Well exactly, he obviously thought he had out-thought Bruce and that's why he made the comment. I was like most people in that I thought Huddlestone was decent last night but Rowetts comment explains why Bruce gave Huddlestone the shepherds crook, there has to be something in it.
We tightened up at the start of the second half, the first half was too loose and Birmingham were allowed to break a few times. After the horse had bolted, but they weren't really much of a threat second half.
They dropped right off after half time, which is probably more to do with it. First half they were pressing and harrying and getting men forwards fast.
Pray tell me if Thudd was so awesome, why was Jake blowing out of his arse after 70 mins of the game, could it be he was attempting to cover the workload of two in the middle of the park, I concur that Thudd has the passing range unsurpassed at the club but can anyone tell me how many crucial, chance making passes he completed last night, or for that matter in recent history. A man of his ability, and Diames` too should be ripping this league apart, but they generally saunter through games. As I said there were poorer performers on the night then Thudd, but for me he would be better utilised coming off the bench against tiring teams, then there would be spaces he could exploit, however each to their own opinion, and I fully respect that, we all see it in a different way.
Tom was having a good game. The tackle on Donaldson was a corker. I can see why he was taken off and Hudds will be playing on Tuesday anyway. Other than our finishing we did very little wrong. I do think though that Hayden should have started last night. Whilst the goal came from a Robbo cock up(lost the ball) the deflection was the luck that we did not get. Small margins again.
I can think of at least 3 off the top of my head. That insane volleyed one just before he came off to Snodgrass, turning scrappy defending around our box straight into attacking their box, who fannied about before getting tackled. Another one to Robbo who then gave it to Clucas who I think waltzed off the pitch with the ball and another I can't remember who to think Snodgrass again. He also set someone up on the edge of the 6 yard box who totally ****ed up a sitter and wasn't it Tom who played Clucas through 1 on 1 in the first half? There were more than that but they were three stand out passes that should have led to chances had the rest of the team done their bit right. Tom did his bit not his fault the others ****ed it up.
He's got a fantastic touch but He's ex Spurs therefore weak as piss and a fanny who dont like it up em He's got a **** haircut now He's a fatty He's got the turning circle of Ganstead roundabout We lose a lot more than we win when he plays.
Also, Just our luck that "The Jerk" ref. Stephen Martin does not know a blatant handball as well. But that is football. Middlesboro missed as many if not more chances @ Blackburn on tuesday and suffered the same fate.
we`ll agree to disagree, i have my own opinion, Thudd in the team does not make for winning football, it puts too much pressure on the likes of Jake
Which ever way you look at it it's 5 points dropped in the last 2 games. We battered Weds & Birmingham yet failed to score in either game. We had 2 goal bound efforts come back off the post (Clucas @ Weds, Livermore@ Brum) & a stonewall penalty not given, but we still failed miserably to convert the many chances we had to put the ball in the back of the net. Is this something Bruce will try to rectify in training, which raises the question what do the players actually do every day in training & how much of that day is spent practicing shooting & finishing. Going by the comment a while back from Steve Harper not very much attention is payed by Bruce to the art of "striking" during training & that is not too had to believe. I'd get Teddy Sheringham on the blower ASAP & ask him to be the striker coach until the end of the season. It worked for West Ham so why not for us .Failing that get the scorer of the world class volley that sent us into The Prem for the 1st time in our history to be the striker coach.
Can't remember who it was said it but remember some coach recently saying the 2 things you cant legislate for are injuries and loss of form. I think Clucas has been great this season but maybe lost a bit of form and confidence and maybe needs a rest. And whatever people say about Hernandez not getting the service, I also think he has lost form a bit. He didn't make things happen for himself last night. Turned into trouble far too often. I also didn't think he worked the defence very hard - certainly not compared to Clayton Donaldson.
I don't know if anyone notices this, but during the warm up when it comes to shooting, you can actually see how bad the technique of players is. I've watched countless times now, the coach whoever it is lays a little one two pass off and it is either scuffed, blasted over top, or missed wide without troubling the keeper.. I'm not making this up, you watch at the next game..
Oh one thing I forgot to mention last night. Is Greegsy that angry when he's not playing do you think? He makes me laugh. He seems angry from the moment he gets on the pitch to when he leaves.
Jelavic dislocated my finger when he was wayward shooting at Stoke last season! I was behind the real goal not the makeshift one they were using! Just managed to protect my face! My wife pissed herself laughing all the way home & we lost ( F'king elmo )
45minutes, usually, but 60 minutes if televised or FA Cup/Vase, 75 minutes semi or final. They will have found out line-up at same time, so any tactics are after that, although they would have had options set up with their starting eleven.