Back to the topic, pleased with the football yesterday, even if they decided to let us play, but the proof of the pudding will be that progress is being made when we do that against fellow mid-table sides. And let's hope he can beat one of the top six before the end of the season. We were unlucky against United, City and maybe Everton, but bad luck stories were the downfall of Kenny. And one last bang of the drum for Henderson over Shelvey, though I think both need time and frequent rests/rotation to get the best out of them. Been mentioned on this thread though, whilst I totally agree with Brendan's pass-and-move philosophy (no different than Kenny's though), we do need a plan 'b'. All great teams, including those from our own past, play good football but can adapt to the circumstances. the depressing thing about Stoke is that we seemed nonplussed at what to do about a team that presses and mixes it (utterly legitimate and not 'bully-boy' in my book at all). One thing is for sure, we'll come up against more Stokes than we will QPR's.
I looked at the games ahead at the beginning of December and said we should get a minimum of 12 points out of 18. This is what we did, so I'm just about satisfied, though with hindsight, we should have beaten Villa as well. I've no complaints about Stoke, they beat us fair and square imo. It's no secret how we're set up to play the game, so obviously the way to counter that is to press us high up the field, which is what they did, and force us into errors. However, that opens up the other end a bit, and we then need to play better balls out of defence to exploit the space. This is where we let ourselves down, I think. But, as we've said, we're a work in progress and we need to give it time. Now let's see who we bring in, and where we go from here.
Actually Donga, you make a perfectly valid point. Stoke might be physical but the two ways we've been easily beaten by teams are the same for the last 3 years. Those that sit in their own 18 yard box allowing us no space so we end up passing across their 18 yard line & those who press us high & fast all over the pitch forcing errors. As pointed out on match thread; those errors are being forced most in CM and back 4. Now (Lucas aside) is this because the players we have can't pass a ball fast & one touch? I mean Allen can, Johnson, Enrique, Agger. All comfortable on the ball...so it's not that. Our back 5 look on the verge of panic everytime someone runs at our box or humps a ball into it. Why? The system played may leave us open down the flanks at times but goals against us came more from that area LAST year. This year is more us flapping at the centre back & a midfield unwilling to track back. Is it this exposure that is causing Allen & back 2 to panic? If so, I don't understand the logic if intentional. With our Midfield maintaining such a high line along with the FB's we make it easy for the opposition to play pack & choke with counter attack football or pressure the origin of our ball out from keeper or DM. If an idiot like me can spot it then surely BR has too? So does it come back to a lack of quality over 90 minutes. Gerrard because of age & the others lack of experience/quality that leaves that gaping hole out wide behind our FB and centre behind our two AM's. With Gerrard set to decline more each year (especially if playing 90 every league game) Does anyone think we have that necessary 3rd midfielder that reads when to go and when to drop? Or do we need the wide forwards to be more fluid & intelligent and know when to drop on their side and inside to cover space left by FB's & AM's? It's why I personally was giving it this year because a lot of players were going to have to relearn how to think on the pitch. But after this year if we still have the same problems its got to start being the question of are the players ever going to be good enough for our chosen style which be it KD or BR was attacking passing football. A fluid style: our problem is our players aren't fluid: they're high line, static & predictable.
Tell me about it, they are camped on ours 24/7 so I've no idea how they can have time for you lot. At least you are their rivals, no idea what this obsession is with us tbh
why would we be obsessed with a small club that's won the lottery and got lucky in the champions league.
Your obsessed with all things Liverpool and Chelsea as are most Man U fans. Throw City in there as well. You know that no matter how much you win with the Sky money you'll always be that little bit inferior to Liverpool in every way, as for City and Chelsea they are the future and seeing them take all 3 of the most coveted trophies in football seems to have further fuelled the Man U bitterness.
no i'm not obsessed about liverpool or City district, your just a typical Chewsea fan, i'm sure you supported them once Roman Abrahimovich was your owner, your just a small club that's got lucky in the lottery.
