We were not completely in control of the game at all first half. They had i would say 55/45 possession. They knocked it about well. Sure it was in front of our back 4 for the most part. But we scored against the run of play. Again you damn TC with faint praise "luxury " player. He got stuck in, he keeps the ball he picks great passes, he is always available. His work to dribble in the box, get his head up and square it for Dele was excellent. Of the two yesterday Mckenna was better, Evans was mainly invisible, but as a pair Evans will work better with TC.
He is though. It's not faint praise, it's just fact. He's not someone who really suits playing in a midfield two. Robert Koren is in the same bracket. Completely agree. He's got bags of talent. He's wasted a year of his career I think. He's got so much talent that he should have made himself a PL player this season, either with us or someone else. He hasn't though. I don't agree at all with "he got stuck in". There's no way they had 55% possession either. We were nearly always on the front foot in the half. Koren was flagged offside more times than they entered our penalty box.
Yes because the PL is full of 19 year olds running the centre of midfield isnt it!! Nearly always on the "front foot", oh god sounds like a rugby cliche. Next it will be never took a backward step. Erm we had such a good view of them cos they were at the edge of our box the majority of the first half.
Best set of postings that I have seen for a long time. Interesting how we all see a game and come away with different opinions as to a players performance. Have not seen one game this season but secretly hoping (well I guess its not a secret now) that Cairney gets the nod. It would be good to see a home grown player do well, but, I suspect it will be Evans and Mckennna since not playing them would mean Pearson and Co accepting the fact that they perhaps made a wrong decision in bringing the players either Evans or Mckenna in.
I think NP doesn't get the credit he deserves for his pragmatism, he dropped McLean for Simpson at the end of last season and I think he's a winner, he'll do whatever it takes to win games and I'm sure players will get selected on merit.
Completely agree. Pearson doesn't have favourites. He has players he trusts but if they don't perform, they'll be out. That said, I'm 99.9% certain that he'll go with McKenna and Evans. They are clearly the midfield he trusts in a 4-4-2 and neither has done anything to suggest he shouldn't start. If they don't perform though, Cairney will be pushing them. That's healthy.
It's great! No flash, fookin show-off expensive purchases; put together on a veritable shoe-string; no favourites/ no 'naughty step'; just serious play and performance. Some other clubs will, hopefully, get a shock..... UTT! TFFT!
But have either done anything to prove that they can win games by themselves? No. Has Tom Cairney? Yes. Its pretty simple if you are happy sitting in mid table then Mckenna and Evans will do a job, i like both but together they will not win you games against an organized defence on their own, you need someone to unlock defences. Where as Tom Cairney can unlock defences, he has shown match winning performances, and if you are the type of manager who wants to take risks to win games then Cairney should start, it may not work but he deserves a run. By far our best player this pre-season, its hard to see how anyone can deny that. I see why you say tactically its hard for him to play in a midfield two with the way he plays, but for many years the 4-4-2 was the formation to use, and even at United last year they had Giggs and Carrick, two of the lightest centre midfielders they have and they played in Champions League Final. I understand your views, but i disagree with them, but at least you back them up with knowledge, but hopefully i back mine up with that two. If Simpson and the two wingers are willing to do a bit of work possibly defensively then you can afford to have as you call it a luxury player, but in my book its not a luxury if he wins you football games.
I agree, I hate that a playmaker is now seen as a luxury player. It's the way the game has evolved sadly. I'd like to think there is room in our midfield for a playmaker alongside someone who gets up and down (Evans) or one who is mroe astute defensively (McKenna) I feel we would seriously dominate possession with a McKenna/Cairney midfield but we could play to a much higher tempo with a Cairney/Evans midfield. A McKenna/Evans one would probably work best in away games where being on the back foot is part of the plan, such as West Ham.
Totally agree yet again i am glad that we have both got the same views as a few others, Koren can still play in a midfield two i honestly see no reason why not, everyone used to play two in midfield and have one attacking in the pair. But the key for me is that Tom Cairney is not exactly lazy, his positioning is not bad, he always tries even if he does not look like it. Bring back the Playmakers!
I twigged you were Rick too after clicking the twitter link.. your cover is blown.. ! Theo is my nephew's name, can't say he was named after Mr Whitmore though since his dad supports Mancs United.. The fact that Harper won't be starting this season shows we've improved the midfield. Plus the addition of Brady to creative players such as Koren and Stewart (when he's fit again) indicate we may not miss Jimmy (not that we've seen him much anyway).
