Hate to point it out dj but Pearson said exactly the same in his post match interview. Burnsy asked him if he was happy with the 2 draws and he did say that although being unbeaten was a good thing, we could have still been better off points wise had we won and lost
always said he talks sense that nigel..ha ha..fair enough but he is the one holding the cards to make it happen, maybe im too harsh on him- and a few players should look at there attitude.. ive already upset most by slating the manager, so now i might as well go the whole hog and slate a fans favourite...but at times korens work rate is a disgrace..we all know he doesnt like the ugly side of the game, but against top of the league and a yorkshire derby you have too dig in, and there where times in both games, an attack has been down his side, and he has barely mustered a jog to chase back.. then you get a 37 year old coming on, winning a header, chasing his own header, then chasing back to the halfway line once its cleared, a few should take a look at him and themselves and wonder...
barmby possibly...but the other 2 , no 2 attacking players for 2 attacking players- like for like, no change to the dynamic or shape of the game..
Koren is frustrating, some games this season he's been the stand out player and some games I think he has been very very poor, BUT he's a player who can win a game on his own when he turns up so would you take him out the side? On another note, what's your opinion on the side less Ashbee? I really can't decide if we missed him as much as I thought we would last night.
I'd agree that Koren had a poor game last night, he did very little, he didn't have a great game against QPR either, though I thought he looked much better in that game when Barmby and Devitt joined the fray. I'd still like to see him with Evans in the middle, with Devitt and Mclean on the wings and Stewart and Fryatt up top, but after Mclean's performance last night(goal miss aside) I can't see the strikers being changed. Also, slightly off topic, but can someone please teach Devitt how to win a header.
Koren seems to be the most unlucky player ever. He spots some great passes but they always seem to take deflections and go the wrong way, or he'll hit a great shot just to see it hit the post or be saved brilliantly. You have to think if it was Taraabt or one of these who scores all the time, it would just sail in but everything goes against Koren. I'm sure one of these days everything will come off and he'll show he's just as good as these top players. That said, he has a habit of running into a tackle and making it look hard but then pulling out at the last minute. If he had Harper's commitment in the tackle, that'd be a good step forward.
In terms of last night, do not think we missed Ash, i thought Corry Evans had a great game and looks the part, great touch, confidence, range of passing etc. Time will tell whether we miss Ashbee or not in the long term, I have faith in NP though so hopefully we will not miss the legend that is Ian Ashbee. As for Koren, he is a matchwinner and for that reason he has to play week in week out
i thought we did at times, in terms of leeds where big and stong (dirty) and at times we looked a bit schoolboyish getting bullied, and could have done with a bit of muscle to mix it up..
I agree with OLM.Get Koren in the middle.For me the bloke is class.I know he sometimes goes missing but as previously stated he can do something that little bit special.With Harper injured we may get to see RK pulling the strings alongside Evans, who was first rate last night, in the middle of the Park. Out of interest has Irememberwaggy joined not606 yet ? UTT.
An interesting 1 last night was that when Belaid came on, Koren moved back out wide! I was hoping it would be the other way round but I wasn't sure exactly where Belaid has played previously?
Also slightly off topic, how crap are we at throw-ins - especially when it comes to retaining possession? We seem stuck in the 'Dawson, throw it to me, I'll kick it back and then we can give it away to the opposition' style of play...
I think this needs to be a masterclass run in training by Nick Barmby / Mclean - two midgets that are our greatest aerial threat. As a team we don't win enough headers, especially in midfield with Devitt, Koren and Harper as the main cuplprits.
I could teach him how to win a header.. in fact it's the timing & getting a spring.. figerfeat is right - smaller lads can do it.. now strong offensive headers are another thing and the best ever had to be Liverpool's Hyppia..
Corry Evans looking quality even after just 2 games.. get him in the gym and on protein and he'll be right there in the physical department..
The thing is PearsoN will too often take a draw if offered we need to push on and win more of these ill take a draw matches especially when most of the time we have been in the dominant position
