A good point, but it dosent sound as if it was a good performance, I think were still weak in Midfield, and if were going to play Wickham and Fletcher up front we need them both in the Middle, Wickham was out wide he's not going to do much out there, we also need a solid defender, O'shea and Brown as getting past there sell by date, Maybe if do sign Borini he will play wide and drift inside, be interesting see how we play at home against Man Utd next week.
Take it you never seen the game? It wasn't great, nor was it shambolic. Lots of lessons learnt.. The new players, all seem to have potential. Catts and Larsson, will have vital parts to play. Johnson as we know can be very good, also on days like today, you can also forget that he is playing. Wickham is a ****e winger and it's a waste of time having him there..Fletcher will score goals, but seems to do the running and at the same speed as a terapin with nee legs. Think Gus may watch a few re-runs of the game, but already knows what is needed. Decent start..Catts man, what a goal.
Wickham and Fletcher shouldn't be in the same team together, it's either one or the other and for me, it should be Wickham.
It's clear to me you didn't see the game as I thought Brown and O'Shea were very good, particularly second half. Roberge got turned twice by Anichebe but he is very good at that. PVA good at overlapping runs but defensively was caught out twice. Both times lost Berahino in the box, one for their second goal.
This. In fact we've got 3 fit strikers, Jozy got more involved in ten minutes then Fletch did the whole game, he actually wanted the ball, dropped deep got involved and developed play. For me Fletch just dropped to 3rd choice. Defence did fine apart from Arnie for their second goal.
After today's game, I reckon it might be a good idea to encourage Brucie to come and get Fletcher. We a look a more mobile and effective attacking force when Wickham goes through the middle with a pacy player (Borini, Buckley or Giacc) drifting in from the wing.
Vergini being out was a bad start, and yet again these stand in players make mistakes, and the strikers don't score. We need Borini in next week, and should have 5 midfielders on and keep going no matter what the score, and we are at home next week and stuff defending, and get at Man u as they are as bad as last season.
I don't think we can write of fletcher yet. He's finally fit and the gap between him and the midfield was huge at times today, don't know what people expect him to do
1) Larsson was very good 2) Clatts hit a screamer 3) PVA did well going forward and should get better defensively 4) Fletcher is far too static. His lack of movement caused your own midfield problems with regards to options 5) Wes Brown and his "deft touches" caused you issues. At times he tried to guide a ball to someone only to knock it a yard in front of himself and thus lose the ball 6) If Roberge had scored his header you would have probably won 7) The penalty was a penalty for me regardless of how soft it was (I do think it was soft) 8) Wickham did little to show me he deserves this pay rise that he is after So as you can tell, I watched your game today. You seemed a bit passive and had little of the ball but you were away from home and it was the first game of the season. For what it is worth, the two of you will be near each other come the end of the season anyway.
At least we've got a point on the board. How long did it take last season? Overall, I think this performance, although not great, will have given the players a boost. It wasn't the Sunderland of the first part of last season, where the players would have just accepted defeat, after they scored their second goal. And, what a move for the equalizer. This gives me hope that this season will be much better. One final note, if we can get £10m for Fletcher, I think we should snap someone's hand off - I think his best days are behind him.
I think 2 games Mick? But you showed glimpses in that game and the ability to come back from behind to gain a point shouldn't be ignored. It is the positive team spirit that you were sorely lacking this time last year and should be worth a good deal of points!
Aye! I had to stop and think that we actually drew against Southampton 2nd game in! It easy to make the mistake thinking that Di Canio lost all of his games!
Didn't catch any of the game, but looking at the result, an away point is a decent start to the season
Personally I'd like to see him drop a bit deeper and get involved, we've got a front free, the two other forwards will make runs ahead of him. He was lazy today. Waiting for the ball. We're trying to establish a pass and move philosophy, that means people have to move to make themselves available. He also made no effort to hassle the WBA defence and they played it out all game without any real pressure.
I can. There was little or no contact with Anichebe. Never a penalty. If every one like that is given we'll see hundreds of pens this season. He dived end of. The foul by Olsen on Fletcher was far worse and the ref gave them a free kick. Otherwise QWOP is spot on
It was a stuttering opening performance with mixed fortunes save for a splendid Wes Brown 80 mins as right back. He is a fantastic footballer IMO. Larsson too developed a decent performance in the final 30 mins. Fletcher not in it and AJ just forgot to turn up. Roberge is a topic best left unspoken. Promising from Wickham who worked hard and Catts was once again a 9/10 in that hole in front if the back 4. He has also scored an August GotM contender. 20 yard rasper. All in all an away point whilst not performing beyond 6/10 as a team at a venue we've lost at in most recent appearances. I'm happy we are off and running with points on board after last seasons debacle.
Cheers QWOP. A good objective summary. The sooner you get your SoL season ticket, the sooner you get back to the light. Your soul's at stake
