- May 26, 2004
- 4,768
- 2,099
Good Week
AVB
Two away games, two away wins, two times two goals. Win on sunday and we are level with Liverpool. Suddenly things are not looking so bad...
What is even better to see is that the team know looks like it is following a better plan. Maybe the players needed five months to understand Andre's instructions, maybe AVB needed that amount of time to work out his players and tweak his tactics. Regardless, there are encouraging signs that the team has turned a corner (of sorts).
The sight of four, five, even six men getting inside the opponents box is a sight for sore eyes. Paulinho was pushed upfield in the United game, and that notion seems to have spread. We had created plenty of chances previously this season, but 55% of our efforts were from outside the area. Now we are creating a lot of chances still but they are of a better quality of chance, keepers are being stretched, the woodwork is being rattled, and crosses are whizzing across the goal mouth.
The six points are a pretty big cherry on top of that performance cake and Andre can enjoy a week without the press calling for his head.
Aaron Lennon
Any coincidence we are looking sharper at the top end of the pitch now Azza is back?
If Townsend's direct running gets a team up the pitch, Lennon's takes you that final 10-15 yards. He was superb against Sunderland, and now our set pieces have moved from disastrous to quite good, we can start making use of the free kicks and corners he wins
Jermain Defoe
Two starts for JD, instinctive flicks that hit the posts, and a couple of missed chances that he must be disappointed with. However, with the team being better, Defoe will surely keep his place for the game against Liverpool.
With Soldado waiting on the bench, Defoe cannot afford to miss too many chances, and the Spaniard will be gutted he did not get the type of chances the Englishman did, but Defoe is currently the man in possession. He doesn't really want to go to Toronto, does he?
Etienne Capoue
Sometimes the best performances are the ones you don't notice. Capoue was drafted in at centre back on saturday evening after being hauled off at half time against Fulham. However he put in a polished performance against Sunderland's two strikers.
Lewis Holtby
A stunning winning goal in midweek, then a good performance on the weekend for our ever-happy German. He's positive when he's on the bench, when he comes on with ten seconds left to play, and I can't help wanting good things for Holtby.
Simon Dawkins
Really ripping it up at Derby. Another good performance, typified by his direct running. His final product is not quite up to the highest level but he is a very good championship player and should end up there once his loan deal ends.
Danny Rose
Back to fitness with a gaping hole waiting for him to feel.
Bad Week
Gylfi Sigurdsson
Lennon is back, Townsend is England's boy wonder (with Ross Barclay), Chadli has the manager's eye and Lamela is the record signing. With proper wingers now preferred in the team, where can Siggy get back in?
Younes Kaboul
Struggling again with injury. Will he ever be back to full fitness?
Gomes
Read a report that said we wanted our money back on Heurelho. If that is anywhere near true, that is truly amazing.
AVB
Two away games, two away wins, two times two goals. Win on sunday and we are level with Liverpool. Suddenly things are not looking so bad...
What is even better to see is that the team know looks like it is following a better plan. Maybe the players needed five months to understand Andre's instructions, maybe AVB needed that amount of time to work out his players and tweak his tactics. Regardless, there are encouraging signs that the team has turned a corner (of sorts).
The sight of four, five, even six men getting inside the opponents box is a sight for sore eyes. Paulinho was pushed upfield in the United game, and that notion seems to have spread. We had created plenty of chances previously this season, but 55% of our efforts were from outside the area. Now we are creating a lot of chances still but they are of a better quality of chance, keepers are being stretched, the woodwork is being rattled, and crosses are whizzing across the goal mouth.
The six points are a pretty big cherry on top of that performance cake and Andre can enjoy a week without the press calling for his head.
Aaron Lennon
Any coincidence we are looking sharper at the top end of the pitch now Azza is back?
If Townsend's direct running gets a team up the pitch, Lennon's takes you that final 10-15 yards. He was superb against Sunderland, and now our set pieces have moved from disastrous to quite good, we can start making use of the free kicks and corners he wins
Jermain Defoe
Two starts for JD, instinctive flicks that hit the posts, and a couple of missed chances that he must be disappointed with. However, with the team being better, Defoe will surely keep his place for the game against Liverpool.
With Soldado waiting on the bench, Defoe cannot afford to miss too many chances, and the Spaniard will be gutted he did not get the type of chances the Englishman did, but Defoe is currently the man in possession. He doesn't really want to go to Toronto, does he?
Etienne Capoue
Sometimes the best performances are the ones you don't notice. Capoue was drafted in at centre back on saturday evening after being hauled off at half time against Fulham. However he put in a polished performance against Sunderland's two strikers.
Lewis Holtby
A stunning winning goal in midweek, then a good performance on the weekend for our ever-happy German. He's positive when he's on the bench, when he comes on with ten seconds left to play, and I can't help wanting good things for Holtby.
Simon Dawkins
Really ripping it up at Derby. Another good performance, typified by his direct running. His final product is not quite up to the highest level but he is a very good championship player and should end up there once his loan deal ends.
Danny Rose
Back to fitness with a gaping hole waiting for him to feel.
Bad Week
Gylfi Sigurdsson
Lennon is back, Townsend is England's boy wonder (with Ross Barclay), Chadli has the manager's eye and Lamela is the record signing. With proper wingers now preferred in the team, where can Siggy get back in?
Younes Kaboul
Struggling again with injury. Will he ever be back to full fitness?
Gomes
Read a report that said we wanted our money back on Heurelho. If that is anywhere near true, that is truly amazing.