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how much of a part does it play in the game?
looking back at the 2 thumpings we've had recently, namely sporting and spuds we've missed a ridiculous amount of chances.
should have been 4 up at ht v sporting and 2 up in the opening 10 v spurs - we've then missed more gilt edged chances in both games where, if the ball was few inches left or right, we'd have scored.
43 attempts on goal in those 2 games and we scored 1!

Plays a big part for me. And of course it works both ways as well.

But on another day, certainly early doors in the season, Haaland puts us 2-0 up and it's a very different outcome.

But sometimes the team selection and lack of subs or changes to the system affect the result just as much.

Gary Player once commented the more I practice the luckier I get. I honestly sometimes wonder what we do in training. Because we certainly don't practice set pieces. And it appears we don't practice closing down much lately

Poor striking

Poor defending

john@staustell wrote:Poor striking

Poor defending

1 goal from 43 attempts at goal in the games v sporting and spuds is far worse than poor
but bad luck has seemed to play a part

I think a lot of our current fortunes comes own to desire, or lack of. It must be incredibly hard to retain the hunger to win when we've won everything there is to win over the past few years. There's a reason why it's so hard to defend the PL title, let alone defend it 3 or 4 times running. I think we don't seem to have that same motivation lately, and if that's worth say 10% of performance, then in a league as competitive as the PL, you will lose more than win.

Many successful teams being in new blood every year in order to keep the competitive juices flowing. We've not really done that, or perhaps the newbies we did bring in are not able to influence the dressing room to any notable degree amongst the more senior players. That and the fact that many of our more influential players are injured and cannot instil any passion during games. We really miss Rodri, Dias, Kev, Jack, Stones etc - no team could possibly manage with the spine of the team gone.

So I think what we're seeing is a mixture of all of the above. Unless Pep can somehow relight the fire in guys like Walker, Bernardo, Gundo or Foden, then I fear things are not going to change any time soon...

Luck has little to do with it.

I think the only part luck has played in our current poor run is with the injuries. To have had so many senior players injured at the same time is unlucky - no team in world football could continue to win with the players we have had missing. It's the one part where you can't make your own luck.

Bluemoon4610 wrote:I think the only part luck has played in our current poor run is with the injuries. To have had so many senior players injured at the same time is unlucky - no team in world football could continue to win with the players we have had missing. It's the one part where you can't make your own luck.

Luck plays a part in all sport. but the more you train and practice, the luckier you seem to get. not been a great run of injuries but i'd question how we rotate the squad or have adequate cover. We've usually had a key player out for some time. KDB, Haaland, Dias, Stones, Grealish. not just been this season with Rodri and Bobb.
All things being equal, i'd look at injury record and ability to take a knock when putting a team together. Some of the' lesser' teams in the prem and europe seem much more athletic and stronger than us. our team looks a real rag tag and bob tail line up of physical specimens.

Indianablue wrote:

Bluemoon4610 wrote:I think the only part luck has played in our current poor run is with the injuries. To have had so many senior players injured at the same time is unlucky - no team in world football could continue to win with the players we have had missing. It's the one part where you can't make your own luck.

Luck plays a part in all sport. but the more you train and practice, the luckier you seem to get. not been a great run of injuries but i'd question how we rotate the squad or have adequate cover. We've usually had a key player out for some time. KDB, Haaland, Dias, Stones, Grealish. not just been this season with Rodri and Bobb.
All things being equal, i'd look at injury record and ability to take a knock when putting a team together. Some of the' lesser' teams in the prem and europe seem much more athletic and stronger than us. our team looks a real rag tag and bob tail line up of physical specimens.

We've coped without all the key players you've mentioned at different points but the only player we can't cope without is Rodri. He was suspended for 3 games last season - Arsenal, Wolves and Villa and they were our only 3 defeats. The only other game he missed was Luton at home.
We started a bit better without him this season as Kova started well. We actually played very well at Chelsea opening game and he carried that on for a bit but he's no Rodri and he's injury prone.
Dippers when they lost VVD for months missed out on CL. Arsenal went to pieces without Odegaard but he's back now.
Of course luck plays a part and we're having some horrendous bad luck at the moment but you're right that the more you practice the luckier you get and it's the reason we were on for a 2nd successive treble until April. It's the reason we're the 1st team in history to win 4 in a row.
Hopefully we'll get a bit of luck Sunday.

lots of our current issues are self inflicted but it does also seem to me, watching the games from the comfort of my sofa, that nearly all bounces and deflections are going against us.

Nigels Tackle wrote:lots of our current issues are self inflicted but it does also seem to me, watching the games from the comfort of my sofa, that nearly all bounces and deflections are going against us.

Defo an element of this for me too

We make our own luck, the reason the bounce of the ball is going to our opponents almost every time it seems is because we’re pussy footing around with our tackles, there’s no commitment or bite and that’s why our opponents at the moment are just waltzing through us time and time again because they are committed in the tackle and show determination to get the ball.
There is no such thing as luck, if you win the lottery it’s because the machine churned out your six numbers not because of luck.

Nigels Tackle wrote:lots of our current issues are self inflicted but it does also seem to me, watching the games from the comfort of my sofa, that nearly all bounces and deflections are going against us.

Not getting the rub of the green as they say, that’s for certain

But persisting with Walker at FB means those rubs of the green will be fewer than if someone competent played there

Can deffo see the rags getting “lucky” with Alty Taylor the match official on Sunday

nottsblue wrote:

Nigels Tackle wrote:lots of our current issues are self inflicted but it does also seem to me, watching the games from the comfort of my sofa, that nearly all bounces and deflections are going against us.

Not getting the rub of the green as they say, that’s for certain

But persisting with Walker at FB means those rubs of the green will be fewer than if someone competent played there

Can deffo see the rags getting “lucky” with Alty Taylor the match official on Sunday

Gashford beating Walker with ease and getting their customary penalty.

we got lucky today

Nigels Tackle wrote:we got lucky today

Same as the last game - someone is going to give us a right hiding soon.

carl_feedthegoat wrote:

Nigels Tackle wrote:we got lucky today

Same as the last game - someone is going to give us a right hiding soon.

It is not rocket science. Our midfield is being overrun. Any coach can see this. I only coached at college & Sunday morning league. However it’s clear we do not have what we used to call a No.4 & No.6 their job is to disrupt attacks & protect the defense. We do not seem to have that unit. Until we do we will struggle.

Harry Dowd scored wrote:

carl_feedthegoat wrote:

Nigels Tackle wrote:we got lucky today

Same as the last game - someone is going to give us a right hiding soon.

It is not rocket science. Our midfield is being overrun. Any coach can see this. I only coached at college & Sunday morning league. However it’s clear we do not have what we used to call a No.4 & No.6 their job is to disrupt attacks & protect the defense. We do not seem to have that unit. Until we do we will struggle.

The number 4 and number six are involved in the attacks when phil or rico or tin tin give the ball away.so can't really help to break up a runaway from midfield.