Don't disagree with that ( apart from the comment about inevitability but am assuming that is tongue in cheek because we have seen out numerous zero goal conceded wins this season) , but the fact is in most games with a reasonably competent referee that is a win. Unfortunately and increasingly so, games are being decided by cheating, otherwise known as being clever or gamesmanship. FIFA is supposed to be the guardian of the game and the custodian of the rules but they are doing virtually nothing to eradicate cheating and timewasting which are seriously impinging on fans enjoyment of the game.
Strange things happened at Aberdeen with Pollock having a goal disallowed in their 3-1 win and threatening at other times lets hope they are equally delighted as we are in Porteous and they decide to keep him!
Just back from Reading and it’s interesting to read people saying it might not have been a penalty. Shame if true because that was the point the game changed - Reading looked anything but capable of pulling back two goals before that. Astonishing that we used seven forwards across the whole game, but it seemed obvious that an extra midfielder should have been put on instead of Martins when it went to 2-1. Martins had a yellow card and was very selfish (although enthusiastic) throughout, constantly trying to score himself and holding onto the ball too long as a result. An extra man in midfield would have slowed Reading’s comeback which was encouraged by the penalty.
Think today was on the players and to a lesser extent the referee rather than Bilic. To all those decrying him, what midfield exactly is he supposed to have put out today and the previous few weeks? To my eye, there is no combination of any of the options that is actually a functioning midfield for a team chasing promotion: a) there is no central midfielder on our books capable of bursting into the box and scoring a goal b) none of them other than Louza can actually receive the ball on the half turn, and then play the ball forward along the floor c) none of them can beat a man and drive the team forward. Choudhury did try once today, which was looking pretty good until he tried to kick it with his right, nudged it with his left and fell over Add to that you have a choice at left back of the hare brained Kamara who simply can't hold his position or "dragging a fridge behind him" Morris. Gaspar is the only fit right back now and he seems to spend most of his time fly hacking balls away to no-one (good pass for the first goal though). I just don't think Bilic is the problem, it's the players available to him that just aren't good enough. We need to stay as close to the play offs as possible until Pedro is fully fit and Louza is back then hope we can keep everyone fit and have a barnstorming run to the end of the season.
A 3 man midfield is a must next game with Pedro playing as a false 9, choudhury protecting the back line and Kone/Asprilla linking the play. Our best possible lineup with the available players IMO is in a 4141 formation: Bachmann Gaspar Porteous Cathcart Kamara Choudhury Kone/Asprilla (Doesn’t matter which) Pedro Sarr Martins Araujo
This is spot on. I am an unapologetic superfan of Sarr but the fact he is one of our main 'leaders' is the issue. We are missing a Eustace or a Deeney character.
Yep, which led to a big bust up between Choudhury and Bachmann in the first half. Which went on for a good few minutes with repeated raised arms and shouting at each other. Our ‘captain’ Cathcart just looked on and made no attempt to interject. I think that once again, the players are in business for themselves and Bilic has little to no control over the dressing room.
Team selections been poor and Bilic is overcomplicating things far too much. Just play a normal formation.. He starts Davis every single game despite contributing next to nothing and has 0 work rate and plays a midfield two of Bacuna and Choudhury who will make a progressive pass once in a blue moon. Midfielders who can't make forward passes and a non-scoring striker. Just keep it simple instead of messing around with 424 formations or whatever we played today. 4-4-2, 4-3-3, whatever, we have the players to do it and don't need to play weird formations like this to shoehorn crap players into the lineup.
That's Cathcart's problem though. He's not a leader, not in the sense we need him to be. A decent player at this level and a loyal servant yes, but he is not the player to raise a voice in the dressing room. Say what you will about Deeney in his decline, but he was still a voice, and ones most players respected. Had we kept hold of Will Hughes, I am certain he would of been a great captain right now. But Cathcart aside, who else is there? WTE has gone and Bachmann is not ready for it. Kabasele being captain would mean he gets game time. Cleverley is an option but he's past it and not the player he once was. It's a big problem and one we have had since Deeney left. Who get's the players into a huddle and galvenizes them at the moment?
No need to worry folks. The piddly league has served up Blackburn at home for the greatest squad in championship history (+6) so we'll win every game from here on in.
Yup noticed that and then Pedro also had a barney with him when DB kicked it pointlessly long when a relatively straight forward pass into Joao was on. Squad severely lacks leadership, Choudhury looks like he’s trying to assume that role but other than that, doesn’t look like the happiest or most united camp.
Asprilla was weirdly left completely out the squad today so I’d be surprised to see him go straight into an attacking role. Choudhury was desperately looking for someone to give the ball to though and Bacuna just didn’t want it.
That would be a shame as like him for what he gives considering the lad is so young . And he will be one here next season ..hopefully.
I’m moaning in drips and drabs today but also, the Adeyemo story was cute, we’ll always have Blackpool. But Bilic needs to stop with that if he wants promotion, the boy tries really hard but he has had little to no impact in his last few cameos.
We certainly lack leadership but why would anyone interject there? HC was giving DB both barrels and rightly so, nothing needing adding by anyone else.
Yup. I don’t know what that “Deeney injury” momentum swinging moment could be either this year? Xisco had it, Slav had it with (I think) a 5-0 away at Fulham, we could’ve put 4/5 past these today too have THAT moment and yet we’ve fumbled it.
Just on the penalty, it was engineered by a wily old pro. Vardy, Zaha and Kane have made a career of drawing this type of penalty. Running into the opponent. A pro can spot it, supporters can spot it, officials cannot, unless it’s Sarr of course, then it’s never given. We’re getting a lot of poor decisions now. It’s happening most weeks. I know we have big issues as a side, but this type of officiating is harming us. But overall, we need to be better and should have the ability to overcome the most biased/bent/poor refereeing decisions. Gino has left us without a midfield for virtually the entire season. Not sure what his game is. He always creates a nearly side. Always gives us 2/3’s of what we need, but wants us to suffer for our results. It clear as day, we just needed a competent midfielder, and the team would be complete, but that’s far too easy. We need to live through the pain it seems. I know we all suffer if Gino suffers, but there’s a part of me that would be quite happy if us not going up hurts him in the pocket. It’s the only way it resonates with him, but it does make me feel bad for thinking that. I want to love my club and appreciate the owner, but I also want to punch him on the nose and boo the players at the same time.
