It's all about opinions JT. I get your point, but I think there are problems that need to be addressed.
On further reflection, yes there are problems, and yes its 'all about opinions - partly why we watch. Thanks for adjusting my opinion. I just get frustrated at the excess (my view) of the negative ones. It's probably worse in the wobby comments. I think we should all look at the bigger picture. Anyway, onward and upward.
You are 100% correct JT, it is worse on the Wobby site, which is why I look there with a small degree of interest, but don't take much notice. I think we are a pretty measured bunch on here and so I will pay more attention to what is being said. For me the frustration is with quality of the squad not matched by the results. As Vic said, teams win prizes not individuals.
Well, Bond made at least 4 top draw saves and had good distribution despite both Bassong and Ekstrand giving him at least 3 hospital passes between them! He was also faultless with either goal. As for Fessi, yes he had a good game but when you play him in midfield you get what you ask for and whether the 1st goal was offside or not, had he not dived in to try and tackle but instead jostled as a midfielder or defender would have done the goal would not have been scored at all. Overall we set up like we were the away team; very disappointed in that. Worse was the choice of formation with 2 deep midfielders and 2 wide and forward thinking midfielders we surrendered the central area and they were all over us. The substitutions righted that situation. It appeared Dyer had been told to hold station and cover Doyley when he made a run but in the first half both Bassong and Dyer failed to pass to him when he did; it made for very negative slow play across the pitch. The team did not seem to be gelling together and I am not sure that everyone was enjoying playing with each other or with what they have been told what to do. Nevertheless, once we scored we looked the only winner until we failed to close down their midfield again..............
Amongst the lot who sit near me (and in many posts) was/is a general feeling that we should play our best 11 every game, and play in such a way that subs slot in to the same pattern seamlessly. Liverpool winning the league with 13/14 players is often quoted. Well, it's not like that any more. Teams study the opposition in great depth now, video analysis etc and if we played the same way with the same players every week, all the other teams would a) nullify our strengths because they would be expecting them and b) work out ways to exploit our weaknesses. So, picking a team with the opposition in mind is not negative thinking, it's a necessary part of the game. What we are not doing though, is starting well (judging by last 3 games I've seen, Boro, Brum & Derby), and making the other team realise they are in for a real hard match. When we do get going we are really good. (At Brum however it never happened - but they were on a real mission, new manager and just been humiliated). I have a couple of issues with SJ's obsession with control. It makes us too cautious when we don't start well. It discourages the players from taking chances (Fessi excepted). Dyer seemed to be quite inhibited, not the player he was at leicester. When we had to go for it, we were much better. It also encourages the opposition. Anyway, a couple of decent wins and we'll close up again. If we are in top 4 at Xmas, or even top 6, then I think we will be fine. I suspect also that the Pozzo's are so determined to get us up that they might bring in a couple to give us the best chance in Jan - (and let 2..4 less successful squad members leave.)
Regarding the Derby goals - they had a go and got their rewards. Maybe we need to do that more often (I know Deeney and Vydra try) but on occasions we almost try to walk the ball in the net. Anyway its gone now and hopefully lessons have been learnt in terms of selection and putting more pressure on the opposition. Abdi is playing for the Under 21s tomorrow so should be in contention for Saturday which can only help.
