The quicker the better.....

[Maske2g]

Kaboul in for Gallas
Parker in for Sandro
Benny back (Vertongen did great though...)
Adebayor for Defoe
Dempsey centrally for Sigurdsson....

The quicker these players are playing the better. We are badly missing Adebayor and Parker particularly, and it was proven again first half today. Only a decent tactical decision at half time from AVB got us out of trouble.

There are two fundamental reasons we are looking so poor at home against very weak teams.

Firstly, As long as Defoe is up top alone, we are not going to go long, so teams know they can press right up high against us at home, and they are doing so with good effect.

As soon as Dempsey pretty much went up top, we pumped a few balls longer, he caused problems in the air, and we managed to get up the pitch into threatening areas. If teams are short at the back and we can get good possession from a long ball, it's good for us.

Secondly, not only could we not go long in the first half, but Sandro and Sigurdsson have no idea how to either get on the ball, or move the opposition around to create space for others. It's a fundemental problem for a team who are trying to play out from the back. They allow themselves to be marked. And their movements into space are at a snails pace. So we end up going backwards and then giving it back to them from the keeper, and the crowd gets restless.

Gallas, Sandro, Defoe, Sigurdsson will all be value to our squad this season, but all of them in the same team, as opposed to the above players that we are missing, it's a big problem for us.

I think everyone would have expected 10+ points from our starting fixtures, but 8 isn't bad considering the performances. I don't think we'll be quite so fortunate against Man Utd and Chelsea.

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

I'd like to see how Sig and Dempsey play with Ade before doing anything more drastic.

Think people forget how poor Parker looked in the second half of last season before his injury. He needs to show he's back to first half of the season form to have any chance of challenging Sandro.

 

[tototoner]

I cannot see Villas-Boas replacing Defoe with Adebayor that quickly, I think he sees it same as the Lloris / Friedel situation

 

[Maske2g]

I'd like to see how Sig and Dempsey play with Ade before doing anything more drastic.

Think people forget how poor Parker looked in the second half of last season before his injury. He needs to show he's back to first half of the season form to have any chance of challenging Sandro.

I agree about Parker's poor 2nd half, but it's just his know how in comparison. Sandro has had a dire start to the season in my opinion. Careless in possession beyond belief. I'd like to know how many times he has given the ball away with an errant pass compared to his peers. And a real lack of attempt to get the ball off the back to help bring others into the game.

 

[yido_number1]

Parkers distribution is poor... Gallas I agree... Defoe has scored some very important goals I agree Ade is better but show the guy some loyalty...

 

[Maske2g]

I cannot see Villas-Boas replacing Defoe with Adebayor that quickly, I think he sees it same as the Lloris / Friedel situation

He's been a non entity in the last 4 days, today especially really hindering the teams performance first half, but he has saved himself again with a crucial goal.

 

[StartingPrice]

Sandro wasn't awful today...there were far worse culprits.

 

[Mr Pink]

I want Adebayor back in the side, as he enhances the overall effectiveness of the side big time. We'll be better, simple as.

But to be fair to Dizzle, 5 games and four goals is nice reading - but its not just about that obviously.

 

[Maske2g]

Parkers distribution is poor... Gallas I agree... Defoe has scored some very important goals I agree Ade is better but show the guy some loyalty...

We know he will score goals, but the team is poorer for having him in it, unless we go 4-4-2. (which we won't obviously)

There are a number of reasons he has always been 2nd, 3rd, even 4th choice when Bent was here, and it's because his game is a hindrance to general play.

Couldn't help thinking as Faulin cutely poked that ball through, "Why does Defoe never attempt to do that?"

 

[tototoner]

He's been a non entity in the last 4 days, today especially really hindering the teams performance first half, but he has saved himself again with a crucial goal.

it is not me that needs convincing

 

[Maske2g]

Sandro wasn't awful today...there were far worse culprits.

Positives, he won a LOT of ball today.

Negatives. 2 unbelievably wayward passes that setup attacks. Gave a rash foul away in their corner despite a chorus of "don't foul him" from the crowd. Had to go back a lot due to dawdling/ getting the ball under pressure where he didn't give himself enough time.

I don't want a player that can win 20 tackles in a game, I want a player that can help us dictate the game at home so that we don't hav eto rely on lots of great last ditch tackles.

 

[TheGreenLily]

Kaboul in for Gallas
Parker in for Sandro
Benny back (Vertongen did great though...)
Adebayor for Defoe
Dempsey centrally for Sigurdsson....

Sorry, but no, but yes, but no... Well in a rotation for a rest, then yes. But if we play against bigger clubs away from home, then I would like to see both Parker and Sandro playing as I personally think we will need both of them to play against the likes of Manure, Man shitty, Chelsea and the likes away from home to help defend the centre backs.

 

[Spursbabe63]

Oh dear....wasn't Sandro a beast the other week? ..Now you want Parker in to pass.....sideways or backwards...or even running into dead ends?

 

[StartingPrice]

Positives, he won a LOT of ball today.

Negatives. 2 unbelievably wayward passes that setup attacks. Gave a rash foul away in their corner despite a chorus of "don't foul him" from the crowd. Had to go back a lot due to dawdling/ getting the ball under pressure where he didn't give himself enough time.

I don't want a player that can win 20 tackles in a game, I want a player that can help us dictate the game at home so that we don't hav eto rely on lots of great last ditch tackles.

I said he wasn't the worst culprit...I didn't say he had a perfect game (where such a thing even exists)

Parker, who I was one of the few SCers actually advocating the signing off and was superb in the first half of last season, can also be guilty of giving the ball away weakly, wayward passes, and reckless tackles in dangerous position where we can all see that he is going to foul, and needlessly, but he still does it.

As I said in the match thread, I think our whole seet-up today was based on an assumption that Rangers would sit back and try and hit us on the break (it's a common theme at the Lane with bottom half teams - and others). They had a lot of defensive injuries, however, compounded by Bosingwa going off within the first five minutes and, I suspect, decided that attack would be their best form of defence. This put us on the back foot, and it took us until well into the second half to recover - that might explain why he had to go back a lot due to dawdling/ getting the ball under pressure where he didn't give himself enough time.

Just think there is no need for knee-jerk reactions - as others have said, it was third game in a week, and there are still a lot of players still getting used to one another. And our system was turned againt us today by Rangers going on all-out offensive.

 

[Maske2g]

Oh dear....wasn't Sandro a beast the other week? ..Now you want Parker in to pass.....sideways or backwards...or even running into dead ends?

Never for me I'm afraid. Technically always been very suspect. I actually can't stand the immense worship given to players solely because they can put their foot in. have at least some ability as well.

 

[himel420]

parker is not best passer of the ball.........certainly sandro out, parker in does not the way we play

 

[Maske2g]

I said he wasn't the worst culprit...I didn't say he had a perfect game (where such a thing even exists)

Parker, who I was one of the few SCers actually advocating the signing off and was superb in the first half of last season, can also be guilty of giving the ball away weakly, wayward passes, and reckless tackles in dangerous position where we can all see that he is going to foul, and needlessly, but he still does it.

As I said in the match thread, I think our whole seet-up today was based on an assumption that Rangers would sit back and try and hit us on the break (it's a common theme at the Lane with bottom half teams - and others). They had a lot of defensive injuries, however, compounded by Bosingwa going off within the first five minutes and, I suspect, decided that attack would be their best form of defence. This put us on the back foot, and it took us until well into the second half to recover - that might explain why he had to go back a lot due to dawdling/ getting the ball under pressure where he didn't give himself enough time.

Just think there is no need for knee-jerk reactions - as others have said, it was third game in a week, and there are still a lot of players still getting used to one another. And our system was turned againt us today by Rangers going on all-out offensive.

It's been like this in all three games in fairness. They have all pushed up far higher than teams did in the last two seasons, when they parked their busses.

I'm also not a mad parker fan and agree with all your points, but we certainly look a bit more fluid.

The biggest culprit of our static midfield is Sigurdsson though. He shows on interest in making some room.

 

[bugsdad]

Wouldn't rush to bring back BAE. The combination of Vertonghan and Bale looked top class, and BAE had been playing poorly so far this season. As soon as Kaboul is back he would replace Gallas, but I would pair him up with Caulker and leave Vert at left back.

 

[TheGreenLily]

Positives, he won a LOT of ball today.

Negatives. 2 unbelievably wayward passes that setup attacks. Gave a rash foul away in their corner despite a chorus of "don't foul him" from the crowd. Had to go back a lot due to dawdling/ getting the ball under pressure where he didn't give himself enough time.

I don't want a player that can win 20 tackles in a game, I want a player that can help us dictate the game at home so that we don't have to rely on lots of great last ditch tackles.

Which is done by breaking down the oppositions attack by making tackles and getting stuck in which is what a DM is supposed to do.

 

[Maske2g]

parker is not best passer of the ball.........certainly sandro out, parker in does not the way we play

our shape was much better. And will be again. He will drag player out of the centre so the there are big gaps to play into. And he will drag players away from the full backs so they can get on the ball. Sandro closes all our options by being in the wrong place nearly ALL the time, and then not fucking off to make it open up again quick enough.