My thoughts on todayâs game. Thought it was a great point against a team that is 3rd. Arry got the tactics spot on using Fabio/Nedum to stop Lennon/Bale which they did. For me Fabio was my âman of the matchâ. Did Lennon get the ball? He did everything right, definitely his best game. Nedum growing every week now and expect good things for him. Nelson/Hill did a good job and Adel/SWP linked up well. However we really need a striker. For me the only downside was Park who is a shadow of the Utd days. Derry although got stuck in gave the ball away too much for me. Mackie although he puts in a shift didnât really create much and when he defended gave away 2 free kicks? I donât expect those 3 to be playing next season if we stay up. Sorry but they wonât be in Arryâs plans. Mâbia?? I really donât know what to say? One minute he beats 3 players and makes runs the next he dives into the keeper? Talking of keepers I thought Ceaser had a good game. All in all they boys put in a good shift and won a deserved point. Now we need 2/3 quality players to really push on.
Who said that because the Park i was watching looked off the pace? He did pass the ball a bit but i expected so much more. I love sitting next to people who really watch different games.
Pretty much agree with all that, although I would describe Cesar's performance as better than "a good game". I thought he was sensational and I'm sure we would have lost had Green been in goal. Cesar and Fabio were equal MOTM for me.
Nice to have a game where both full backs come out with such credit, I can't begin to think of the mess we'd be in if Hughes was still in charge...
Overall, it's difficult to be unhappy with a clean sheet and a committed team performance. However I was left disappointed at how little ambition we had. Many of our remaining home games are against the bigger sides and going for draws in those games is not going to give us a realistic chance of survival. There seems to be an attitude that not losing is the priority against the big teams and that we are going to sacrifice having a go, even a disciplined one where a number of defenders and holding midfielders are tasked not to join in the attack but rather to deal with the breakdown and breakaway counter attacks. There is an alternative. Reading will be the more pleased tonight because they had a go and got their reward. We didn't and we got what we deserved. A hard fought point. is that really the height of our ambition at this time? In an attempt to pre-empt open warfare again in respect of Adel Taarabt, this was not one of his better performances. Again, one or two sublime passes but quite a few wrong decisions and very few corners and set pieces which managed to clear the first man 10-15 yards away.
I agree that we do need to go for more wins, as draws simply aren't enough. Also agree that Taarabt's dead ball deliveries are puzzlingly poor. However, I thought he was our only creative force yet again and he was criminally isolated for the entire game.
Sort of agree with that although draws against the top sides and win the relegation fodder and mid tables will keep us up. I think now we need to beat the relegation boys and pick up the odd good win (like City or Arse at home). Agree with all that we need a top scorer who will come in and deliver.
The problem as I see it is that we have not scrapped for our lives against the weaker sides in the 'dog eats dog' battles and we cannot guarantee that we wll get the wins against the likes of Villa, Southampton and Reading away. That's why I was frustrated this afternoon. To me it was an opportunity to go for two more points which was wasted.
Agree with that if Hughes was in charge but we now have Arry and we will win at Reading/saints and beat Villa. By then arry will have 3/4 new players in that will do the job.
[video=youtube;3KbvIcjHMA4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KbvIcjHMA4&feature=player_embedded[/video]
I can see your point of view Yorkshire, but Harry is using what he has at his disposal in the most effective way, the fact we used no subs shows the game-plan was spot on, and that was to avoid defeat in a match we were expected to lose. One point instead of none may just be the difference that keeps us up. I think Harry has had this perspective since the first half debacle against Liverpool. No doubt we will be more attack-minded when we have the players that can make the difference...
Some great points here. Firstly I agree exactly with the OP - exactly how I saw the game. Regarding tactics at home, I see the point that we should go for it a bit more, especially as we have a few big sides at home still to come - but I think at the moment Harry is doing the best he can before he has had a chance to get a few other players in. Perhaps our system may change slightly once new faces arrive. But I certainly cant complain that we kept Spurs to scoring a massive NIL when they have scored in EVERY other away game this season.
Like a few others, I was disappointed we didn't bring on DJ and Cisse for the last 20 minutes and go for the win. Why didn't Harry use his subs? Certainly he would have looked foolish if he went for the win and we lost it at the death, not losing was clearly important to him personally. Maybe there were other considerations, though. 0-0 is respectful if you're planning to do business with the opposition - maybe Livermore isn't the end of our deals with Tottenham this transfer window?
I think the lack of subs was just us being cautious as they still had the likes of bale who would rip us to shreds on the counter attack if we committed to many forwards. i was saying around 70mins i wouldnt like to be HR having to make the decision whether to stick or twist. either way i guess he could have come in for criticism if we had gone for it and lost.
I think he went for the draw and we got it. I wasn't surprised by that but was encouraged by the performance. There was some heroic defending there today.
Last on it from me is that we have played Chelsea and Spurs and got 4 points, non of the other relegation teams have done that or will. Happy how things are now shaping up. Agree would have been nice to have been 2nd from bottom tonight but in a few weeks i am sure our position will look a lot better. Really not worried about other teams just yet as still many twists and turns.
I wonder how much his mothers illness affected Nedums form. To be honest he has played a lot better since her sad death. I know when I've been in that situation it is always on your mind whatever you are doing and no doubt it would be the same for him.
