You're right, I was being a bit harsh, but having Shane as the main option when someone like Danny is out does rather highlight the paucity of our options.
I also think it shows how far the rest of the team have come when it looks like Long is putting in less effort than the others - his work rate was why we gave him some leeway for the obvious deficits in his game. I agree that it can’t have been easy for him to come in and look half decent and he did take the offside goal well but we know that sort of finish is the exception rather than the rule. I would rather invest playing time in the youngsters. Walcott behind Adams with Tella on the wing for me.
Sorry St B, but Theo is not the answer to hold it up top. He gets knocked over by the wind. Much better use for him elsewhere or at least not the hold up role
Awwwweee, really want us to win this one almost as much as Liverpool. A scrappy 1-0 will do for me but if we can hammer them, even better. COYR
I agree. Theo’s pace is much more suited to the wings. As I said in the Fulham thread, having two big, fast proper centre forwards like Adams and N’Lundulu creating havoc with Ogbonna and Balbuena, with Walcott, Armstrong, Bertrand and KWP running in behind Cresswell and Coufal, would work much better.
If West Ham set up against us like they have here vs Brighton, I don't think there'll be much running in behind them. Five defenders and three defensive midfielders seems incredibly negative - especially at home to Brighton. That said, it's unlikely that Noble will play twice in 48 hours, so they surely won't set up quite as defensive against us.
I did add the “proviso” about him not going to ground too easily. He has the ability and is probably stronger than he shows, but when you spend 10 years or so playing for a strong team with a strong manager, falling over and gaining free kicks, when someone breathes on you becomes ingrained into the psyche. With Ings it’s not just holding the ball up, but also dropping deep to collect the ball, and that is another area where Theo is better than Long, who I was comparing him to. As Chilcs says, big Dan could be worth a shout, but going by Ralph’s comments in the Echo, it could well be Long again.
Recovering from a hamstring injury. Moyes said he was close, but not quite close enough. So in fitting with the tradition, he is seemingly timing his recovery perfectly for our game.
I also reckon that Theo will get us more free kicks by his runs into the opposition s defence which, at times, we lose possession, but on other occasions creates a panic tackle and JWP arrives!
I didn’t watch much of the Hammers game today, but what I saw gives me hope that we can get the right result Tuesday. Other than Antonio, were they under strength?
I cant help but think Gabbiadini would have thrived under our new setup. Painful to think about how poor we were when he was he and making run after run with not a single pass going his way.
I'll be very happy if I never have to see Long receive the ball and pitch forward onto his face ever again. It worked for him the first twenty times and then I think the refs association put out a bulletin or something. I'm sure we would be better off putting N'lundulu up there as a hold up player. He looks big and strong, reasonably quick with it. I guess the manager is wanting the youngsters to get their feet wet without sinking. Long is 17 games without a goal and 10 games without a shot on target at the moment. Not much to justify playing him over one of the youngsters at the moment. We will need Walcott to be more onto it up front. His touch deserted him on boxing day and he gave the ball away too much to be an asset. His movement for the disallowed goal was good though.
Che is a great hoild up player though and Walcott running off Adams works well, when it works. He's a damn fine player now is Adams.