Great result tonight but feel pretty deflated. Lucas injury looked bad; god knows, I hope it's not but the signs weren't good. It's a measure of how important to the team he is that I feel this way. Spearing was given an extension to his contract in the summer, Kenny obviously believes that he's good enough, looks like he's going to have his chance to prove it. Here's to a speedy recovery for Lucas and Spearing stepping in seamlessly in the meantime. Oh and special praise to Bellamy; pure class and needs to play more IMO YNWA
Well our next 6 games are against the 'lesser' teams, Lucas steps up most against the best teams. Maybe we could put Henderson in the middle and play without a DMF
I fear the same; that's not being negative towards the lad, it's just Lucas has become near world class in his role and that's hard to replace. I also recall that he took Jay a few games to find his rhythm last year. Anyways, fingers are crossed.
Deflated? I'm delighted. You don't beat Chelsea twice in ten days, both away. It's fantastic. We're playing well, working very hard and seemed to have developed a team rather than a group of players which we have had the last couple of seasons. Kenny and co are getting the players to enjoy it again. That Maxi has done it again too! Not bad for a freebie! It's crap that Lucas is injured, but as you hinted, I think Spearing can fill that role, and then there's Gerrard potentially too. Good stuff!
I'm delighted with our recent results. But I am weary of Fulham, they have had some poor results but they tend to do well against decent sides. They have already held City at home and Arsenal away.
Not many will agree but i actually think Carroll played decent. Ok it was a poor penalty, but apart from that he held the ball up and gave it to a red shirt loads of times. That relieves a lot of pressure and it's no coincidence that we've battled to good away wins at the Emirates, Goodison, The Hawthorns and for the 2nd time at Stamford Bridge. People have it in their heads he's a waste of money and spinning it that way, but these are the types of performances that get people jumping on the Zamora/Heskey for England bandwagons and they don't have half his talent.
His work rate was second to none tonight. Chased down every loose ball, every lost cause. He held the ball up well and bought the midfield in to play and really led the line well. Only thing missing tonight was a goal, but they'll come. All he can do for now is work hard and put 100% in each game. He'll come good, Just look at Lucas now
Exactly. Given how much he's slated for his fitness, he was chasing right til the end, even giving away that dodgy freekick! He now looks lean to me and to be honest if Alex hadn't hand-balled it he'd have had a free header which would have probably been better than a penalty given his goal drought! He should have had another pen from Luiz as well and if you compare him to Chelsea's forwards he held the ball up better than Lukaku and unsettled their defense more than Torres did, and did more running than the 2 put together, so it's no wonder we had that extra man to dominate the midfield.
I'm still surprised he took the penalty, I know we didn't have our first choice penalty takers but surely their were players better suited? Anyway, I think the main problem is he doesn't get enough support, We move the ball in to good areas and get a lot of balls in to the box, but it's only ever Carroll in there on his own being marked out by 2 defenders. People say he doesn't fit in to our tactics but I disagree, We need a spear head who can hold up the ball and bring others in to play and push the ball wide, It's actually something we've changed since the end of last season. Last season when we broke forward we pushed players up in to the box (The main thing we're missing in Meireles this season) but this season we seem to cut in with Henderson or Downing to cut back and play it to Enrique who plays it infield A LOT. But the more players like Adam and Downing grow in to the team, the more chances Carroll will get. We're still in a 'transition period' but I have faith these things will all come together
Carroll was not that bad tonight I thought and def held the ball up a lot better. On the PK, I knew when he took he was doing only 1 thing, smashing it, you could see it, he wanted to smash it and give a big **** you to all the haters ( I'll accept I am not his biggest fan). But you know what, I was impressed with how he basically said, give me the ball I am taking this. Gotta have balls to do that and that is a good sign that he wants to get on the scoresheet and his work rate was good tonight. People talk about his technique and while he still needs work on the close control, he can absolutely thrash a ball with that left foot!
i must admit i wasnt at all confident when caroll stepped up, but at least he had the balls to do so. I would like to see hendo in CM at least a couple times if lucas is out
I'm perfectly happy for Spearing to step into the breach. When asked to do the job last season, he grew into the role and put in some good performances. This season he's played really well for the ressies - he picked up a brace in the last game against Sunderland - and were it not for Lucas' outstanding form and fitness, he'd have surely deserved some game time for the first XI this season.
Such a pity for Lucas hopefully it was just a minor knock he is having a scan today so we should know more either this evening or tomorrow I hope he is back in the team sooner then later.Not saying that Spearing or Henderson can't play there,it's just that Lucas has made that position his own for a long time now I was made up to see Spearing get a start last night He is like a little terrier and has a decent shot on him as well and can feed clever balls through COME ON SPEARING YOUR TIME IS NOW
