Why we didn't make the Play-offs

[Captain Sinister]

EM supposedly demanded an analysis as to why we didn't make the play-offs.
We were in the Top 6 for more weeks than we were outside of it, and week in, week out showed resilience and guts.
However ultimately we failed by 1 goal and 1 minute.
If you were writing the report, what would you put in as the 3 main reasons we eventually didn't make the cut.
My own 3 key reasons are:
1 Weakness at dealing with big, mobile strikers who were good in the air and had physical presence that more opponents exploited as the season wore on;
2 Lack of a seasoned creative midfielder so that when we were allowed possession we were unable to convert it into goals;
3 Lack of pace among our defenders to deal with the rapid counter attacks mounted by teams who had sat back and watched us struggle in possession.
Having read various posts citing other factors, it would be interesting to see what the Forum really thought were the key reasons we failed to hold onto a Top 6 place that looked to be a given with 5 games to go.
The more positive may like to also include their recommendations to ensure that we actually achieve Top 6 in the coming season.

 

[Professor Wolfgang Schnell BSc. PhD.]

Can't beat crap teams.

End of thread.

 

[Senior Flange Technician]

We didn't score enough and conceded too many.

 

[Captain Sinister]

Can't beat crap teams.

End of thread.

I am sure Mr Marinakis would applaud the brevity of your analysis and invite you to have a tour of a local bakery.

 

[Professor Wolfgang Schnell BSc. PhD.]

I am sure Mr Marinakis would applaud the brevity of your analysis and invite you to have a tour of a local bakery.

He said it himself last season and the season before. You can take it up with him if you want.

 

[Steve Stone's Mullet]

Haven't we already got a thread to do this to death with? Or do we all constantly seek to wallow.

 

[OLDMANRED]

Underestimated Stoke and Barnsley. We were far too cocky thinking the job was done.

 

[Ashley]

Lack of squad depth and poor midfield.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

1) COVID - Playing twice a week for five weeks killed us. We were visibly knackered by the end of it. We would have finished top six if COVID never happened.
2) Lack of squad depth - See above. If we had better options from the bench they could have been used more but alas, our depth was poor.
3) Lack of central midfield attacking threat - Silva didn't score enough, too many games we were the better side throughout the game but coughed up a draw.

I don't think we need to drastically change next year. Need to improve the depth and find a way to create more chances, especially when playing weaker sides.

 

[adam09]

Panicked, forgot to do what we are good at and let individual mistakes creep in.

 

[Erik]

EM supposedly demanded an analysis as to why we didn't make the play-offs.
We were in the Top 6 for more weeks than we were outside of it, and week in, week out showed resilience and guts.
However ultimately we failed by 1 goal and 1 minute.
If you were writing the report, what would you put in as the 3 main reasons we eventually didn't make the cut.
My own 3 key reasons are:
1 Weakness at dealing with big, mobile strikers who were good in the air and had physical presence that more opponents exploited as the season wore on;
2 Lack of a seasoned creative midfielder so that when we were allowed possession we were unable to convert it into goals;
3 Lack of pace among our defenders to deal with the rapid counter attacks mounted by teams who had sat back and watched us struggle in possession.
Having read various posts citing other factors, it would be interesting to see what the Forum really thought were the key reasons we failed to hold onto a Top 6 place that looked to be a given with 5 games to go.
The more positive may like to also include their recommendations to ensure that we actually achieve Top 6 in the coming season.

I have a novel concept which you should consider.

There were 23 other clubs all trying to win.

Ultimately 6 of them were better than us.

Simple as that really.

 

[Francis Benali (on loan)]

We finished 7th.

 

[EmmersonForest4]

Ultimately lack of quality in the squad in my opinion. I think the manager is superb and got the most out of it. Its a bit like Bielsa at Leeds who took a team who finished 12th with some absolute dross in it like Liam Cooper and made them all better. This issue is Lamouchi isnt quite a Bielsa and the players we had were not quite as good as Leeds. So if EM asked me a dearth in player quality is the major issue because that will affect whatever manager we get. Secondly is Lamouchi could not deal with going behind in games and playing against lower placed sides. if those 2 things get sorted we could trouble the automatic spots. if it does not get sorted then we maybe in for a slog.

 

[Your Dad's Ashamed Of You]

'cos when the pressure is on we shake like a sh1tting greyhound. Have done for years. Different managers, different players, same outcome every time. Haven't a clue why or how to fix it.

 

[Ravi]

Can't beat crap teams.

End of thread.

We didn't score enough and conceded too many.

Underestimated Stoke and Barnsley. We were far too cocky thinking the job was done.

Lack of squad depth and poor midfield.

1) COVID - Playing twice a week for five weeks killed us. We were visibly knackered by the end of it. We would have finished top six if COVID never happened.
2) Lack of squad depth - See above. If we had better options from the bench they could have been used more but alas, our depth was poor.
3) Lack of central midfield attacking threat - Silva didn't score enough, too many games we were the better side throughout the game but coughed up a draw.

I don't think we need to drastically change next year. Need to improve the depth and find a way to create more chances, especially when playing weaker sides.

I have a novel concept which you should consider.

There were 23 other clubs all trying to win.

Ultimately 6 of them were better than us.

Simple as that really.

We finished 7th.

Summary as above.

End of thread.

 

[Taylor_82]

We weren't good enough.

 

[Tobias]

Conceding a cheap penalty at home to Huddersfield in the 95th minute.

 

[Mr RayReardon]

EM supposedly demanded an analysis as to why we didn't make the play-offs.
We were in the Top 6 for more weeks than we were outside of it, and week in, week out showed resilience and guts.
However ultimately we failed by 1 goal and 1 minute.
If you were writing the report, what would you put in as the 3 main reasons we eventually didn't make the cut.
My own 3 key reasons are:
1 Weakness at dealing with big, mobile strikers who were good in the air and had physical presence that more opponents exploited as the season wore on;
2 Lack of a seasoned creative midfielder so that when we were allowed possession we were unable to convert it into goals;
3 Lack of pace among our defenders to deal with the rapid counter attacks mounted by teams who had sat back and watched us struggle in possession.
Having read various posts citing other factors, it would be interesting to see what the Forum really thought were the key reasons we failed to hold onto a Top 6 place that looked to be a given with 5 games to go.
The more positive may like to also include their recommendations to ensure that we actually achieve Top 6 in the coming season.

Point two with bells on.

Set up with solid back 5 and hope Lolley produces some magic. When Lolley isn't playing we're just a solid back 5. Desperately weak in the middle of the park. Not literally as Sow, Yates and Watson get stuck in but weak on the ball.

Inability to create chances cost us.



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[adam09]

Conceding a cheap penalty at home to Huddersfield in the 95th minute.

And Boro at home.

 

[GOD]

And Derby away


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[Taylor_82]

What about the two abominations against Reading? Brice 'Parry' Samba at Millwall? Conceding in the 178th minute against Direby and Wednesday? Then Barnsley and Stoke!

Not good enough as Cloughie would say.

 

[Harvey]

Not good enough as cenobite would say.

FTFY

 

[Bob Fossil]

Our League One standard central midfield

 

[DanR]

Mental fortitude in the last ten minutes of games.

 

[Frank Clark’s Tash]

I'd just tell EM what almost everyone on here tells each other. i.e. don't worry about the reasons, just forget about it and start getting hyped for the amazing season we're inexplicably going to have next year - despite inevitably selling our best players and replacing them with cheap dreck.