I heard their wage bill was massive this season, top 6. Not sure if it’s true, but money talks in this league. I think if they hadn’t have gone up this season they would’ve had to let a few players go and not done so well next season.They attack brilliantly. Clear patterns of play drilled into them from goal kicks, throw-ins and set pieces. Everyone knows what they are doing and they're not afraid to leave players forward to counter.
They hit big on 3 loans. Hutchinson, Sarmiento, Kieffer Moore were all top class.
They also defend from the front very well. Send lots of players into the high press because they know the majority of Championship defenders aren't good enough to play out from the back. Like we've seen with Collins, Lati and Thomas's mistakes in possession this season.
Kieran McKenna is a very good coach.
Also, their wage bill in League 1 was around £17m. That's already a decent Championship level - about level with ours last year - and it will only have gone up this season.
Exactly this. It is not the romantic story many think it is, i think before the season started they were being tipped as promotion candidates.I heard their wage bill was massive this season, top 6. Not sure if it’s true, but money talks in this league. I think if they hadn’t have gone up this season they would’ve had to let a few players go and not done so well next season.
They move the ball a lot quicker than us ,and showed more fight , we have too many players who just don’t seem to give 100% every game , but that’s what you need to get out this league, but unfortunately we are miles away from that at this time in our history.Firstly congratulations to them, they've been hovering around the autos all season and they deserve to go up
Last season in L1, Plymouth won the league and yet just about stayed up. Ipswich finished a close second but have been miles ahead
Is it their manager, did they invest well in their squad? What did they do that we didn't? (apart from lose to Maidstone or course!)
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The data can’t be wrong of course, but just having watched our games that’s not how it looks.The data would argue differently. In attack, we are the club most similar to Ipswich in terms of pace and directness.
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Funnily enough, the Sunderland forum, who cover all televised games, were commenting on our recent game with Ipswich about how both teams get the ball forward far quicker than they do.The data can’t be wrong of course, but just having watched our games that’s not how it looks.
Fair, but even on Tuesday the tempo looked very slow. I’ve made so many wrong calls this season I’m happy to believe my eyes are just malfunctioning at this point…Funnily enough, the Sunderland forum, who cover all televised games, were commenting on our recent game with Ipswich about how both teams get the ball forward far quicker than they do.
I think watching a team week in week out creates biases where you judge a lot harsher. Reading on here you’d think we’ve been awful but finished in the top 10 and most other fans see us as a good team.The data can’t be wrong of course, but just having watched our games that’s not how it looks.
Fair, but even on Tuesday the tempo looked very slow. I’ve made so many wrong calls this season I’m happy to believe my eyes are just malfunctioning at this point…
It’s more the number of times I’ve seen us passing it around at a pace that allows the opposition to get set and in position. By which point breaking them down or finding a killer pass/cross is much harder, so we end up passing side to side then either giving the ball away or taking a pot shot.I think watching a team week in week out creates biases where you judge a lot harsher. Reading on here you’d think we’ve been awful but finished in the top 10 and most other fans see us as a good team.
That said, I was going to say Ipswich play at a higher tempo, move the ball quicker and press more. Based on that chart perhaps the only real difference is they press more.
I heard their wage bill was massive this season, top 6. Not sure if it’s true, but money talks in this league. I think if they hadn’t have gone up this season they would’ve had to let a few players go and not done so well next season.
The data would argue differently. In attack, we are the club most similar to Ipswich in terms of pace and directness.
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I still think that not adding squad depth in January ultimately stumped us and we just ran out of steam, mind you with a manager keep stressing we are tired, the players started to listen to him and thought yeah you're right....From what the fan of theirs said when I asked him that question, they tried to take the game to the opposition more often than not, then found ways to keep grinding out results. They used loans effectively in the areas where a bit more depth was needed and voila.
We by contrast have spent large spells of the season playing ponderous, slow tempo football without adding depth in January.
Doesn't really tally with what we are seeing. Perhaps this is skewed by our form earlier in the season. I think back to those games away Boro and Sunderland and we looked dynamic and dangerous and every bit a top 6 side.
Last part of the season we have looked ponderous and predictable. We've become so passive and incredibly dull to watch.
Totally agree Hobo, the midfield is such an important role in modern day football and we are blaming the defence for being shite but with the likes of Eccles and Kelly and no disrespect is intended for either of them, our midfield was weak and allowed runners to bypass them all the time. Hamer was sorely missed this season and obviously not replaced , Sheaf was our star midfield man and if we get another 1 or 2 quality midfielders in there maybe we become a better attack and defensive team all roundYes QPR for instance, the amount of good runs made into space by our forwards just not spotted by our midfield, or if they do see the run, they are just too slow releasing the ball.
People moan about Wright being offside all the time but a lot of it is down to midfield players wanting an extra touch before releasing the ball.
My thoughts exactly. MVE, Eccles and Bidwell all guilty yesterdayYes QPR for instance, the amount of good runs made into space by our forwards just not spotted by our midfield, or if they do see the run, they are just too slow releasing the ball.
People moan about Wright being offside all the time but a lot of it is down to midfield players wanting an extra touch before releasing the ball.
Totally agree Hobo, the midfield is such an important role in modern day football and we are blaming the defence for being shite but with the likes of Eccles and Kelly and no disrespect is intended for either of them, our midfield was weak and allowed runners to bypass them all the time. Hamer was sorely missed this season and obviously not replaced , Sheaf was our star midfield man and if we get another 1 or 2 quality midfielders in there maybe we become a better attack and defensive team all round
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