Now now Stevo - no handbags please!! Nobody likes a poor loser. You're right, I didn't have Mutchy in my scorers list though, I doubted that Malky would give him a start over Gunnar. Bringing him on for Kim on the hour was a great move and proved decisive. The switch from the more delicate skills of Kim for the power of Mutch put us back in the box seat after Fulham started to get into the game. I'm sure the goal he scored is not going to be a one-off either. He's had some very good strikes in the limited amount of time he's spent on the pitch and been very unlucky with some lucky defensive blocks and deflections wide - he never seems to get one deflected in. Some great options for Malky now.
Haha, if I was Blue I'd give you a point for that call anyway. It was a great shout! What I don't agree with though is that Mutch played well in the Kim role. He got a bit high up the pitch a bit too quick and looked uncomfortable with his back to a defender. Kim's incredible feet mean he can take the ball under that pressure, I dont think Mutch did it that well. Now to clarify before you call me mental. Bringing Mutch on was obviously a great move, I really rate Mutch and hope he's involved more. All I'm saying is he's a centre mid IMO and was asked to play in the hole. I don't think he has the skills to do that effectively on a regular basis. For me the man to play in the 'Kim position' if he has to go off or not play is Odem. Again I understand why Mutch was correctly introduced and that he offered us a certain amount of solidity compared to bringing on a more attacking option. Eg Noone on and move Odem inside. I just thought we lost the link from defence to attack a little when Kim went off. I think Mutch can really push Gunnar for a starting place along side the world class Medel though. As you say, brilliant to have these options.
Agree about the dissimilarities between Kim and Mutch. I didn't mean that you could play either in the same position, just that it was the right call to make the switch at the time. They possess different qualities - a sort of horses for course choice. Kim is very skilfull with his feet at close quarters and deceptively difficult for the opposition to get the ball off. Mutch has the power going forward to push teams back. There was always conflict in my mind as to whether you can play Gunnar and Mutch in the same lineup. I am coming around to the idea that it's far from the worst option as long as we're not expecting a "wide" game. The middle of the park with Medel, Gunnar and Mutch would be very strong. I suppose you have to then start asking about where the flair would come from, but we are not short on that at the club as an option either.
Still not the biggest of squads with huge depth, but getting there, with players that can play in a number of positions. Also, as has been commenetd, we can now change the shape of the game. Medel has to be in the middle of the park whatever, but Mutch for Gunnar gives us a bit more flair, Mutch for Kim a bit more bite. Noone can add width. PO looks as if he could play all over the park. An inteligent and skillful player capable of fulfilling a number of roles, not just standing in a position. He could replace FC, Kim, Bellamy, Whitts (?), and not just stand in their position, but do their job. Very important in a smallish squad. Hopefully MM gets a few more bob in January with us moving one or two on and bringing one or two improvements in. It's coming together slowly.
Actually remote, I think it's coming together rather more quickly than we thought. I firmly believe that Mackay and his staff had their gameplans for every fixture mapped out (as far as you can) before a ball was kicked in anger. Any points won (home or away) from the top 8 or so clubs would be a bonus, and he'll try to pinch a point here and there amongst that lot - the Man City result was like a lottery win. He will target those teams he believes are somewhere near our equal. I see both Hull and Fulham in that category and we've taken 4 points out of 6 on the road against them, and still to play them at home. Keep pushing that plan and we'll be OK for next season. We haven't had a drubbing yet scorewise, though on the run of play, both Man City and Spurs were capable of it. That doesn't mean we wont get one at some stage, but more of the same will make it very difficult for the opposition whoever they are.
Agreed Sparks, should probably have said 'steadily' rather than 'slowly'. I hope MM has got Medel coaching Gunnar or Mutch in what he does, as at the mement, he's the guy we'd miss most if he was out. Lewis stepped up against Hull and I'm sure Huds would do a job. We've seen John and Connely at full back with lots of options in he other midfield and striker roles. If MM can find a couple of £2M signings like PO and TC in Jan we'll be laughing. The awkward one is Whitts. Can't leave him out becaise of his dead ball delivery, but not sure where his best position is and we've probably got others who could do as good a job in general. I sometimes feel he slightly unbalances the side.
Whitts doesn't unbalance the side as a natural left footer he will do a job on that side but we arent going to get him going past a full back or a burst of pace to get into the box quickly. Could he play the role that Gunnarson is now playing ??? Can Craig Noone give us more as a natural winger than Whitts ??? Bellamy i can see being a 15-20 mins off the bench player from now on as long as Pete O is fit. FC is doing a great job as the lone striker but he needs to find his touch in front of goal from open play.
A great performance yesterday. Particuarly good to see Taylor and Gunnarsson perform so well. Time for Mutch to get a place in the starting line up.
I think Kim is absolutely essential to the way we play. I agree that Mutch has Gunnars starting place under threat though.
