Lets not lose our heads there's still work to do - My thoughts on the game

Feels good to have a win, and we did it by playing good ****ing football!! And we showed that we don't need Ben Arfa and Cabaye to play nice football and make it effective. I've been wanting Marveaux to get a game for a while now.

BUT - We still have work to do lads. I've always had faith that this could be a good season for us, and we can finish in the top 8. A few results sends you flying up the table. But that's easier said than done.

Fulham are a bit off it, and with Ben Arfa coming back and us having some confidence again, we should be able to get a result, but I'm still not gonna take anything for granted. It will be a tough game, but if we win it could set us back on track at just the right time. If we can nick a few results before Christmas, we'll probably still be a bit disappointed with how the first half of the season has gone, but at least we can eat our christmas puds and feel like there's a whole 2nd season left to go yet, and it's still very much on.

Lets just keep our heads. We really needed this result, and we also needed the performance. We can play good football and make it effective. Some people might say it was against a shakey Wigan side, but they looked threatening early on, and I felt another bad result. But then we played a sexual move in the middle, and won a pen. Ba's goal was the hardest I've cheered in ages.

ALSO - Ba and Cisse are starting to link up better together now. Both are bit selfish when it comes to shooting, but they both want goals. Some of their play together in moves was very nice. Good little pass from Ba to feed in Cisse for the pen.

Ratings -

Krul - 6.5 - Didn't really have to do much, but better kicking and some good claims.

Simpson - 8 - Solid tonight. Great performance.

Colo - 7.5 - A few errors, but he's regaining his full form, and it's still nice to have his finesse at the back again.

Willo - 8 - Some slopyness, and It was quite alarming that he had to foul Kone A, a player that's almost a foot shorter than him to win headers, but he did a good job tonight. Did well and was pretty much solid.

Santon - 7.5 - Upset to see him go off, hope he isn't injured. He was good tonight, and we've been crying out for him to have more shots on his right as he has a fantastic shot on him, and would you know it... Ba scores from the rebound.

Tiote - 7 - Why did he go off? Well I thought he was good while he was on. Some stupid challenges, but good for the most part.

Anita - 8.5 - Played a critical part in our build up play, including some fantastic first time balls to get us into threatening positions. He's really starting to look like what I'd hope he'd be. A pace, nippy little player who can run about all game, make runs off the ball, provide passes and defend. He made a crucial interception in the opening minutes. His reading of the game is superb. Also he is totally unselfish. He could have had a shot a few times in the game when we were 2-0 up, but he kept on passing and providing. I love the lad.

Jonas - 6 - A decent shift, but I fear that the end is nigh for Jonas. All that running around for the last couple of years, I think, might have aged him a bit. He doesn't look the same player.

Marv - 8 - Great performance. Great skill on the ball, and is proving himself a useful player to have in the squad. Unlucky not to get a goal himself.

Bigi - 8 - Superb goal. Great appearance for the lad. Good passing, and a beautiful goal.

Ba - 8 - Not the finest Brace he's scored, but whatever! He scored two goals, kept a cool head for the pen, and played some great little passes. I also loved the fact that tonight he worked hard and tracked back. I hope this is the start of a decent run of games that raises everyones mood. Ba worked harder than ever after his two goals.

Cisse - 7 - Better from him. Good skill, hard work.

MOTM - Anita for me. I know some might say Ba or Marv, but I'm giving it to Anita. The lad is a total team player, and played brilliantly tonight. He made some great passes, and got into some threatening areas.

OVERALL - YES!!! Good to see a nice vibe around the place again. We really needed this, and if we don't get struck with yet another injury or two, and get Hatem back for Fulham, then maybe... just maybe we can start a decent run up here.

 

Marv looked alot more confident today, hope he can really kick on now! I had a good feeling about him when we seen glimpses last season but he's never got the run in the side that Obertan did last season! Do you play him on thurs or rest him for Fulham?!

 

Much better performance than we've seen for a while. Wouldn't disagree with Anita for MOTM, he's a human dynamo, great performance.

If we can carry on like tonight I'll be a happy bunny.

 

I disagree with nearly all of your ratings. The result flattered us and the game was gifted to us by a poor refereeing decision, wasn't a penalty therefore not a red card.

Krul - 6 - nowt to do
Simpson - 6 - nowt to do, ****e crossing
Willo - 6.5 - nowt to do, solid though
Colo - 6.5 - nowt to do, some important interceptions though
Santon - 7 - played well
Tiote - 6 - too many fouls and dispossessed a few too many times. Some good passes though
Anita - 8 - good all round
Marveaux - 8 - see Anita
Gutierrez - 4 - ****e
Cisse - 5 - slightly better than Jonas
Ba - 6 - scored 2 but wasn't all that

Fergie - 7 - perfect LB display
Bigi - 7 - forgetting about the goal his passing and tackling was brilliant
Sammy - 4 - ****e

 

P.S I think the reason they brought Ttiote off is he's 1 yellow away from a suspension, and with 1 man and 2 goals up at half time you dont want to risk tiote getting a yellow (which was a high chance)! I hope so anyways

 

Any need?

 

First half we were very good (although them being down to 10 certainly helped), 2nd half we were bang average. No point dressing it up. I do believe Cisse & Ba are working much, much harder than at the start of the season and Anita was very good.

Jonas' legs have gone and is no longer worthy of a start. If fit the Ben Arfa and Marveaux should occupy the wide positions against Fulham.

 

Jonas certainly isn't the player he was, he still gives it his all but he seems a bit burned out.

 

He offers nothing in an attacking sense which is pretty much unacceptable for a winger mate. I reckon he needs a very long rest.

 

He hasn't been much use defensively or in building attacks either. A truly woeful performance tonight. Weak in a tackle, panic passes and loses to ball nearly every time he attempts to beat his man. He's done and needs dropping even in our thin squad.

 

Didn't seem to offer anything at all, Anita helped him out a bit.

 

The little man gave a fantastic display, he was a terrier all nigh, phenomenal performance and seems to be finding his feet at last.

 

I'd say keep Marv behind the striker and try cisse or Ba on the left as marv was playing well in that position so why move him, also they should have had Caldwell sent off so it could have been much worse for them!

 

It looked like the ref was going to send Caldwell off but changed his mind, he must have felt sorry for them.

 

Just watching the replay this morning. It was a definite pen, don't know what you're on about.

 

I've watched the replays, it was harsh Tash, it was 50/50, I wouldn't be happy if the same dscision was given against us.

 

Sitting behind the goal, it looked a definite penalty to me.

 

Thought Anita was great again. Shows the reason why fans need to be patient in all aspects. Simpson had a very good game also. I also think for the first 60mins Cisse was very good, the lad is working his balls off and showed some nice bits of skill. Him and Demba still need to improve their link play, but at least we saw a pass from Demba for the pen. Shame Cisse didn't return the favour in the 2nd half when he went for that crazy backheel. I feel for Jonas, I'm not sure he knows what he is anymore.

I think they took Tiote off because he was pretty poor and should have been booked. He needs to stop shooting all the time and I wish the crowd would **** off with the screams of "shooooot". It was funny a couple of times but its just grating now and he tries to play up to it.

Saying that Caldwell should have went all day long. Have to say I didn't think it was a pen or sending off. Mike Jones is welcome back anytime thought he was a bit of homer overall being truthful but we were due some luck.

We fully deserved our win and we passed the ball a lot better. Of course its much easier when they are down to 10 but maybe that slice of luck will give us the kickstart we so badly need. Crucial to back it up at Fulham by taking at least a point. Obviously they will be looking to arrest their own slide and we don't do very well down there but we collecting more points will get our season going.

 

Cisse was ahead of the defender, who was never going to get the ball and didn't try to. Penalty from 8 out of 10 refs. The rule, whether or not you like it, is that a foul last man back in a clear goal scoring opportunity is a red. Correct call.

 

My sentiments entirely, they went in shoulder to shoulder. There's a outstretched arm as Cisse is already falling but certainly not enough for a penalty. It's a fortunate decision on our behalf.