I think that before this match we had fewer points than we might have deserved...it wasn't a case of us being awful. There were shoots of hope there, so eventually it had to go our way....but it's better to get a win early than have to wait a few more games. We'd be chewing our legs off by then.
Oddly, the fact that we were a little sketchy at times and in some ways showed our flaws makes me happier about this result. We still have problems finishing, but Ings is an improvement. We are still shaky on defense but McCarthy is an improvement on Forster and Vestergaard is an improvement at CB. We still are terrible at closing out games defensively, but for once someone finally found an outlet and started a counter instead of us just weakly booting balls to their midfield all the time. Even if Hojbjerg doesn’t score that goal, that was movement I rarely saw from us last year. That’s the right central midfield for us, and really it has been this whole time. Definitely if we play 4-4-2, but really in any formation. Just a matter of whether we add a second striker or an attacking mid in front. So, even though I think we still look a bit bad, it was very easy to look at this game vs last year and see we’ve improved. I’m okay with Long. He’s almost like in a weird Do Prado role. He’s the one striker we have that isn’t reduced to zero value if starved of service so he is just sort of an extra outfield utility player. That’s not really the selection criteria I’d like to be using for selecting strikers, but it is what it is. If Armstrong can score, maybe we could try that for now this works.
Believe me it was out there. People who wanted the keeper changed based on one dodgy performance from Mac and one clean sheet from Gunn. Doesn't do to sleep badly and surf the net...it's dangerous out there.
Pleased for Sparky. Whilst Pelligrino also won there last season, Hughes actually knows what he is doing. We have a good depth to the squad saved by that last minute signing of Ings. Please lets get it right at home, and we could be in for an enjoyable season.
For once, I’m happy about a break. We don’t have so many national team players now, so a good chance for some players to rest up and/or get healthy. Also a good time to spend two weeks working on defensive organization and how to pass the ball out from the back against a press. Because I see us dropping a bunch more points this year if we can’t improve on that.
Forgot the international break....glad we're not going into it on the back of a loss. Did you all know we won today?
I agree regarding Long with Austin looking as mobile as a cement mixer and as quick as one too. So realistically it just leaves Gabbi and he doesn't look in good sorts, plus can't see Hughes the mastermind playing Sam. So we've got what we've got.
