Powell is starting to fall into the same rut that Ben Arfa did. All the talent in the world but lacks the application. Strolled around the field and fed off a great pass when he could be bothered, but didn't harry or pressure defensively except for one occasion when Robertson slipped over. Disappointed with him tonight. Meyler was very tidy I thought, a great game from him. Clucas grew into the game well but seemed quiet at the start. Hernandez and Diame both looking a bit off the pace.
McGeady did nowt either. We do desperately need to quicken up our approach play, not being overly critical as I don't think a point is too bad. But we are at times ponderous going forwards. With our players we should be on it.
Thought second half Maloney should've been on for clucas. For all his hard work, when you're trying to break down a defence of 10 men you need to do more than turn around and pass to Robertson
Absolutely this. We were far, far too slow in transition which let them get bodies behind the ball. We needed to build on the counter and press forward quickly to open them up. We did it a few times and created some good chances.
I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about here? Powell was excellent when he came on. He made himself available for the ball, this is what good players do. He also tried carrying the ball through central midfield, which we lacked until he came on.
The team have been coached not to give the ball away. We will need that if and when we do go back up as losing possession at that level can cost you big time. It's a fine balance some weeks,over commit and your not as strong in defence,keep it too tight and you need a flair player to open up the opposition,if he has an off night it's stalemate.
If you say so. Like I said, he had a few passages of play where he was tidy, so maybe it's still a match fitness thing, but he seemed to drift in and out of the game a lot. Playing him on the left instead of playing him centrally didn't help.
I wonder if we are starting to prepare the style of play we'll want to use if we go up. If we can keep our defence in games at the KC as tight as we have this season we'll have a terrific season.
I thought he was decent to to be honest considering he's had no football for ages, he put himself about and played a few nice balls
Rut? Powell had 25 minutes tonight. That's a bit soon to claim he's in a rut, especially as he was so effective at Arsenal for a good hour. And Powell did track back. He dispossessed Nuihu(sp?) on the goal line late on and got in other tackles. Some of his passes were wayward. But he had evidently been sent on try creative stuff, and he did that.
I thought Powell put himself about well. He knocked Hagrid over too. He needs more match time but I don't get the haters about him at all.
Excellent is stretching it a bit. He fitted in and looks good with ball at feet. A full game or 2 is needed before handing out such high accolades
He was definitely rusty you could see that, but seemed fully committed to me, or maybe I am wrong and he is in a rut after one game as if such a thing is possible. Wasn't his last game in the Champions League, not many Championship footballers stuck in ruts can say that
Would not surprise me but we gotta get up first and right now that's not nailed on by any means yet. Like I suggest,teams who take us on at football usually get turned over. Coaches know this and therefore set up to invite us on and see that as an opportunity if we make one mistake. Luckily at this level you still get away with the odd error,the Prem is less forgiving.
No, I thought he was excellent. Given that I wasn't impressed with us signing him at least. My expectations of him weren't great. He changed that opinion I had of him in 25 minutes - he was in my opinion excellent. Similar range of passing to Huddlestone but considerably more mobile.
