Well we should see both tonight. Pelle's strength is having back to goal and laying it off for Mane and Long to run onto (but he needs to finds them - which has not been consistent enough this season for me). Long and Mane are the ones to run onto a ball played in front of them. I just wish people would not knock Pelle for playing with his back to goal - it's his job and what he is told to do. Play all the balls in front for strikers to run onto and you run the risk of a Sam Allardyce style long ball game which can be very boring to watch. And Pelle has no real pace so there would then be no room for him in the side. As for the poster who said Pelle can't head the ball... ....you're kidding right?
I've said this before. Don't want him laughing, but there must be something between laughing his head off and pondering a jump off a cliff.
I've never knocked him for that. I just want him to hold it up and lay it off the way he is facing more than he does. When he does that he looks fabulous. Well he looks fabulous all the time, darlings but you get what I mean
For the first time ever I went into the pub on the way to Saturday's game and had a couple of glasses of scotch, both doubles, and do you know what I didn't feel too bad about losing so this evening I shall be doing the same again. It dulls the disappointment.
Lucky man. Having to drive to games from up here, I can't partake in that. However, for the Arsenal game I was driven from my Dad's house and so took a little flask with something to warm the cockles. Very enjoyable at half time, I must say. Tonight would be a good night for doing the same.
Ron's body language is like an open book. He is struggling to cope and is not very happy about a number of things at the moment. I want him to sign a new contract but I will be surprised if he does as he is not happy and I seem to remember him saying he would stay if he was happy. Perhaps our two women contributors can give us their interpretation of his body language.
Absolutely spot on, his words are saying one thing but his body language saying shouting the opposite. This all seems to have changed following the last international break in November....what the hell happened during that fortnight to upset everyone?
All too often our crosses come from too deep, or are delayed for so long, the guys in the box are static instead of arriving in the box at the same time as the ball. When we went to Palace, they gave our defenders all kinds of problems simply by attacking the byeline and hitting crosses as soon as they got there. Get the ball in the right area and you have forwards running onto it, or potential own goals from defenders rushing back towards their own goal. What we get, all too often, are players hitting the byeline, feinting to cross, before cutting back onto their weaker foot, realising they are now on their weaker foot before switching the ball back onto their stronger foot, before crossing into a heavily defended box, where the forwards are standing still, and the defenders are no longer facing their own goal, or rushing back towards it. We over complicate. Same could be said about trying to work shooting opportunities.
I agree about the crosses. When Tadic goes outside someone and puts a cross in, we often score. When we cross from deep, the crowd go "ooh" and the CB heads it clear and the fans go "ahhh" This isn't new though. For a few seasons, we have crossed from deep. We all know that You can be slow or fast but you must get to the line and there's only one way to beat them, get round the back ....
For a few seasons we had SRL. A floated cross with him against 2 cb you would still fancy SRL, even if it was not won cleanly there was generally a couple of players within 5m looking for the loose ball. The 3 attackers now are now playing so far apart we never win the second ball. Can we also please have a player coming in at the far post for corners and free kicks.
Every week my lad nearly wets himself as I turn to him and say, "Goal a game at the far post son," as another one goes passed that area with no-one there Anyone would think I go on about the same things all the time.
One of those simple old-fashioned tactics that need to stay for a very good reason ... logic dictates that a percentage of balls will get past everyone and it is crazy to not have someone there, worst case they are picked up and you get another corner.
The last comment says to me he is FOR the youth , but if the youth aren't good enough , what to do ? He looks unhappy to me , hell of a watch though ! ( the one on his wrist )
I wouldn't be very happy if he was laughing and joking with the run we're on. Now is the time for serious Ronald.
