Yes we lost again but I do not agree that all is doom and gloom. I thought that yesterday the team set up was reasonably adventurous with Vargas up front with two "theoretical fast wingers" in Hoillet and Phillips. We has a relatively good start, but we clearly lacked punch and lost the ball all the too easily in midfield. They scored two long range deflected shots which effectively sealed the game. I am just disappointed that after bringing on Zamora and Nico for the last 15 minutes, we actually looked quite lively and dangerous. It is a pity that did not play with such energy and high pressing from the start. As for our global position. It is much better than a month ago and we are only 3 points away form 14th place! I will assess after the Christmas period. If we win against WBA, then all this doom and gloom will return to euphoria in readiness for the next sinusoidal dip. Pre-season I went to print that it is very likely that we will lose at least half our matches (i.e. 19+) and the key will be to get 10+ victories in the other games (target 11-12). To date we have 4 wins and by mid-season (19 games) we could have 6 (if we beat WBA and Palace at home). In the second semester of the league, I think that it is possible to grab 3 home wins against the “top half” of the table and possibly 3 away wins against the “bottom half”. As said, I am waiting to see where we are at the 19 match mark and we have two key matches ahead of us. I am not hitting the panic button.
Everyone keeps banging on about how good our home form is, but we are still in the bottom 3. So home form NOT going to keep us up.
I wonder if Andros Townsend is happy siting on Spurs' bench? He would have made a difference in the first 30 mins when Everton was struggling.
Sorry to dig out another poster, and I think your spot on regarding Barton, but I can't really believe what game you were watching to give Mutch any credit. Simply woeful. Spoke to my friends after the game (who went, madness I know) who confirmed that him and Barton were the two worst players on the pitch. I'm hoping he's still unfit, will get better with every game and prove me wrong however.
He'd be a top signing. Far better than anything we currently have. Adebayor will be available too for a loan spell.
I'd love to see Kranky's passing ability feeding Townsend and another fast winger from the midfield/No.10 slot.
A key issue for us last night (and many of our other games - Leicester at home excluded!) was a seeming unwillingness to shoot and when we did either passing the ball to Howard or attempting to knock out an Everton fan in row Z We just don't seem to score 25 yard bangers - anyone know what proportion of our goals this season have been from outside the penalty box?
I don't know on shot from outside the box but we have quite a few own goals in our favour I remember hearing somewhere. (Lots of good approach play that has caused trouble for defenders)
I've learnt that it doesn't take much for people to turn on Rob Green. He has been brilliant of late and you want him dropped after a few dodgy kicks. Pathetic!
Spot on HE If Green hadn't made (for example) that finger tip save from Boyd's shot against Burnley it could've been a very different result
