Bruce wasn't 'totally at fault' for the goal, they shouldn't have got the cross in for starters and Zamora committed a foul in the build-up. Austin got a great header in and Dawson could also have done better. Bruce deserves none of your stupid criticism
One thing nobody has mentioned is we started with an unchanged first XI.. probably the key foundation to a positive result
No? my point is he had the chance to do that time after time and didn't.. His job was surely to provide an outlet down the left and deliver crosses in to dangerous areas. Doing that once in 90 minutes against a weak oppentent does not mean he had a good game?
I never said he had a good game, but you said "His attacking play was the worst I've seen from a wing/full back this season."; a ridiculous statement about a player that provided an assist in such an important game. The truth is that Jelavic apart, I don't think any of them had particularly good games as they struggled to keep shape against a determined 10 men, but Brady and N'Doye deserve to be on the MOTM list for their contributions to the victory
It can work both ways. I'm of the opinion that you should pick tactics and a side based on the opposition you are facing. The team that beat Villa and QPR shouldn't be the same one that faces Stoke away, they're an entirely different prospect and I think they'd beat us if we set up like that. I think we need a 5-4-1: Mags Elmo Bruce Dawson McShane Robertson Ramirez Huddlestone Livermore Brady N'Doye Catch them on the break. The extra defenders and midfielders can be used to double up on Crouch and Diouf. The extra width would be helpful in getting crosses into N'Doye.
Bruce should have done a lot better for the goal, I've been singing his praises recently but he ****ed up yesterday. Far too weak going into the challenge.
That is not a bad team but I can't possibly see how we could leave Jelly on the bench. Move Elmo up for Ramirez and put Jelly up front with N'Doye.
I think that would lose shape within ten minutes and leave us without Jelavic in a makeshift 4-4-2, so not good IMO. Barring injuries I would keep the same team and shape as they are coming together well. Bruce might be tempted to change Robbo for Brady, but I hope not, as Brady will be useful against Stoke.
Your defence starts with forwards who harry and press - Jela always does this, he'll be important vs Stoke.
I left Jelavic out on purpose, bring him on in the second half, **** their tactics up and change formation.
Jelavic - great goal and 90+ minutes of effort, important role in the lead up to the winner. Dawson - some solid defensive play from the whole back three but he really shows his class when he brings the ball forwards. N'Doye - athletic and hard working, maybe not as spectacular as against Villa but ran tirelessly, held the ball up well, I can't remember him wasting possession and topped it all with an excellent goal. He looks like a top class player. Another good performance from the team as a whole and I thought that Huddlestone (despite a fair bit of criticism) did well. I also thought that all three substitutes played their parts - particularly Ramirez.
Likey Likey, likey your line up but there's no way that Brucey will leave Jelavic out after two in two and a Herculean effort in both games, and neither should he. For the first time in a LONG time we have two goal scoring forwards (are you listening Roo?) and the Brucey bonus is that they appear to have formed an immediate partnership, plus the cost of both put together is less than the cost of Hernandez, who I still believe will come very good given time. Rightly or wrongly I believe that, at least at the start of the game, it will be same again against Sjoke. As much as I like him going forward Robertson certainly doesn't justify a start, purely based on our Improved goals against column whilst he's been on the sidelines.
I can see some sort of crazy sense to your tactic and then I snap out of it; would you really leave such an important player on the bench for the majority of the game in the hope it will upset their tactics - that might have them 1,2 or 3 up by now?
Anyone who thinks leaving Jelavic out is a good plan is radio ****ing rental. Makes me think of 4 Lions, lets bomb a mosque plan.
If they were 3-0 up at half time,it's down to our defence or midfield conceding. It was a tough call between Jelavic and N'Doye. Plus Stoke are that type of team that are very physical, I'd hate to see anything happen to Jelavic because he's going to be instrumental in getting points off Sunderland and Leicester.
So that some Stoke arsehole doesn't clatter him just after he's come back from knee surgery and putting him out for the rest of the season? It's a game most people would take a point from, the team I suggested is more than capable of doing that.
Each to their own. mate, but Jelly and Dame have to start against Stoke, not to is to sink back to where we were pre-Xmas as what else has changed?
