Well it worked. They played (or tried to) through the middle of the field and we played over the top to Big Ken. We get the vital goal and dropped back so deep second half, it looked like half the team were behind Marshall. It won the game and we needed to - that's all that mattered yesterday.
28% possession says it all. I agree that winning the game is all that matters but only in my view when we play away. At home I would like to see something entertaining. I don't drive all that way to be served up a load of dross. The other thing is that playing the long ball will only work when Kenwynne is fit so I'm not so sure whether Route 1 is the answer. Neither is standing off the opposition. It worked yesterday but historically when we stand off we concede. The tactics for the Rotherham game will be interesting. A great win though and we are now in sight of those at the top.
Route one was the answer yesterday - I didn't mean it was a universal panacea for all our ills. Watford are a good side and they again proved that. It's all about knowing your enemy and acting accordingly. Slade got it right yesterday even playing a sort of 4-4-2, the difference was he played the right sort of 4-4-2 for the side we were facing. A good target man and an energetic partner buzzing around him. Pilks was also a constant thorn in their side both defensively and going forward, I think that getting him could be the buy of the season. We are better at keeping the ball on the floor than most of the teams in this division, but to try that yesterday would have been a mistake. Without an out up front for our keeper/defence/midfield (yes, lumping it!), they could have passed it around us. Defensively we were more than up to the task even if it wasn't pretty although without Marshie we could have lost it - some super saves yet again after his mistake in the Reading game.
Ben Turner is also a class act at this level. A no nonsense hard defender. I really think we should look at Manga playing in front of the back 4. Kenwynne has to keep his place. We simply cant keep hold of the ball well enough so maybe route 1 is the way to go. Hit it to Kenwynne and play from there. If Macheda is in the side the ball will just come back. I think its a case of being in touch of the promotion places in January and getting rid of not wanted players and bringing in players who will improve what is a starting 11 not good enough.
Good point about Manga Hilts. His defensive attributes are obvious, he is a good ball winner and is comfortable on the ball to hold it and play out passes to more creative players. Rotherham are more of a route 1 side so Slade's tactics against them will be interesting. However, for the next away game at Bournemouth if we allow them as much possession they will slaughter us. I wish we had the players and energy levels to be more of a pressing side, playing higher up the park and constricting opponent's ability to attack us.
