That massive slump we had when Butler was stuck on play 5 at the back is the main reason. How many points did we drop in that period ?
3 successive 1-0 away defeats when playing a back 4 didn’t help. Maybe a back 5 would have given us a couple of draws?
I applaud the attempt to bring some balance to the tactical discussion. Either way, though, and as I’ve said before, we are where are – in with a very good shout. Demanding we should have pissed the league absolutely smacks of entitlement in a division that everyone can see has been harder than anticipated, with plenty of sides fighting and toughing things out.
This ^. And the armchair manager absolutist attitude to what went wrong. Barely any nuance, just ‘it was the back 5 that did for us – I’m completely right and so is anyone who agrees with me!’
Cass makes a good point – and one could just as easily blame the route one hoofball tactic, as much as the back 5 period. But to add some nuance to that too, perhaps that was something to do with bad pitches, particularly at home, and less inclination to play it on the ground as much?
