Munky we are at cross purposes. I was replying to marknemo, who was complaining about a lack of movement (understandably since it turns out he has only seen the Spurs match so far this season). My reply was that, looking at the four games we've played so far this season, in the other three (apart from Spurs in other words) lack of movement has not actually been the main problem. The main problem has primarily been our passing. In the two games where we had both movement and decent passing when in possession, we have scored goals (3 in all), and gained points (4). Last season is another matter. All I would say about that is that's history. This is a new season; last's season's objective was achieved, and we've moved on, with an influx of new players and a generally stronger, even more competitive, league. And I certainly wasn't talking about entertainment, though there again, the two homes games have IMO been highly entertaining. The Hull game was hugely frustrating from our point of view, but I thought it was actually full of interest. Nobody could say the Spurs game was dull, and if Ruddy had cut out that cross, could have developed differently. Even then I found it quite gripping. If people go to these games demanding this and that rather than just giving whole hearted support, they will only make the task harder. We are in a scrap of 38 rounds, and it's going to be hard fought from start to finish.
What happened is a week ago some woman had a knock on her front door and two guys dressed as clowns offered to paint her window sills she was terrified so she called the police, a couple of days later the story ran in the local newspaper, a day or two passed then out the blue a couple of reported sightings of a clown being spotted in the Abington area of Northampton (where both me and Yellowlittle are from), the clown(s) have set up a facebook page saying they'll be in a certain area, so that becomes a hotbed of activity the clown will then appear somewhere totally different to the area, the other night for an example he said he'd be by Abington Park boating lake but instead he ended up having a photo being taken by a shoe statue outside the main shopping area in the town centre. I want to clear up a thing or two it's not some guy deliberately terrorising people it's being done as a laugh, I must admit some of photo's look a tad strange if I didn't know about the story and was walking back drunk from the pub I think I'd be a bit wigged out. It's caused a bit of a media frenzy. Here is the Facebook page. Most people like him and encourage this tomfoolery but there is the odd keyboard warrior acting tough threatening the clown or your typical local fascist moaning about people having fun. https://www.facebook.com/spotnorthamptonsclown
Oh, and the Hull game was one of the worst I have ever seen. I've heard of having your glass half full, but to say that game was "full of interest", and to say that the Everton and Soton games were "highly entertaining" - certainly compared to some of the genuinely entertaining match days in the past few seasons - is pushing it a bit if you ask me. Either that or you're just easily satisfied, which I guess isn't too bad a way to be I suppose
I don't disagree that Howson can do a job just behind the strikers and i'm sure he's great when he's on form like how he used to play for leeds in the championship.... But. I see Howson as a better player breaking from deep, running and driving the team forward and then getting into advanced positions... Both his goals last season came from starting deep and running forward. If he starts in a more advanced position he has too much time facing away from goal and not driving with the ball forward which is what I see as his best attribute. Although not as strong as johnson or tettey, I also think his work rate makes him a great player to have as one of the 2 central midfielders especially next to fer who is so mobile and competitive his defensive duties would be minimal and he can spend more time looking forward with freedom breaking from a midfield area rather than just off a striker/s. In my opinion the best players off a striker are the more skilful players who can turn a player, play a delicate ball in behind work both facing towards and away from the goal. Someone like silva/kagawa/eriksen/hoolahan where as Howsons drive can be more devastating when a centre back can't get tight to him and he can escape the midfield bringing the ball forward. Just my opinion would like to see him have more freedom from deeper a bit like under lambert with either fox or johnson staying deeper. This is also where i see the comparison with shelvey, his starting position on the pitch was alongside leon britton where he could steal the ball back play simple passes, but the freedom laudrup gave him also allowed him to burst into the box and support the forwards when necessary, but mainly bringing and distributing the ball forwards. This is what I want to see Howson do more for us.
To add what NorthamptonNCFC said, there has also been a couple of pictured dressed as Superman in the streets of Northampton, who have said they're going to take the clown down. You couldn't make it up. On Jonjo Shelvey, I agree he played well and showed great character to get over two costly mistakes. That sort of character is what is missing in the England team, just saying.
Just saw this on your board so apologies for being late contributing. What a weird performance by Shelvey - brilliant then awful then brilliant again. He'll never have another game like that in his career hopefully. Most of us Swans fans agree with the OP. We were rather sceptical at first when we signed him but he has the potential to be a huge player for us. Showed a lot of character to come back like that and kudos to Laudrup fro sticking with him when some would have brought him off. Good luck for the season.
