v Villa at the weekend

Thought we did ok at the weekend and if anyone was going to win it, I thought it was us!!

We dominated posession for long periods as they were obviously geared to hitting us on the break with Zog, Agbonlahor and Bender up front!!

One thing though - I was disgusted with the performance of Obertan. He was absolute dog-plop in my opinion. Anyone else think the same?
At one point, Simmo had to turn back and pass to Saylor before signalling to Obertan where he should be making his run!! Plop!!

Blackburn at home, I would love to see Marveaux/SammyAmmy coming in for him on the right - they just seem to have more purpose and go forward (if thats a word!)

 

Couldn't disagree more, Obertan had a good game in my opinion. Would still like to see Marvauex/Ben Arfa on the right in his place but he's been pretty decent so far.

 

Disagree regarding Obertan. He did some things very well, but needs to work on his final ball. He had an average performance yesterday, but wasn't as bad as you are making out.

 

He was a bit ****e like I must say. When you realise that his purpose is a winger, you find that he did very little of what he was actually supposed to do. Only rarely did he manage to find a way past with the ball down his side, and in the times he did it, he wasted the final product. I can only recall one ball actually being put into the box properly.

Marveaux simply seems like a much better and more productive player. It would be such a waste if he was kept out of the team due to Obertan.

 

Just seems sensible to me that Obertan should be tried off the striker with Marveaux on the wing, it doesn't have to be either/or and Obertan isn't an out and out winger.

If I was him I wouldn't listen to Simpson either mind, there's pub players with better positional sense.

 

Thats more like what I saw Chappaz.
A winger (in my book) should run at defenders - I can't remember him doing that once like Jonas did on the other flank

 

I disagree with the Marveaux part. I think Marveaux can do a job on the wing, but I would much prefer him to be played behind a striker. Obertan should be on the bench as an impact player though. With Marveaux, Jonas and HBA interchanging behind Best or Ba.

 

I don't think Obertan had a great game, but if you look at the stats, facts and figures, he beat his man more times than any other player on the pitch!

My issue with him is that he actually tried to beat him TOO much, refusing to whip in an early cross and instead, trying to get to the byline, stand up and run the ball into the box. I was screaming at the telly for him/anyone to just whip in a cross just as Tiote tee'd himself up!

 

I think you're right in that he didn't make the correct decisions. He did beat his man on a number of occasions, but in doing so, he put himself in a position where he could no longer put in a decent cross. By the time he managed to get past and compose himself he was either too close to the line or too close to the box.

 

Aye exactly!

 

Obertan was ok /not bad .. not as poor as some people are making out. He does seem to just lose concentration and drift out of games, and have a touch of the headless chicken about him at times, but hopefully match time/ confidence will address those.

Marv looks a very good player, fast, nippy, passing, vision, direct ..even though they have all been against a tried defence etc... Definatly looking forward to seeing a full 90 mins from him, but do not want to see him rushed back either. That all said, there does seem do be a little ..j'ne sai qoui about him.

One thing I noticed about Saturday, was how Krul was throwing the ball out a lot lot more, unlike the usual unguided hoof upfield, (he really needs to work on his distribution), and we were playing from the back. This allowed Jonas to get forward (instead of preparing to help Raylor out on the balls inevitable return), Best or Ba to drop a little deeper, and YC to get forward more. It also kept the ball on the deck (at least until YC could ping it all over the shop with some accuracy and vision) and overall kept us on the front foot a great deal more.

The last time I can remember Krul doing the same (Dodgy memeory here, never been one of those that can recall every detail of 3rd rnd league cup replay against Rochdale in 1978, so could very well be wrong about the game) was against Man U? towards the end of last season, where we absolutly stuffed them for the first 30 odd mins.

 

I don't think the key issue is that Obertan is really poor. It's just that Marveaux appears to be much better and more productive, so putting Obertan on before him is just wasting Marveaux's talent and ability.

If Marveaux wasn't there, I wouldn't be so bothered about starting Obertan, but as it stands, there's seemingly a much better option available.

 

I'm sensing double knee jerks here mind, firstly that Obertan is useless after what, 3 games? And secondly that Marveaux is amazing based on Scunthorpe and a sub appearance. Give it time!

 

Just remember that Marveaux didn't play much the whole of last season. We have to take it slowly with him. He did 120 minutes against Scunny! Give him a start against Forest and then take him off after 70 minutes if he is tired. If not then leave it till around the 80 minute mark. We don't have to rush him. Our start to the season allows us to bring him in slowly, so let's take advantage of it.

Also, Obertan wasn't great against Villa, but this is probably the first time in 2 years where he has had a good run in the first team. He had to make do with 10 minutes here and there and a carling cup match at Man U, so let's give him a bit more time.

 

Think that Obertan has progressed over the last 4 games but still has some way to go to become a decent winger. But anyway I'm patient with him cos we have to remember that this is his first back to back competitive games in nearly 2 seasons and to be fair he has shown some encouraging signs.

 

I was dissapointed with him on Saturday. There were numerous occasions when he simply stood still when he didn't have the ball rather than try and move into space to receive it.

When he did get it to feet and ran at the LB he did okay until his final ball. If he works on his movement and crossing he'll do okay. It's been said, but it is a confidence thing. He always looks better in a more central attacking position though.

 

Sums up the game for me. A point was fair enough but you feel we could have snuck it, particularly if the substitutions had been better (Shola should not have entered the fray) I thought Obertan did ok but he blatantly lacks confidence. He could do so much more. At times he does a Routledge, he gets stood up to his full back and you think "just push it past him and go" but he doesn't. He badly needs a goal to instill a bit of confidence in him. I'd persevere at present although I would be tempted to play Sammy and Marveaux as wingers against Forest. Away from home I'm keen to see Marveaux play off a single striker. But as part of that him, Jonas and Obertan would be given freedom to roam and switch roles.

 

Obertan was running at defenders, Jonas might aswell have played LB he was so deep he didn't take there full back on once just like Monday night he didn't, Obertan has performed alot better than Jonas.

 

In fairness Jonas has had to do that to cover our lack of a proper left back, and still manages to pop up on opposite wings, he must be knackered half the time. Once Santons in we'll see forward facing Jonas again and the whole teams shape will benefit. We're playing almost the exact opposite of last year where everything went down the left, can't wait til we've two wings firing.

 

Jonas has been much better than Obertan for me. I actually think Jonas has made a superb start to the season, brilliant team ethic. Sacrificed some of his attacking play to help out Raylor. Typical selfless stufff you get from him. Howeve rI do think Obertan just needs a shot of confidence - a goal would be good!