I've not had a chance to comment on him since before the West Ham game so I want to now. Taarabt was superb when he came on v West Ham. Scored a cracker with practically his first touch and set Cisse up for what should have been the equaliser. Next week he scored another belter at West Brom. Against Everton I thought he played really well despite some saying that he wasn't great. He linked play well, got into good positions and rarely lost the ball. Any time he got on the ball I had the sense that something special could happen. He also got back and defended when he had to. At Arsenal it was more of the same. Worked hard and made decent use of the ball when he got it. So, since he's come back into the team I couldn't fault him for a second. It looks like he's finally got his attitude right and he's listening to what the Manager tells him. That brings me to Hughes and despite a dreadful start to the season which has been peppered with silly mistakes by him, I think he deserves the credit for getting Tarbs on his game. At the start of the season the lad was back to his old ways of surrendering possession, not tracking back and generally being lethargic. Hughes wasn't having any of this (nor was he taking it from Traore or Cisse) and rightly dropped him. Taarabt said that he complained to Hughes and the Manager told him that the problem lay squarely at his door and it was up to him to start working and force his way back into the side. If you remember back to last season, it was not until Hughes arrived that Taarabt started playing his best stuff and being a team member. Unfortunately the lad seems to have a mental block and he lapsed back into his old ways at the start of this season. I can see why Hughes plays Phillips although I'd probably use him more sparingly. He has the right attitude and has at least a nuisance factor against the opposition. Cisse has been nothing short of a disgrace this season. He's getting caught off-side nearly every time the ball comes to him and he looks like he couldn't give a toss. And again, Hughes rightly dropped him. We've a number of punks in our squad and I like that we have a Manager who won't tolerate their sulky behaviour and bad temperament. Obviously the problem is that when we drop these clowns, we've fu*k all to replace them with. Tarbs has at last copped on though and if he continues like this, I'm very excited about what he'll produce from here on in.
Good post that. I believe that Cisse needs a run of games to try to regain some form. He is, without doubt, our biggest scoring threat and with BZ playing ****e, we may as well start with Cisse up front imo. The problem with SWP playing is that Faurlin is sat on the bench as a result.
Agreed. Well balanced. Have you been taking something while away? One point worthy of comment though is that Hughes does need reminding from time to time why money has been invested in certain players. I refer of course to SWP. No one would have spent £Xmillion on a tiny defensive midfield maestro who can track back and harry but can't tackle with any conviction. He was bought at great expense to score a few and create a lot more from the wing. An area he has failed in totally. Heaven will be that Hughes wakes up now and restores Ali F to the starting line up. That will free Adel to do what he does best safe in the knowledge that between Diakite, Granero and Faurlin we should be able to win the ball back before any damage is done.
I was full sure Col, Yorkie and one or two others would not like that. I'm pleasantly surprised. Those boys are more reasonable than I gave them credit for. Fair point that actually. Hughes must take the blame for the unbalanced nature of the squad, not to mention our dreadful start. I thought it would be good to give him credit for at least one thing though.
Yeh, agree with that about Adel, Swords - good post! Hughes does seem to have helped get him on the right track again. maybe too Adel himself is getting a bit wiser as he gets older. I do hope though Hughes has Adel playing further forward tomorrow, he seemed to be instructed to remain well withdrawn at Arsenal, understandable there perhaps but if he had played Ale in holding midfield instead of SWP out right, that would have enabled him to use Adel further forward, where he is at his best.
Good post, Swords. I think many would agree that Taarabt's attitude has turned markedly during the past few weeks. It was quite notable - for me, at least - his immediate response to Mbia's dismissal last week, which showed that he was fired up and cared immensely. I've noticed that he's developing a pretty good understanding with Granero, too, which can only be a good thing. I agree with Col about the frustration of having Faurlin on the bench whilst Wrong-Phucker gets the nod, too. Perhaps unlike other posters here, however, and as much as I like Faurlin, I struggle somewhat to accommodate him, Granero and Taarabt in the same midfield. With an on-form Diakite acting as the water-carrier from box to box, Granero sitting in the centre orchestrating and Taarabt playing left (perhaps with a fit Traore providing the pace and overlap for him), we look a little sparse down the right to me... and this is 'cos SWP ain't cutting the Colemans. I think I'd be tempted to start Mackie down the right instead of SWP in his place (with BZ and persist with Cisse up front) and leave Faurlin on the bench for now (sadly). Personally, I think it's really Granero that's keeping him there and not another player.
You're right that Granero is keeping Faurlin out, but only because Hughes keeps playing 4-4-1-1. In this formation we can only have two out of Diakite, Granero and Faurlin. However, what a lot of us are asking for is Hughes to play 3 central midfielders, with Hoilett and Adel each side of them. Then Ale could play alongside Diakite with Granero in front of them.
Yes, welcome back Swords, nice balanced piece on your return from the wilderness after your imposed exile, where you obviously "wandered lonely as a cloud". Last season weren't you a bit down on Taarabt?
"necking mushrooms rarely found"......... Cyril I've been down on Taarabt since he first signed for the Club!
SWords you clown..this is the response you get when you kiss Adels ARSE..YOU CLOWN !! If you want to win a popularity contest then go on X factor....
