What a drab and uninspiring performance yesterday. Taarabt is our X factor and we need him to reproduce last season's performances. Many had hoped that SWP would share the load but after a very promising start he has underwhelmed since. Taarabt is a confidence player and Warnock is playing a very dangerous game with him and is failing to get the best out of him so far this season.
Although he hasnt been brilliant this season and was pretty awful when he came on yesterday in my opinion he should play whatever. He can win us matches and will pull something out the hat at numerous this season. As much as I love Mackie we have to start Taarabt against Chelsea. He'll be pumped and wanting to prove himself against the best and is capable of beating players. Mackie can run it down the line but isnt going to get the better of Cole. Also is anyone clear on what the role of Barton is in our team?? Are we playing 4-3-3 with Derry sitting deeper than Ali and Barton with two wingers and a striker or just the standard 4-2-3-1 we played last year with Barton at CAM?
Agree 95% no Adel no magic He is on the up pay him now or he will spin his magic somewhere else We are a dull without him He is the key piece and the reason why NW is here in the premiership
Agree we really missed Adel's creativity yesterday. When he came on, he tried a few things though that didn't quite come off, and he tackled back and won ball a couple of times, which he is doing more and more this season. NW looked pleased with him at the end too. Commentators were saying both teams played 4-3-2-1 yesterday - we had Derry Ali and Barton in the 3, and Mackie and SWP widish in the 2, swopping sides quite effectively 1st half. Adel replaced Mackie wide in the 2 when he came on. I'd like to see us playing 4-2-3-1 again against Chelsea, leaving out Derry from the back 3 based on his performance yesterday, and bring Adel into the centre in the more forward 3. I'd like to see Mackie play again, his non-stop running and direct play could just give Chelsea's back 4 a hard time, and give us a chance or two. I hope Gabbidon is fit to come in for Onesize. Think Heidar should play up front again. Ali was great 1st half yesterday.
I really can't disagree with any of the above posts. The only thing I would like to add, is that were going to be on the back foot a lot next week. So we need to break quickly and decisively if were to get anything from the game. ( A-la Germany v England at the last World Cup. )
Yeh agree with that as well 999. That's another reason why we need Adel, a sharper SWP than he has been since his first game or two, and Mackie.
SWP, how wonderful would it be for him to put in a match winning performance against next weeks opponents?
Though I find it difficult to like him, Adel is our only player of potential genius, albeit a self centred child, and needs to play every week until it clicks. If he goes at Christmas we will have to buy wisely to replace the creativity, but it may work out alright if we can find someone a bit more consistent even if they are not as on paper talented. How I wish we had been able to get Charlie Adam, who is the ideal type.....
Even with him you lack a certain level of creativity and imagination. He ripped apart the Championship, but he is up against far better defenders at this level.
Unfortunately he is only up against our defenders in training, so probably not getting the practice he needs!
Adel is a confidence player and he didnt show a lot of it when he came on, we are going to need grafters in the next three games,we need to defend for our lives and does Adel give that defensive cover,we are going to see very little ball Saturday and when we get it we need to keep it,
Grafting and defending for our lives won't be enough imo. We'll never hold out fro 90mins against a top side. We need players who can do something special when we have the ball on those rare occasions that we get forward and that means we need Adel!!
