Krafty
Well-Known Member
- May 26, 2004
- 4,797
- 2,139
That was a terrible game.
We have a problem with our attacking play. We struggled last season against teams that got men behind the ball and we struggled tonight.
Not blaming the kids, but Frederiks, like Lennon, did not come in off the right wing at all. That prevented Corluka from overlapping, if he could. The central two in midfield were too deep, in part because the defence dropped deep all game, so our pressing game was never set to get going. Pav was abysmal. When crosses came into the box there was no movement. No one attacked the front post or the back post.
Say what you want about Crouch but at least when the ball goes wide he spins off to the back post. Pav and Defoe do nothing, and Pav tonight should have owned that back line. Instead I saw one snap shot when the ball dropped in his path, several more shots sent to row z, some misplaced passes, some runs into dead ends or into opoosition players, basically thats it, I'm not defending Pav anymore, we need to get rid. Nothing is better than him.
VdV offers some ingenuity, Bale attacks down the left, and hopefully Adebayor will offer a threat upfront. But if we continue to move the ball slowly, be so static in our attacking movement, if the full backs dont get within 50 yards of the opponents goal, if the defence keeps falling back and the midfield doesnt get beyond the strikers (obviously not all at the same time) then we will drop yet more points against crap teams who are at the very least organised.
On the plus side, it was nice to see youth getting a chance and I think that is what this competition, especially at home, should be used for. I thought Townsend was the stand out but he has had the most football. Took players on, sometimes worked sometimes didnt, but did not hide and did not stop, and that's refreshing to see. I dont think he is a left back and he would do more damage in a more advanced position.
Carroll was close behind him. Great touch and a fine passer, drifted off that left wing and got involved. However with Livermore and Tom deep as well it got a little crowded and we could have done with at least one of them twenty yards or more up the pitch.
Livermore was pretty solid, short simple passes, I think he can do a job but I don't think he will progress to be a first team regular.
Frederiks - he's got paced, but very slight so he cant muscle past people like Bale does (or even Townsend did). Stuck to the right touchline, sometimes to our detriment. We'll see how he progresses....
Kane - worked hard, some nice touches, got crowded out in the middle. Our attacking deficiencies made it hard for him to shine but he made a couple of good runs and had one chance before the penalty. Wait and see what happens
Nicholson - not much chance to shine but had some energy
We have a problem with our attacking play. We struggled last season against teams that got men behind the ball and we struggled tonight.
Not blaming the kids, but Frederiks, like Lennon, did not come in off the right wing at all. That prevented Corluka from overlapping, if he could. The central two in midfield were too deep, in part because the defence dropped deep all game, so our pressing game was never set to get going. Pav was abysmal. When crosses came into the box there was no movement. No one attacked the front post or the back post.
Say what you want about Crouch but at least when the ball goes wide he spins off to the back post. Pav and Defoe do nothing, and Pav tonight should have owned that back line. Instead I saw one snap shot when the ball dropped in his path, several more shots sent to row z, some misplaced passes, some runs into dead ends or into opoosition players, basically thats it, I'm not defending Pav anymore, we need to get rid. Nothing is better than him.
VdV offers some ingenuity, Bale attacks down the left, and hopefully Adebayor will offer a threat upfront. But if we continue to move the ball slowly, be so static in our attacking movement, if the full backs dont get within 50 yards of the opponents goal, if the defence keeps falling back and the midfield doesnt get beyond the strikers (obviously not all at the same time) then we will drop yet more points against crap teams who are at the very least organised.
On the plus side, it was nice to see youth getting a chance and I think that is what this competition, especially at home, should be used for. I thought Townsend was the stand out but he has had the most football. Took players on, sometimes worked sometimes didnt, but did not hide and did not stop, and that's refreshing to see. I dont think he is a left back and he would do more damage in a more advanced position.
Carroll was close behind him. Great touch and a fine passer, drifted off that left wing and got involved. However with Livermore and Tom deep as well it got a little crowded and we could have done with at least one of them twenty yards or more up the pitch.
Livermore was pretty solid, short simple passes, I think he can do a job but I don't think he will progress to be a first team regular.
Frederiks - he's got paced, but very slight so he cant muscle past people like Bale does (or even Townsend did). Stuck to the right touchline, sometimes to our detriment. We'll see how he progresses....
Kane - worked hard, some nice touches, got crowded out in the middle. Our attacking deficiencies made it hard for him to shine but he made a couple of good runs and had one chance before the penalty. Wait and see what happens
Nicholson - not much chance to shine but had some energy
