I loved watching HHs battles, how could anyone not love that winner he scored at Palace after wed conceded a 90th min equaliser? Give me that over a 30 pass move that doesnt even get into the box.
Remember that HH winner well - was in a packed pub in Trondheim, everyone was watching other games on other TV's but when that one went in I think I was shouting louder than all of them. I thought we were great to watch under Colin - a good combination of possession football with Adel running the show, mixed up with direct stuff, plus a pretty solid defense.
Nowt wrong with the football we played under Warnock. It was good to watch, exciting and above all fast. That doesn't mean that we bypassed the midfield with hoofball. We just moved it a lot quicker. At the moment we lose all advantage in winning the ball by taking forever to do anything with it. Now that I'm afraid is down to the fact that the manager does not want creative ball players with vision. He'd rather that it gets knocked around the back 4 - that well reknowned quartet of ball maestros known as Simpson, Assou-Ekotto, Hill and Dunne. It's not rocket science that you will create opportunities if you get the ball into the penalty area while there are 3 or 4 defenders where as you won't if all 11 of the opposition are behind the ball. But then what do I know?
And now for the positives. I thought that we actually looked threatening when Johnson came on. At last we had someone willing to make runs into the box. I just hope he can last for more than a few games but if not, Chevanton has to play. The days of Charlie Austin having to do it all on his own must be numbered. Ali Faurlin must surely have played himself into the team. He did not put a foot wrong last night. Competent understated performance. That's what Harry wants Matt Phillips showed pace and promise that there is a lot more to come. Not quite there but deserves to start on Saturday. Hoilett sadly looks to me to be one that might be shipped out in January unless he bucks his ideas up. Literally. It's the connection between brain and feet that is lacking at the moment. Plenty round me last night got to the point of calling for his substitution. If he could have used 20% of the ball we had last night we'd have won. Comfortably. I live up North and have been to Huddersfield, Bolton, Burnley and Wigan. The most creative performance was the first when Huddersfield could not really have complained if we'd scored 5 or 6. I have not enjoyed the last two games and am seriously questioning if I'm going to bother next time if we're not going to try to score. Actually scrub that. It's probably Blackpool. Be interesting to see if it's still a dump.
I seem to remember hearing that McLaren was spending a lot of time on Hoilett, and he certainly looked a much better player than last year early on this season, before his injury v Brum. Wonder if he's not getting the kind of attention he needs. Perhaps Wally Downes will sort it out.
You may be right there SB. But for me he's seriously missing finish, he's not passing the ball when his runs get him into good areas, or scoring. For me he's very like SWP, he scares defenses with his speed as SWP, is better than SWP at getting round players, but not as good as SWP defensively. I wonder if Traore wouldn't do a better job out there, he can put in some great crosses.
Theyre not, this is what the genius in charge said. So our game plan it to go for a 0-0 for 80 mins and then try to create a chance in the last 10 mins. "Harry Redknapp plans to ignore any temptation to play Charlie Austin and Johnson in tandem and stick with a tried-and-tested formula of one lone Ranger, and one behind in the ‘hole.’ Redknapp explained: “People talk about playing two up, but I thought Junior Hoilett was a big threat to Wigan on Wednesday night in that hole. “So rather than stick two up, Junior in behind was a problem. If you stick two up against centre halves the forwards are easier to mark.”"
I agree with the HH reference earlier ... He was some player for us and led the line like only Austin could dream of .. but different time I am hoping that our midfield dominance of games does start picking up 3 points instead of a load of useless stats. Individual performances throughout the team need to improve big time as only flashes like the AJ goal against Bolton have raised my eyebrows ... that was a beautiful Harold type goal or should i say Stephen It will all come good
I thought the football we played under COLIN was more effective but not as good as some make out. We had Adel on form against some s**t players which always made it entertaining, but he did his fair share of screwing up too. I can understand why people think it was better but like i said. I believe it was more entertaining but as for effective...well only time wil tell. The footy we are playing now is keeping us in touch with the top 4 so as long as we are around here come Feb or so i think we could & should step up a few gears. Looking at this team i believe we have the capability to do that. the like of Burnley dont. They are on fire ATM and come the odd injury or suspension, they will slip down the league.
