Both of them were obviously told to not to push forward today - did anyone else at the game notice? The last home game Traore and Taarabt had some great interchanges on the left hand side, didn't happen once today. On several occasions when we were attacking today, Diakite was on the bloody half way line. I could understand this at 0-0 but they were still doing it after Reading scored.
i did notice Adel frantically trying to get Traore to come forward and support hima few times but I thought it was Traore's injury hampering him rather than anything tactical, I could be wrong though.
Traore was injured and so couldnt continue the overlaps he'd been making first half. Personally have no qualms with Diakites performance. Thought he was outstanding! He and Granero probably have an arrangement that one goes and one stays so when Granero went forward Diakite sat back and vice versa.
I have to say that IMO Traore in general has been one of the few players this year that has earned his money. His actual defending has improved immensely and he had run the byline quite a bit. Developing into a pretty decent player IMO
I saw Adel trying to get Traore to give him support going forward and thought the same as you that Traore was troubled with his injury. He certainly overlapped more in the first half and was substituted in the second, again suggesting he was suffering with his injury.
Thought Granero and Diakite played really well today as individuals, just not sure that helps the whole attacking aspect of the team.
They both got forward quite a lot I thought. Traore more so in the second half and Diakite more so in the first.
We need to widen the debate. Traore was fine - but is clearly carrying a knock. However we did not get anywhere near the ball on Reading set pieces and slo mo showed that our defenders did not jump at all to compete. The worst example being Ferdinand simply backing into Morrison on one occasion because he could not even be arsed to challenge him for the ball at a set piece. The trouble Mr Hughes is that every manager in the PL can see that and knows how to score against us. But what precisely is the point of Bosingwa going forward if he is not prepared to take the man on or put a cross in? How many times did we lose the intiative because he stalled while he played chess with the Reading defender facing him? The player who should be in that position is Hoilett. He is a winger after all. He has the ability to go past the defender down to the bye line and put a telling ball in. However he spends all his time drifting in field and taking 3 touches too many when one will do. Granero, Diakite and Taarabt all did their bit but we lack a cutting edge precisely because we do not have any real presence in the box. Cisse has scored at last and took his goal very well. However he does need support up there against the bigger defenders. It just did n't happen for Jamie Mackie today. If we are going to play with a lone striker, the midfielders have to be prepared to run into spaces inside the box and that simply is not happening enough. At the moment you get the impression that everyone has been told that there is a line that they can run up to but go no further in case the ball is lost and they have to repel a counter-attack. Perhaps that's just my impression but that explains to me why we lack any penetration. That may be lack of confidence. I suspect however that it is more a case of tactical straighjacket stifling any individuality. The problem with that Mr Hughes is that every other manager in the PL can see that and knows what to do to stop us creating good chances. Now Mr Hughes show us what you have learned from today.
He won't have learned anything mate, as he thinks he knows it all. Far too negative and safety first imo.
Anybody notice how a half decent CB can inspire a team. Thought Morrison was excellent today. A real leader.
boswinga had a shocker today. had a great chance to put his foot through the ball and make their keeper work second half and he just stalled and lost it. couldn't get a cross in, gave the ball away and wouldn't take anyone on down the wing. looked like a lack of confidence as much as anything. hoilett was frustrating - touches of class followed by long periods of inactivity and no sense of urgency. and stop drifting in to the centre of the park when its already packed with 50 other people. thought our movement today was poor for big periods of the game - very static. tarbs, diakite, granero all quality - but we're just not good enough over all.
I still don't understand why Faurlin is still on the bench, him sitting in front of the back four with Diakite and Granero pushing forward would be perfect.
I realise I'm swimming against the tide here, but, apart from his superb free kick in the first half, I thought granero was very average.
Have to agree with you. Adel's been consistently superior in recent games. Real and Mourinho may be fascist bastards but they aren't stupid, he's with us for a reason.
Maybe for his standards but had Derry played like that we would be serenading him through the night. Granero is the least of our worries at the moment and has been consistently one of our best players this season. Today, albeit not at his best, he was still comfortably the best technical player on the pitch.
Wasn't going to post today, but have to agree this was Granero's worst performance by far. However he is class and will return stronger. Not helped by the totally confused tactics, which looked like a rigid 4-3-3 with both Mackie and Hoillet starting on the right, and all play compressed there for the first 20 minutes. Despite this never enough players in the opposition box, reduced to Adel's long shots and it wasn't his day. Marginal improvement second half, but still nothing coherent. Only Diakite comes out with any real credit. Worst performance I have seen from us this season, including Swansea where at least we flattered to deceive in the first half. I will have to ponder......
Quick...get it on your calendar.....I agree with you. Although I think it was more 4-4-2 for most of the game.
On the granero thing, after the game I thought he'd been a bit innocuous and I agree tarbs and samba were the stand outs today but I then thought he still hasnt really put a foot wrong. Barely a misplaced pass all game. I think he should be doing more but he today I thought he was efficient rather than eye catching. I want him to be more creative but I'm not sure he's that kind of player.
