and yet...

we came 11th last season and despite not being able to put our best 11 on the pitch together once this season we are still out of the relegation places (i.e. we are coping with the injuries).

No-one except a few teams are generally scoring loads more goals than us because the current trend in the Prem is for midfield-packing football. If the other team are playing defensively it is generally hard to score goals whatever your approach. This is a current tactical thing, not a specifically Hughton one, so there is no reason whatsoever to suppose changing manager will suddenly result in us scoring loads more goals.

The goals against is distorted by loads of cheap goals against top teams that don't actually cost us any points (you don't get any more for losing 2-0 than 6-0). In tight games our defence is generally excellent. In our five away games against non top 8 teams this season we have only conceded two goals - both of them penalties.

Posted By: mr carra, Jan 3, 13:52:34