Apart from the fact that some of our newer players don't seem to be able to hit a ruminant's hind quarters with a four stringed plucking instrument? Very, very disappointing. Not read a report that says how we played really - Phil Thopson said on Sky we just didn't have a cutting edge - and given who was playing that's not good news - but I find him a bit biased to be honest. So if anyone went, how were we really.
For me we do lack cuting edge - that's our new word. Someone who shoots and scores goals would help. We didn't take our chances, yes we missed a pen but we had 2 clearcut chances before this and Turnbull pulled off an amazing reflex save from a deflection from Terry - which was going in without a doubt. All the young players on show did well + Gygera at CB did a very good job. Ruiz and Dembele were dissapointing, I expected more to be honest.
I was happy to see some of the new and younger players out there, but felt frustated that we spurned a great opportunity to move forward in the cup and kick a little sand in the face of our neighbors. Bringing on BZ and Dembele certainly slowed us down. I thought we were more dangerous in the first half as Frei, Kasami and Sa were speeding through the holes in Chelsea's defense. Dembele is a problem; he can be good for us, or terrible. Sunday he was great, passing and moving and creating chances. Last night he slowed the game down to a crawl. Martin Jol's passed chunks of cheese with more pace.
I thought Frei looked lively, Kasami was decent on the ball too, still think it's too early to make a real judgement on Ruiz but at the moment he looks scared of any tackle. Briggs was decent going forward but I remember Briggs being pushed off the ball far too easily by Lukaku which could and should have ended up as a Chelsea goal.
I was at last nights game,and thought Chelsea were no way impressive,but did we press home the point, no why, we cant score. Ruiz,for me always seems in awe of his surroundings,at at 12mil he has to become a part of it,and pretty soon. Dembele has an identical twin,and they play alternate matches,last night was the turn of the none footballing one.
I listened to the game on the radio, and it sounded like Grygera played a blinder. Sa seemed to see a lot of the ball too.
Captain ... sorry about the image. I don't know what I was thinking. Ruiz has a ways to go yet, but I thought I saw an improvement over his prior performance. In his first game he looked lost, as if he'd wandered in off the street and found himself in the middle of a game. Worst debut since William Shatner played Eliza Doolittle. But Ruiz was certainly better Wednesday night. He moved, he passed ... he showed he's fit and fast. And while not particularly effective, he was no worse than Dembele. (Granted, that's not saying much) Sa ... in some ways I thought he was good. He was fast and he repeatedly got behind the defenders. His shot was off, but he's the only player on our team with the pace to have gotten those shots. It's early, but I think he could be a good signing. Briggs quietly had a great game, I thought. All out defenders did, even Senderos.
First the cheese, now William Shatner as Eliza Doolittle: DR, you're on fire! If we could score like you craft comparisons, we'd be top of the league. 'Even Senderos': I've said it before and I'll say it again. I like him. After Wednesday night, I'm happy for Senderos, Hughes, Baird or Gregera to partner big Brede. I'd like to see Briggs there sometime too, but the main point is we are very well provided for in the centre of defence, with some genuine competition for places in one of the positions where the first choices have previously been locked in. That can only be good news.
i still maintain Senderos is a back up player. I'd also say Hodgson brought him to the club as that - we didn't have cover. I'd certainly play H & H with Riise at LB and Gygera at RB - that's my back 4. Agree the comp is good but what did Hughes do wrong ? nothing in my opinon, we just didnt have a RB, then he got hurt against City. If he's fit I would bring him straight back in tomorrow and at CB. Senderos although decent in the air looks clumsy, could make a rash challenge and also a booking waiting to happen.
Last year when we picked up Senderos I was not enthusiastic to say the least. I'd seem him play for Switzerland and thought he was dreadful. I think I predicted that in his first run out for the team, he'd trip over a water bottle and tear his ACL. Well that didn't quite happen, but he still spent most of the year in the treatment room. Since that time, however, I'm happy to admit I was somewhat wrong. He's proved useful so far this season, though I thought it was telling that Jol left him on the bench against Manchester City. He was very good against Chelsea, though his passing out of the back was sub-par. But I'm with CC. He's cover for Hangeland during EPL games, he's a starter during unimportant contests. My back four are Gygera, Hughes, Hangeland and Riise, though I'd comfortable seeing Baird come in for Gygera or Hughes, and for Briggs to step in for Riise. Dickson Etuhu - at the moment I'm feeling badly for this guy. I think his best role was fronting the back four for Roy, but apparently no place for him in Jol's system. It's hard to see him playing much longer for Fulham. He didn't even make the bench for the Chelsea game.
Etuhu was/is injured DR, that's why he wasn't in the squad. I agree though, he doesn't appear to have a place in our side. He's a good option still, certainly if he gets the form of 2 seasons ago back. I was quite chuffed when we got Senderos on a free, I remember thinking he'd be superb cover for us. His CV is quite impressive too, a lot of good experience for his age. Captains his country too. I see him improving and being a staple in our side. Remember, he never got much backing at Arsenal, so maybe he needs that from us.
Etuhu's been injured and according to the BBC website is still sidelined for the West Brom game. He can be a frustrating player - good at protecting the back four and he deserves credit for his role in us having one of the best defensive records outside of the top four in recent years. The trouble is his passing can be awful at times and he gives the ball away too often. Mark Hughes had a go at turning him into a box-to-box midfielder but it didn't really work out. I think he still has a role to play as a squad player and there will always be games when that extra bit of steel in midfield will be useful, but he wouldn't be my first choice week in week out.
I was at the game DR and I'd agree mostly. But, he's still off premiership pace and I'm not sure he's premiership fit yet - he looked pretty knackered after 80 minutes and I'd have taken him rather than Kasami off. On the positive, he showed in flashes that he can hack it - the pass that led to Frei being fouled and the two excellent passes to set up Sa. So, yes let's be patient.
A PS to my last post and on substitutions. I'd have left Sa on and taken off Frei. Both had worked hard and having had a bit of buffeting but young Frei, delightful though he had been, was really flagging around 70 minutes. Sa still looked as if he had something to give - I wouldn,t have brought Bobby on at all.
