I said a few weeks ago that the mentality of the team is difficult to understand sometimes. Why we looked so listless in the first half and so driven in the second is a mystery. Perhaps Joka needs a team psychologist. Ashley Jung anybody? Freud Doyley?
From what I read Theo, today we witnessed a group of players who did play for each other in the second half and celebrated the goals together. None of this explains the first half which did sound very dire. Joka has made a lot recently of the team being as one, and has removed those who didn't seem to wish to join in with that vision. I suspect that his half time talk could have been rather colourful.
Post match reaction: Clark chose not to attend the press conference with the written media after the game but he told the club’s website: "At ten to four it was looking fantastic. At ten to five it was embarrassing. We’re deeply embarrassed by that second half. To concede seven goals in any game, never mind a half, is very disappointing and frustrating." Jokanovic said his side were lacking in confidence in the opening period but was delighted with their response after half time. He said: “We had some tactical problems in the first half. If I couldn’t see that situation then I should return my coaching license.
As has been said many times above, it's difficult to understand the first half performance - Vydra in particular looked completely out of place. But in the second half he looked a different player, hopefully it will do his confidence a world of good. Obvious choice for MOM, player getting 4 goals is a no-brainer - but I would give it Deeney. His overall game as a striker was immense, his jumping for headers, holding the ball, playing other players in, creating space and the assists were outstanding. He is really becoming a top all round striker.
I'm surprised by peoples views about the first half, I thought we absolutely bossed it but lacked that bit of cutting edge. I would say that Hoban was poor and we needed the third player in midfield but apart from that we were in complete control, so to go in 2 down felt a bit wrong. The second half was mad, never been to a game like it before, Ighalo/Deeney/Vydra were all class. Roll on Bournemouth.
the only ones i can remeber burnley ,sunderland and southampton we got 7 or more i was at the sunderland and the southampton it did not happen in any of them im sure
I seem to remember us beating Bradford City 7-2 some years ago...5 in the first half from memory. Stood in the open Vicarage Road end and got drenched. Anyone remember or have I imagined it?
Fantastic second half by the players. Great win in the end and some fantastic performances (in the second half). ....but I'd hate us to produce that first half display against a decent team. Roll on the Bournemouth challenge
We scored 7goals in about 35 minutes. If only Joka had got the team to play for the whole 90 minutes we would have scored about 18.
Vydra was like a fish out of water in the first half in that midfield role. He is not a reliable passer a la Abdi , and did not seem to know whether to stay or go when we were going forward. There was one telling moment when we played the ball forward into space--he started to run, checked back, then sprinted again--too late of course. With the tactical changes in the second half he was more confident in his role and much more effective. But the key to the second half revival was that Watson added strength to the midfield, allowing Tozer and Layun space to play and to pick a pass. They got the ball wide to Paredes and Anya who looked like different players second half--helped by the fact that Blackpool seemingly lost the ability to attack. Ighalo is fantastic at converting chances because he works so hard to get into the right position .Deeney is his perfect partner , the way he holds up the ball and fights for everything . If the opposition give our midfield space to play (or are harassed into conceding space) we are deadly.
