Bus-Conductor
SC Supporter
- Oct 19, 2004
- 39,837
- 50,713
Ahhhh those European nights at WHL. All white kit, the welsh wing wonder, flimsy opposition that melts under the superior strength English floodlights, jumpers for goalp..........
Not quite a classic. First 30 minutes were good. Given oodles of time and space Carroll and Hudd pinged it about a bit, got wingers (especially Bale) into good positions, wasted most of them with poor delivery, but created one cracking chance deftly finished by Defoe.
Then Maribor decided to take part for ten minutes, Naughton reminded us of the pitfalls of playing RB's at LB and by the miracle of football we found ourselves level.
Bale was his lively best tonight, still wasted too much, but constantly tested and tormented their RB, and created two goals with very good balls in.
Carroll was excellent for the most part, constantly keeps moving and continually showing for the ball, gets all over the pitch and tonight even got a foot in a couple of times. Played it short but plays with his head up and also can open up and spray it diagonally occasionally too. Played a sweet little ball in for Defoe for the second goal. Well played kid.
Huddlestone played well for the first 30 minutes, then took a 50 minute breather, started doing his typical second half shenanigans. Perfect example of which was the 67 min when defender has the ball and he literally places an opponent between himself and the defender and points. I watched him a lot this game and second half he was really blowing hard, constantly actively avoiding the ball and doing a lot of pointing. He did play a good first time bal for Bale to run onto to set up Defoe for the third but it was his first tangible contribution of the second half.
Massive difference tonight was also Adebayor. It's so noticeable having a fulcrum, someone who drops and works the channels, bringing others all around him into the game. It meant we retained possession so much more, probably 20 times more than when Defoe is up top, thats 20 more moves that can develop into something more than a wasted ball forward.
That said Defoe scored three sweet goals tonight. Almost enough to make you forget the plethora of great chances Defoe's wasted in recent games whilst touching the ball about 5 times. But not quite.
It's the hat rick boy that needs dropping for the next couple of games. Hope AVB has the cahooners.
Ratings:
Lloris 5 - fuck all to do, sold short by Naughton for the goal but could have done better. Gets out quick.
walker 6.5 - Didn't really contribute much going forward. Even on a piss easy night defensively still had a couple of wobbly moments. I really think we should stick Naughton over their for a couple of games and see how he goes.
Dawson 7.5 - Good game.
Vertonghen 7 - Decent game.
Naughton 6 - Just looks like a RB playing LB. was Ok apart from his back pass blunder, but no more and wasn't really tested.
Lennon 6.5 - He's clean through, he has three choices, shoot, roll it easily right to the unmarked Dempsey or try the impossible pass through two defenders to Adebayor. Guess what he does. Really didn't produce much of quality tonight.
Carroll 8 - Constantly moving, saw lots of ball, passed short, long and incisive. Even got his foot in a few times. has looked a bit lightweight on previous occasions but was MOTM for me tonight. Not every game will be this easy for him.
Hudderlstone 7 - He's caught the Poyet virus from Robbie Keane. Otherwise known as hide from the ball and point vigorously. 35th minute Hudd was on the ball with Defoe and bale steaming for through balls. Hudd dwelt, didn't see either. If he could make that ball you might forgive the fact that he disappears for long stretches and plays with his legs filled with cement. He was OK tonight for the first 30 and last 10. In between was lots of hidey pointy and blowing hard, in a very easy game.
Bale 7.5 - Very lively, two great balls for goals and one brilliant chip for Adebayor. Did waste several very good positions as well.
Adebayor 7.5 - Movement, hold up. It was movement and hold up that began the third goal. Good game, deserved a goal.
Defoe 7.5 - Decent game. Took all three goals very well.
Not quite a classic. First 30 minutes were good. Given oodles of time and space Carroll and Hudd pinged it about a bit, got wingers (especially Bale) into good positions, wasted most of them with poor delivery, but created one cracking chance deftly finished by Defoe.
Then Maribor decided to take part for ten minutes, Naughton reminded us of the pitfalls of playing RB's at LB and by the miracle of football we found ourselves level.
Bale was his lively best tonight, still wasted too much, but constantly tested and tormented their RB, and created two goals with very good balls in.
Carroll was excellent for the most part, constantly keeps moving and continually showing for the ball, gets all over the pitch and tonight even got a foot in a couple of times. Played it short but plays with his head up and also can open up and spray it diagonally occasionally too. Played a sweet little ball in for Defoe for the second goal. Well played kid.
Huddlestone played well for the first 30 minutes, then took a 50 minute breather, started doing his typical second half shenanigans. Perfect example of which was the 67 min when defender has the ball and he literally places an opponent between himself and the defender and points. I watched him a lot this game and second half he was really blowing hard, constantly actively avoiding the ball and doing a lot of pointing. He did play a good first time bal for Bale to run onto to set up Defoe for the third but it was his first tangible contribution of the second half.
Massive difference tonight was also Adebayor. It's so noticeable having a fulcrum, someone who drops and works the channels, bringing others all around him into the game. It meant we retained possession so much more, probably 20 times more than when Defoe is up top, thats 20 more moves that can develop into something more than a wasted ball forward.
That said Defoe scored three sweet goals tonight. Almost enough to make you forget the plethora of great chances Defoe's wasted in recent games whilst touching the ball about 5 times. But not quite.
It's the hat rick boy that needs dropping for the next couple of games. Hope AVB has the cahooners.
Ratings:
Lloris 5 - fuck all to do, sold short by Naughton for the goal but could have done better. Gets out quick.
walker 6.5 - Didn't really contribute much going forward. Even on a piss easy night defensively still had a couple of wobbly moments. I really think we should stick Naughton over their for a couple of games and see how he goes.
Dawson 7.5 - Good game.
Vertonghen 7 - Decent game.
Naughton 6 - Just looks like a RB playing LB. was Ok apart from his back pass blunder, but no more and wasn't really tested.
Lennon 6.5 - He's clean through, he has three choices, shoot, roll it easily right to the unmarked Dempsey or try the impossible pass through two defenders to Adebayor. Guess what he does. Really didn't produce much of quality tonight.
Carroll 8 - Constantly moving, saw lots of ball, passed short, long and incisive. Even got his foot in a few times. has looked a bit lightweight on previous occasions but was MOTM for me tonight. Not every game will be this easy for him.
Hudderlstone 7 - He's caught the Poyet virus from Robbie Keane. Otherwise known as hide from the ball and point vigorously. 35th minute Hudd was on the ball with Defoe and bale steaming for through balls. Hudd dwelt, didn't see either. If he could make that ball you might forgive the fact that he disappears for long stretches and plays with his legs filled with cement. He was OK tonight for the first 30 and last 10. In between was lots of hidey pointy and blowing hard, in a very easy game.
Bale 7.5 - Very lively, two great balls for goals and one brilliant chip for Adebayor. Did waste several very good positions as well.
Adebayor 7.5 - Movement, hold up. It was movement and hold up that began the third goal. Good game, deserved a goal.
Defoe 7.5 - Decent game. Took all three goals very well.
