Dawson has been an exceptional signing, Diame has been our best signing this season but coming back from injury yesterday he obviously wasn't 100%. Last Sunday we were exceptional in the first half against Spurs, quite possibly the best football I've ever seen us play(and I've been going for almost 40 years), but after the Ramirez sending off we got turned over. I hoped we'd start off as we started last weekend, but as you say, we were second to every ball, passes were wayward, closing down was too slow, we were playing too deep, all in all it was a **** performance. To be honest, your lads were good yesterday and even on our game we may well have lost, but we should have made it far more difficult than we did.
No goal line technology then no way that first goal would have been given. Also, Di Maria going off may have been a blessing in disquise as Herrera came on and was brilliant. Both of those things made the afternoon easier than it could have been. I was also glad Huddlestone wasn't playing btw. From what I've seen of Hull I think you'll be safe. Your defence will give you the edge, compared to say Leicester, QPR, Burnley or even Palace. It's your attack that's letting you down imo.
See i disagree. We dominated ever second of the game. Hull were never in it and the way we kept the ball meant no matter how they played (they closed us down as best they could) they were going home empty handed. Far too many people playing down what was a great performance and win. Our form is very good just now. 17 from the last 24 available which is much more like it. I guess some still expect us to lose the next game every time we step on the pitch. Not me. What weve shown is that we can change it up game by game, cope with the worst injury record ever, compete and/or beat the so called top clubs and dominate games against the smaller sides. Like we used too basically. Many will say its only (insert club who probably beat one of city, liverpool or arsenal recently) and they just lied down to die for us. Well i say good. It means if teams are ****ting themselves against us again, were doing it right.
The biggest difference was the £270m+ that the starting eleven for man utd cost and the £15m that Hull City's team cost. And it's that difference in money that is dominating the Premier League.
That doesn't really contradict anything I've said. You can dominate but still find it difficult to break a team down. Sometimes Di Maria running at defences isn't enough. I just felt the link up between Herrera, Mata, Carrick was exceptional yesterday and converted dominant play into clear cut chances.
I thought the injury to Di Maria was going to **** us but mata and Herrera were really good. We'll see how this partnership continues against Stoke. They are usually quite physical and defend in depth. So that partnership will be really tested. If we have the same performance as yesterday. I'll be confident that we are in a prime position to get that 4th place.
I agree with your assessment of Stoke, that is why i think Herrera and Mata may be more effective than di maria in this game. These two tend to drift around and find space, they then both have the ability and vision to play low accurate passes through the defence to forwards creating good scoring opportunities. Di maria is much more effective when playing on the counter where his skill and speed take him past the opposition with ease, usually ending with a perfect cross for the strikersw or a shot at goal. Regardless of his size/looks Herrera can hold his own against physical sides, he is a tough little bastard and can be vicious in the tackle
Agree completely. I also think Carrick gives both of them the freedom to roam as well (although Herrera does indeed hound players to regain possession). I'm really pleased for Carrick over the last couple of games. He's had to wait a few years to finally have some quality around him in midfield and it's bringing the best out in him atm.
To be honest Treble, now we are starting to gel i would hate to pick a team from the players we have, in midfield alone i would want to pick 5 players (and that is doing Felli a great injustice after the way he has played) Blind, Carrick, Herrera, Di maria and Mata. This means one striker (which would be an even harder choice) and leaves people like Felli and Adnan out in the cold. We now have a very good squad and should improve week on week from now on.
