Bit of both, always got to give the keeper their due in those situations and Artur is one of the best around at those quick reflex saves and one on ones, but Long shouldn't have given him even the slightest of chances, it was a dreadful shot.
John Cross of The Daily Mirror: "Pochettino was asked in presser when is he going to speak in English. He laughed it off. He then went and spoke to Keith Downing in English."
Listen we all know he's not starting eleven. He got caught in possession badly once, but as soon as it happened I thought that someone would post it. Find a copy of the game, because he just shouldn't have been given the ball then. Not sure if it was Davis or Adam, but we had a break on and they just slowed it down and then have him the ball about an hour too late when he was stationary and surrounded. He wasn't fantastic but he changed the game. We need someone like that in the squad who can change things. Part if me thinks, just sell him and watch him blossom somewhere where he'll be appreciated. He hasn't be great, but the last two or three sub appearances have been at least good. If you mean his hair is poor, then I apologise.
Right, I am a Cork fan and not really a Ramirez fan. AND at the point that Cork was taken off I thought he was the most dominate player on the pitch. But he was playing in the more defensive role which was never really threatened by West Brom so in many ways it was a great substitution. We almost certainly would never have scored without Ramirez in the game. However, after that it was obvious how much we missed Cork. Although it is difficult to gauge, whether that was down to Cork's absence (and Ramirez being there) or because West Brom suddenly had to get forward because, lets face it, before the goal they hardly left their half. There is no doubt that we look a better team with Cork in it but today we would not have won without Ramirez. Its a squad game so well done to Pochettino.
I need a glass of wine!!!! I actually thought it was the wrong decision because Cork was our man today for sure. I aid to my lad that I would have taken off a more forward player for Ramirez and left cork on. It worked though, so I'll stick to the day job!
Maybe with hindsight, you'd have started Ramirez and brought Cork on after an hour if we were ahead. Could we have expected that West Brom park the bus from the first minute? Possibly, to be fair I don't think I would rate their attackers even if they were interested in actually scoring a goal. But hey, we changed the game, it worked, got a wonder save from Artur, can't complain.
I thought for once the support was really good from where I was sitting, with Albion playing so negatively the fans could well have got frustrated and edgy, but leading up to the goal it was getting a bit noisy from our lot, even Solent remarked about it.
Agree, it was a very positive change from Pochettino. Bringing on Ramirez gives you that little bit of unpredictability but you sacrifice a control of the game and possession. It paid off and well done Pochettino and we could have quite happily of passed the ball around like we were and took a frustrating point.
Well, in the Northam itself it was very noisy first half. For a few minutes after half time it was quiet (a bit frustrated) then we had huge volumes until the goal. OWTSGMI continually for about 15 minutes is not a bad effort. Felt very much like a good 12th man effort. Give it a try in your various parts of the ground. Vin
Great teams often have a great keeper that makes them that extra bit special. We have certainly missed Artur's points saving saves. Before today's game I was chatting with a mate about the goals we have been letting in of late. There is no doubt Artur would have conceded some of them too, but critically, I'm damn sure we'd have more points if he'd been in the side all the way through, then had he been injured. That's not a slur on Davis or Gazzaniga, just a tribute to how special Artur is as a goalkeeper.
It was a Long howler more than Boruc super save. Sure it was a very good save but Long should have given Boruc no chance.
