I thought the second half performance was much better than the first and I agree that on the whole it was the best performance we have produced in a long time. However, I, like others, cannot see where the next goal is going to come from and can see no point in playing the same tactics week in week out and substituting like for like when things aren't working. To say Valencia were not much better than us is just not true. Their passing, movement and close control were excellent - they ran circles around us at times and we just couldn't cope with it. What I didn't like, and was what I expected of them, was the diving and cheating, especially in the second half. There were a few tasty challenges that went unpunished too - one studs up challenge in particular on Whitehead that should have received at least a yellow if not a red. I'm not complaining about the result, I think they deserved it, and 1 - 0 was about right. I just hope that the effort that was put in in the second half is maintained in our next few games when we are going to need it if we are to get anything other than another defeat. I'm also hoping that TP realises, like the rest of us, that long balls and throw ins are not the best way of scoring goals and winning games, but like the rest of us, I can't see that happening, unfortunately.
Sorry guys but... I agree with Migthy Huth when he said.. Huth was awful IMO he was feckin useless last night.. every time the ball went over his head Ryan or Wilko had to cover for him? As for Ether's... WTF is wrong with that guy.. the last time he did OK was v Spurs i.e. scored a decent goal too. I would have also brought both Jerome in fact I would have started him and Fuller for the 2nd half.. Walters is totally knackered although, he did chase a lost cause which Crouch did not. Tenter or Cris.. I think your'e views on the game we're very similar to how I saw it.. brilliant summary.
Thanks Potts, I see my typos though! All organised for Wednesday now. Meeting Tony Tams and 5 others at Gatwick on Wednesday evening to fly out. Told temp is 17c during the day. Here's hoping for an enjoyable 3 days.. Cheers
