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« on: March 22, 2014, 05:20:53 PM »
1) Set-pieces
Since Clarke was sacked we have lost the ability to defend free-kicks and corners. Every time the ball now comes into our box it is more luck than judgement that it is cleared. This is despite the personnel not changing. For example and off the top of my head, away at Palace Billy Jones gifts them a two goal lead with a free header from a corner. Home to Chelsea; first half injury time and Chris Brunt is too busy shouting at the ref to help his team mates out; Eto flicks the ball on and it's a goal. Away at Hull today, second ball comes in and all the back four are switched off and the wrong side, Long turns it home.
2) Being too nice
Take today away at Hull. First half a Hull player is down injured (not a head injury) and we have the ball in midfield. We elect to stop and kick it out of play. I then notice Mulumbu on two occasions shaking the oppositions hand and picking them up. We have to be more ruthless, to play with more intensity and play to the whistle. The players also need to engage their brains. Last week against Utd at 0-1 we had ten men with Brunt injured. Rather than put the ball out to allow our sub on we play on with ten and concede again - that was possibly the stupidest thing I've seen the team do this season (which is some effort).
3) Too naive / refereeing decisions
We are also far too naive. Yes the Ref and a cheating Shane Long screwed us over today but we know he's a diver so why did Dawson get so tight on the edge of the box? Ditto for Reid on Ramires - do not give the referee an option to hurt you.
4) Slow and ponderous
We spend a lot of time trying to dominate teams in the centre of the pitch with slow and ponderous play between our back four and midfield but it;s all irrelevant. We need to get in behind teams, get men in support of Anichebe and crucially get men in the box.
5) Crosses
We need to work harder to stop the ball coming into our box and we need to work the opposition goal keeper more. Common sense.
6) Work rate and desire
Today at Hull we lacked the desire to give it everything, which isn't good enough. I'm singling out Morrison in particular who is happy to coast through games and refuses to get stuck in.
7) Current form and issues with players:
Foster: Long time since he has kept a clean sheet but seems ok enough without being brilliant. Needs to watch his kicking and stop trying to punch the ball and learn to catch it more.
Ridgewell: Not exactly a fan favourite but not the worst defensively. Struggles to get forward and is very average but has experience and is our only viable option at left-back (indictment of the board).
Olsson / McCauley / Dawson: I lump these together. I have no real issues with any of them save that they need to improve their contribution at set-pieces when defending and attacking. They also need to keep a high line, press the team up the pitch and try to move the ball a bit quicker.
Reid / Jones: One is slow and old; the other is quick but dumb. One is strong and good in the air but susceptible to pace on the ground; the other runs around like a headless chicken and losses concentration but can bomb forward more. Horses for courses; they are both limited in different ways. Depends who plays in front of them really.
Mulumbu: What has happened to this guy. Still an important player but nowhere near his old self. Disturbing how his first movement is always backwards and how quickly he gets rid of the ball even when he is in space. Needs to be more positive with the ball. Still great defenisively but seems to not be up to speed and prepared for the pace of the game and his passing and movement is not up to scratch. Needs a rocket up his backside.
Yacob: Please come back from injury, we miss you.
Morrison: Runs around like a fairy in midfield, losses out on numerous 50/50 challenges. Shooting from distance is abysmal, the ball is closer to going out for a throw in than testing the opposition GK. Occasionally plays well with some intelligence and drive but only for 20 minutes of the 90 - doesn't seem to want it badly enough.
Thievy: Decent, good left foot. Seems to be confused to be playing with a bunch of players who do not want to attack or score goals. A bit raw.
Dorrans: Steady, just back in the fold; not sure what his mentality is. Similar to a few of our other midfielders.
Morgan: Half-decent but lacks pace, gives the team some width but usually lacks support. In and out of the team, no consistency; difficult for him and he probably has one eye on France and pre-season.
Brunt: Good at leaving the left wing to stand in the centre circle. Excellent at screaming at the ref. Great at hitting the corner flag from free-kicks. Will score one great goal a season. Slow. His teammates seem to love him and insist on passing him the ball at every opportunity.
Gera: Age is setting in. Sometimes great, sometimes terrible. Only seems to provide the odd cameo performance.
Sinclair: No comment as he never plays. Used to be a great player two seasons ago, we spend a long time chasing him in the summer - shame we didn't tell his agent he'd only get 10 minutes on the pitch per month.
Sess: Good quality but erratic to say the least. At least he worries the opposition occasionally. Work rate questionable at times but needs to start against Cardiff.
Aniechbe: Now he's starting every week his performance levels and work rate are starting to dip. That said the service is terrible; we need to get the ball into his feet in the box as much as possible.
Berahino & Vydra: They have the ability to score, we just don't see a great deal of either. Would do better in a better team. Vydra probably offers more at the moment but at least Berahino isn't afraid to shoot.
Rant over!
Finally the good news:
Fulham, Sunderland and Cardiff all lost today; if we can beat Cardiff next week then we have a great chance of staying up. Cardiff have been leaking goals like a sieve, we need to pick as many quick and attacking players as possible and hit them with everything we have, it's not like we can defend anyway. My team (subject to injuries obviously):
Foster
Jones; McCauley, Dawson, Ridgwell
Sinclair, Yacob, Mulumbu, Berahino
Sess, Anichebe
A starting combination of Sinclair, Berahino, See and Anichebe would at least give us some pace and power. If Yacob is fit then him and Mulmumbu have the legs and discipline to win the percentages in midfield.
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