I have not seen the game, just watched Final Score on TV but it seems like another disappointing home performance. Our away formis currently keeping us where we are. I await an influx of posters once again to voice their opinions!!
Crooks has just said on Final Score that in his opinion the Baggies result is the best PL win of the day - to go to the Britannia without Odenwingie (sp) and beat us, My question is did they beat us or did we hand them the points on a plate?
Derby is away from home so we'll probably do alright. Who'd have thought we'd be saying that a few months ago?!
Wrong team picked by the man in charge, and a howler from Tommy. Another game in which the opposition gave us a lesson in how to play the ball - hoofing it in a gale force wind is not going to work. Morrison on his own (a midfielder who operates where it counts TP) had more shots on target than Stoke manged, To cap it all, when asked about the absence of Palacios, his comment of he's not injured, we just don't think he can handle too many games beggars belief - instead we have to watch two guys who only just passed fitness tests (Delap and Shotton) perform pitifully. John Walters needs a rest - he is absolutely shot, and Marshall must be retained and at least given a place on the bench, because Etherington is performing absolutely abysmally. One other thing that TP really does need to consider - the game is actually about scoring - apart from the Penalty save, Ben Foster did not have a direct shot to save. Tactics or poor players? A mixture of both I'm afraid.
He also said in that interview that he felt Palcious would not suit the weather?????????????????? Surely he was bought in to win the ball and distrbute it? Instead we hoofed the ball into a gale force wind?
I thought that was strange too, I can't remember Delap having a worse game in terms of passing a simple ball. I'm usually a fan of Rory and don't mind seeing his name on the team sheet, but today his distribution was diabolical and caused many of our attacks to break down. At least Palacios would've kept the game ticking over. My ideal team to start every game would be: Sorensen Shotton Shawcross Huth Wilson Pennant Palacios Whelan Ethers Walters Crouch However we can all see Walters needs a rest/dropping due to his dip in form, so why not give Jerome a go (he's got 3 goals in 4 I believe)? Hopefully Walters won't be anywhere near the squad for Derby and we see Pennant on one wing and Marshall on the other.
I think sums our performance up perfectly! Second half was OK, but overall it was just one of those poor performances where we never really got going. Too many poor individual displays, too many individual errors, wrong decisions on the ball, dozy defending, wrong starting XI picked by the manager (easy to say with hindsight, though), and I thought WBA played well, especially Olsson, Morrison and Fortune.
I think I would agrre with that, although I would probably opt for Wilko in a 4-4-2 and Shotton in a wing back position wuth 3 CB's 3-5-2. Either way, you hit the nail on the head with your points.
I agree with the above team Welsh M But, would prefer Wilko when fit at R/B and why not try Wilson in midfield with Palcious/Whelan and let Jerome have a run of games. Wilson? then we would need another left back. ??? apart from Higgy I don't know who tbh.
Agree Welsh with that team but I would like a left back. If Higgy is 100% fit and sharper than against QPR and Newcastle that would be good. Play Wilson in midfield in place of Whelan if necesary. With reference to Ben Marshall is he going to be included in the 25 for the EPL by 31st Jan?
I'd like to see us try a new formation --------------Sorensen------------------------ Shotts-----huth---shawcross----- higgy(new left back preferebly) ------------Palacios ------Wilson--------------- ---Pennant---- Walters ------Etherington--------- ---------------Crouch---------------------- So a solid defense but 4 attackers, especially at home.
Isn't Marshall young enough to be played without being on the list of 25? I thought it only applied to players over the age of 21.
I dont think it is a case of the fortress is crumbling, more of a case of a negative (stubborn) manager, trying to gain just 1 point at a time to reach that (in his head) magical 40point margin.
Mighty Huth Totally spot on with what you said, we we're saying on Satuday at half time. We are LOSING. Now change it all out attack and who knows? Rather we did that than go down with a whimper, which is what we did I think. EVERY single fan wherever Pulis has managed has told us the same. He hates losing but would sooner bore us to death and keep it tight. Away that's fine but fookin hell, we were were 8th we still are. But, let's look at home games with all guns blazing, all out for the win. IF he did that I would not mind so much. Always said this Huthy. Losing is fine if you show your'e fans you tried hard, gave it everything and it wasn't our day that's fine. To drop so many home pts at home in the manner we have is simple to explain. Diabolical seletions and a negative approach by Pulis. The guy is so dim, I'm amazed we are still 8th and he doesn't seem to lose his temper when interviewed like Kenny D did. it show that KD cares and IF his player's don't. They are out the door. At least he played his best team with Suarez suspended. We did NOT.
