The idea of this topic is not to try and tell people they should not be displeased with recent results of performances, nor is it to suggest that you are not a worthy fan if you show your displeasure. Its simply to step back and assess why we might be in the bad run we are in.
Firstly, let’s get covid out of the way. We have no idea what effect its having on the players and management team. Yes, all teams are in the same boat. But maybe the current climate is influencing the lad’s drive. Its easier to motivate yourself from the challenger position in normal circumstances never mind the current climate. We don’t know if these players and management are seeing less of their families due to the circumstances we don’t know if these players have been affected by being told family or friends are sick. We know some have had it themselves, we don’t know if that has affected performance. For example, have the south American lads seen family other then video calls for months now?
On the pitch as is well highlighted, the injuries. Yes, every team has injuries. But how many teams have 15 central defensive partnerships due to injury in 23 games? Not only has it led to midfielders playing in defence, thus taking world class midfielders out of the midfield sector, but the inconsistency of team selection is not a good thing. A team cannot have a flow with constant change in the players operating the system. You get a player back you lose another. You keep your central defenders together for a 2nd game then you lose your keeper, its been crazy.
In reality would any team fair better than we have? Would city win 10 in a row with Gundogan having to partner Rodrigo in the heart of the defence, and then lose Ederson on top of that or united, would they be in 2nd with Pogba playing centre half alongside Fred?
In sport, and I’m sure most have played some level of some sport, when you place so much energy into reaching a target and you finally reach it the following season is much harder. Its hard to get yourself up to the levels because sometimes you just can’t lift yourself when you need to because its just not there to give. For everyone playing you as the champion you are now the big target. Now I’m not saying that’s alright, that being champion allows you to ease off, it doesn’t but when you have other quality teams hunting you down and everyone else going beyond their best to stop you and you have nothing left to give its hard. The style this team played with for several seasons aligned with the injury run this season will drain the energy.
In the 2018 season this team lost 5 league games and went to the champions league final. A season later they lost 1 game, winning 30, to fall just short of a title in 2nd place, but went a step further in Europe winning the champions league. A season later, they win the league title winning 32 games. Losing 3 2 of which after they are crowned champions. That’s some run.
Add in then that Trent, VVD, Gomez, Robbo, Matip, Fab,Gini, Hendo, Millie, Mo, Sadio, Bobby put serious mileage on the clock in those seasons, with Shaq, Ox, Origi playing a fair share, and they are all still here. Yes, we added some in the intervening summers, but we have so rarely seen Keita and then this year we lose Thiago Tsimikas and Jota for long spells, so your back asking the same guys to go again, no rest.
I noticed some mentioning that Jürgen doesn’t look himself lately! Going back to what I said earlier, we don’t know his circumstance. Is covid hitting him? Is he not seeing his family? He has given himself for 5 years to get us over the line that we waited to cross for 30 years, is it possible that he’s drained? Of course, it is. What does he feed off at matches? The crowd, the crowd that he cant have right when he needs them the most. He’s human, don’t think for a second that he doesn’t go home and curse these injuries or these results or other things that we don’t even know about.
So perspective, yes its been a disaster of a league season so far. Yes, we have given up the title. Yes, were disappointed. But let’s not forget what these guys have given us over the last 3 or 4 years. Every team has blips. We are in ours now. This blip could still see us finish 2nd or 3rd and still be crowned champions of Europe again! Things seem bad but step back and look from a different angle. Yesterday losing 4 1 sounds terrible, but 4 goalkeeping errors are made, first one he palms straight out, 2nd and 3rd don’t need more highlighting and the 4the he drops to his knees and the ball goes in over his head, he stands up its not a goal. Take out hi 4 mistakes it’s a different outcome against the team lauded as world class and heirs to our crown. These lads will come good again and they have earned and deserve our total support to the end.
« Last Edit: Feb 08, 2021 05:17:51 pm by Brian78 »
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