Regardless of team pressing that is irrelevant when an individual makes a tackle but does so too weakly. It is that individual’s responsibility. But this obsession with finding someone else to share or take the blame is just weird. Also it wasn’t a 4-3-3.Fer and Hoilett changed position regularly so how could it be. Actually it was 4-2-3-1. There is no way Luongo and Fer were playing the same position Henry was predominantly covering left side of pitch. Luongo on right (central roles of course). Difference was Luongo attempted to get involved with the play when we had the ball. In front of that until the sub. Phillips Fer and Hoilett. Fer and Hoilett swapped roles often between left wing behind the striker But regardless of that if you pick Henry you are being negative. If you sign a striker for £3m and give him just 10m mins in a flat game with nothing to play for you are being negative. But most of all if your main tactic is to just hoof the ball and worry about your shape and skip the midfield repeatedly then you are being negative The atmosphere is flat because we are negative First half Onouha skilfully stopped a certain goal from inside the six yard box after an attack started when I cant remember who... ****ed up. Should also remember this is a team who sold Afobe last week and their most creative player Graham is now out for the season
Really? I'm just delighted when he doesn't give the ball away. That time in the second half when he managed to give the ball back to Wolves on the edge of the box twice in about ten seconds would have raised the roof if it was Henry. I still don't see what the bloke is good at, in attack or defence. More to the point, I don't see what he does that Furlong can't.
This was how it lined up: ----------------------------------Smithies-------------------------------- Perch----------------Onuoha-------------Hall------------Konchesky -----------------------------------Henry----------------------------------- ----------------Luongo--------------------------Fer---------------------- Phillips------------------------Polter-----------------------------Hoilett Henry was naturally covering the left more because Fer does very little defensively. If Luongo was part of a defensive two, then he was out of position for virtually the entire game. Fer drifted out wide a lot and really isn't suited to this position in this formation (or to this league imo). Usually when he was further forward on the left, Hoilett hadn't "swapped position" with him as you say, but was central. However, it was a very fluid formation which means of course that at times it was 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2, 4-5-1 etc etc. I'll let you have the last word.
I agree, best game I've seen him play, seems to have found his past "player of the season" form. Now if only we could say the same for our LB - not many options there, Yun?
Strongly disagree about Perch today. He was one of our best. Nothing came from Wolves down his side and he put in some excellent balls into the box. Thought we were OK 1st half but lost our way 2nd, something seemed to be missing to me, Ale probably. Would like to see him playing alongside Luongo, a bit of a gamble defensively but I thought Luongo did well on that side of his game today.
Too many players are wasting possession. Hoilett, in particular, so often has no end product and then falls over looking for a foul. Phillips spent much of the match scowling and producing very little. We need someone who can consistently take on and beat his man and put in a cross that gives Polter a chance to use his height. So many things aren't clicking at present, so JFH needs to use the rest of the season to decide who is staying and who is going at the end of the season. My main criticism of JFH is he should have made subs around the hour mark as Wolves were in the ascendency, too little too late and ineffective until Washington came on...
A rather drab match, and I agree JFH is defensive - he's being ultra conservative. I don't think he cares about top 6 - he doesn't feel we're ready and may be right - all he's concerned about is not being relegated, and hence the fear of losing. Washington looked great in the few minutes I had to evaluate (should have come on at least 10 minutes earlier). Polter's obviously great in the air, did well to get the free kick and score from it, poor first touch and needs to be more aggressive in the box - work in progress.. Smithies had a good game, and so did Perch. We missed Faurlin's creativity. Onouha had a captain's game. Slowly, management is acting astutely and bringing in young talent. A case of being patient - today, we were looking at two teams that will be mid-table at the season's end
Yet another crap game at home on Sky. Henry cost us the first goal. Was not at races and cannot understand how he starts. The bloke is useless. Good stuff with BFG but has crap ball skills. Why Washington only got 7 minutes is rather strange but it is QPR. 2 mid table teams with nothing to play for. Roll on next season
Thought Perch had easily his best game for us today. Didn't get caught in possession, no reckless tackles and his crosses were excellent.
His first sub after 73 nearly lost us the game. Cheri came on for Henry and promptly let his man go when he cut inside. Henry wouldn't have let him do that. That immediately gave Smithies the first of 3 saves in a couple of minutes, 2 of them top drawer. Ale would have been a better sub for Henry imo.
Regarding the timing of subs, Chris Hughton seems to have the right idea - Zamora gets the go ahead goal, subbed at 57 mins for James Wilson, who scores the go ahead goal on 66 mins for Brighton. Charlie coming on for Mané at Old Trafford!
This is it, rock bottom. I was watching on the telly as my wife went out. On her return she asked if we had won. On hearing the result, her words were "At least they didn't lose" with a concerned look on her face. She's moved from amusement and contempt at our struggles to pity and fear for my mental well being. I think I preferred being laughed at.