need to be careful here SOS, otherwise we're going to start sounding like the Chelsea fans last year. we've had/got a lot of injuries, and a couple of under performing new signings. Chelsea are still using the same formation. we just need to be patient. However, he can help himself by adjusting the formation to our current circumstances. we've persisted with it for a few games now, but it's time to change IMO, before the circus really begins.
I agree, no one's perfect and as I said there not necessarily major cockups, but cockups none the less. Not another 9, another 6 (I think I worked out, I put it in another thread). I did say that at Newcastle to lose is no disgrace. But at home we need to be more formidable and our results against WBA, NCFC, CFC and WAFC have been poor. I've said countless times I appreciate he's not got a full squad to work with but there's still plenty of talent to at least beat the likes WBA, NCFC and WAFC. When the fixtures were released, I felt we had a chance to build up some points before the "tougher" fixtures arrive and we've not done adequately enough in my opinion. Although it's not disastrous if you was to look at the table but I feel we could and should be far better off. The standard of the EPL is exactly why I'm more critical, we've been fortunate enough to not have to play all the top teams in a close period, Utd away was fantastic and then we lost to what has been this season - a very impressive Chelsea. But we still have the likes of City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, Stoke and Fulham to play (amongst a few others) all of whom I'd consider to be of a better standard than MOST of the teams we've already faced.
So you have finally realised Ghoddle10! As long as you persist with this wind up I will delete your comments. You know very well what the situation is, it has been fully explained to you.
We've been led to believe that AVB is to take us to the next level, I've not seen any signs of this so far. Admittedly I am impatient on that fact because I want the best for my club and instead it feels like we're in a steady decline under his guidance. I appreciate we're missing some of our key players but that shouldn't be the sole reason why we've performed poorly in many of our matches. Not all managers need a certain amount of time to bed in though, some of the managers in the league now have come in and done well with their respective clubs; Di Mateo won the CL (LUCKILY!!!) and is now arguably in charge of the best team to watch in the league at present (who'd have thought that about Chelsea?!), Alan Pardew has done wonders for NUFC since his appointment, Steve Clarke is doing a great job with WBA. If I felt there were positives to take I'd state them, it's just I feel the team itself looks somewhat lost under AVB and all I see is too many similarites with Ramos which concern me. Sounding like a Chelsea fan! Biggest insult ever Roo! I'm not a f*cking racist! I've said countless times mate I appreciate we've got a shed load of injuries but I don't think our performances can be fully blamed just on that, there's been some very poor decision making involved. We have a good squad with many internationals and there's no excuses for the way we've actually performed. Our team against Wigan on Saturday pretty much had a player of international experience - past or present - in each position: Friedel - former USA int. Walker - ENG int. Gallas - former France int. Caulker - U21 int. Received call up to ENG once. Vertonghen - BEL int. Len - ENG int. Sandro - BRA int. Hudd - has had int exp with ENG. Bale - WEL int. Dempsey - USA int. Defoe - ENG int. Also had Lloris (FRA), Dawson (ENG), Adebayor (TOG) and Sigurdsson (ICE) along with 3 players of U-21 experience on the bench. That group of players should be able to perform to a good level especially when up against Wigan with all due respects to them. And we've not been worse off than that team this season, we should've been able to perform better than we have.
AVB described Wigan as the better team in his post match comments, that suggests he is at least aware of the situation. Let's see how he responds in the coming games.
haha, perhaps a bit harsh of me there, SOS! - but you know what I mean. I hear what you're saying about internationals. i'm not going to scrutinise on who's an international that's "past it" or "who hasn't played for ages", like i'm sure some will. But regardless, it doesn't matter how many internationals you have (current or former) on a football pitch. A player in a certain position needs the support of players around him who also are suited to their own positions. - that applies for every position on the pitch. It's not working for us in too many areas at the moment because of the personnel/formation combination, IMO.
Completely agree with you there. Which leads me back to the point of poor selections and tactics. I personally wouldn't've of have Dempsey, Walker, Friedel or Gallas start that match. I think we'd have been better off with a 4-4-2 from to see how Defoe and Ade get on. I know Ade probably wouldn't of lasted 90 mins but then I still think it'd been more effective than 90 mins of a 4-5-1 with Dempsey who's had a poor effect so far. I know I can't say that would've definitely won but I just saw no passion from the players and no ideas from the manager to try and change the game.
I'd be extremely worried if he said he thought we were better though Spurf Indeed, now's a perfect time for him to prove myself and the rest of the doubters wrong.
I would agree with SOS. Yes, AVB has been unfortunate with injuries to key players, not getting the player(s) he wanted, etc. however, there's more to it than that. There has been some poor team selection - why is Gallas still an automatic first choice? Especially after some of his inept displays? Yes, we have injuries, but worst way round Vertonghen could partner Caulker with Naughton at LB. or Dawson could be given his chance to prove himself to AVB. Why has ADE not played more? I know he's been ill and injured. But, he seems to be fit now. Some of his substitutions are just downright bizarre! Taking Defoe off when you need a goal is just plain stupid. If anybody in our entire squad is liable to conjour a goal from nowhere, it's JD. So, for me, the jury is very much still out. Even though I never wanted AVB in the first place, I was prepared to be open minded and give him his chance. So far, I'm far from convinced that he's the man for us. Let's hope there's some action in January.
I think part of the problem is the criticism of using defensive substitutions, which misses one key point - we don't have many attacking ones. Take a look at our central midfield options: Dembele, Sandro, Parker, Huddlestone, Livermore. Sandro, Parker and Livermore are all defensive midfielders, Huddlestone can pass the ball but lacks the dynamism to come forward with the ball, meaning it's just Dembele who can shake things up - we're already looking at youngsters such as Carroll or Pritchard at this point, or hoping Sigurdsson suddenly thinks he's playing at the Liberty Stadium again. On that front, we can't blame Villas-Boas, as he tried to address this with Moutinho only for that deal to fall apart at the last minute, and that has informed the tactics he uses to a certain degree.
Couldn't agree more. I said in another thread that Dawson is a much better player than Gallas as of right now. For sure 4 or 5 years ago if we had Gallas then I'd understand his selection... But it's not 4 or 5 years ago! Lol. I've been hugely impressed with Defoe and I've credited that to AVB, he's looked much sharper and puts in a good shift but Ade is the better player, though I can appreciate he's been unfit or injured since he signed permanently. I want to see a 4-4-2 as Defoe doesn't deserve to be dropped and as Dempsey has been woeful, surely it'd be a logical choice to give Ade and Defoe a chance together and see what happens. I've tried keeping an open mind but the guy just continuously disappoints me. Hopefully we get a few players back soon to see how he can utilise more of the squad and like you, I hope there's action in January.
I'm enjoying the exchange SoS but I don't understand how it helps the problem (which is lack of creativity in midfield), to leave out an attacking midfielder (Dempsey) and replace him with Ade. Surely it would make us both more open to Wigan's attacks and less creative. I could see some sense in bringing on Carroll for a defender (my stream broke just before that - I assume we went to three at the back) or Falque for Dempsey, but I really don't like Defoe in a 442.
As am I Power I don't think it'd make us less creative as Dempsey isn't a creative player. He's not like a Rafa in which he can split a defence with a pass. He has great instincts to get on the end of things but as of up to now we've not seen him use them much. Yeah Carroll came on for Walker and we played 3 at the back. I don't think Defoe is that bad in a 4-4-2 to be honest he was in a great partnership with Crouch at Pompey (and times for us) and when Ade and Defoe briefly played together last season, we've seen decent performances: Wolves away - Ade scored on debut. Liverpool home - Ade x 2 and Defoe. WBA away - Ade x 2 and Defoe. I think with time they could become a lethal partnership, both are fantastic strikers on their day. I'd like to see it at least given a chance for a couple of games. Though if not, like you, I'd like to see Falque given more of a chance. He split the NCFC defence open a good few times and was the catalyst to equaliser against Maribor. He's definitely more creative than Dempsey and I even said before the Wigan match that if Defoe & Ade didn't start, I'd have liked Falque to have been deployed in the CAM role behind JD. EDIT: To also add to the JD and Ade part, Bale and Lennon would have an option to play a higher ball into the box than the constant drilled crosses on the ground. Being able to mix things up is always a bonus and Ade offers us the height attribute which at times we've sorely missed.
Well said SOS, as you rightly say AVB has been a **** manager so far and I see no signs of him improving, in fact he's getting worse.
hbic - "On that front, we can't blame Villas-Boas, as he tried to address this with Moutinho only for that deal to fall apart at the last minute," Just how long did AVB have to decide from when he took over that he was short on playmakers? he has to be partly to blame for leaving it to the last minute. PS - "but I really don't like Defoe in a 442." When you're 1 nil down to Wigan at home with only the last part of the game to go, whats 'liked' has to go out the window and you chuck the kitchen sink at the situation. There isn't time left for poncing around you do just have to go for it. It may not have panned out, thats football, but maximising your chances of salvaging a result is a must surely, and your suggestion at bringing a kid on in that pressurised situation is not a good one imo.
Thanks G10. Don't get me wrong I want AVB to succeed more than anyone, purely as I'm probably his biggest critic. But I find it hard to see even the slightest of signs to suggest this is the guy to take us forward. Lets hope he can turn things around and make me look a massive fool!
^^ and this is where I'm at mate. he's come in to bring in this style of play that is believed to be fantastic. - agreed, it works with barca, spain etc. But he's had to give it a real good chance to get the players accustomed to it. for me, the time when i started thinking that we need to try an alternative plan(due to injuries etc) was after the Norwich game. I was chatting about this with YV on Friday. Another game has gone by and it's the same again. but I think AVB's been right to persist with it up till now. Some will say that he should have changed things up when we saw the signs of woeful football 5-6 games ago (which i don't blame them to be honest), but we must remember that AVB didn't have Lloris or Dempsey till transfer deadline day and Dembele about 2 or 3 days before that. - and Ade about a week before Dembele. he's needed until now to get his system to bed in with everyone, not just who he had all summer. This is why i'm always banging on about late business and how it's so costly. never mind having to pay a couple of extra mill for someone, there's a £30 mill prize at stake (CL football)!! having the squad ready and settled is so important. but anyhow, what we can do right now is play to our strengths. I believe that's to temporarily switch the formation to suit who we have available with injuries considered. - Rather than trying to play "internationals" as you say, in positions that just don't work and in a formation that doesn't suit them.
Notso, i wouldn't mind betting that when AVB took over his first words to Levy were "get me moutinho". it was made clear all summer how much of an admirer of him he is and levy in his usual way left it till the last day not having enough time. then the deal hit the "snag". ...yeah - i bet that's what we were all told, when the reality was that it was one huge cock up. don't think we can blame AVB for this at all, when there's evidence of us scrambling to get other players over the line on deadline day as well.
No probs SOS. Like you I would love to see him make a fool out of me (some people doubtless think that job was completed at birth or quite soon after and turn it around, but there's very little to suggest he will be able to. I predicted 8th for us at the start of the season, I think that's looking optimistic now. I expect us to lose at City and Arsenal , and unless he makes some long overdue changes probably one of them will beat us by 3 or 4 Hopefully we beat Maribor on Thursday and start to improve from there, we'll see.
The way things have gone, I can only thank god we're not in that comp, what an unmitigating disaster that would have been.
