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'Fine Margins' - Competitiveness in Medium term - if we avoid relegation 23:47 - Dec 7 with 849 viewsNookiejack

Pundits time and time again refer to the Premier league as being a league of 'Fine Margins'.

What this probably translates into in footballing terms is:-

1. You need fullbacks that can offer you an offensive threat - as well as being good defenders.

2.. Strikers who can score 1 in 3 clear cut chances.

3. Ability to mount explosive and accurate counter attacks.

4. Centre-halfs that can do their basic job well e.g. defending set-pieces, can play out from the back with comfort, are fast enough to repel explosive counter attacks, and last of all can score from a few set-pieces in the season.

5. Keeper/s who perhaps limits mistakes to 1/2 a season leading to a goal and can pull off a 'worldly save' - when 0-0 or 1-0 up.

If you think about it we are currently not doing well in most of these categories hence why the 'fine margins' are going against us and have lost competitiveness against Stoke, West Ham, Leicester, Palace and Southampton - who have gone ahead of us - especially in categories above These are the teams in our sub-divison of the Premier League so to speak - hence falling behind against them probably means eventual relegation. (Assuming PL's big 7 clubs will remain unchanged infinitum).

Luckily so far this season the other biggest clubs in PL(based on stadium attendances) Newcastle, Sunderland and Vila haven't got their act together. However even if we do manage to stay up this season - we really need to look at our strategic competitiveness as a squad over next three years - as these 'big' clubs are likely to bounce back stronger from relegation - if indeed they do go down.

For example - we talk Ashley Williams up about being a brilliant defender (which he undoubtedly is) but he can't score from set-pieces which could mean success or failure as the PL becomes more and more competitive - on the basis increased TV rights allows all clubs in PL - to put together a strong squad of players. A headed set-piece goal from one of our centre-halfs could make a huge difference?

6, You probably also do need two players competing for each position in your squad - which currently is questionable in our case for example Nordfelt - who should have replaced Fabianski by now if he was a similar standard to Fabianski - as he has had a very poor season so far. The same applies to Tabanou pushing Taylor for a place - who has defended on average well but does not give us an attacking threat. Lastly Eder hasn't pushed Gomis for a place - he has got into the side by default due to Gomis' poor run of form.

7. 1 or 2 players coming through from U18s/U21s good enough to challenge for a first team place.

No point in spending money on Academy if no players are coming through (Joe Allen and Ben Davies obviously did) - a club of our size needs all its spare cash on attracting PL quality players. We haven't got the spare cash like top 7 clubs. So if we re not getting a return in this area perhaps have to to cut it. (Folk on here will quote Southampton have shown the way - however we do not appear to have any players coming through to challenge first team and what has happened in respect of the development of Grimes?)

Any other areas which we could improve our competitiveness as a club - so that the 'fine margins' go in our favour?



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'Fine Margins' - Competitiveness in Medium term - if we avoid relegation on 00:29 - Dec 8 with 814 viewsKilkennyjack

Point 7. Agreed.. Joey debut was way back in 2007 under Roberto.

Beware of the Risen People

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