JazzG Dismissing them as a midtable team does them a disservice imo. They have a thin squad which is why they'll struggle to get higher in the league but they are a very good side who will cause a lot of top sides genuine issues.
You're just making stuff up now. I've not dismissed them, on the contrary, I've praised them as being a good team, but Palace are by definition a mid-table team and it's not being dismissive to state so. For someone so keen on facts and stats, you sure don't like ones which don't align with your views. They are currently mid-table, with mid-table stats, and have finished each of the last few seasons mid-table, with mid-table stats.
You can't have it both ways with squad size - on one hand we're being told one of the reasons we aren't scoring more is because we're suffering injuries in our squad (which is larger and of multiples of the value of Palace's). But on the other hand, you're saying Palace would be better had they a bigger squad. If our smaller available squad is a concession that we aren’t at optimal levels, surely that follows for Palace’s smaller squad too when they line up against us.
There are no gimmes in the league and it’s harder than it was even 10 year ago, but it's not being dismissive to believe that as you go down the table you expect games should be slightly less challenging.
JazzG As for Arteta, his primary job is to win us the title, if we do it playing great football then that is brilliant but he has to do what he thinks is best to win us the title. We have finished 2nd three times in a row, I honestly am past caring about our good on the eye our football is. I also think people are simply refusing to acknowledge the way teams set up against us, it makes it very hard to play the type of football people want.
I’m not arguing for more attractive football. The type of football people want is largely irrelevant. We’re scoring at historically low levels for a team challenging for the league and sooner or later it might become a problem. Set pieces are papering over cracks that were evident last season and which have continued into this season.
JazzG I also think it is ridiculous to suggest we will keep this scoring record up from set pieces all season. Apart from last season the previous two we average almost 90 league goals a season, that is comparable to Wenger's best sides so I think we'll be fine. We have a lot of players out and once they are back and we can rotate you'll see more variety and our performances will improve. Last season we did have to rely heavily on set pieces but we also had a squad decimated with injuries and no backup players. I am getting worried about how many injuries we are getting, even with our large squad we are being pushed at the moment.
You’re so close to getting it with your last sentence there. So close!
On the first point, I don’t know what that’s arguing against but if you’re talking about scoring set pieces at this rate all season I’d agree. I don’t think we can rely on it.
On the next, why discount last season so readily? It’s the closest, both in time and in experience, that we’re seeing to this season. The team have to prove they can get back to the 90 average of season’s gone by, it’s not a given. Comparing scoring rates to Wenger’s teams of old is irrelevant considering how the league has changed. The last time Wenger exceeded 80 league goals was in 2009/10.
I get that players coming back will likely change our fortunes but it’s an assumption. We wouldn’t have expected to come out the summer with so much investment, so many new attacking options, and still be in a position where we’re getting through games by the odd set piece goal.
I’m good with winning ugly. I’m good with getting tough games out the way after CL weeks. I’m good with the football not being the prettiest. I’m uncomfortable with the inconsistency of the team. We’re outperforming xG on set pieces and underperforming on open play. That’s not sustainable. Returning players may be the answer but as Quincy said we always have the risk of injury. A more sustainable way to get through injury crises will be learning how to score more goals, not exclusively falling back on the defensive record and nicking headed corners.
And despite all that I’m bullish about the team and what we can do. But wanting more goals is not a style issue it’s about being proactive and giving ourselves the best chance of winning a trophy.
