I thought we played quite well today and more than deserved the point. Our defence looked shaky, especially in the first half, but we all know that it needs strengthening and Ferdinand is badly missed. Double the corner count and almost double the amount of attempts on goal at a ground where Swansea have been doing really well is a superb effort. Lee Probert was the worst referee I've seen for a long time....Graham's goal was definite hand ball and they should have had a penalty for the Traore challenge on the same player. He missed so much it was unbelievable. Anyway, I thought we played some great possession football at times (we kept the ball for almost all of the last 4-5 mins up till the 90th minute!!) and Barton was a lot better too. We were looking like the team who would go on to win it once it was 1-1. Player ratings: Kenny - 7 Did nothing wrong and could do nothing about the goal. Young - 7 Solid as usual. Hill - 7 Won a lot of headers and didn't look too out of place. Hall - 5 Lost Graham for the goal and looked out of his depth....although I thought he improved in the 2nd half. Traore - 5 Not one of his better games. Looked so dozy in defensive positions and should have had a penalty given against him. Derry - 7 Looked more solid as the game went on. Faurlin - 8 Not at his best in the first 45 mins, but I lost count of how many times he won the ball back and made vital tackles in the 2nd (Sky's MOM too!) Barton - 7 Much better from him and a trademark foul and booking too...more like it, plus he was kept away from all the dead ball kicks! Mackie - 8 Worked tirelessly and took his goal very well. Taarabt - 7 Linked the play well and unlucky with a superb curling shot that was brilliantly saved! Helguson - 7 Worked the line really well as always. NW - 7 Didn't make any strange subs so that's better from him!! Lee Probert - 2 Simply clueless!!
Funny I watched it without commentary and with a pint and thought the ref was decent. He let the game flow when he could and, although the handball should have been given arguably, I can see why it wasn't deemed 'deliberate handball'. I thought the game was crying out for SWP to get a run in the last 20 minutes at Richards, the left-back, but I can understand a more conservative approach given the need to just get a point on the board. Hall scares the ****e out of me at whichever level we're playing and he got far too tight too often but it was probably one of his better performances for us (not that that says much). I thought Taarabt put a real shift in and against most keepers that shot would have gone in. The only disappointment was not being able to put away some presentable headers but overall I was happy with what I saw.
I've just had to clip my 12 year old round the head for the language he used when he read that!! Are you sure you hadn't had 10 pints before you started watching Watford?!! Probert was easily the worst referee I've seen this season....and I've seen a few!!
Hopefully Neil will write Hall a thank you card and send him on his way. Epitomises our troubles at the back.
Perhaps if you'd given the ref a 10/10, we would have lost the game: let a blatent penalty go, so a big thumbs up to the ref.
Lee Probert probably didn't give the penalty so as to even up the Swans goal as Graham handled it twice. The second handball actually stopped the clearance. I know it was ball to hand but it gave the advantage to Graham. The only thing that gets to me is how many of the goals we have conceded are AVOIDABLE. I have heard that from pundits too many times this season. Hopefully that will be rectified in the new year.
Good summary Rangercol. Personally, I thought Traore was absolute ****e second-half. Faurlin got him out of so much trouble. I think we should go 5-3-2 against the goners.
Fair assessment Col, over all. Rated Hall higher than you have. Partnered Hill well, I thought. Made his presence felt. Some of his clearances even found a team mate! Hall and Hill ain't exactly prem gold but the door was kept locked more than I expected tbh. Credit to them. Our (largely Championship) team competed well. Interesting fusion of the two styles we've been developing this season: the slick, quick, pass and move we started against Toon; and the 'in yer face' upsetting job that worked so well against Chelsea. If we can keep that blend working - and mature it as we go, you never know, it could become our hallmark and a force to be reckoned with... Very happy with Barton and Taarabt. Seeds being sown I think. Hope.
I can be the first to criticize NW when he gets it wrong, so i should be one of the first to mention that i was delighted to see the Rrrsss come out stronger in the second half. No doubt some of the players got a bashing from COLIN at half time. It is good to see a positive second half reaction, cause it means that the players still listen to the manager. Looking at the quality of the teams in the Prem, and our current lack of quality, it's obvious to me that we need to try and play a high-tempo game. Against Chelsea we physically dominated them and we also had a right go at City. Over the last few weeks our results were poor but considering the opposition it was to be expected. What was worrying me was our performances. They were simply flat. In the second half last night we pressed high up the field, we actually put in some crunching tackles ans Adels movement simply shifted the Swansea defence all over the place at times. Adel took the wrong option several times and he also gave the ball away way too cheaply at times as well, but his movement and speed of thought were well above anybody else on the pitch. He deffo sees the pass that second faster than anybody else. I thought Traore is deffo better going forward and linked up well with Adel several times. I have bashed Barton several times in recent weeks over his poor performances, and although last night he was still not at his best, he put in a really good shift. His tackling was much much better. Thought Derry was worth his place again in the team. Final thought. I have felt that SWP has not been helped by the fact that he has been played out of position and also we never play him running onto the ball into the channels, thus allowing him to use his pace properly and get in behind defenders. Think Adel has the vision and ability to release a speedy SWP with a good pass and allow him to skin defenders.
Cant believe Im saying it but Tarbs was the catalyst or that game!.Attitude and workrate was refreshing to see. Why the **** didnt Neil bring on SWP and DJ for the last 10 mins???..
Some interesting replies there guys. I agree with Brix that I may have been a little harsh on Hall whose partnership with Hill DID improve as the game went on. I also agree with Roller that Adel, who I thought was pretty good, did make the wrong decision now and then, although his pass completion was a phenomenal 98%!! He also nearly won it but for an excellent save! Also agree that Barton and Taarabt together looked promising (maybe they're starting to appreciate each other!!?) and that Traore should be played further forward if we can get a decent left back in! Barton was removed from all the dead-ball kicks, which encouraged me that NW isn't going to let our Joey rule the roost completely!! So....lots of positives for me and I thought we played some good stuff at times. It will be even harder at Arsenal of course, so I won't be surprised to get nothing there. Still....nearly January....should be really interesting!!
Couple of quality guys , which appears your going to get , & your sticking around this league for another season at least col , you guys looked very cohesive yesterday . P.S. I'll apologize for the hand ball if you apologize for the penalty that should have been . Cheers & good luck in the New Year , for you & your team
Fair assessment Col except as you have already pointed out I thought Hall was OK and was our Rory Delap last night. The funniest thing for me is there has been alot of positives for Barton and for me he was only a 5 as I thought he didn't look comfortable playing with Taarabt and he needs to put in a captains performance more often, I can only remember one so far and think it was against Stoke.
