What a great week! There seems to be a turn in the tide at last, and today's performance against Norwich was like watching the team under Rodgers at his best. We've managed to convert a potential defeat at the Emirates into a draw and converted a winning position against Norwich into a bigger win rather than capitulating second half into a draw or defeat. I'm now expecting us to push on for the rest of the season with the 40-point mark a distinct possibility rather than a forlorn hope. Routledge - excellent today and well done Garry Monk. Looking forward to seeing him manage the team next season. [Hope I'm not getting carried away]
Let's face it - with a full strength team out we are way too good to get relegated. Routledge, Bony, Michu, JDG and Shelvey were all excellent today.
I think under Rogers we would have lost at the Emirates midweek once we went behind - but it's a futile point anyway. I'm still not happy with Shelvey though - he's just very inconsistent. He seems stressed out all the time to me. JdG was excellent again yesterday - for someone who apparently was only here for Laudrup, he's certainly found his feet now he's gone. At this point I hope we sign him in the summer. Maybe his rise in form is because he is playing for a contract now that he can't rely on Laudrup giving him a season ticket ? Just a thought. It was a joy to watch yesterday, apart from the start of the second half where yet again it seemed briefly that the half-time curse was going to strike again. It was pretty much full strength yesterday and as other have already said - at full strength we're too good to go down. It just reinforces the point that during the summer - whoever is in charge will need to strengthen our bench so we can avoid being in this position again next season should injuries plague us. I just hope we're not gonna have another summer of Huw penny pinching at every opportunity and using the fact that we're not in Europe to justify not needing a bigger, better quality squad.
Yesterday was a much needed win. I think we've played better and lost so we can, hopefully, improve and pick up a few more points. Playing more like we did before Christmas. I hope heads don't drop if we lose to Hull, Chelsea and Newcastle; while none are out of our reach on top form (Chelsea would be a big ask but if Palace can do it!!) the final three are where I think we'll take our points tally over the 40 mark. I didn't mind the wobbles after half time even Vorm's headed clearance off the line (I think he'd have watched that go passed him in previous games) and Ashley's block on the line showed we are improving defensively. A very good team performance with a few stand out performances.
Pretty gutsy decision by Monk to leave Dyer and Paulo on the bench and have Routledge the only "recognizable" guy out wide. Monk must have seeen something because it sure worked . Guaranteed Dyer and Paulo will be training harder , a momumental shift.
In fairness, JDG as a winger role has been great, but when he was pulled back to AM agianst Arsenal, he went back to being **** IMO, and didn't do half the work tracking back as Michu did. Which is why I think we ended up conceeding 2 goals (more so the first), not solely due to JDG, but his lack of tracking back and providing an extra body which Michu was always providing. A great player, still has holes in his game that he needs to fill.
It certainly feels good to be fulfilling our potential and playing to our strengths (getting forward faster and less tapping it around at the back). If Monk (or his successor) can sort us out defensively then we are definitely a top 10 side. We're now above Hull who have slumped down a few places lately and we should be targeting this a three pointer. Good times ahead once more
If the " Monk swans" played an entire season scoring at the rate they have so far in the Premier under Garry , we would score 76 goals .
With a favorable shedule and a healthy team , I would love the team to get to GD + 1 at season end aswandam , would be an amazing accomplishment in this league imo
Agree the performances have been generally good under monk, but we lacked the edge up front in some games, but we were always improving under Monk game on game, and it was only going to be a matter of time before things improved, hence why I have always said we are not going down, and now that the pressure is off our boys, they can get stuck into some killer footy, the way they know they can, confidence is picking back up to, and that will relax them more, so that they can play more fluidly, so let the good times roll once again, the Jacks are back in town!.................. please log in to view this image
Anyone think watching them lately they're trying to emulate another team defensively, who also play in white?
