Basically we did what we had to do & did it well, not excellent attacking football, but against that team, we really did not have too. Positives: Got the job done Thought Jones, Diao & Whitehead were very good The return of Higgy (some nice diagonals out of defence) Crouch's link up play The rain The fans Bold Formation Palacios getting game time Negatives: Shottons crossing TP's Hat ESPN Commentary (waddle was awful) Oh well nearly job done, now onto Sunday, please do not lose to those ****ers Any additions?
About right I think. I'm still going to harp on about the fact that I think we should play 3 x CB's and 2 x WB's to accommodate the players we have - just dont think TP would do it with Pen and Erthrington fit!
Smithers, when those 2 are fit we are only going to play 1 way, we still need the CM's to either have the vision to: a) pass to our own player b) Pass to the wingers c) see a FORWARD pass that our attackers can get onto I still think we have probably the worst CM pairing in the Prem (after 3 + years), no matter at the moment who is paired together. That is without doubt our achilees heel, if we (as the management keep saying) are going to evolve as a football club.
Mighty Huth Good points raised there and agree with all of those. I am with Smither's it was bold of T.P. to go with 3 C/Hs and if only our passing at times had been better we could have scored more. Shotton had a mare with his crosses or lack of but Whitehead was brilliant so was Diao and once he came off Palacios seemed to struggle.. all in all we did more than enough though. And yep, Waddle did my bloody head in too! I WISH T.P. would try three CHs v Bolton but it's obvious he will not. Delap will come back and if Whitehead is left out as he was v Newcaslte, T.P. needs his head read IMO. He ALWAYS gives it everything which isn't the case with Delap,Whelan etc.. why not try two wingers with Deano and Palacios IF Ethers and Pennant both start on Sunday. We really need to attack Bolton and anything less would be negative in my oppinion.