Then despair. They may be better than other players in some skills, but both are far from the complete player. Isn't it interesting that since the fans 3 favorites Martin, Hoolahan and Redmond have been spending less time on the pitch, we've looked much better defensively and even started to look like we can get points against teams that no one thought we could compete with. Before the match almost everyone thought we would get beat convincingly today whatever team we put out, now that we've got a point people are questioning why we didn't put our best team out and win. You couldn't make it up.
No cats among pigeons from me, of course - but since Bassong and Bennett have played as a reasonably settled CB pairing, we've not shipped too many 'stupid' goals - and when we've lost, it's been by narrow margins. Just saying.
.....What?.......since Martin was out, we looked better defensively. Without Hoolahan and Redmond, we look inept and clueless going forward. Infact, we rarely get forwards!
No you're right we were much better defensively when Martin was our rock in the centre of our defence and I'm sure that if he Hoolahan & Redmond had started we would have thrashed Arsenal today.
I'm a fan of Redmond and think he's a good player, but AN was right not to start him in this game as the result shows. Apart from Ruddy's mistake I thought the whole team and subs played really well, and I have to confess I was one of those people who didn't want Martin dropped, but will openly admit we do look better at the back without him sadly.
You're being so reactionary FML. Yes our attacking intent has curtailed, but that's because we conceded SIX against Newcastle and then had to face Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal in quick succession. AN has made the (In my opinion correct) decision to shore up the defence, make us harder to beat and attack teams on the counter. And we have picked up 4 points from a very tough run and looked close to getting more in the 2 losses. I agree that Redmond should be getting a bit more time but as others have said, it's not about putting the best players on the pitch and saying "Win the game", it's about finding the balance, countering the opposition (Especially against the "top" teams) and maintaining our own attacking qualities. I'd say overall we are creating fewer chances but better ones. We tried the all out attack approach and it started to fail, we've changed our approach and it's yielding rewards. The thing about AN is he seems to be able to do both styles very well, even if he prefers one.
He hasn't started in games we lost too. Are they the right decision as well? Can't constantly leave out such a impressive player.
And the fact that he was available today - and not in the starting eleven suggests you weren't the only one!
Nope. My reaction isn't based on today. If you read my comment through the season I am very balanced. Nothing to do with just todays match, and not me being anti AN, I'm very much trying to be pro AN.
I'm a big Martin fan but I was secretly quite pleased when he got his Red (Not in the moment, could've done with that point vs City) because I knew Bennett would get the run he has deserved for 3 years! And he's really shown how good he is. Can't see Martin getting back in the team now, bar injuries or suspensions.
If you mean Man City and Chelsea then yes, we narrowly lost those games. Against top teams we can't go all out attacking as that will leave us exposed and open, it's about finding the balance. Against lesser teams you'd expect us to set up more attacking. Redmond is a good player, no one is disputing that. But sometimes tactically you have to make the hard decisions and today it worked.
Not really, we have played negative for a long while now. I can see why, as we know we will keep getting beat. But if we set up like that, might as well go for it with our best players. Redmond doesn't just beat players, score goals and assist goals. When a ball is hoofed away. He traps it, takes it down and passes it. Plus experience against the big teams will bring him on no end. look at Sterling QPR-Liverpool-Man City, each step brings him on massively.
Martin comes across as a nice guy and he is a good defender imo but Wisdom and Bennett is so far proving to be better. Again those 2 impressed me today.
Just because they're in the second half of the table doesn't mean they are not a top team, they still have world class players.
