If they can stay free from injury then we have a deadly duo on our hands! please log in to view this image Fletcher in numbers v Stoke... 2 shots on target, 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 fouls won, 2 tackles, 1 dribble, 1 cross, 1 corner won, 12 50/50 battles won. www.oulala.com/en/player-profile/steven-fletcher/2048 Wickham in numbers v Stoke... 1 shot an target, 1 goal, 1 assist, 4 dribbles, 3 clearances, 2 interceptions, 1 corner won, 5 50/50 battles won. www.oulala.com/en/player-profile/connor-wickham/2046
1 game doesnt make a season. it was a massive relief to finally to see both of them on the scoresheet, let's see how it goes before calling them a deadly duo
Wickham still hasn't signed a new contract yet...Surely this needs sorting out sharpish, one way or another. Mind if he does want to leave, knocking a few goals in, will only increase his value...
Depends if we continue you to give them traditional service. Larrson stalling on the ball looking for that Pirlo through ball won't get these guys goals, using our wing backs to hit the byline and getting that ball into dangerous areas will get them goals. They can both score but limited in their football ability, Gus needs to put his pass and move possession dream to the side until he has the strikers to implement it. In the mean time, let's just get that ball onto the big lads noggins.
This ^^^, my fear is keeping them both happy, Gus changes his systems depending on the opposition and he will not always play 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, at some stage he will revert to 4-4-1-1. However we need the right balls into the box when we play 2 up top and we have now have the wide players to provide crosses from both fullbacks and wingers. We are looking good because we have a bit of quality on the bench so he can change things during the game.
I don't want us to compromise our passing style for anything this is the first time we've had a plan, philosophy or style in my lifetime (25) it's going to be hard asking players to do things that aren't usually part of their game to suit the system but players come and go but the system and philosophy must stay. 2 of the 3 last European champions are teams who play a certain way throughout the club and exercise building a team as much as buying one Barcelona and Munich being those club's. We are some way off that but you only need to look at Southampton and Swansea to see how it works at our level also.
Did you notice the 'understanding' between Van Aanholt and Connor? A soon as Aanholt arrived in the finial third Wickham was off like a whippet from the inside left possition to Join Fletcher. Looked a bit bizarre but was effective, Stoke didn't know who to pick up right across their back line. It proper ****ed with Bardo
I was impressed with Van Aanholt, he made a couple of 20 yard passes to feet, one of them to Whickam, when he got the assist for Fletchers second goal, I thought Fletcher pulled their back line all over with his off the ball runs, creating loads of space on their eighteen yard line for others to drop into. I just worry about our midfield being overrun when we play 4-4-2 against a five man midfield, but all credit to Whickam who dropped in to help out. We looked promising against a poor Stoke side, but I always say that your only as good as the other team lets you play, and apart from their goal, we didn't let Stoke play.
Definitely mate, it will take time but Saturday was another step towards what Gus wants, a side that plays football where its meant to be, on grass.
They were poor on the day but they were unbeaten away from home before Saturday, including winning away at Man City. They'll not be an easy game for anyone, that was a really good win for us in my opinion.
Agree mate, they are a difficult side to beat so it was a good win for us, they are a relatively poor side though, who play to their strengths, like I said, apart from their goal we didn't let them play. When I watch the likes of Adam and N'Zonzi in the middle of the park, it makes me thankful we have Catts, Gomez, Rodwell and (yes) Larsson to pick from
Aye I know what you mean mate, they've got one or two handy players like Assaidi and Moses, but overall I wouldn't take many of their squad if offered. Paul Merson was waxing lyrical about them on Soccer Saturday for some reason. As has been mentioned elsewhere, it's not like Hughes has turned them into Barcelona, they still play the same physical way as they did under Pulis, minus the long throws, and with pacier wingers. Encouragingly, we also managed to outplay a Swansea team who are considered one of the better "footballing" sides. If Fletch and Wickham can take the confidence from the weekend to the next few games, it'll stand us in good stead.
Think it might have been a different game if Moses hadn't gone off, I think we still would have won though.
Stoke are no pushovers, even when two key midfield players were missing, this was our best result for a long time and keeps our steady improvement on track, great to see Fletch back among the goals and combining so well with Whicks long may it continue.
On the evidence of this game, let the opposition adapt their game to us for the first hour by having two up front men. Best and most direct game we have played all season. Leave the scoring from midfield to teams with better accomplished players.
