Hope you've all come down to earth after yesterday, guys. I haven't. What a performance. I haven't put this up as a poll because there are so many candidates. Vorm did brilliantly when called upon, Michu was incredible, Routledge looked like a different player and set up two goals. Dyer was fantastic and at the ground the away fans (according to my mate) thought Britton was immaculate. Graham worked tirelessly, freeing up space for Michu, and Chico was solid at the back. Yes, I could name the whole team. So who gets it and why?
I really don't think you could pick one person above the rest. Our defence were superb, they threw their bodies in the way of everything that come at us. It was because of them that we were able to counter so effectively. Big shout to Routledge though, was brilliant! And of course michu, what a signing!!!
As for mom... I'll give it to Routledge, terrorised them with his direct running and claimed 2 assists.
Everyone played great but if I had to pick someone it would be Chico ! Williams & him are as good as it gets in this league off of that performance . Well , off to ruin my weekend ... on the golf course .... !#$^%$$
It's strange, even though we didn't keep possession as well as we did last season we played as much more of a team and a unit yesterday than we did at all last season. Williams screaming to the players when 5-0 up because he didn't want to concede was great to see. Nobody was willing to give them anything right up until the final whistle.
Yes I thought Routledge edged it for me just for work rate and passing. Can easily see how it could go to Michu or someone else too. We actually had 62% possession yesterday which surprises me. That can't be right can it?
Vorm was reliable as ever, please close the transfer window now! But for me... Chim chimenee chim chimenee chim chim Cheroo who needs Joe Allen when we've got Michu
BBC (notoriously unreliable I know) had us at 62! Just had a rethink. Michu supplied Sinclair for his goal, so that's 2 goals and an assist. He has to get it doesn't he?
Sun gives it 50/50. You pays your money....... It might be easier to say who was not quite on their game, which is not being critical because as a team we were superb. Put it this way, I am sure that Rangel, De Guzman and Taylor will feel they've had better games but they still tried hard and gave what they could on the day. The rest of the team were marvellous. Routledge did very well, although it was pointed out during commentary in the first half, that Taylor was berating him for not tracking back and being too easily beaten when he did. It could have cost us a goal at a critical point, which might have altered the whole course of the game. The lesson is that everyone has to give 100% at all times in this League because the quality playing against you will exploit the slightest weakness. Routledge did improve this aspect of his play in the second half but De Guzman will have to learn that he must add graft to his undoubted quality. We are not that good that we can afford anyone in the team to sit back during periods of the game and then decide to get involved when it suits them. If they are not on the ball then they should be looking for positions to receive it. If the other lot have it then our players should be tackling, tracking runs or covering dangerous situations. It is a 90+ minute responsibility so they must be fit enough to do that - redolent of how Lambert set up Norwich so well last season. This was such a brilliant start to our season. We had to cope with some pressure early on when QPR were looking good and taking the game to us. But we gradually settled in and Michu's two strikes enabled us to relax, stretch away and win the game in a canter. Indeed, Kevin Ratcliffe, who I caught on the car radio after the game, reckoned we could had six, seven or even eight. Quite an accolade from not our biggest fan and he was quite right. So, a huge well done from me: now we just have to underline that win with three more points against West Ham on Saturday. I'm sure Hamlet (The Prince of Denmark ) will get the players up for it. Oh, and I agree, two goals and an assist means Michu for me,
I think 50/50 is more accurate, ivor. I'm always suspicious of the BBC stats. Not sure about players who didn't have such a good day. De Guzman's work rate could improve I agree with that, but it looks as if he can take a decent long range free kick. Routledge's brief seemed to be to bomb forward at will. Inevitably that leads to defensive gaps. Taylor did OK I thought. Rangel was alright. Didn't particularly notice he had a bad day, but I only saw the second half. First half was on the radio. I think the biggest change is that our wingers now have a licence to come in and play through the middle, whereas previously they were under strict orders to hug the touchline. Seems to me it'll change depending on the opposition, as my overwhelming feeling is that Laudrup has more tactical nous in his little finger than Rodgers does in the whole of his increasingly expanding body.
"increasingly expanding body". The Baggies sucked some of the wind out of him yesterday,that's for sure,for sure. ...
It's not the media companies supplying the stats though, so blaming them is a bit pointless as it depends on who supplies them. Companies like opta provide the data that they use
I agree, valley. But I can't understand why there'd be a 12% difference. Who cares I suppose. 5-0 is the only important stat.
Having watched all the game on Danish TV, I'm not going to pick holes in anyones performance, as it was after all our very first game of the season, and an away game at that too. It was a sterling team performance, from start to finish, and Laudrup must be applauded for getting so much right on the day, even down to Sinclair on the bench, but as for my man of the match, and while there are many contenders, it has to go to Michu, who was so much in the thick of things up front, and his first opportunistic goal, was what started to bring the QPR walls tumbling down, his second was simply sublime, and for me he is without doubt the outstanding candidate for MOTM, so my vote goes to MICHU!..................
For me it is difficult to choose between Michu & Routledge. Anyway, apparently at the West Brom v Liverpool match, the song of the day was .............. "You're just a **** Swansea City".
