Watched the Arse game on the TV and it was certainly a fabulous defensive/counter attack performance. Played out quite similar to the Spurs game at WHL, but with key changes to personnel and formation. Really impressed with how Pilks and Bennett supported the full backs. Holts form returning - if he was really on song he would have buried one of the second half break away chances. After reading all the adulation for our first win, I am a tad concerned we are getting carried away that this is a big turning point in our season. Yes its our first three points, but not sure that this is any more than getting the formation, tactics and personnel right for when we play a top PL team (who are likely to maintain possession, play lots of tippy tappy stuff, etc). I for one expect Lambchops to have the Villans super fired up for the grudge match next weekend (as Norwich Colchester two seasons ago), and we will need to carve out an even better performance, tactics, formation to hold our own in a game where we likely have more possession, and Villa will look to hit us on the counter and use a far more direct approach. I think CH will make some minor changes, and would like to see Fox (replacing Bradley) alongside Tettey. This could bring some extra creativity and cutting edge. What do others think?
I agree Johnson could be replaced with Fox to give a bit more of ana attacking flair - maybe also give Butterfield a run out for the last 20 mins or so, as it seems he's fully fit and chomping at the bit. Let's hope it's a good game and we avoid defeat.
I would imagine a certain Mr Holt will be fired up, I'm led to believe that there is no coincidence him getting the extra year on his contract after Mr Lambert had gone.
It would be fantastic to beat them, I wished Lambert well until this whole suing business unfolded. Now I hope they get relegated. I'd concur with Fox playing, whilst he can't chase like Johnson, he reads things alot better and is nicer on the eye. Fox with the incredibly mobile Tettey, I don't think I've ever seen a player in that position accelerate so quickly in a City shirt. He is going to be a real handy player for us with a new dimension and something we didn't have before. The first team is beginning to take shape now with Ruddy, Bassong, Garrido, Tettey and Holt now looking undroppable. Its up to a few more players now to do the same
Evening all. I would not change it at all to start but have Fox and others to come on. Another element for me was dropping Howson. Not saying he is a bad player but for me has not lived up to his billing to some degree and this change plus including Bennett and Pilkington gave much needed balance. Tettey can only improve. I saw him against Donny and commented to my mate about his work rate . Up and down all game and getting better each game. He also is prepared to have a go. Butterfield also looked a decent prospect . The 4 2 3 1 1 worked well. Defensively solid and sharp countering. Stick to the same for me and tweak via good substitutions. Just need more of these performances on a regular basis and we have a chance.
I wouldn't even contemplate dropping Johnson after his recent performances. Fox can pass but can't tackle and doesn't look like he ever will. Personally I'm not one to rave about Fox. The comparisons with Crook are IMO totally inaccurate. CH has tried to steady the ship and I don't think we should go overboard over one win. What we need is a string of performances. And continuity is what will count. Now that the flair is back I the side with Messrs Hoolahan, Be net and Pilkington, I think we look to have our best formation.
I'm a big Fox fan but cannot see him getting in the team at the moment, we finally have a formation which accommodates Hoolahan and allows the wide players to properly support Holt and if that means playing two more combative defensive minded midfielders then so be it.
i think comparisons between fox and crook are blatantly obvious. fox is not as good as crook - not many are - but he is similar in style, therefore, comparisons will be made. i mentioned yesterday that there is still a place in the team for fox, and howson for that matter, but it depends on our opponents, much as surgeryman has indicated. if we need a more combative style then fox is out - if subtlety and possession is required he could well be called upon. this is why hughton made sure he had plenty of midfield options, so he can play in a variety of ways without adjusting the system too much. the key is using our wide players to their full potential - we did that at the weekend. we had a solid base but also threat going forward - its the first time we've really had that balance right this season, although we've been close to getting it right
1000% behind you with this They are not the most gifted or best players in the PL but they make a vast difference to the balance of the team and showed us exactly what has been missing all season, and what many of us were hoping to see asap. Keep them fit and hopefully we will see more performances worthy of 3 points
I've said that for a LONG time - that Pilks and Benno on opposite wings give us width that most opposing teams don't like - loved the way they were helping helping out in defence too (especially Benno). One fan behind me even said that Pilks reminded him of no less than DH - praise indeed, something I said he could mature to be given the proper coaching etc during last season.
i haven't seen Villa play this year, but it is obvious that they are really stuggling for goals - 6 in 8 games i believe. So we need Johnson in the middle of the park to help break up play in their midfield. Fox is good when we have a lot of possession (which is not often!) apart from injuries, i expect Hughton will pick the same XI on Saturday.
Given the calibre of our opposition every week in this league, I'm afraid to say Fox is a bit of a luxury we can't really justify. It's all very well to have someone with precision distribution technique, but if we don't have the ball, that becomes largely irrelevant. Tettey and Johnson are constantly at people, harrying and hustling them into misplacing passes or losing out in tackles. Even Howson has adapted to this - although I suspect he'd prefer playing further up the pitch. As stated, this is not the role Fox brings to the party. Don't get me wrong, I think he's excellent but we just can't afford him in the Premier League
i'd argue that there are only about 8 teams who we realistically know will have the ball more than us. fox controls a game for us - johnson stops our opponents controlling a game. its not rocket science... fox could capably play 20 odd games this season and make a big difference. all depends on how hughton wants to use him, if he does at all, which i assume he does seeing as he gave him a new deal. the key with fox is playing him alongside a player such as tettey. under lambert, fox was not only responsible for controlling our tempo but also breaking up play, something he wasn't good at, therefore allowing opponents too much time to run at our defence. with tettey, this can change and fox could become an even better player. i know fox has had injury issues this season so its not a surprise he hasn't played at all yet.
CH was quoted at the weekend saying "The only right formation is the one that we win with", and "It's about trying to get a given formation for any game". In other words, he will fine tune his selection and formation to the opponents on the day, and during the match too if needed. Not that different from PL then, but a bit less quickfire in his decision making. That's how I see it anyway.
Didn't know we could have 12 players on the pitch! Agree about the wingers, they were key on saturday. Arsenal could not and did not use the wings at all. They focused their play down the centre, which was a mistake. They had no out-and-out wingers. Gervinho and Podolski, their two wide men on saturday are no good down the wing. Even Jenkinson and Santos, their two full backs weren't any good down the wing. This meant all their attacking play comes down the centre. This was their mistake because our two holding midfielders, Johnson and Tettey, provided defensive support in the centre(this is feel being the key difference) that Arsenal couldn't get past, restricting them to long shots.
