I'm not quite as annoyed with Chaz as some others on here, nobody really saw his decline coming and if we had known then another Striker should've been brought in pre-season. The truth is that he only cost us £4m and although we haven't see the best of him and are unlikely to now, I think that his injuries have shortened his career at the top level.
It goes back to my regular point that we are using Charlie all wrong. He should never, ever start a PL match for us. I think we've both agreed on that for a very long time. But he should always be on the bench, as an option to come on for the last 15 mins in the event that we need a goal. That last 10, 15 mins yesterday was exactly what you expect when one side is leading by a single goal; the side leading retreats in an attempt to hold the lead, the side losing starts to throw everything at it, and (at worst) creates some half chances. Nobody needs Charlie jogging on the spot for 70 minutes, whilst a game of football takes place around him. But having Charlie sniffing around the penalty box, when you've got 80% of the ball, have penned in the opposition, and are looking to get the ball into the box as much as possible - well that makes sense. I don't like the fact that our squad is so weak that we are forced to use Long so much, but at least my heart doesn't sink when I see his name on the teamsheet. I appreciate that our squad is so, so poor. But Christ it sinks when I see Charlie's name on the teamsheet. Granted, yesterday Hughes didn't even have Long to turn to (let alone Ings as the number one), and I feel for him in that regard, but it doesn't mean that we had to start Charlie.
That’s a good shout. Unfortunately, this is a results business, especially where we are & the clocks ticking (ever faster).
He's been about a 1 goal in 3 games striker for us when he has been available before this season, that's fairly decent (compared to Shane Long anyway! and on a par with Pelle). I don't think that he has any chance of 1 in 3 for us again though.
Hit the nail on the head! Sparky’s choice is no choice at this moment, Ings/Long/ a.n.other, all out of action. Whatever happens next those facts will not change yet for some reason Hughes is the problem. Defensive errors need severe treatment agreed but come on, who bought this lot?
I agree with this. I have no problem with Obafemi being used as a late sub, even if it costs us a goal or two in the short term. We need to build for the future and he seems somewhat promising. I thought it was quite a decent performance from him yesterday. He was able to get himself in good positions and look for the ball, which shows some level of confidence and nous. That’s all you can ask for. I’m not going to harsh on a guy for not being a clinical finisher at his age and experience. It’s completely fair to adjust expectations for Obafemi. I was simply pointing out that The expectations ARE lowered. IMO, Austin would have put himself in those same spots and would have scored. SoI don’t think you can say that Obafemi is better than Austin simply by virtue of what we saw yesterday. It was just sort of luck that he got some opportunities Austin did not. It’s also quite possible that Obafemi can get to spots Austin cannot. We all know Austin isn’t the fastest guy out there and his fitness level is not the best. If Obafemi had been hauling ass on a counter and latched onto a Redmond cross, I’d say yeah, he’s doing something Austin cannot. And that might be a good reason to play him over Austin. But Obafemi isn’t the answer for us at striker, at least not yet based on what little we have seen from him. Lots of reasons to play him when we can, but it is for the future and not the present.
I sneaked over to the away end in the second half after being in the neutral end for the first half and was shocked at the vitriol levelled towards certain players and the manager. I know things are pretty grim at the moment but the abuse was very personal and too far. There was a bit of a row also near the end beside me. A lady would have fallen down the stairs if she hadn't grabbed hold of me. I know tensions are high at the moment but people need to keep their frustrations in check
One thing that has become apparent since we started the slide is how it brings out the worst in some areas of our so called "support", there is an element of self opinionated, vindictive and abusive people who are currently making all of the noise. The majority of us are just manning up and reluctantly accepting our fate and the fact that there isn't a lot they can do about it. Praying and believing that things will change for the better. It worked in 2009!
I've just seen the last Fulham goal for the first time and I don't think Hoedt deserves the stick he has been getting. Down in the corner, holding off the opposing player, there was no way he could know where his pass, when he eventually got it away, would go, but surely he can reasonably expect that his team mates would be blocking off the Fulham players? They had plenty of time to cover. For the first Fulham goal, on the other hand, both he and Maya were awful. Second goal - a fabulous piece of skill from Sessegnon and Targett being a little slow - I don't see that Cedric was really at fault.
Well, that's the point - he shouldn't have passed. He should have put it into the stands and allow us to regroup.
Well if they are then they are being coached very poorly at it. Nobody made any effort to give Hoedt an option when he was shielding the ball. Would've expected Targett to drop inside onto the goal line for him to roll it back to him and clear, or someone to go line (where he did clear it) and get in front of the Fulham player who it ended up going to. Hoedt held it up for a good amount of time, so the players could easily have reacted in that time. I think he was trying to play it off the Fulham player closing him down for a throw in in the end. Obviously didn't work.
I don’t think they are being coached in defensive tactics at all, apart from the completely ineffectual zonal marking at set pieces! I agree entirely that it wasn’t solely Hoedt’s fault that goal was scored.
Neither do I, but what I outlined there is absolute basics about creating angles for a team mate with the ball, especially one who is under pressure. I would expect u16s of some sort of ability to be doing that without really thinking let alone a PL team. Something is seriously wrong within the team, and it is not solely the management. The players are just going through the motions and, whilst it is the managers job to motivate them and get them "up for it", there should also be a certain level of pride and professionalism coming from professional footballers. They aren't doing the basics right or working hard for each other too often, and that comes down to them.
It all speaks of a lack of direction and a complete loss of morale at the club. I accept that the players have a responsibility, but if there is no leadership or focus at the club, it’s not just down to them.
Oh yeah it is everywhere within the club. Board seems aimless, the manager is Mark Hughes ffs and the players don't seem bothered/aren't good enough/combination of both. A perfect recipe for the situation we are in. We have lucked out in a sense in that there are 7 terrible teams this year and only 3 can go down, I wouldn't be surprised for us to do a West Brom of last season though and be cut adrift around Xmas. There are quite a few similarities I think between our current team and theirs from last season.
