Pardew's post match comments: a little worried

After the Stoke game, Pardew claimed that "every question we asked they had an answer for..."

Whilst I agree that we deserved to win the game, I disagree with Pards here and I'm slightly worried that he thinks these are the most questions that we can ask of other teams...

To me it looked as if we didn't ask that many questions at all to be honest. A lot of floated crosses (against Stoke!!!! ???) and a few clueless set play routines - as well as some god awful final balls (i.e Sissoko not passing it several times to players in open spaces who could have had a way better crack at goal) . So I'm not too sure what game our manager was watching.

Anyway, I'm delighted with the result, but just think that our play in the final third looks a tad clueless and predictable sometimes. How to improve this??

Anyone agree / disagree??

 

To be fair, we were up against a flat, deep lying back 4 and a negative midfield...most teams struggle to score against Stoke, it's why they have scored so few, yet still sit mid-table!

It was a very different game to say, Southampton where we created a lot of chances. Also, Cisse was nonexistent bar his goal, we were essentially playing with 10 men for a lot of it!

I see what you're saying, but I don't see it as a major cause for concern (not yet anyway)

 

I thought we did quite well against a mach larger and physical team. One thing I did enjoy was the little niggly challenges flying around from both teams, and the fact the lads looked riled up for the game. But with all the tackles etc it was going to be a bit of a scrappy game.
Cabaye again was in whole heartedly for every challenge and lead by example and Saylor leading from the back also impressed, loved the dancing infront of the keeper!!!

 

QUOTE=Jesus Was A Geordie;4414541]To be fair, we were up against a flat, deep lying back 4 and a negative midfield...most teams struggle to score against Stoke, it's why they have scored so few, yet still sit mid-table!

It was a very different game to say, Southampton where we created a lot of chances. Also, Cisse was nonexistent bar his goal, we were essentially playing with 10 men for a lot of it!

I see what you're saying, but I don't see it as a major cause for concern (not yet anyway)[/QUOTE]

Cisse looked disinterested and apart from scoring the goal didn't do anything. He could at least have looked for the ball and ran into positions where he was easy to find but he just seemed to want it placed at his feet.

 

Cisse looked disinterested and apart from scoring the goal didn't do anything. He could at least have looked for the ball and ran into positions where he was easy to find but he just seemed to want it placed at his feet.[/QUOTE]

Cisse had been off sick for a week with a virus. If it was one of the ones that's been goign around, he did well to play at all.

As for Pardew's comments, while he doesn't lie very much, it's also not his job to lay all of his cards on the table. I wouldn't particualry assume that he had no more thoughts on the game than the ones he gave Sky, or whoever

 

Cisse looked disinterested and apart from scoring the goal didn't do anything. He could at least have looked for the ball and ran into positions where he was easy to find but he just seemed to want it placed at his feet.[/QUOTE]

He was two yards to the right of Gourfran (sp) when the Frenchman blazed a hard chance over the bar, Cisse had a tap in if Gourfran found the simple pass. The reason you're not getting the best out of Cisse is because of your manager, he has no man-management skills or tactical nous. He relies solely on player performance, a decent manager would have your side at least safe by now and probably pushing for Europe.

 

He was two yards to the right of Gourfran (sp) when the Frenchman blazed a hard chance over the bar, Cisse had a tap in if Gourfran found the simple pass. The reason you're not getting the best out of Cisse is because of your manager, he has no man-management skills or tactical nous. He relies solely on player performance, a decent manager would have your side at least safe by now and probably pushing for Europe.[/QUOTE]

so the fact that Goufran didn't pass is Pardew's fault ?

With full respect for your generally thoughtful opinions, I find that one a bit hard to follow.

 

I think the fact that Cisse may not have been 100% fit is a good point in his defence. Gouffran and Cisse do need a little bit of time to find the best out of each other - something Ba and Cisse couldn't do. It is up to Pardew though, but I think he will always be on the conservative side, not ever going for it with all guns blazing.

But a half a game creating no shots on target against a non-top side at home is worrying.

 

Cisse had been off sick for a week with a virus. If it was one of the ones that's been goign around, he did well to play at all.

As for Pardew's comments, while he doesn't lie very much, it's also not his job to lay all of his cards on the table. I wouldn't particualry assume that he had no more thoughts on the game than the ones he gave Sky, or whoever[/QUOTE]

If somebody is on the field you expect him to be fit to play, that's why we have reserves. (Not too many I know.) If it hadn't been for young Campbell's skill and vision in giving the ball to Marveaux who then fed Cisse with the ball we wouldn't have got the goal that won the game for us.

 

If somebody is on the field you expect him to be fit to play, that's why we have reserves. (Not too many I know.) If it hadn't been for young Campbell's skill and vision in giving the ball to Marveaux who then fed Cisse with the ball we wouldn't have got the goal that won the game for us.[/QUOTE]

Not sure I follow that. Are you saying that if Cisse was only at about 85% because he was coming off a virus we should have benched him in favour of Campbell (our only other fit striker) ?

If so, I disagree. You play most able players and even at 85%, as against a striker with a total of 15 minutes first team experience against Maritimo, that is Cisse

 

Surely Cisse's selection and performance are justified by the fact he was the difference between winning and drawing with his last minute goal? Who cares if he does very little for 90 mins if he wins the game?

Isn't that why we used to like having Laurent Robert in the team? His laziness was worth it for the few moments of genius per game he produced. At least Cisse puts the effort in when he is 100% fit.

Personally I thought Cisse's movement for the goal was top class - it has been his movement and finishing that have set him apart as top class for us - unfortunately his finishing has hit a poor patch this season....

 

Yep, agree. Thought that while Stoke posed us very few questions (and clearly weren't set-up Paxman-style from the outset), the questions we asked were fundamentally flawed and ill conceived, and as such I'd say TH has it correct. Pardew's tactics were very poor (not going to blame him for individual errors though). We hadn't seen much long-ball for a while, but he brings it out against Stoke? He's clearly gone insane!

Crossing with only Cisse in the box, against the tallest men in the league, is nonsense. Pumping it up to Cisse against the tallest men in the league is worse nonsense!

The game-plan's stupidity was shown by Marv's timely and all too brief appearance. We lacked a cutting edge, especially with Sissoko not finding his passing range in the game. A bit of guile and skill and we get a goal, it's how Stoke usually concede... I was left wondering whether we would have fared better putting out the "more technical team" we played vs Anzi.

I don't tend to put much stock in post-match conversation though, it's recycled rhetoric for TV and media.

 

so the fact that Goufran didn't pass is Pardew's fault ?

With full respect for your generally thoughtful opinions, I find that one a bit hard to follow.[/QUOTE]

Well literally no, obviously it's not Pardew's fault.

Your manager would get better performances and results from his players if he managed to get them to play as a unit, currently he relies too much on individual brilliance to win games. He's solely responsible for Cisse being all over the place this season because he stripped him of any confidence he might have carried into this season from last when he made him a winger to accommodate the inevitably-departing, absolute donkey, ****house Ba. Confidence in a player breeds confidence in a team, Pardew tinkered like an amateur on Footy Manager and ****ed up your season, regardless of injuries. You come to Old Trafford and score 3, you have no excuses.

 

Well literally no, obviously it's not Pardew's fault.

Your manager would get better performances and results from his players if he managed to get them to play as a unit, currently he relies too much on individual brilliance to win games. He's solely responsible for Cisse being all over the place this season because he stripped him of any confidence he might have carried into this season from last when he made him a winger to accommodate the inevitably-departing, absolute donkey, ****house Ba. Confidence in a player breeds confidence in a team, Pardew tinkered like an amateur on Footy Manager and ****ed up your season, regardless of injuries. You come to Old Trafford and score 3, you have no excuses.[/QUOTE]

We have! Here's a list I prepared earlier;

1. We had loads of injuries
2. Fergie has the ref in his pocket



Also, Ba is not a donkey you fiend (I challenge you to duel! 13:45 today at Monument!*). He's a sensational striker and probably the most natural finisher in the league... Relegation candidates don't usually get to keep such commodities very long!


* Oh dear, that time has passed. Damn it. DAMN. I was so looking forward to a good duel. Oh well, you got lucky this time

 

Pardew has done terrifically well of late. He has us playing well as a unit and is giving the players a good structure to work from. The two away european performances have been tactically brilliant.

I'm always amused by this hanging on his every word in a press conference, looking for something to slaughter him for. All he has basically said is that Stoke defended well on Sunday. They did and its not against the law for the other team to defend well. We still found a way to win which is what good teams do.

 

Lol.

 

Disagree here. Shola was out, who else could we have started up front? young Adam Campbell? Come on, youngsters are youngsters and they aren't ready. Look what Sammy and Shane did when thrown into the fire (not much, except suck)
Also, you gotta be way over the top calling young Campbell skill and vision by just passing a 2metre pass to Marveaux who fed Cisse the through ball. It was just a simple pass to a more senior player to do the job even Willo would have made.