-wise, probably the weakest squad we've had in the past three years. A real testament to Koeman's abilities as a manager.

[The9]

Its been an outstanding season with talent-wise, probably the weakest squad we've had in the past three years. A real testament to Koeman's abilities as a manager.

 

Still our best squad, worst starting XI since 2012/13. What we've lost in just not being good enough we've gained back in not having to play too many matches with obvious weak links in the side - though we wasted too many points against the likes of Newcastle and Everton before Van Dijk came in and obviously having Wanyama enforce his own absence for about a quarter of the season didn't help.

[doddisalegend]

Still our best squad, worst starting XI since 2012/13. What we've lost in just not being good enough we've gained back in not having to play too many matches with obvious weak links in the side - though we wasted too many points against the likes of Newcastle and Everton before Van Dijk came in and obviously having Wanyama enforce his own absence for about a quarter of the season didn't help.

 

you have to wonder if we got VVD in earlier in the transfer window if we'd be higher up the table now.

[Singapore Saint]

I'd be happy finishing above Chelsea and Everton (again).

[The9]

you have to wonder if we got VVD in earlier in the transfer window if we'd be higher up the table now.

 

I suspect our tactics against Newcastle and Everton might have been different if Ronald thought we were able to defend at that point. It wasn't just Van Dijk, it was not having Romeu as an option until we were 2-0 down to Everton as well when we'd been so used to relying on a solid defensive midfield partnership the previous season.

[whelk]

Have we ever had such success against the big boys?

 

Arsenal - 4pts and Boxing Day demolition

Man Utd - 3pts

Liverpool 4pts and our best comeback for years

CIty - 3pts and took them apart yesterday

Chelsea - 3 and most enjoyable away win for many a moon.

Spurs - actually not that big

 

So overall not one of them has got better of us over 2 games.

[Ice2Eskimos]

Our younger generation of fans have been spoilt by success.

 

Eh?....How?...

 

I think this season has been decent, but what are you classing as success?..the last Trophy we won was in 1976 and that is defo not in my lifetime.

 

Just sayin...

[Pass the Dutchie]

Can't tell if you're serious, but:

 

2010/2011: promotion to the Championship

2011/2012: promotion to the Premier League

2012/2013: 14th / 41 points

2013/2014: 8th / 56 points

2014/2015: 7th / 60 points (highest ever PL ranking)

2015/2016: 7th / already 57 points with 2 games to play

 

How's that progression not success?

[DuncanRG]

Can't tell if you're serious, but:

 

2010/2011: promotion to the Championship

2011/2012: promotion to the Premier League

2012/2013: 14th / 41 points

2013/2014: 8th / 56 points

2014/2015: 7th / 60 points (highest ever PL ranking)

2015/2016: 7th / already 57 points with 2 games to play

 

How's that progression not success?

 

You're responding to a troll, but thanks for reminding us all of this!

[Golden Balls]

Shame we haven't even come close to winning a cup in this time though.