Trouble with modern day football supporters is they now expect instant success and not willing to give people a chance. I have no doubt in my mind RVW will come good, might not be this season but as he learns he will improve.
I think a time is coming for the wolf and hooper together. It's jus sorting out what we do behind them that's the problem.
I thought that RvW didn't look massively happy with his lot on Sunday and i can understand why as all his movement seemed to be ignored and as we insist on playing inverted wingers he is not seeing players taking the full-backs on and putting in crosses for him to attack. Generally i thought that the centre midfield worked well - Fer will be huge for us this season but I can see him being nabbed before too long if he keeps improving. We do have an issue that in all probability RvW would do better paired with Hooper but were we to bring Hooper in (and I reckon he deserves a shot) we could unbalance the midfield by losing Tetty as a holding midfielder. Slightly OT but I was very impressed with our CB's yesterday and I think that Olssen will keep his place if he continues in the same vein.
Sadly for Garrido, Olsson has got the LB position nailed on now. As for RvW, it will take him time. But a goalscorer only scores when given a chance. He has barely had a sniff but when he does it usually takes a worldy to deny him. Also getting fed up with the light weight opinions of him. James Nursey certainly likes to bang that drum time and time again. He is not the type of striker that you bang a long ball up for him to hold it up. Anyone who has seen him play will know that. It is disappointing that he isn't getting the service that a player of his quality deserves, but im sure over time it will come.
I've said many times already that the best way to feed RvW is cut backs from the by line as he is always making space for himself in the box. Hughton needs to tell all his wide men that it's ok to try and cross on your weaker foot. You don't always have to cut inside and wastfully loft the ball to the far post or the keeper's arms (I'm looking at you in particular, Snodgrass)! A low driven cross around the six yard box is the ideal ball to play. Not only does it give RvW the best chance to attack the ball it also makes it much harder for the defenders to clear.
Exactly, you have to put the work in to create the correct chance, not take the first and easier option.
I sit just behind the N&P goal and on at least 6 occasions in the 2nd half against Villa Snodgrass did exactly that.
We need to play through balls to RVW, this is where Fer and Howson come into the equation, out of our wingers Pilkington would be most likely to play in RVW, he had a wasteful shot yesterday but he seemed to at least acknowledge where RVW was and played him in, hopefully they'll get used to his runs and know where to find him.
I think we need to do both, I'm inclined work for the pull back option more though, its harder to develop but just creates easier chances for all.
We're gifted with a forward who will score goals if given both types of opportunities, we're not using what is at our disposal but I think it will soon change with training etc, I'd be interested to see what RVW can do against the likes of Terry and if Luiz is in one of those over confident moods then even better.
I don't know why, but I have a feeling it might all come right for RvW this weekend against Chelsea. Top players raise their game against better opposition, Pilks is back, and we may have sorted out our best midfield option.
I can't remember who it was who pointed it out, but it was a very good point. Bony 1 League goals Osvaldo 1 League goals RVW 1 League goals Cornelius 0 League goals Altidore 0 League goals All players who have signed to a similar team to us (league position wise), for a big amount of money. It takes strikers a while to get going coming from a new league.
exactly. most of the teams in the bottom half struggle to score goals, especially the front men. there has also been plenty of focus on us because we have brought in 3 new strikers after last seasons lack of goals, and they only have 1 goal between them in the league (bit harsh on hooper as he's played what 30 minutes)
I have heard that a few people thought RVW didnt have a good game on Sunday but I dont think people are taking into account who were playing. Defensively stoke had 2 big centre halfs to deal with RVW. Most of the balls up to RVW were above head height inviting the tall CBs to climb over the back of him and win headers. The odd time he did get the ball to his feet/chest the brutes just took him out. In terms of goalscoring/movement I agree also do not like the inverted wingers. I feel it really slows down our attacks and allows the opposition side to get set defensively. As mentioned by someone else cutting the ball back form the by-line creates clear chances and also increases the likelihood of defenders putting the ball out for corners or in their own net. I hope RVW continues making his good runs and we start to find him with the sort of well weighted and crafted passes that are needed to get the best out of him. I hope this happens sooner rather than later as my fear would be that he make stop making these runs if he never recieves the ball.
Yeah I made that point last week, you can add Dwight Gayle to that list and looking further up the table possibly even Kone, Soldado, Anichebe or Samuel Eto who have all struggled to make an impression so far. It's a long, long season as we all know, absolutely no need to panic whatsoever
Like you, Marknemo I do not like the inverted winger system. If they both had a reasonable wrong foot it may be workable, but Snoddy is so totally one footed defenders know what he is going to do. Plus he has no sort of speed. Another thing we never seem to do in games now is switch the wingers. This used to be a common feature of our play in years past but seems to have died out.
The only player I'd be comfortable having on either wing is Pilks as he is easily the best 2 footed player in our team. The weird thing with Snodgrass is, on last seasons showings, he is pretty useless on the left wing. I guess it's probably down to his lack of pace to reach the byline and put the cross in on his stronger foot. Playing on the right he can stand up the defender and cut back on to his favoured foot as opposed to having to try and do him with speed. And as we've all been saying, this is not giving RvW the chances he needs. If Redmond is fit next week I'd personally have him on the right and Pilks on the left, maybe that'd give Snoddy the kick up the bum he needs.
