Easy in hindsight, but does anyone else think that Ole's choice of starting 11 contributed to the dropping of two points rather than the gaining of just the one. I was surprised by the defensive set up with Gunnar included instead of a more creative player, and Fabio in the right hand midfield slot. Maybe the plan was to hold it steady and go for a 1-0 win with a break-out counter attacking game, but once again I thought we handed the intiative to them. They were all over us for 20 minutes - we went 2-0 down and gave ourselves a mountain to climb. No offence meant, but I don't see Brom as deserving of that sort of respect. We should have started with the team that finished - Whitts on for Medel was a forced decision. Pulis will bring Palace to defend the point they start with - how should Ole tackle that?
We are now getting desperate but still can't afford to go gung ho. I would go with a kind of 4 1 4 1 formation with Gunnarson nowhere near it. Marshall KTC Caulker Turner John Medel Noone Mutch Daehli Bellamy Campbell
Until yesterday I thought Fabio was better game by game and still think he can do a job for us. Pulis is no mug, we need to win the wide plays. If you let Palace keep their shape they will beat us.
As soon as I saw the team any optimism drained from me. I just do not comprehend the point of playing a team in a game they had to win with 5 at the back and no wingers. Yet again, like at Everton, he changed the formation after realising it was wrong. I equally did not comprehend the recall of Gunnarrsson. He lost Soldado for the solitary goal v Spurs, has been generally poor all season and was ineffective at WBA in the extreme. WBA were average at best, City were hopeless for 60 minutes and should have been 3-1 down but for Vidric being thwarted by Marshall and whilst unlucky again to concede at the death, they would not have scored the 3rd had WBA not scored. Still there is a glimmer now with a home game v Palace and an away game at Sunderland. Both have to be won. What is for sure, no one has a clue what team the tinkerman troll will put out v Palace. It'll bound to contain one baffling selection (Cowie?) but surely now is the time for Zaha, Noone if fit & Daehli to start. (Bellamy to be on the bench)
Daehli to start now, Saturday proves he's another player who knows where the goal is and he breezes through players. Pace may be lacking but eff it, great player who needs to be established as 1st team!
Not sure why we varied from the team / formation used against Liverpool and Everton. We seem to be making a difference off the bench, but thought Gunner had been consigned to the role of poor man's Medel. As an aside, rumour has it that Man U would off load Zaha for £5M. Would he be worth a punt and would we spend that much on a player if we were in the championship? I think Ole's game plan is now bought into by the players and is starting to bear fruit, though it is looking as if it could be too little too late. With a full pre-season and with the changing of another 4-6 squad players we could see a team that would keep us in the Premier League. Unfortunately, we're likely to need a team to get us out of the Championship next season. Really hope I'm wrong.
