I read somewhere that Walker made 98 passes against Norwich. That's crazy for a right-back. Might be trying to do a little too much at the moment, though.
Probably because of last season. Andros definitely looked as though he was trying too hard on Saturday, it actually got frustrating in the end as he wasted far too shots. I appreciate he's got it tough what with Lamela joining and Lennon (presumably) soon to return but I don't think he done himself too many favours on Saturday.
No need for us to get stroppy with each other. I rate Dawson higher than you do and you rate Vertongehn higher than I do. .
Will be good to see how Lennon links with CE and Bobby, though Walker and Lennon are rubbish - especially compared to Lennon and Corluka. I actually think part of Walkers' improvement so far is because he and Andros link up "better". I would say "well", but too many of Andros' passes are going astray atm.
Fair comment, but we also have the EL, where both can play regularly. Both could start for example on Thursday and I hope they do.
That's if Lennon does indeed get back in the team SG. He picked up an injury at the worst possible time, Townsend has come in and although he wasn't great against Norwich, has looked very good since deputising and with Lamela coming in, Lennon's got a massive battle to get back into the team. Lovely headache for AVB that's for sure! Couldn't agree more about the link ups though. Lennon and Corluka worked great, mainly due to each knowing their position well. Walker was out of position so many times last season that Lennon was having to play as a fullback and winger at times.
He wasn't appalling v Arsenal. We conceded one there, when was the last time we kept a clean sheet at Arsenal? Thirty years ago? I honestly can't remember but it was a long, long time ago I'm sure and a very rare occurrence. We conceded 5 there last season and the season before that, now that's appalling. Daws is our captain and rightfully is in our 'first XI' despite all the nonsense talked all summer long by so many Spurs fans about him, basically writing our captain off. Ludicrous. Ever since Daws has returned to the side we have have had CL form, Remember last season against Norwich without Daws at home how weak we looked at the back, did we win, no we didn't, did we keep a clean sheet, no we didn't. We lost the CL in those stupid opening games of the season. 2 points from 9, Arsenal took 9 from the same fixtures, a gulf that proved unbridgeable in the end. I think Kab is a top class player, and rate him really highly, but no way should we drop our captain for him. Drop Walker, drop Jan if you want, don't drop the captain
It's not hoofball at its worst at all, it's trying to make a long range pass, very disappointed at you SD in that description. Maybe Daws shouldn't do it so often, but no way is it hoofball. If you want to see hoofball, watch West Ham, Winston Reid time and again, for example, does actually hoof the ball up the field, mind you given his options I don't blame him
Dawson often is forced to make those cross-field punts, because the opposition know he is not a ball player. Often you see them sit back and track outlet players in order to force the punts (correspondingly team mates need to recognise this and open themselves for an easier outlet pass) .
I was at the Swansea game and first half their link up play was atrocious. I'm talking worse than you would expect at a 5 aside down the leisure centre. Walker seemed to be making a point out of passing to where he thought townsend should be, rather than where he knew he was.
He was appalling JPG. Not only was he at fault for the goal alongside Rose but his passing was woeful. The previous record of goals conceded means nothing, had the defensive lapse not have happened we wouldn't have conceded that game. Daws' return did help - something I wanted done at the time - and our form improved from the opening matches of last season but it still doesn't change the fact that most on here would agree that Kaboul is the better player. I love Daws, as a player and a pro but I put my sentiments aside and realise that Kaboul has more to his game. And as for looking at the possibility of dropping Jan so Daws stays in the team... I just don't know what to say to that. Jan got in the PFA team of the year last season for a reason. Dropping Walker I can understand but dropping Jan, now that's ludicrous.
I'm always in the "never change a winning game" school. Problems crop up, things go wrong, injuries happen. All sorts of things knock teams off their games. But don't create them out of thin air by introducing change to a situation when you want more of the same. Let it run until it proves insufficient. Then make changes. The team we started against Norwich played very well and deserves another start, with the probable exception of Townsend, who both didn't play as well as Lamela, and through no fault of his own almost has to make way for a record signing. In the long run Kaboul at right back is tempting, but I'm getting to like Walker more, as I may have mentioned. He and Rose have both played important parts the first few games, even if Rose has played better.
