AVB's reaction...

[chris_theo]

From the official site;

Ben Watson’s goal in the 56th minute secured the points for the visitors.

As Andre explained, the lads simply couldn’t get going against a Wigan system that stopped us playing out from the back and then stifled any room once we got into the final third.

There were no shortage of efforts on goal - 13 in total - but few clear-cut chances. The closest we came was when Steven Caulker’s header was cleared off the line by James McCarthy in the second half.

Otherwise, it was shots from distance that didn’t overly trouble Ali Al Habsi in the Wigan goal, his best save to hold onto Jan Vertonghen’s spectacular volley in the first half.

“It was extremely disappointing for everybody,” conceded Andre. “We just weren’t ourselves.

“We couldn’t find our rhythm and couldn’t find our passing. We had a bad day at the office.

“It was difficult for us from the beginning to keep the ball, to make any kind of clear opportunity and we made mistakes. We have to improve for the next game.”

There was also praise for a Wigan side that forced a couple of fine saves from Brad Friedel in the first half.

“It’s a team that play in a system that’s different to most other teams,” he added. “We had difficulties setting up against them and putting them under pressure.

“In situations like this, you have to credit to your opponent.”


"We just weren't ourselves" Really? The problem is we were exactly 'ourselves' this has been coming for a good few weeks and every fan could see it bar AVB. I'm just wondering how long it will take some of you to realise that the longer this crap goes on the worse our club is going to get. Positivity? Only when there is something to look forward to.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Tactics AVB, tactics. Not tic-tacs.

You adjust them, and the team formation, to counter the way the opposition is playing.

Too simplistic perhaps?

 

[tototoner]

what did you expect him to say ?

 

[CosmicHotspur]

what did you expect him to say ?

Would it have been too honest for him to say we got it completely, utterly wrong?

 

[tototoner]

Would it have been too honest for him to say we got it completely, utterly wrong?

not in public, in private he should tear all the players a new one but never show weakness in public

 

[chris_theo]

not in public, in private he should tear all the players a new one but never show weakness in public

He should tear himself a new one while he's at it too. In private, I agree with but u just know that being the stubborn ass he comes across as, he will think we did ok yesterday and keep the same damn system as always.

 

[ethanedwards]

Tactics AVB, tactics. Not tic-tacs.

You adjust them, and the team formation, to counter the way the opposition is playing.

Too simplistic perhaps?

Agree.
He's coming across as somewhat inflexible in the way he sets the team up to play, injuries may hamper him to an extent, but I think it is more to do with ego.

 

[dagraham]

Tactics AVB, tactics. Not tic-tacs.

You adjust them, and the team formation, to counter the way the opposition is playing.

Too simplistic perhaps?

Spot on. It was clear to everybody that we needed to be more direct yesterday. You can't play out from the back if your midfielders keep running away from the man in possession ( yes, huddlestone, I'm talking about you).

It's ironic that Harry was critised for being too set in his ways regarding formations when AVB seems even more stubborn in his methods.

 

[TheGreenLily]

How refreshing to hear honest words from a manager.

He knows, he got some things wrong, but what can you do with a battered squad, one match fit striker, no DM's after 20 mins and completely inadequate replacements for VDV and Modric, combined with a total lack of intelligence consistently shown from players who have been at the club long before AVB arrived.

Nice one AVB, thank you for being honest, you got my support.

 

[TheGreenLily]

Tactics AVB, tactics. Not tic-tacs.

You adjust them, and the team formation, to counter the way the opposition is playing.

Too simplistic perhaps?

With what?

what would you have done and remember you have absolutely no DM in midfield of any kind.

 

[Nocando]

With what?

what would you have done and remember you have absolutely no DM in midfield of any kind.

lose a formation that requires two for a start.

 

[Dr Know]

I'm not going to comment on AVB yet, especially as we don't know if he was fully backed in the transfer window. Long before he came in we had the habit of waiting until the last minute to make an offer for a player.

We have players injured, so let's see when they come back and let's also see what happens in the Jan window. If AVB can keep us around the 4-6 sopt come Jan I'd be happy with that

 

[tototoner]

He should tear himself a new one while he's at it too. In private, I agree with but u just know that being the stubborn ass he comes across as, he will think we did ok yesterday and keep the same damn system as always.

I am sure Levy will have a word

 

[StartingPrice]

Would it have been too honest for him to say we got it completely, utterly wrong?

not in public, in private he should tear all the players a new one but never show weakness in public

TBH, Cos, this.
He may not have even torn them a new one in private, maybe he really did just feel that it was a bad day at the office.

He should tear himself a new one while he's at it too. In private, I agree with but u just know that being the stubborn ass he comes across as, he will think we did ok yesterday and keep the same damn system as always.

Are you saying that because it is true or because that is how you perceive everything he does as the media have consistently told everyone this...because the self-same media would be criticising him discarding the experienced players just like he did at Chelsea, if he had put Lloris into the 1st team immediately*, or for stubbornly playing players according to a system rather than on form, if he had dropped Defoe as soon as Adebayor was available. Let's not forget, he has already stated publicly that he isn't plaing his preferred 4-3-3 because he doesn't have the players for it.

*And let's not forget that the persistent whingeing about Lloris not playing began before he was even eligible to play. And let's not also forget that Beetroot Head put de Gea straight into United's goal and, surprise, surprise, a Continental goalkeeper struggling to cope with the adjustment to the different demands of the English/British game, particularly with crosses.

With what?

what would you have done and remember you have absolutely no DM in midfield of any kind.

And this.

 

[$hoguN]

Weren't ourselves? What exactly was out of the ordinary?

It was just another game where we had no out ball, no hold-up play, poor movement in the final third, no control from CM and a keeper completely unable to be pro-active to alleviate pressure.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

From the official site;

Ben Watson’s goal in the 56th minute secured the points for the visitors.

As Andre explained, the lads simply couldn’t get going against a Wigan system that stopped us playing out from the back and then stifled any room once we got into the final third.

There were no shortage of efforts on goal - 13 in total - but few clear-cut chances. The closest we came was when Steven Caulker’s header was cleared off the line by James McCarthy in the second half.

Otherwise, it was shots from distance that didn’t overly trouble Ali Al Habsi in the Wigan goal, his best save to hold onto Jan Vertonghen’s spectacular volley in the first half.

“It was extremely disappointing for everybody,” conceded Andre. “We just weren’t ourselves.

“We couldn’t find our rhythm and couldn’t find our passing. We had a bad day at the office.

“It was difficult for us from the beginning to keep the ball, to make any kind of clear opportunity and we made mistakes. We have to improve for the next game.”

There was also praise for a Wigan side that forced a couple of fine saves from Brad Friedel in the first half.

“It’s a team that play in a system that’s different to most other teams,” he added. “We had difficulties setting up against them and putting them under pressure.

“In situations like this, you have to credit to your opponent.”


"We just weren't ourselves" Really? The problem is we were exactly 'ourselves' this has been coming for a good few weeks and every fan could see it bar AVB. I'm just wondering how long it will take some of you to realise that the longer this crap goes on the worse our club is going to get. Positivity? Only when there is something to look forward to.

I'm not exonerating AVB from blame, he has made some poor choices this season and yesterday was no exception. But with the team we have right now many would struggle to get a scintillating performance. Redknapp struggled for the last third of the season and look at the squad he had at his disposal.

In the 9 games from Feb 26 to April 21 Redknapp averaged 0.55 points per game. In the final 13 games (boosted by three wins in the last 4) he averaged 1.15 points per game. AVB with a vastly inferior squad, in his first 10 games has averaged 1.7.

AVB has lost King, Kaboul, Ekotto, Parker, Modric, Kranjcar, VDV, Dembele recently and now Sandro and only had Adebayor properly available for half those games maybe.

He's made mistakes, but it puts the mistakes Redkapp made into perspective. How the fuck did we blow CL football with all those options still available and a ten point advantage. How the fuck did we achieve 0.55 points a game for a quarter of a season with those players available to choose from plus the rest of the squad.

 

[AllSeeingEye]

Eh?

 

[StockSpur]

Weren't ourselves? What exactly was out of the ordinary?

It was just another game where we had no out ball, no hold-up play, poor movement in the final third, no control from CM and a keeper completely unable to be pro-active to alleviate pressure.

The manager cant do anything about this, its on yhe players to earn yhe money they are priveledged to make.

 

[$hoguN]

The manager cant do anything about this, its on yhe players to earn yhe money they are priveledged to make.

He could pick different players

 

[StockSpur]

He could pick different players

who?, he cant run on the pitch and do the things you listed anyway, so i dont know why thats dumb, the things you mentioned are connected to playing the game, he does tactics..
unless you think a keepers lack of 'proactivity' isnt on the keeper.