What do we think of the performances?

From now I think our central midfield trio should be Agustien (Gower as a replacement), Britton OR Allen, then an out and out creative player whoever that may be. Please just stop picking 3 deep lying central midfielders (Eg : Britton, Gower, Allen) because it doesn't work! Using that formation there's never anyone there in the opposition half to support Graham or the wingers so whenever we advance into the opposition half we lose possession immediately and the ball keeps coming back to us, repeat for 90 minutes. Using these negative midfield tactics we have one of the worst defensive records away in the Premier League so in this case I think being more attack minded would be the best form of defence, you can't just drop back and drop back for 90 minutes and expect to keep clean sheets or concede just 1, etc. No matter how heroically you defend you can't stop the unsaveable and unfortunate goals will go in against you at times (Like Van Der Vaart's opener yesterday)

It's frustrating on one hand watching us blow away one of Europe's best sides in Tottenham for large periods of the 90 minutes yet look utter crap at Everton and not much better at Newcastle. We had 1 shot on target in 180 minutes of football I think. It's all down to our approach & mindset so come on Brendan allow us to play with more attacking freedom away from home especially and pick a creative player at all times, our away record both this season in the PL and in 2011 was mediocre to say the least, if these tactics weren't good enough for Scunthorpe, Sheffield United & Preston they're not going to work in the Premier League!

 

Allen , Britton & Agustien for me . Until Buck gives the green light for attack , it doesn't matter whose out there ... he finally gave the ok against Tottenham & the team were eager to attack . I think Buck did a bit to much trying to fine tune the team & finally relented to a bit less conservatism toward defense & a lot more attack .... been a long time coming !!

 

Anyone else think that if we'd have played that team versus a long ball team we might not have got anything? Like I said, I'm not convinced we gain more than we lose by playing Dobbie but a player like him is clearly the answer in the AM slot.

 

Scott I think you may have got your answer...Sigurdsenn

 

Looks like it doesn't it! Couple of fans of other clubs I chat to have already said we've got a "goodun".