we cant get carried away now, this result just puts us back in the mix, we've got 2 very tough games against everton and liverpool then we have a run of 5 or so games where we can expect to get a few points from........
Good to get the points. We didn't look great up front, but we got the job done. West Brom and Palace helped us out. Still those games in hand other clubs have will be crucial. Also, I mean wow...Fulham are dreadful!!
Three points is all that matters, but that was a Championship standard game at best, just glad Fulham were worse than us. For me Mutch was clearly not match fit - quality player, but he was huffing and puffing all over the pitch. Other than trying to breed some confidence into Kimbo, I can't see the point of sticking with him at the moment. I'd have taken him off at half time and stuck Bellers behind Jones. Jones himself had an interesting game and played to his strengths, but he should have had at least a couple - missing some of those chances was criminal. Campbell playing out wide right was also interesting, but maybe Zaha could have done a better job. Apart from letting his winger get free by lunging in a couple of times, Fabio had easily his best game. We will have to adopt a different stategy at Everton. They're not getting the results lately, but they'll murder us if we give them the sort of space we gave Fulham today. Back to 3 CB's and a 3-5-2 setup for that one if Turner is OK after going off. All in all, we could all be sitting with our heads in our hands having just been beaten like the aftermath of the Hull game, but we DO have a chance now.
Totally disagree about Kim. He was brave in possession, looked for the ball and worked his socks is off. Thought FC was ok out wide. You wouldn't have had that work rate from Zaha. I liked the 4-3-3 to 4-5-1 set up and thought it allowed us to dominate centre mid whilst retaining enough attacking threat. We should have had at least 1 more goal from the chances KWJ spurned. Turner looked like a hamstring so I think it'll be a couple of series.
Sorry Stevo - Kim has a great work ethic, but working your socks off and then falling over doesn't do it for me. He is not a patch on what I'd imagined him to be this year after his super stuff the back end of last season. Also of course I should have said wide left for Campbell not right - still think if Campbell plays, he needs to go through the middle. Zaha is not my favourite player as you will know, but I think he would have given their right side more problems. As far as "dominating the centre" is concerned, we were playing Fulham don't forget. They were hopeless.
Agreed that Mutch didn't look up to par. No sign of his runs from midfield to put defenders under pressure. Should be better next week. Medel was Medel and won some valuable balls while usually playing sensible short passes to keep possession. While Caulker probably got MoM, Noone was excellent again. They were triple marking him at times and he was a real thorn in their side all game. Kimbo had a better game and gets 10/10 for effort but he doesn't have the ability to turn and beat players at this level like he did in the Championship. KWJ should have got 1 from his 3 good chances and first half was mullered by Hangeland, probably because we put everything up high. Second half we played more to his chest and feet and he had a much better 2nd 45. Also, his height and heading power are valuable in defence at set pieces. Not sure who Heitinga beat to get the flick on for Holtby to score though. KWJ was much more of a handful second half. Apart from the twice he dived in when he should have stood up Fabio had a much better game and that will do wonders for his confidence. My other little star was Declan John who put the sh!ts up them every time he carried the ball forward at pace. As he gains in confidence he could turn into an absolute gem. Big test next week against Moralles. Fulham were woeful and Marshie hardly had a difficult shot to save other than the one at the start of the second half and another later on. For all their Prem experience they really did not function as a team and showed little to give their fans any confidence. Anyway the win is the thing and gives OGS a positive base to build on for next week.
FC's best asset is his pace and work rate. His touch and passing can be terrible. By asking him to do a hard working job on the left it utilised his main assets, kept his goal threat on the field and offer John loads more protection than Zaha would have offered. I thought it really worked. Most the times Kim fell over he'd been fouled today. He won numerous free kicks with his quick feet. He won the ball back in midfield more often than you'd expect a player of his type to. Most times we managed to string any type of attacking passing move together Kim was involved. He's been disappointing this season but I thought he was only bettered by caulker and noone today. John and fabio had good games too.
interesting stuff to read guys, i thought kim lacked something, he has a knack of making things happen but is the player you look to drop if things don't go your way. when we were 1-1 i was thinking we are down, and although mutch didnt have his best game for the club, he is a player we must keep next season whatever division we are in, and hope he regains fitness for the remainder of the season. the main thought i had was that every player in that team has their strengths, but every one apart from maybe marshall and caulker has something missing which is why we are where we are. they all are capable of doing good things but all are susceptible to making mistakes....... the team though deserve a huge amount of credit for bouncing back from a 1-1 draw to a 3-1 win, that was high pressure stuff and although it will be difficult to get points from the next 2 games, the ones after that are the ones OGS will be looking to get the 4 wins we need..................
So you do know where the back of the net is then!...........few more results like that and you'll stay up lads!................
thanks valley, take care mate you seem to be able to keep your lot under control, fair play you deserve credit............
Listen we are a very controlled bunch over there Congrats on the 3 points I think that was the sealing of the Fulham coffin lid if not the final nail
Congratulation guys; right back in the mix - Fulham gone now IMO so only two relegation spaces left to avoid. Norwich got a horrible run in with Liverpool home, Man U away, Chelsea away and Arsenal home as their last four games so think they will fill another relegation spot. Your run in looks tricky but there are plenty of possible points there for the taking and you got two home 6 pointers in Crystal Palace and West Brom - win those two and think you will be well on the way to safety! It's all to play for and hope we can both look forward to another couple of Premier League derbies next season. Good luck guys - let's really piss the English establishment off and make the Premier League 10% Welsh again next season!!!!
