Gazzaniga: the verdict?

I get the impression though the defence seem a tad more nervous when he is behind them. They are making more mistakes it would seem since FF has vacated the spot. I don't think it's my imagination just a feeling.

 

Hard to prove, but if we finish in 7th by one or two points, we will always wonder if we would have got those extra points if Forster stayed fit. However, such speculation was just what I argued against when the injury occurred....we will never know if Forster would have conceded a goal that Davis/Gazza kept out. As The Ron keeps telling us...injuries are part of football.

 

I think he needs to communicate with the defence a little better, Davis is apparently top notch at that.

He had a little spat with Fonte at one point which actually I took as quite encouraging as it indicates that maybe he is getting more confident.

 

I saw that at the time, as I was sat right in line with it. What I liked about it was that the reason they had the spat was because Gazza wouldn't throw the ball out short to Fonte. He booted it long from which, Villa immediately regained possession and Fonte turned to Gazza, waved his arms in the direction the ball had gone in a "that's why we keep it short" gesture.

I was pleased Fonte did that as I hate it when the keeper boots it long unnecessarily. The very next time Gazza got it, he rolled it short to Jose

Note: Gazza played well Saturday. Couldn't do anything about the goal and apart from one slightly fumbled cross (I think he got a free-kick), he played well.

 

You're right but what I was pleased with was that Gazza stood up for himself (right or wrong). I don't think he'd have done that last season.

 

Yes, it was good to see.

 

Gazza does distribute the ball well, a lot of our threats came from his long kicking to Pelle, the difference being that players have actually cottoned on to the idea of latching on to Graz's knock downs, so although the short pass out is good for possession, it can also lead to problems if they don't get it right when moving out. There is room for both options now.

 

Possibly, but it would have been nice to see him move and at least make an attempt to save. He was clearly expecting a cross goal header so he was caught flat footed.

 

Having said that, our first goal came from a Pellè flicked header through to Mané following a long boot out from Gazza

When your centre forward is as dominant as Graziano was on Saturday I think the long ball is justified, but normally I would agree with you. Let's see what happens on Sunday when Pellè will be up against De Michelis and Mangala, who made Lovren look like a bargain yesterday.

 

I think Kompany will be back

 

Unless the rumours are true...

 

I wondered that, but he came off the bench on Sunday against the swans. No matter who he may or may not have been shagging, you'd have to play him ahead of Mangala, even if he was limping.

 

So to speak...

 

He has obviously benefitted from good coaching from Dave Watson, he looks more the part this season compared to last when he was glued to the goal line

 

I'm not quite confident about having him as a first choice keeper unite Forster recovers. He could probably do a decent job, but I think we need someone better for the fight at the top end of the table. We should send Gazza on loan to a club where he'll be a first choice keeper, maybe some Championship club. Hopefully Swindon.

 

If you back to the last spell where he was playing and this one he has improved, he's not the finished article yet but I think he's needs match time. Be one to loan out next season to a decent championship side.

 

Part of the deal to bring Tom Heaton here?

 

I haven't seen a lot of the last couple of games but (at the risk of sounding like PL) he reminds me of Ron - I think - playing quidditch in Harry Potter - he looks completely incompetent at times but actually isn't a total disaster.

I still want us to sign another keeper though.

 

Pelle thumped a similar header in a few weeks back against Spurs. Instead it went nearer the middle of the goal. Lloris had his weight and movement in that direction and flung himself but got absolutely nowhere near it. I give Gazza the credit of knowing when there's no point. Antti Niemi used to do exactly the same thing and we know how good he was.

 

Fraser does that at times too.