Ah well it is Friday the 13th. In his lunch time press conference Jol confirmed that Stekelenburg, Hughes, Briggs and Bent are all out of tomorrow’s game. Richardson started training yesterday and is a possible as is new boy Zverotic. The main problem for Jol at the back is whether to risk Amorebieta after playing on Tuesday (his only game in over a month) and the excessive travel - all adding up to “tiredness”. Also I just can't see how he can risk Richardson; last time he came back 'early' he lasted the usual 20 minutes and was out for weeks. Up front, with Bent out, the question is who should now partner Berbatov - the Bollock must be Claire voyant! Most of the combinations have been rehearsed before so I’m going to jump straight to the team I’d play: ……………Stockdale………….. Riether..Hangeland..Amorebieta…Riise.. ………...Zverotic…Parker… …Taarabt….Kasami….Kacanklic.. ………….Berbatov…. But that won’t be Jol’s choice. He’ll go ultra cautious and play: Senderos instead of Amorebieta Sidwell instead of Zverotic Duff instead of Kaca and go Duff..Kasami..Taarabt --and possibly even Bryan instead of Kasami. PS Whatever has been happening in the training sessions at Motspur Park that we now have two additional injury worries. Suppose it makes a change from the International lot coming back injured.
Jol doesn't reveal an awful lot more about team selection in his internal video interview. However some proper questions from Sarah Brookes and decent (sometimes passionate) answers from Jol - [video=youtube;Jb6-Vdg767w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb6-Vdg767w&feature=player_detailpage[/video]
Definately worth listening to this one. Some good questions with quite a few interesting sound bites. C O Y W
The referee today is Mr Probert - if you remember he was the man that Steve Sidwell took 'out of the game' - [video=youtube;XQwVONftqLo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQwVONftqLo&feature=player_detailpage[/video]
Frustrating we looked very good in parts today but were desperate for someone to makes some forward runs. If we can get bent fit hopefully he can stretch the defenders. Parker looked very good. Need to deal with conceeding goals late, 3 points dropped in the last 2 games.
Oh well, was going to happen. We should have put it to bed when we had chances. Played well at times but WBA was there for taking. If someone could do the run in the box. Till next time Come on Fulham.
That was definitely not offside ! That was a blatant penalty ! That was a debateable offside ! That was never a corner ! Yes, we didn’t get the rub today and really should have had the game sewn up before the extra time equaliser. Apart from the first three decisions above, Berba should have scored when Bryan put him clean through. And his perfectly timed bicycle kick certainly deserved a goal. The team had much more shape today and if we had played a proper right winger I don’t think the result would have ever have been in doubt. Yet again Bryan did not hack it. I’m sorry but one good pass and a shot against the bar (which from 10 yards out he should have put away) is not good enough. Why Taarabt was left on the bench is beyond me. On substitutions, I can understand Richardson (who played very well) but not Berba (who had his best game so far). Did he have a knock? Strange decision if not because Hugo’s poor control really didn’t help the cause. At the end of the day though we lost points because our play is still too cautious and too ponderous.
Yes, Jol said afterwards Berba signalled to be substituted, something about a hamstring. Doesn't bode well. Still a step in the right direction, but it doesn't change the fact it was very disappointing to concede a late goal. Still, we press on, COYW.
I believe Berba signalled to be substituted. He apparently felt a slight hamstring strain so hopefully no damage done. We needed a second goal and certainly had our chances. I just knew a West Brom was coming but really we deserved to win that game and they were quite poor. Overall it was a better performance and I think Richardson, Kasami, Parker and Berba had good games. It's still early days and we're not there yet but at least we saw an improvement in our play.
They were there for the taking,WBA a team that is having a poor start to the season. We have some talented players,my criticism being there was no technical re deployment or change of stratagy from the manager when it was most needed in the second half., Ruiz and Roders to day a complete waste of space. Drop Ruiz not when he is your most expensive signing. This should have been a cert 3 pointer.
we were good at times, played decent football first half but you have to kill these teams off - we didn't. I thought second half we looked poor. I couldn't claim WBA should not go away without a point. They battled. Ruiz injury looked a bad one. A good team would have taken us apart today. Jol claimed this a "6 pointer" - Albion are a poor side and walking wounded we should have won this game. I hope these 2 dropped points don't come to haunt us. Very average and again lots of a changes. i thought Kasami was our best player over the entire game. Parker did well, won lots of ball but faded towards the end. Oh well Chelsea next. I would suggest to Jol that Cardiff and Stoke are not 6 pointers but MUST wins or i'm sure Khan will be looking long and hard at keeping him. Cheerleaders at HT were decent tho eh lads.
Whilst I don't want to see a player injured at least Bryan's injury will mean Adel will get a run in the team. He will probably do much better than Ruiz who really does seem to be a bit of a misfit in the premier league. Just goes to show that buying players from weaker leagues is always a gamble - Scottish League (unless they are playing for in Europe for Celtic and doing well), Dutch, Swedish, etc. Annoyed that we didn't hang on. Smacks of a lack of concentration and a job done attitude, which is what we were suffering from during our terrible run toward the end of last season. Jol must knock that out of the players. Anyone know why Amorebietta didn't start? He's fit and has to be a better option than Senderos. Also any news on when Steck will be back? (although I gather Stockdale did very well today). Taarabt not playing? Why sign these guys if we never play them?
Taarabt wasn't fit. Saw Bent outside the Cottage, says Chelsea might come too soon. Where is Dejagah -not even a mention. Amorebieta looked ok. I was miffed why he didn't start too. Perfect game for him. Senderos at Chelsea....great.
Quite. I have a nasty feeling we might get tonked by Chelsea. Think your point about Jol is correct. Mr Khan will be looking at him very closely between now and Christmas (or maybe even before). Personally I like Jol but if the team don't start delivering some wins on the pitch he'll be in trouble. Can't see the new owner being too keen on his investment going south. Presumably he does know that if you finish bottom or close to it in this league you go down - The Jaguars could lose every game and they will still stay in the same league.
