Well TBH I could write a book on things observed yesterday that made the difference, that give me hope for the future and that top up my optimistic bottle. On the face of it not a lot seemed to change at the start, the team was announced, same back 4 just Bramble in for the injured Turner. Vaughan in for Cattermole, Sess in the hole and Wickham for the injured Bendtner. Then came change number one, warm up. Now I am one of those sad people who always watch the warm up, under Bruce the players jog out, some applauding the fans, some grab a drink, jog about then called into a circle to start the warm up. Yesterday they jogged out and waiting was the performance coach and by **** was he waiting, no slow coming together. He shouted and they were straight into warm up, in a circle and working. I was in the stands but even I got the message, urgency, discipline, time for work, focused, I'm in charge so start working, and they did. Then the first team coach took over, a circle with two in the middle and sharp crisp passing, suddenly he shouted, the players turned and ran, laughter broke out and the two slowest had to go in the middle. In that moment the players became a relaxed team. O'Neil is a lucky manager who got the breaks but he was lucky because he somehow got the team to work hard with a determination and will to win we have missed. Brown and Bardsley had a few hairy moments first half but that was pure pressure, O'Shea must be at risk and Bramble was Mr Cool. Larsson can sit and do sod all for me, he keeps his place just for those free kicks, everyone knows what he will do but he does it so well, they cant stop him. Vaughan keeps his place and Mclean, well our younger fans wont know what that was, it was a left footed winger playing on the left. Our next game at Spurs, being realistic it will be a thumping, but will it, not getting carried away but will it?
A left footed winger on the left, now all we need is a right footed winger on the right and we might be on to something, why didn't somebody think of this years ago?, this could revolutionize the game.
I posted before the game that I expected better organisation and structure under O'Neil and we had precisely that. We've dominated periods of play and looked the better team in so many games this season. We did the same yesterday, except, we didn't allow the opposition to take over and we didn't take our foot off the gas. I'm so much more optimistic, I thought we looked solid yesterday.
I know some will agree but I don't think we were particularly better yesterday than in any other games. We have dominated long periods of games as we did yesterday just couldn't squeak a goal in!! Obviously we need more ruthlessness up front but I don't but the theory that we played much better yesterday than in other games this year. Now the one difference I think that may have spurred us on to keep going was not O'Neill imo, it was the fact the crowd remained largely with the team right til the end. Some of this was triggered by McLean's flair on the left so credit to O'Neill for that but it really shows what a difference can be made by a positive crowd roaring the team on. Dont get me wrong. People pay their money and can shout whatever they like but a lively SOL EVERY week (not just in the honeymoon period) would really contribute and make a difference to our points tally at the end of the season.
Yeah, but the crowd didn't stop roaring the team on for nothing this year. Something more than that changed.
Applauding mediocrity, will only encourage more mediocrity. Applauding skill and effort, will encourage more skill and effort. IMHO.
I have just watched the whole game again, (day off today, first for days so I am enjoying it). I watched it originally in the pub with a couple of other crazy Mackems so decided to watch it again to enjoy the win. The biggest observation I made was Richardson. He was like a different player. I know he missed a good chance but if you forget that he was instrumental in a lot of our best phases of play. He looked very confident and always wanted the ball. His passing was much better and he looked relaxed the whole game even after missing his chance. I had Vaughan or Sess as MOM yesterday but watching the game back I would give it Richardson. I can't help think he hated playing LB. Our options in midfield and on the wings now are fantastic in my view. Watching back again I also thought Wickham did extremely well. When you think he was up against Dann and Samba and that he is only 18 you would never know. I really think Wickham is going to be the real deal and will prove to be a much better player than Bendtner. I can see 2 going and 2 coming in. My money is on Catts and Gordon going and a striker and defender coming in. One other thing I noticed was when we scored the 2nd goal even the subs celebrated with the team Colback hugged mon and Meyler jumped on Larson. Its good to see a great team spirit among the squad.
Never mate. I may disagree but we all see players differently as is evidenced by the post match posts. It was a dreadful miss by Ricco mind. The excuses of he didn't have time to take it, wasn't expecting it, don't wash as on watching it back he had time to control and move a couple of paces then hit the ball at the keeper.
Lets not take anything away from the keeper, he got enough on it to stop it going into the net - but yes Ricco will have been disappointed not to score. It may be his Larsson moment - he might bag us an important one in the next game.
Agreed it was the only low point in a fantastic performance. I think MON might just get the best out of Ricco and we might see he become one of our most important players.
Just another observation, the bench?? No Catts or Gardener on the bench?? Kilgalon was on the bench. Now I have never thought Kilgalon ever did anything wrong when he played for us. He did not set the world alight but at the same time he did not make any mistakes. With MON in charge could we maybe see him get some time on the pitch?? I think Catts and Gardener might be off I guess time will tell. Did MON not sell Gardener when he was at Villa??
Catts was banned. Not sure about Gardener, he may have had a knock or he may have been too tired having played on Thursday.
I may be expecting great things from MON. Miracles aren't one of them. Taking a lash at a ball once in a blue moon and scoring does not make him important. Ricco always has been a mediocre player no manager could change that. The reason Fergie got rid was because he couldn't pass to another Utd player.
