18 Dec 2014 17:22:47
It has been bugging me since the horror show on Tuesday against Sheffield Utd as to why we are just not performing. Having watched Liverpool last night and watched them keep hold of the ball especially in the first half just like we were doing in the first part of the season you could see the difference in class. We on the other hand in the last few games can't keep the ball and when we do have it we invariably give it away too easily. So I have one of my famous theories as to why, if you pick the ball up in midfield you look to get the ball passed forward. We don't seem to have any old fashioned style inside forwards to interchange with so the move breaks down and we have been restricted to hit and hope just recently especially on Tuesday as any overlap by the full backs was pointless as there wasn't any height in the middle for crosses, however as usual we couldn't get the ball more than a foot in the air anyway. Our dead ball threat has been virtually zero all season. Going back to the shambles of Tuesday I think Roko picked the wrong team, Morgan and Wanyama were on the yellow card knife edge so did not commit themselves in the tackle to win the ball as they normally would which is their usual way of playing. Ironically they both got booked anyway so the effect was double whammy, I think we would have been better off playing Toby and maybe one of the U21's in their positions and also have given Omar Rowe a run out as well. We are now seriously compromised for Saturday and can only hope for a miracle turn around in fortunes, it might happen and let's remember it is that time of the year and just hope this time it is Everton handing out the presents and not us for a change.
18 Dec 2014 18:11:10
RoKo put out the strongest team he could on Tuesday. If he had not done so, and we had still lost, you would be criticising him for that and stating how this was the way to get European football!!!
The players were shocking. Simple.
18 Dec 2014 21:35:11
Saint Martin I don't know how but you seem to know how I think. I disagree that he put his strongest side out on Tuesday, as I have quoted to play a side with no target man up front is debatably short sighted, if you haven't got one you pass the ball out from the back, did we do that against 3rd tier opposition, No we just hoofed it more or less anywhere. It is also apparent without Pelle we have no replacement in the centre forward position which is just plain crazy. I reckon (even if they are not top standard ) most teams in the football leagues 4 divisions have an alternative. Got a feeling with everything during the early part of the season
going so well until the injuries and suspensions that an element of complacency had crept in and when reality kicked in the squad got nervy and disillusioned including the manager. I think we are in for a very difficult ride over the rest of the season, it is pretty obvious when you look at recent performances and playing a patched up team from a thin squad that our chances of anything but finishing around mid table at best is all we can hope for. Koeman said in his press conference that Tadic is weary from playing too many games and he lost a bit of his spark ! I think he lost that several matches ago and has found out that the EPL is a much tougher league than he can handle.
I don't think the BPL is too tough for Tadić, his obstacles have become one of fatigue and the other a mental exercise in physicality. I think a good player to compare him to right now is Phillippe Coutinho, who has also recently struggled to be the creative engine for Liverpool. But like Tadić, he has shown true ingenuity and toughness when in better form. The key with these types of attacking players is keeping them consistent, such as Oscar and Hazard have been for Chelsea. Tadić comes across as a real professional who loves the game and wants to improve in all aspects, so it'd be wrong to write him off so early on.
19 Dec 2014 10:48:08
I agree Saints Fan 29 but when you have a manager making excuses for his players it doesn't send the right message. I would rather Koeman said he understands how the players are feeling jaded but remind them of their qualities and kick them up the arse and get them to earn the massive amounts of money they are being paid. We don't want to fund them for sitting on the bench feeling a bit sorry for themselves because everything is not going their way, it smacks of a little bit of prima donna attitude to me. I agree with your point about Coutinho, he is a top player and seems to have lost his way in a similar fashion. I wasn't his greatest fan but could you imagine the likes of Brian Clough molly coddling his players, I don't think so, I believe he would just say " Get out there young man, earn your money and show the footballing world how good you really are "
19 Dec 2014 16:33:38
I have never seen so much speculation put forward as fact!
Tadic has had a groin problem for some time, and has been playing with it. You try playing in the EPL with a groin problem and you will show a little fatigue as well, and even look a little jaded!
"A tougher league than he can handle"??
I know football is likely to bring out mixed opinions but I find it very strange when supporters feel free to criticise injured players. Next it will be to Jay Rod " Get out there young man, earn your money and show the footballing world how good you really are.".
StMartin - I like your posts and replies, especially as they make sense with an element of humour. However I find it hard with agreeing to your statement re fact / speculation when as Chris has pointed out you spoke to how he would react as fact. That aside, totally agree re Tadic. he has been playing through the pain barrier and the thanks he gets?