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For what it's worth!
I was abolutely gutted when i heard Remy was injured and like most thought to myself where are any goals going to come from...?! I saw someone mention 6 weeks... I bloody hoppe not!
Harry's done great at shoring up the back since he got here but we have gone backwards with regards to attacking. Yes we are picking up points along the way, but we need wins, and games like Norwich at home need to be ones we need to go for the throat and all out for a win, yet we were lacklustre.
Harry's team selection wrong in more than one area:
If he wants so badly to play 4231 fine, but you're 2 defensive midfielders need to have at least one ball player so the defence and keeper are comfortable giving them the ball and build from there.... Granero should've played as is perfect for this. He is good on the ball, a good passer and can also see a killer ball. He didn't play and as a result the defence and Cesar uncharacteristically kept hitting pointless long balls to our forward players who didnt even challenge for them. It was pathetic, and more concerningly, they kept doing it the entire first half..... blimey can they not see it's not working!!
Also in that formation your 1 up top needs to be either a lump who can win balls in the air, hold up play and link others ala Zamora / Bothroyd, or one that is playing on the shoulder, an intelligent runner and good finisher ala Remy.... Mackie is neither of these types. I'm not gonna slate the guy, people know my thoughts, but he is what he is... a grafter and bundle of energy, basically a runner, nothing more.... Harry should not have played him in this role.
AS a result of the wrong person up front, the attacking 3 had a problem. They all looked lively at spells but the movement up front was lacking for the likes of Townsend and SWP to open anything up even when they beat their fb's, and there was often nobody getting in the box.... ridiculous when at home against Norwich!
Taarabt was back to his Jekyll and Hyde again... showed some good footwork early on, and then thought it was all about him and barely passed the ball... infuriating. When you have a 4321 the 2 wide players need to support the lone striker running from deep for though balls bisecting the back four...this tactic was non existent yesterday becasue Taarabt wasn't releasing the ball. Another reason Granero should've played becasue he can see the runs and pick the passes from deeper, which Mbia and Derry wont.
Another example of Taarabt not releasing the ball was the first half when on the edge of the box, the brilliant Fabio ran about 50 yards to overlap was in the box with space just to Ade's right and just needed the ball slotted in front of him to get behind the back line and either shoot or square the ball across the 6 yard line possibly for a tap in for someone else.... did Adel pass.... of course not becasue he was in that greedy "all me" mode. He instead messed up and lost the ball, at which time Fabio's 60 yards out of position and has to bust a fut getting back while Adel lumbers back feeling sorry for himself.
Dead ball failings.... When we have next to no cutting edge in open play a team like us needs to maximise their dead ball efficiency, especially when you've just signed the most Hulk like CB in the league. As usual they were pathetic. Either hitting first man, or if they beat him, floated across with no pace, many straight to the keeper. You need a player to whip in FK's / corners with pace and accuracy into the danger zone... Adel has fluffed these all season so why is he still on them all!! Harry sort it out... i've said before, among these Pro players there must be one who can take better dead balls.... has Harry even tried in training, or is there some belief Adel is gonne get it right.... What's laughable is some fans moaned about Granero taking a kick the other day instead of Adel.... are you mental. He is much better and should if playing... dare i say another reason he should've played.... Or of the 11, i bet Fabio can take a good dead ball or even Traore... both are great crossers even from stationary ball so stands to reason.
Positives:
Another clean sheet and another point that could prove crucial
Even though had been off form, Norwich aren't that bad, so maybe the result isnt either. THey should've beaten Spurs this week, and have beaten Utd and Arsenal lets not forget.
Jenas looked composed and tidy when he came on, and if plays may take some kicks and can only iomprove them also. As for that FK near the end though... WTF was Mackie doing running across the path of the ball just as he struck it....!! It beat the wall and may have gone in, but Mackie blocked it... ridiculous.
Townsend - looks a great little player, hungry, lively and quality. Honest also, tries to stay on feet even when knocked, and a good shot on him.... i have high hopes.
Samba - Not match fit, but does what he does. Will only improve us.
The longer these players have training and playing together they will only improve as a unit so onwards and upwards.
It's not over yet, by a long way.
I was abolutely gutted when i heard Remy was injured and like most thought to myself where are any goals going to come from...?! I saw someone mention 6 weeks... I bloody hoppe not!
Harry's done great at shoring up the back since he got here but we have gone backwards with regards to attacking. Yes we are picking up points along the way, but we need wins, and games like Norwich at home need to be ones we need to go for the throat and all out for a win, yet we were lacklustre.
Harry's team selection wrong in more than one area:
If he wants so badly to play 4231 fine, but you're 2 defensive midfielders need to have at least one ball player so the defence and keeper are comfortable giving them the ball and build from there.... Granero should've played as is perfect for this. He is good on the ball, a good passer and can also see a killer ball. He didn't play and as a result the defence and Cesar uncharacteristically kept hitting pointless long balls to our forward players who didnt even challenge for them. It was pathetic, and more concerningly, they kept doing it the entire first half..... blimey can they not see it's not working!!
Also in that formation your 1 up top needs to be either a lump who can win balls in the air, hold up play and link others ala Zamora / Bothroyd, or one that is playing on the shoulder, an intelligent runner and good finisher ala Remy.... Mackie is neither of these types. I'm not gonna slate the guy, people know my thoughts, but he is what he is... a grafter and bundle of energy, basically a runner, nothing more.... Harry should not have played him in this role.
AS a result of the wrong person up front, the attacking 3 had a problem. They all looked lively at spells but the movement up front was lacking for the likes of Townsend and SWP to open anything up even when they beat their fb's, and there was often nobody getting in the box.... ridiculous when at home against Norwich!
Taarabt was back to his Jekyll and Hyde again... showed some good footwork early on, and then thought it was all about him and barely passed the ball... infuriating. When you have a 4321 the 2 wide players need to support the lone striker running from deep for though balls bisecting the back four...this tactic was non existent yesterday becasue Taarabt wasn't releasing the ball. Another reason Granero should've played becasue he can see the runs and pick the passes from deeper, which Mbia and Derry wont.
Another example of Taarabt not releasing the ball was the first half when on the edge of the box, the brilliant Fabio ran about 50 yards to overlap was in the box with space just to Ade's right and just needed the ball slotted in front of him to get behind the back line and either shoot or square the ball across the 6 yard line possibly for a tap in for someone else.... did Adel pass.... of course not becasue he was in that greedy "all me" mode. He instead messed up and lost the ball, at which time Fabio's 60 yards out of position and has to bust a fut getting back while Adel lumbers back feeling sorry for himself.
Dead ball failings.... When we have next to no cutting edge in open play a team like us needs to maximise their dead ball efficiency, especially when you've just signed the most Hulk like CB in the league. As usual they were pathetic. Either hitting first man, or if they beat him, floated across with no pace, many straight to the keeper. You need a player to whip in FK's / corners with pace and accuracy into the danger zone... Adel has fluffed these all season so why is he still on them all!! Harry sort it out... i've said before, among these Pro players there must be one who can take better dead balls.... has Harry even tried in training, or is there some belief Adel is gonne get it right.... What's laughable is some fans moaned about Granero taking a kick the other day instead of Adel.... are you mental. He is much better and should if playing... dare i say another reason he should've played.... Or of the 11, i bet Fabio can take a good dead ball or even Traore... both are great crossers even from stationary ball so stands to reason.
Positives:
Another clean sheet and another point that could prove crucial
Even though had been off form, Norwich aren't that bad, so maybe the result isnt either. THey should've beaten Spurs this week, and have beaten Utd and Arsenal lets not forget.
Jenas looked composed and tidy when he came on, and if plays may take some kicks and can only iomprove them also. As for that FK near the end though... WTF was Mackie doing running across the path of the ball just as he struck it....!! It beat the wall and may have gone in, but Mackie blocked it... ridiculous.
Townsend - looks a great little player, hungry, lively and quality. Honest also, tries to stay on feet even when knocked, and a good shot on him.... i have high hopes.
Samba - Not match fit, but does what he does. Will only improve us.
The longer these players have training and playing together they will only improve as a unit so onwards and upwards.
It's not over yet, by a long way.
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