title says it all really. i see today that we played more as a team rather than leaving it up to adel to do every thing. i dont want this to turn into is he good or not. more is there a place in the team for his type of player
Not playing Taarabt prevented us from being so one dimensional in possession. In hindsight, it would appear that not playing him upset Southampton more than us. However, I feel that with the right options up front playing alongside Adel, will prevent sunderland's and our focus all being on him. With Hoillet and Townsend alongside him, we would be fearful going forward. Lots of pace and skill. But any combination of the two above alongside Remy, should have the ability to unlock any defence.
After today's result, I fancy our chances against the mackems especially with line-up proposed above. Betty's goal is unlikely to be duplicated again next time out but with Townsend, Taarabt Hoilett and Remy in the mix another W is a distinct possibility. And a welcome one
We are not the sort of team that can carry taarbs when he has one of his many off days. We become a ten man team.
We counter-attacked with more speed yesterday, Adel fartarses about too much and often stunts the attack giving defenders the chance to cover. It might be a bit different at home if we are taking the attack to the opposition but we can't afford the luxury of an attack that has only one outlet. I though Hoilett showed some good touches and his pass for the first goal was perfection, we have to use all the options available...
The answer occasionally has to be 'Yes'. But let's not get carried away with one result. The stats speak for themselves. We rode our luck, ground out a result, whatever metaphor you want to use. We played with fire in our belly for once. That has nothing to do with whether AT plays or not. It is about man management and the professionalism or attitude of those who are picked. Every player has to accept, for the good of the team, that they will occasionally not make the starting eleven or even the bench. Today it worked for us so you have to say the decision to rest him/drop him/save him for impact as a second half sub if it all went pear shaped (again select from one of the above or insert your own) was the right decision to make. Lessons? A bit more creative tactical thinking, a bit less rigidity in formation, having two forwards working together rather than 1 or 0 are obviously better prospects for success for the rest of the season.
I disagree with that. We become a 0 man team. The problem has been that the rest rely on him to create everything. If he doesn't we pose no threat at all, simple as that.
He will be first on the team sheet I am taking bets Southampton was all about beating their game of pressing high we simply played through and over it ... In effect showing the rest of the league how to do it . Where you boys miss that is by the absence of Townsend also ... It had little to do with Adel more to do with Southampton and the game plan worked Park was outstanding yet will be on bench Hoiletts defensive work was good also Granero still finding his way but he will boss a few games soon Taarabt is a very special player and MOTD were talking rubbish when that idiot Shearer tried to talk about Adel being a striker ... He is not nor never will he be ... Shearer will back pedal watch this space as he is way off the mark IMO Adel has to be given a free role and in future games he will be Guaranteed
This. We might have won but in reality we created very little going forward and to have Remy out wide seems such a waste. God knows how we'd work it but to have Hoilett Taarabt Townsend behind Remy and BZ/Betty we'd create chances for fun and there's not point in going out to draw games anymore we have to win.
As long as Adel is in form he should play. We won yesterday by being effective, scoring from 2 of 4 or 5 chances. Normally we will need to create many more and get people in the box to score a lot more than yesterday to get the goals we need. For this we need Adel, and others in midfield that manage to pass to each other a lot better than yesterday. Granero and Jenaas probably have the best potential to supply this but need to spend a long week training their basic passing teckniques.
I'm sure Adel will play soon. For me the more important question is not who plays, but how we play at home. Its all very well making 4 chances at southampton but how are we going to break this long, scoreless run at LR? If Sunderland play deep and aim to hit us on the break, are we going to faff about without ever looking like scoring as we have in recent home games? I don't have the answer, but thats been the most depressing trend of the Harry era
He knows he was left our for performing below par recently so hopefully that will put a bit of fire in his belly.
Said this just the other week. Back the 71/72 season, a couple of years after being relegated from the top flight, we were underperforming in what's now the NPC. Soon as our icon Rodney Marsh was sold to Man City, our fortunes immediately changed and we never looked back. Gordon Jago brought in Stan the man and some quality team talent and the very next season we hit the heights again with a well deserved promotion. Yes, these mercurial mavericks can be great for a time but pretty soon other clubs catch on to the predictable game plan ('get the ball to Rodney / Adel and take it from there'). 'Team players' aren't so easy to read and combine better. Time comes when icons need to move on for everyone's sake. Nothing against Taarabt, he's done a lot for us - but this could well be the case now. 'Course we'll need to give him some more of an airing to get his stock up to premium levels. Quids in has to be a priority.
It's Sunday ... we won... get on your bike and enjoy life: Get some high hope baby x [video=youtube;y2gJ8uNtk4A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2gJ8uNtk4A[/video]
play three at the back and you can put him behind the strikers in a 3-3-1-3 or a 3-4-1-2. Not really the point though. Leaving him out was a big statement by Harold. A sneaky win strengthens his hand, so expect more of the same focus on defence and sneaking goals on the break, even at home.
