I think a fit Wanyama would have made a huge difference to yesterday's result. I think we are playing differently this season to last. The pressing is still there but once we have possession there are more long balls early in attacking moves, together with shots at greater than 6ft from the goal-line and once we have Wanyama back I think we will deal better with sides like Sunderland. 9th would be quite an acceptable result this season; it's difficult to know what to be happy with next season though.
Really? I thought he was a forlorn figure for most the game. When it was hoofed up to him, he won a lot of knock-ons, but that was about it. I can't recall him creating anything?
It wasn't the second half that concerned me. I can accept a side at home, needing points, launching a comeback. After all, they already had a goal to cling onto, and no doubt Poyet would have put a rocket up them at HT. It was the first half that frustrated me. A Chelsea or a City would have been 3-0 or 4-0 up at HT. They game would have been over. But we almost bought into Sunderland's complete ineptness, and took the game down to a training level. Jay and Rickie had a great chance each in that first half to smash the ball home. Thankfully though, it doesn't matter too much. We could in theory never move from 9th place for the rest of this season (which makes it good that we have seemingly committed to the FA Cup this season). I didn't cry at us losing to Villa, and I didn't cry at us throwing away a 2-0 lead against Sunderland. Yes we cannot afford those sorts of results if we're going to continue our progress, but in the here and now it doesn't make a massive deal of difference. We're not going to qualify for the CL, and we're not going to get embroiled in the relegation battle. Great to see Cork, yet again, playing well. Away from home, I think I'd be quite tempted to play him, Morgan and Wanyama together quite often. It would also free Morgan up more to get involved slightly higher up the pitch, when we attack. And when we're at home, I don't think it should any more be Wanyama as standard. Against the better sides, he starts every time. But against the smaller sides, at home, I would generally go Cork over Wanyama. The Hull home game was an example where, in all honestly, we didn't need him. I also don't think we missed him against WBA.
Why aren't we scoring more goals? One reason I think is that, Lallana apart, none of our midfielders get ahead of the front two. As such, we are a bit too predictable and easier to mark.
Which is one reason I'd like to see Morgan play ahead of Cork and big Vic. That is hard on Steven Davis as he has been excellent, but I think Morgan might get among the goals.
But I didn't think they went anywhere, he just flicked on and our second CB knocked it back to Boruc.
Give us Suarez and we'll score enough to get top 6! Give Osvaldo a run of games and drop Lambert and play Ramirez when he's back (assuming he plays like he did against Sunderland) and we'll score plenty. Wanyma being back to face Arsenal should give us some defensive cover to compensate for Ramirez' lack of defending and tracking back.
You know, with Gaston out and Vic back, that midfield trio could get a chance. Don't know if it would work, but it would be fun, and make me happy to find a way to not drop Corky. Alternatively we could play with 12.
That's our style...if Mauricio told the players to sit back and defend, they would think he had gone mad.
If the bookies were always right there would be no need to play any games. Rickie is not himself, but he still starts most games for us. He could go to WHU as Carroll hits form (stop laughing at the back, stay with me) and be no better off than he is here. And he could end up in the Championship next season. Or stay here on a cosy contract and not have to uproot his family. Unless he wants/needs a last big payday.....
