The view from my youngest son (he is a grown up man)

[Andrew]

In seeing how stressed I am he put a much more positive spin on things and his argument is largely this....

We are a very exciting attacking team with a desire to play a dynamic high press. We are making lots of chances, and that in his view is totally key...if we weren't making the chances then the approach would be all wrong, but we are.

The problem as he sees it is the defence needs to be tweaked and if this happens, and the new centre half is good then we could yet be in for a brilliantly exciting and successful season.

In short he thinks the glass is way more than half full whilst I have been thinking it's barely wet in the bottom of the glass (I hope you can cope with such use of the metaphor!).

BUT he does concede the manager really has to concentrate on fixing the way the defence operates, and must do that quickly. He believes the manager knows this and will deal with/is dealing with the defensive issues rather than just trying to send more players forward. He is very optimistic.

I hope he is more right than me.

[demeant0r]

That's an accurate enough summary with the following caveat. We're creating so many chances BECAUSE we've neglected our defence, because we throw everyone forward and also because we've a younger, more mobile squad.

If we do tweak our defence and be more defensively solid, I can bet our xG would fall off a bit.

I really don't like this gung-ho football we're playing because even when we score I just know we're going to concede in the next 10-30 mins. Before the season began, I thought it would be fun. But it's not. It's not fun having score 3+ every match to win.

[Fulham Tup North]

In seeing how stressed I am he put a much more positive spin on things and his argument is largely this....

We are a very exciting attacking team with a desire to play a dynamic high press. We are making lots of chances, and that in his view is totally key...if we weren't making the chances then the approach would be all wrong, but we are.

The problem as he sees it is the defence needs to be tweaked and if this happens, and the new centre half is good then we could yet be in for a brilliantly exciting and successful season.

In short he thinks the glass is way more than half full whilst I have been thinking it's barely wet in the bottom of the glass (I hope you can cope with such use of the metaphor!).

BUT he does concede the manager really has to concentrate on fixing the way the defence operates, and must do that quickly. He believes the manager knows this and will deal with/is dealing with the defensive issues rather than just trying to send more players forward. He is very optimistic.

I hope he is more right than me.

My son is equally as convinced we are going to be ok ... just like your lad .... I am equally as unsure 😵
Maybe faith in the young is required?
I have only just calmed down...
COYW

[Wandsworthboy]

In seeing how stressed I am he put a much more positive spin on things and his argument is largely this....

We are a very exciting attacking team with a desire to play a dynamic high press. We are making lots of chances, and that in his view is totally key...if we weren't making the chances then the approach would be all wrong, but we are.

The problem as he sees it is the defence needs to be tweaked and if this happens, and the new centre half is good then we could yet be in for a brilliantly exciting and successful season.

In short he thinks the glass is way more than half full whilst I have been thinking it's barely wet in the bottom of the glass (I hope you can cope with such use of the metaphor!).

BUT he does concede the manager really has to concentrate on fixing the way the defence operates, and must do that quickly. He believes the manager knows this and will deal with/is dealing with the defensive issues rather than just trying to send more players forward. He is very optimistic.

I hope he is more right than me.

Your son is correct in every sense of your post. I just hope that AA tweaks the defence to how it needs to be. If this happens then let the roller coaster begin. It could be quite the ride.

[Wandsworthboy]

That's an accurate enough summary with the following caveat. We're creating so many chances BECAUSE we've neglected our defence, because we throw everyone forward and also because we've a younger, more mobile squad.

If we do tweak our defence and be more defensively solid, I can bet our xG would fall off a bit.

I really don't like this gung-ho football we're playing because even when we score I just know we're going to concede in the next 10-30 mins. Before the season began, I thought it would be fun. But it's not. It's not fun having score 3+ every match to win.

Well buckle up because I think there's alot more bumps in the road to come but i'm giving AA the time to sort the defence. But it needs to be quick.

[Arthur]

I don't expect, less still want, AA to change his philosophy on how we should play. A manager who tries to instill into his team principles or a way of playing that he doesn't believe in himself is, I would say, almost certain to fail. What I do very much hope, however (and have some confidence can be achieved), is that AA can make adjustments without unduly diminishing the team's attacking intent.

I would find it sad and somewhat depressing if, to retain our P.L. status, we must be as dour as we eventually became under Silva. While I invariably found our matches absorbing and engrossing, less and less did I come away from a game thinking it had been exciting, thrilling or gripping. AA's philosophy offers the possibility of my 'having my cake and eating it': playing in the P.L. while also being good to watch - win, lose or draw.

If AA cannot improve results with his way of playing, the alternative may well be a managerial appointment whose style is not dissimilar to Marco's. Even were it to save us, there would still be a sense of regret on my part that it would appear to be a choice between P.L. football or exciting football - but not both together.

[Jim©]

That's an accurate enough summary with the following caveat. We're creating so many chances BECAUSE we've neglected our defence, because we throw everyone forward and also because we've a younger, more mobile squad.

If we do tweak our defence and be more defensively solid, I can bet our xG would fall off a bit.

Whilst it seems that way, our expected goals against the same 3 sides was more or less the same- and that's with us winning two of those games and Chelsea playing with 10 men for half of it.
Expected goals against this season were 5.37 and we conceded 7
Expected goals against last season were 5.31 and we conceded 4

At the other end
Expected goals for this season were 5.49 and we scored 4
Expected goals for last season were 4.01 and we scored 6

So really we're not that much more open than we were last season, but conceding more goals than we should and going forward we're creating more but scoring less.

Now, I know games aren't played on paper/with stats etc, but these indicators do point to us being slightly unfortunate this season (as will shots for/against) and doesn't show in any way that we've neglected our defence.


 

[humussapiens]

Maybe we should stop attacking a bit when up and defend the lead, as Marco liked to do. Change the shape or something when up, go for counterattack, similar what Sunderland did against us.

[Southcoastffc]

In seeing how stressed I am he put a much more positive spin on things and his argument is largely this....

We are a very exciting attacking team with a desire to play a dynamic high press. We are making lots of chances, and that in his view is totally key...if we weren't making the chances then the approach would be all wrong, but we are.

The problem as he sees it is the defence needs to be tweaked and if this happens, and the new centre half is good then we could yet be in for a brilliantly exciting and successful season.

In short he thinks the glass is way more than half full whilst I have been thinking it's barely wet in the bottom of the glass (I hope you can cope with such use of the metaphor!).

BUT he does concede the manager really has to concentrate on fixing the way the defence operates, and must do that quickly. He believes the manager knows this and will deal with/is dealing with the defensive issues rather than just trying to send more players forward. He is very optimistic.

I hope he is more right than me.

Your son sounds very sensible 

[Southcoastffc]

Re the comments above concerning the defence,  I do find it a little strange that we play the way we do so far given that Arbelo was a defender.  However, I derive comfort from it, assuming (hoping its not misplaced) that his defensive experience will help sort us out.

[Bassey the warrior]

Maybe we should stop attacking a bit when up and defend the lead, as Marco liked to do. Change the shape or something when up, go for counterattack, similar what Sunderland did against us.

How many 1-0 leads did we throw away under Silva because we decided to slow down the game to hold onto what we had rather than getting a second?

It makes tactical sense but it doesn't usually work for us for whatever reason.

[cookieg]

I think everybody can see that the defence needs some work. It is more a question of whether we have the players to play the way AA wants. Hopefully the new guy will take over from Andersen and work well with Bassey although Bassey seems to have it in his head that under this new style of play he can roam all over the pitch.

Robinson was dire against Palace I would prefer seeing Sess at LB especially under this new style and it will be interesting to see how Tete deals with not moving to Everton. There are lots to be hopeful for with AA and I'm sure we will be fine. The level of the glass may fluctuate at times but mine is still half full.

[AJW48361]

That's an accurate enough summary with the following caveat. We're creating so many chances BECAUSE we've neglected our defence, because we throw everyone forward and also because we've a younger, more mobile squad.

If we do tweak our defence and be more defensively solid, I can bet our xG would fall off a bit.

I really don't like this gung-ho football we're playing because even when we score I just know we're going to concede in the next 10-30 mins. Before the season began, I thought it would be fun. But it's not. It's not fun having score 3+ every match to win.

A lot of pressure on the new C/H surely it's down to more than a defender.

[Woolly Mammoth]

When the opposition have the ball every Fulham player is a defender.
Currently there is no depth in defence due to players not tracking back and picking up their marker.
Leaving us unbalanced.
There's no delay in preventing opponents hitting our back 4 early and forcing our opponents to revert to playing across and I front of two back rows of 4, giving time for players to drop back and cover.
Who is mastering the defence, they are facing play, therefore should be showing themselves and organising.
A stranger turning up to watch would have difficulty recognising who the Captain is.
The players are professional and should be getting the basics right at least when we do not have the ball.
The Manager not only has to keep the players who are being selected happy, it is just as important to keep the players who are on the bench or not in the squad happy.
You start picking favourites who are not worthy of a starting place, it causes resentment and a divided dressing room, and if your not careful that is where the rot sets in.
The next match is the most important and he has to get it right.

[Yamus]

If we haven't a defence minded manager we need a defence minded coach and then put the two together Walah.