Saturday 19 November 2016

Back to back defeats have brought AFCB's progress to a halt

Forgetting about successive defeats is not going to be simple. Still, AFCB have to move on and quickly. The aim is to bounce back at Stoke City today, which is one of the hardest grounds anyone could pick to make a comeback.
Could Mings, Fraser and Stanislas all be involved today from the start?
Stoke City themselves have had their difficulties this season and if you look at the league there is really nothing between teams in the middle of the table that are a win away from the top 10 and a defeat away from sitting on top of the relegation zone. That is why it is probably not worth Eddie Howe and his players getting too hung up about what has happened of late. They have not been completely outplayed and have managed one goal in their last two games. The goal scoring stat is not one that sits comfortably with the team at the moment, in having an average of 1.18 goals. With only the Hull City home and Watford away games when the side notched up a second goal, it is clearly an area of the game where the team is currently below power.

'Shoddy-shooting is what I called it, but it is really a lack of confidence in front of goal for most of the players. While Jack Wilshere and Josh King have at least been hitting the target, it is harder to excuse players like Benik Afobe and Jordan Ibe from not making more of their chances. I don't think there is a quick fix over such things either as the players have had the problem all season so far. Even Callum Wilson has found it hard to get going in front of goal and the side has to get some one starting to score more regularly.

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If you are not scoring it is quite likely that you will be conceding and it has not taken long for the goal difference to turn negative again. So I hope there has been just as much work put in on the defensive side of the game in the break as on the goal scoring.

Safe journey for those heading up to Stoke. Bring back the points!

Stoke City Home Form
LLDWW

AFCB Away Form
LDLDL

1 comment:

  1. Two defeats will likely turn to five and we will be struggling...

    I have no idea whether the players the manager has bought in can make a difference. As he won't play them to find out....

    Ake is rumoured to go back to Chelsea. ...who can blame him

    Maybe mousse could make an impact but it's doubtful he will get significant game time to find out

    Sticking with the same oh same oh is not the answer. ..we will be praising the manager about the style of football when we are relegated

    ReplyDelete

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