Villa really were there for the taking today. We salvaged a point out of it, but again, there was no real cutting edge. Just utterly annoyed at Danny Rose, why he went in with 2 feet I'll never know. When will players learn that if you do that you'll get a red card? The rules are patently clear. I thought the players kept going well, but obviously having a man less never helps. Very disappointing, but we'll see what happens next week. WBA should be fired up after a good comeback today and Hodgson's last game in charge but ultimately we've wasted a great opportunity (don't we always?).
I don't think that he did go in with two feet. He brought them together when N'Zogbia ran into him, but he then made a bad one-footed tackle, largely due to being off balance, I think. Winger playing at full-back, for me. Villa fans should be disgusted by that performance, though. They definitely played more like the away team with 10 men in the second half and can thank their lucky stars that they got a point. We wasted about 20 corners today, which is a joke, frankly.
Harry persists with him there. If that's the case, with Naughton coming back, we should get rid of Rose - he's a terrible LB and his delivery into the box isn't good enough either. He'll always be remembered fondly for his goal against Arsenal but whenever I see him at LB I get nervous.
I wouldn't mind picking up Figueroa from Wigan and a young, promising player from the lower leagues to loan out. The Honduran's out of contract in the summer, so we bring in some decent cover and competition for Assou-Ekotto, without having to break the bank.
He opened his mouth, and said he wasn't being given a chance. Well, now he 's got the chance he wanted. Perhaps he'll be a bit more careful what he wishes for from now on.
To be fair to Rose though, how's he supposed to learn this position if he's not playing it? We don't pick him, don't have any reserve football and don't let him go out on loan, so how's he supposed to adapt his game and learn his role? We should've sorted our squad out far better in the last two windows, so that we don't end up in this sort of dilemma. Our business needs to be done early on this time and we need to be settled going into the season, for once.
Of far more importance is wtf happens for the final game? No BAE, now no Rose. No other cover for LB apart from Bale - will we have to nullify one of our best players to cover in defence?
I think it will be Bale, Moorpheus. The other alternative is switching to a 3-5-2 of sorts, with Walker and Bale playing the wide roles. I can see Redknapp picking this, unfortunately: Friedel; Walker, Kaboul, Gallas, Bale; Sandro, Parker; Lennon, Modric, van der Vaart; Adebayor.
At least he might stay on the left ! Seriously though, didn't Harry state a while ago that Bale will end up as a left back ? Not something I agree with and his game has developed as a midfielder since that anyway. We'll probably end up seeing Bale left back and Modric or VDV on the wing if I would guess.
Yes, I'd agree. However, as much as he may improve with more playing time, he currently looks quite a way short of the quality that a team like Spurs should be looking for in a player. I suppose that I would question whether he looks like he will ever be of the standard we require.
Options for left back against Fulham: 1.) Move Bale to LB, and play a youngster on the left (Falque?) 2.) Play Corluka at RB and move Walker to LB 3.) Play Nelsen at left back 4.) Play 5-3-2 with Walker and Bale as wing backs 5.) Play a different reserve/academy winger at left back As for the left flank 1.) Modric plays in the centre of the pitch 2.) Modric isn't a left winger 3.) Why not try somebody who plays on the left wing?
Oh ok - my bad Has Falque even played that much for Southampton? Last I heard he couldn't make their first XI.
Falque wasn't even making the bench, last time I looked. I'd expect Redknapp to add Parker or Defoe to the team, though.
I don't think it matters one jhot who plays at left back. The old pros at Fulham are probably already preparing to take the piss outta them anyhow. Lets not under estimate Fulham who can achieve seventh place on the final day of football this year., which would be a massive achievement for them. So they are not going to come to the lane to watch our subs, sub, 'would be' alternative goal keeper play at left back. They will come to get all 3 points IMO. What ever else we do, we must protect 'who ever' we put to play in that position (left back). It grates me to say this, but this could be the only instance, where I might be happy to see both Sandro and Parker on the pitch at the same time for us. Todays sending off may prove to be the final nail in the coffin in terms of third place.
Bale isn't a great left back but he is a perfect wing back yet could 5-3-2 work? its one of them formations which leave you exposed on the wings. Not sure what the best solution is for next week other then maybe shifting gallas to left back as we need kaboul in the centre and nelsen or king can partner, Would rather we avoided bale at left back as he hasn't had a run of games in any defensive position and would cause us problems!
Sorry folks., any reference to 'right back in my above piece should be replaced with 'Left back'., I'm am ofcourse refering to the Rose incident today and the Left back vacant left back position.
