Thanks Raving. Many have said we have lacked creativity this season and our performance tonight again shows how important a creative and positive midfield player is. I understand the retorts about Adel and Remy, but let's please move on, otherwise we may as well have Hughes back. Just hope that Carroll, Kranjcar or even Jenas can step up to the role as we are becoming increasingly desperate in the attacking half of the field. Even if we get another forward on loan, the outcome will be no different if we can't create chances on a frequent basis.
Went to the game tonight, and agree with most points in the OP. For me, Henry was brilliant. Excellent covering, tackling and his passing was a lot better. BAE was very good when he came on, barely put a foot wrong. O'Neil is clearly not the type of player to play in the hole for me, became extremely clear as the match went on. I would have swapped O'Neil over with Matty Phillips just to see if it created any sort of spark further up the pitch. Phillips, despite losing it (quite) a few times, seemed to be the only player who would turn and actually run at the defence. Far too much was played in front of Brightons defence for me. Austin worked very hard but was wasteful, again, in front of goal (offside or not you just bury that chance), and skewed another great chance wide in the first half. Defence was excellent, as I'm sure it will be for the majority of the season. Far too many good players in that back 5!
Henry did nothing wrong, but we just didn't need such a defensive-minded midfielder against a team with little or no attacking intentions. I, along with many others, have been crying out for five in midfield, but the personnel were just wrong - leaving Austin stranded. Carroll should have replaced Henry IMO.
Defensively we were great but we offered nothing going forward, why was henry on the pitch when they came for a 0-0? Why was Carroll played in his wrong position in cm then O'Neil comes in and plays in his wrong position in AM when Carroll is left of then bench? Redknapps tactics have crippled us, we need kranjcar asap because there was no link from the midfield to Austin and no cm getting forward. We were set up for a point too.
Completely agree regarding the tactics mate, Austin was far too isolated at times, you have to feel sorry for him. Just feel many rangers fans, and especially on here, have been far too harsh on Karl this season. Think he's having a very good season so far and last nights performance was no exception.
I agree that Harry seems to get the tactics wrong a little too often. This game was crying out for Carroll to play in the attacking midfield central role. I don't agree about Henry. We need him in there as we did Derry before him. Let him and Barton/Jenas/Faurlin sit and put Carroll ahead of them in the midfield three. Or swap Carroll for Krancjar when he's fit.
I think you're right Flyer. Carroll would have been better as the AM or, as was suggested above too, Phillips as AM and O'Neil on the wing. 4-5-1 at home with an isolated striker is asking for the draw. Out of interest, do you still want Henry Out? And Johnson? The others I understand more...
It was a frustrating display. Our lack of attacking threat, in my opinion, was because Brighton closed us down very quickly at every opportunity and because far too often we played sideways or stopped, turned round and played backwards. Just before Barton was booked, O'neil was moving forward and could have played SWP in with a ball through their back 4, but instead stopped, turned and looked for a safer bet. Far too cautious. Agree that Barton looks 10x better with the cover of Henry. Matt Phillips played the first half on the right, Swp on the left and they swapped second half. That's 2 wingers, but between them, they managed a handful of crosses. Matt Phillips looked great and full of attacking intent for the first 10-15, but faded. Swp, as usual, never looked to beat his man. A few steps forward with the ball, then turned and delegated responsibility. O'neil looked largely ineffective to me and Austin was isolated with his back to goal, although manhandled all the time. I thought he looked onside for his blunder, either way, he should have buried it. BAE was the star of the show, a class act. To summarise, defensively sublime, but we wouldn't have scored if we'd still have been playing at 3am.
We would of possible lost the game without Henry ... He was very good last night and allows Barton to run the show ... Barton was truly box to box We didn't take our limited chances is all that was wrong . Brighton kept the ball very well but with superb patience and good reading of the game Henry was able to make Brighton look a non threat IMO ... I agree however what we do with the ball needs attention Have a nasty feeling like many we may come unstuck against a team that goes for it and won't conform to giving any respect ...Like a Yeovil ?
Thanks for this Raving, excellent write up. It appears from this and what others have said that we are still improving game on game. Well documented that we need at least one striker in but we have to make do with what we have. The 'safe midfield passers' have to be more creative a la Don Masson to make that pass which will split the tightest defence. It also means of course that others have to read the game to get on the end of it. Looking forward to Middlesborough and hope to see an improvement on Sheff Wed and Ipswich.
The Brighton coach said "they paid us a compliment by starting with Henry instead of Carroll". I translate that as "they did us a favour". Both managers got the goalless draw they deserved/set out for.
We don't need Henry at home games like this We were very comfy at the back. I would rather be less comfy at the back and have another player nearer to Austin Sir Alex would agree
Dunne was very very lucky on a couple of occasions - it's fortunate for him that just as he fell over one-on-one at the back, the Brighton player decided to give him a little kick. I wasn't at all convinced with his ability when the ball was on the deck. I'd be very wary about removing any cover from him, especially removing the one midfielder that sat right in front of him and cut out most of the non-aerial threat.
I don't think it's a question of removing cover completely - the two in a 4231 would still have defensive responsibilities - it's just that Henry has nothing else to offer. I thought that Redknapp was supposed to be renowned for playing attacking football, yet we are having to put up with the drivel that was on show last night, with zero creativity, whilst Carroll was sitting on the bench.
Found myself with mixed emotions last night On one hand, we were playing a Brighton team without their top scorer (Alloa) and their best midfielder (Bridcutt) and we failed to win what was essentially a 'gimme' game. Brighton had no real intention of going for it. The positive here is another clean sheet and the fact we were rarely troubled. We're still unbeaten and we should remember that. I hope Onouha's injury isn't too serious as he's vital for us at the back alongside Dunne, and Assou Ekotto will be a star for us at left back this season. Puzzled why Carroll didn't play in a game where we had the majority of the possession, and would have suited him perfectly. Thankfully Redknapp has realised we need another Striker and hoping he can bring in another 2 to be honest to take the burden off of Austin.
