Signed in this morning when we’re 2 up and now can see we’ve won...... Great Stuff! Memo to Harry Redknapp - This is a team gelling & winning, you old fart. Well done lads!
I thought the defence looked mostly solid which is a bit of a novelty. I'd like Lumley to be a bit braver and command his area more - he seems like he has the potential to dominate the box when we're faced with high ball opponents but seems a little bit rooted. It was great to see better angles being offered for passes and a front line that can control the ball in tight spots. In fact, most first touches were good tonight. My main worry is our reliance on loanees and the limited chances that the strikers who will be here next season will get. Overall, very positive and I might even be warming to McClaren.
I only listened to the audio commentary, so it is difficult to comment with added value inputs. The key debating point is, was it a penalty or did Eze dive? The commentators were absolutely convinced that it was a clear cut penalty. However, two goals scored and the clean sheet is a very professional and pleasing result against a physical Millwall team. After our very poor start, ten points from the last 4 league games, plus if you add the two Cup wins, is very impressive. Well done to McClaren and the team. Let’s hope that we can keep up this level of performance and results.
This needs to be nailed straight away. He didn't dive!! Clearly tripped, all be it accidentally and their defender looked very worried till the ref cocked up.
Surely it's time for fans to start coming back to live games? One significant factor in whether we sell our better players or not is if revenue helps to balance the FFP ruled. Come back in lads and lasses. The water is fine.
great first half performance, but yet again we sit back and let the opposition come at us. A better side than Millwall and we could've come unstuck. But; still delighted how we've recovered from that Baggies debacle. urrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr's
Wow. What a game! A game of two halves: in the first, we were totally dominant, played some lovely passing football and were very creative. In the second, Millwall had clearly had a rollicking and pinned us back but we put in a very solid defensive performance. They hit the bar in the second half but we had the best chance one-on-one with their keeper who made a good save. Also, Eze should have had a penalty, there was clearly contact with his trailing leg but he delayed his fall and you can almost understand the booking for simulation. Almost. First half formation was probably 4-1-3-1-1. Second half was often 10-0-0! Lumley looks confident but needs to improve his distribution. Rangel is classy at this level. Ditto Freeman. Lynch was winning all the defensive headers, some went almost straight up in the air but he then charged forward and won the second header. Cousins was anonymous (how many times have I said that?) Luongo was combative and had one of his better games. Eze my man of the match. Cameron looks a good addition but faded a bit in the second half. What a difference a decent forward makes! Wells was impressive: skilful and full of intelligent running. Can we keep him please? In haste, Rodders.
That is exactly the opinion of Andy Sinton, who even watched the replay several times, and was adament and convinced that it was a penalty. I mention it as on another forum (LFW) there is whole thread on the topic with some divided opinions.
I was there, but too far away to see clearly and haven't seen it on TV (watched the Sky highlights but it didn't include the Eze incident). Everyone seems to agree that there was contact, but was it enough to make him fall over?
Those that had the benefit of TV replays (unlike us suckers who provide sound effects for Sky and target practice for thugs) seem to be clear that Eze should have had a pen because there was clear contact. But I had clear contact with about 200 people in my rush for the half time toilets and managed to stay on my feet and hit the target. The fact is that, regardless of the technicalities of the situation, the player's reaction would have commanded encores at the Royal Ballet and a possible acrobat contract with Cirque du Soleil. You can put it down to modern coaching methods if you like but to me that's just another euphemism for cheating. A real shame because he put in a top performance and could have rounded it off with a second goal if he hadn't decided to emulate Nureyev.
It was a stonewall penalty. Accidental from the defenders part but nonetheless he made contact when Eze went across the front of him. We should have also had a penalty in the first half for handball. The defender tried to get his arm behind him but deliberately blocked the ball and the contact was with his arm. Pen in my opinion. Excellent all round performance but why on Earth did we sit back for the first half on the second period. Let them play and gave them belief. McLaren did well with his tactics and used his subs well.
Think that’s harsh. When you look at how and where the defender catches him, I don’t think it’s unreasonable that it would cause him to go down. What probably didn’t help is he’d tried and failed to win a free kick a few seconds before, but the linesman should surely be advising the ref that even if it’s not a penalty it’s not a dive either. 89th minute and 2-0 up- not much reward there.
The first 45 mins was the best I've seen us look on TV in quite a while. Relatively free flowing football, and a confident looking side. Eze will rightly get the plaudits, he's a wonderfully gifted footballer, but the importance of Nakhi Wells's contribution last night can't be overlooked. His hold up and link up play at this level is outstanding and he's transformed the side along with Hemed. Geoff Cameron and Angel Rangel's experience also showed last night, and helped us when we were under the cosh a bit in the 2nd half. Roll on Saturday which will be a tougher/different type of test but hopefully one we'll relish
