I thought he was impressive in defence today, as I said in my post. This stats prove it too. Deserved MOTM reward.
I didn't realise how much I missed watching Sarr and Dennis play together. Even on the days when the end product doesn't happen, it is very entertaining watching their flicks and runs.
I agree with them on some points but they are collectively a broken record saying the same thing over and over again, it is very strange.
A great win and a hugely encouraging performance. kamara was fantastic and is my new favourite player. All is not lost
I enjoyed it. Food overpriced but otherwise very well done, and it's a long day if you take your time.
Quite seriously, it’s fantastic and I don’t particularly love the movies. The detail and experience is second to none. Take a Potter fanatic there and you’ll be there all day. Shop is laughably expensive though.
Today showed why I think we will stay up. We have a bloody good team. It frustrates the hell out of me, that so many fans just slate the side at every opportunity. What is clear to me, is that we've been poorly coached for a long, long time. When we get a good coach, who has a proven track record at actually being able to coach in the Premier League.......it makes a huge difference. We were the better side against Burnley, we were unlucky at West Ham, sure let's forget the Brighton one, but today was one of the best performances I can remember for a long time. So 3 out of the 4 games Hodgson has been in charge we've been at the races, competitive and have probably deserved more. However, I fear we may struggle at home. Roy is perfect for the away games, but I hope he can ensure we are forceful at home. I have faith that he can because if we are to stay up, winning the home games is key. I believe we can win EVERY home game potentially. If we win 5 of them, then that gives up 33 points. Throw in 2 or 3 draws then we're on 35/36 points (maybe more), which is the ball park I think we'll finish on. I've always thought Brentford will be dragged in, and that looks like happening. Everton have surprised me though. Another poor performance and defeat for them. Leeds are also in trouble. There are enough strugglers for us to be confident, as long as we close that gap ASAP. Beat Palace on Weds, then we're potentially just a point from safety. We'll have a game in hand on Brentford plus have to play them at home. I think we'll finish above them. We have a much better team than them and now, finally, we're being coached correctly.
The majority of those are not on this forum where we discuss the club and everything going within it on a 24/7 365 420 69 basis. We are a very small minority on this forum, most fans dont go into the fine details like we do. At least 95% of the people that regularly post on here do not need to be subjected to the, what seems to be, co-ordinated re-education program being played out.
Don't agree about us being mostly terrible. That description is more applicable to away performances like West Brom in the 2015/16 season, to a lesser extent Boro in 2016/17 and some of our away wins last season. And we had more than just two chances - the other Dennis one first half (the best bit of attacking play from us I've seen for weeks if not months), the Sissoko chance, and attempts by King and even the much maligned Cleverley (that's his third shot on target in as many away games) that drew good saves from the keeper. Villa's best chance was offside and while there were scary moments towards the end (but mainly because of the long period of injury time and our tendency in recent seasons to crap our pants in the dying stages of matches) almost all their shots were wayward and I don't recall them missing any sitters. I also don't agree about us being set up to defend for 90 minutes - for the first 15 or so minutes it looked like it was going to be that way, but we became quite positive at times as we grew in confidence and took the game to them. A win is maybe pushing it but it would've been hard on us if we'd lost, more than it was at West Ham. The other issue I had was you criticizing Dennis for his defending - as a striker that's not part of his role, so I was impressed how willing he was to share defensive responsibility, I certainly didn't get the impression he didn't enjoy it. Also it's churlish to have a go at him for his celebration - this team had only scored one goal in over ten hours of league football lest we forget, and he hasn't been an out-and-out striker up to now - scored one in five before joining us (even during the recent goal drought his goal to game ratio was much better this season) and he's still the right side of 25, has shown a lot of promise and has earned the right to celebrate (which again didn't strike me as at all OTT) however he wishes.
I applaud your view HB1 but it must be stressed - we have. not once, followed up a win this season with another win. If we have any chance of staying up, this has to change. It would be so Watford to play well today, then play in our shells against Palarse and undo all today's good work. However - I expect quite a good turn out for the Palace game - and I really hope the fans' can be the extra man. Roy has to install a winning mentality now - and fragile confidence will need to be worked on before that game.
I can't say we have a good team. We don't. We have a distinctly average team, or below average in some positions. We do however have Sarr and Dennis. And now a decent LB. Injuries to those players and we're sunk. As of today still an outside chance of staying up, but would be through organisation and application not talent if we do manage it. Roy will do it if anyone can.
Mathematically, obviously nothing will be decided for weeks/months. But I cannot bring myself to believe for even a moment that we might suddenly double our points ratio for the second half of the season.
It is very unlikely we are able to stay up from this position but one thing I have been focusing too much on is Newcastle being the team to overtake. IF, and it’s a big if, we beat Palace on Wednesday we’d be three points behind Brentford with 1 game in hand over them, and yet to play them at home. If Eriksen doesn’t get up to speed quick enough and Brentford continue to be in dire form for the remainder of the season, they could be the team to overtake. If Leeds lose to Utd tomorrow, and then to Liverpool in the week, we’d only be 2 points behind them IF we beat Palace, again with them to play at home. If we lose to Palace I’m going back to being a negative so and so, but there is still hope, even in my eyes.
I believe our season has now ignited. We could quite easily win back-to-back. So many parameters have changed recently, that what’s gone before is largely irrelevant. We’ve got a lot of good players. This team really excites me.
The negatives. Took ages to get out of Birmingham. Upper level has no alcohol and for a long time no food. It was blooming freezing. The first half or at least most of it. King was poor, Dennis was better but not great, not enough pressure on the ball and Mcginn. I can’t stand him The positives. The best bit of football from either team was our fast break away resulting in Dennis’s shot. The second half in general. We looked in control for most of the half and always looked dangerous coming forward. Sarr being back. An all round excellent half. Foster and the back four were excellent. Sissoko was back to playing how he was a couple of months back. Louza is the kind of player we’ve needed for a few years. Clevs was very decent second half. We simply must build on this and beat Palace on Wednesday. Do that and we’re back in the mix.
As the self-elected spokesman, and the only important forum member, who has remained positive at all times, I feel vindicated. This victory was for me. Without my force of mind and the positivity of my posts, there is no way the team would have won today. Against all odds, with the entire forum trying to cut me down with their negativity, I persevered and proved that with 3 points today, we are staying up. Do I take joy in being the sole beacon of light, like a lighthouse guiding troubled, panicked ships to shore in stormy weather? It’s hard to say. But I am clear that I was right and every single one of you was wrong, and that gives my life meaning.
