Impact of our appalling home record

Any organised and stubborn defence at ANY level is very difficult to break down and certainly not as easy as some would have us believe

More important is the lack of tempo we've shown in home games which has caused lethargy and apathy in the crowd. Town teams in the past always started in a way that got the crowd behind them, something we have failed to do in the past few seasons.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

More important is the lack of tempo we've shown in home games which has caused lethargy and apathy in the crowd. Town teams in the past always started in a way that got the crowd behind them, something we have failed to do in the past few seasons.

I haven't looked it up but I doubt there have been many times 'in the past' when we 'always' played with great tempo and with fast starts, that we have won as many  games as we have in the last 3 consecutive seasons?

So our home record, with defeats against teams in the bottom half is acceptable? And you can't remember the games where the likes of Cockerill, Cumming and Pouton roused the crowd with early bone crunching tackles. If you can't you're a lot younger than you look.

Quoted from BIGChris

Any organised and stubborn defence at ANY level is very difficult to break down and certainly not as easy as some would have us believe

Remember the Chelsea Champions League win. It was outrageous that they managed to get through the semis and the final, but somehow they kept the ball out through a combination of luck and brilliant defending. The best team often doesn't win in football that's what helps to make it so interesting and entertaning. It's bloody annoying if you are the best team and you don't win but it's the downfall of every club to play best and not win sometimes.

If you think about it there are less than 3 goals on average in a professional football match (the number is pretty similar in all countries at all levels). Yet teams spend 90 minutes basically trying to score, virtually every attack fails for any team. It's just very difficult to score, football is one of the lowest scoring sports there is.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

So our home record, with defeats against teams in the bottom half is acceptable? And you can't remember the games where the likes of Cockerill, Cumming and Pouton roused the crowd with early bone crunching tackles. If you can't you're a lot younger than you look.

Where did I say that? Please point it out?

I stated that breaking down stubborn, organised defences is extremely difficult and certainly not as easy as some would have us believe. Even a side packed with Internationaal superstars couldn't manage it last night

You on the other hand obviously think it is

The Arsenal vs Sunderland game last night was a case in point. Arsenal, a team full of top-class international players, had 75% of possession, 28 shots with 8 on target and yet couldn't score against a well-organised and packed defence.

If they can't score against defensive-minded opposition with 75% of possession, you can see how we might struggle sometimes. This is why we need to seriously improve our set piece delivery next season. No point in winning loads of corners and free-kicks if you struggle to threaten the opposition goal with them.

Quoted from Maringer

The Arsenal vs Sunderland game last night was a case in point. Arsenal, a team full of top-class international players, had 75% of possession, 28 shots with 8 on target and yet couldn't score against a well-organised and packed defence.

If they can't score against defensive-minded opposition with 75% of possession, you can see how we might struggle sometimes. This is why we need to seriously improve our set piece delivery next season. No point in winning loads of corners and free-kicks if you struggle to threaten the opposition goal with them.

That's the key to it for me. I know it's not pretty but if a team has parked the bus, then just keep throwing the ball into the box with quality and sooner or later a chance will come. Taking the chance was the problem last season, especially at home.

We are clearly a good side as our away record shows that when a home team has a go at us, we usually beat them, or at least don't lose.

Hurst has to find a way to break sides down at home.

Quoted from ginnywings

That's the key to it for me. I know it's not pretty but if a team has parked the bus, then just keep throwing the ball into the box with quality and sooner or later a chance will come. Taking the chance was the problem last season, especially at home.

We are clearly a good side as our away record shows that when a home team has a go at us, we usually beat them, or at least don't lose.

Hurst has to find a way to break sides down at home.

Agree. Even doubly so after last season as teams will be aware of what you say, namely that teams who come with a defensive plan have a chance of getting something.

We seem to have conceeded a few goals from distance, i think the significant and growing camber on the pitch MAY be a factor, so to have someone with a rocket shot may help too. A Ron Cockerill or Lew Chatterley type may help!

Quoted from BIGChris

Agree. Even doubly so after last season as teams will be aware of what you say, namely that teams who come with a defensive plan have a chance of getting something.

We seem to have conceeded a few goals from distance, i think the significant and growing camber on the pitch MAY be a factor, so to have someone with a rocket shot may help too. A Ron Cockerill or Lew Chatterley type may help!

If only.