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Post by Robo10 on Feb 13, 2014 8:14:15 GMT
Conditions were awful for any sort of football, seemed more suited to their speedsters than our battlers
Swansea are a pretty good side, if it wasnt for their rolling round and blatant cheating I would admire them, as their fast football is very good to watch
That said we took the lead and had a number of good opportunities to score again
Bar a 20 minute spell at the start of the second half we were the better team?
Had folk complaining about the subs when we went 451 - I thought it clever tactically to get us back into the game as we were being overrun - he switched back to 442 when were got back on top
Bego made 2 amazing saves, backed up by Ryans awareness for that terrific clearance, but Vorm also made a great save from Marko
Point was fair, couple of penno shouts - I was convinced Crouch was fouled, TV shows it was PO tripping him!
However I am also fairly positive that Bony punched the ball from a cross second half!
All in all its another point, 14 to go, and 3 unbeaten with 5 points that I would have taken from Man Ure, Southampton away and Swansea.
Just a crying shame we didnt get 3 points from either Palace or Sunderland, which also seems to have kick started their survival bids - not a bad thing they were both called off last night
Come on people, we get carried away when we win, but dont get the kitchen knives out when we dont!
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Post by jeycov on Feb 13, 2014 8:21:04 GMT
Good point.
Man city and sunderland would have preferred their fixture to have gone ahead, with respective cup commitments, they will have some congestion ahead.
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Post by mcf on Feb 13, 2014 8:21:45 GMT
A total and utter missed opportunity.
Too much fannying about and not enough of the direct stuff.
The point may prove very useful though.
The problem is that we need to improve on a consistent basis with a method of play that allows us to pick up regular points. I'm not sure last night offered the tactics that will do that.
Backward step after the last 2 games.
We are still on a run rate where we won't even get to 40 points and while 2 teams look gone...the others down there are capable of getting out. Norwich look the most vulnerable and we still have to go there. Big pressure on Man City and Arsenal games now as we risk falling behind a point a game unless we pick something up in one of them.
Just a massive shame really...but not the end of the world.
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Post by fca47 on Feb 13, 2014 8:23:07 GMT
Trouble is dropping points to those around us is stopping us pulling away from trouble. We do seem like a team and supporters who are only up for the games against the big boys. We rely on hard work more than skill and that is costing us.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2014 8:25:30 GMT
A total and utter missed opportunity. Too much fannying about and not enough of the direct stuff. The point may prove very useful though. The problem is that we need to improve on a consistent basis with a method of play that allows us to pick up regular points. I'm not sure last night offered the tactics that will do that. Backward step after the last 2 games. We are still on a run rate where we won't even get to 40 points and while 2 teams look gone...the others down there are capable of getting out. Norwich look the most vulnerable and we still have to go there. Big pressure on Man City and Arsenal games now as we risk falling behind a point a game unless we pick something up in one of them. Just a massive shame really...but not the end of the world. There was loads of direct stuff. Loads. They double marked Crouch so it wasn't effective. Begovic to Crouch was our leading pass combo. www.fourfourtwo.com/statszone/8-2013/matches/695154/ |
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Post by Robo10 on Feb 13, 2014 8:29:22 GMT
That Norwich run in is the saving grace for all the other teams - even if we can nab a point there its '2 points gained' if you get me as they gain no ground
Hopefully Fulham and Cardiff lose touch, we also have to go to Cardiff so again a point is a great result - just keep picking them up.
If you had the choice of Fulham / WBA for the last 2, or Man U, Liverpool, Chelsea then Arsenal (as Norwich do) I know which I would pick!
They play Fulham and WBA before that, so if they have any hope they will damage some of the others too
Exciting brown pants stuff
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Post by mcf on Feb 13, 2014 8:32:03 GMT
Jesus wept.
It fucking would be wouldn't it because of the reluctance for anyone in the defence to fucking do it.
Those stats sum it up. We had little possession and a shit pass rate and it just went on and on and on.
Then in the last few minutes we actually looked to hurry the play and bomb a couple of balls up there when it was too late.
Fuck it though, I can't be arsed with it. Stick to your how we are progressing nicely argument.
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Post by mcf on Feb 13, 2014 8:34:12 GMT
That Norwich run in is the saving grace for all the other teams - even if we can nab a point there its '2 points gained' if you get me as they gain no ground Hopefully Fulham and Cardiff lose touch, we also have to go to Cardiff so again a point is a great result - just keep picking them up. If you had the choice of Fulham / WBA for the last 2, or Man U, Liverpool, Chelsea then Arsenal (as Norwich do) I know which I would pick! They play Fulham and WBA before that, so if they have any hope they will damage some of the others too Exciting brown pants stuff Oh yeah, fucking brilliant Robo  |
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Post by Robo10 on Feb 13, 2014 8:38:26 GMT
I thought everyone was bored of mid table nothing to play for attrition football?  |
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Post by NorwichStokie on Feb 13, 2014 8:41:47 GMT
A total and utter missed opportunity. Too much fannying about and not enough of the direct stuff. The point may prove very useful though. The problem is that we need to improve on a consistent basis with a method of play that allows us to pick up regular points. I'm not sure last night offered the tactics that will do that. Backward step after the last 2 games. We are still on a run rate where we won't even get to 40 points and while 2 teams look gone...the others down there are capable of getting out. Norwich look the most vulnerable and we still have to go there. Big pressure on Man City and Arsenal games now as we risk falling behind a point a game unless we pick something up in one of them. Just a massive shame really...but not the end of the world. There was loads of direct stuff. Loads. They double marked Crouch so it wasn't effective. Begovic to Crouch was our leading pass combo. www.fourfourtwo.com/statszone/8-2013/matches/695154/At least we actually got two players in that table, as opposed to this: www.fourfourtwo.com/statszone/8-2013/matches/695158Still, it does show how we seem to have switched back to a much more long-ball game after dropping N'Zonzi. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2014 13:03:32 GMT
Jesus wept. It fucking would be wouldn't it because of the reluctance for anyone in the defence to fucking do it. Those stats sum it up. We had little possession and a shit pass rate and it just went on and on and on. Then in the last few minutes we actually looked to hurry the play and bomb a couple of balls up there when it was too late. Fuck it though, I can't be arsed with it. Stick to your how we are progressing nicely argument. I don't recall saying 'we're progressing nicely'. You were the one proclaiming the new 'Hulisball' system as our salvation. Hey presto, we've got the same problems we had before., |
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Post by foxysgloves on Feb 13, 2014 13:06:31 GMT
Two steps forward, one back.
Play poorly get a point no bad thing.
Swansea a much better side than some on here seemed to think.
5 points from three tricky games is no disgrace.
Onward and upward.
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Post by mcf on Feb 13, 2014 13:15:58 GMT
...because we didn't fucking play Hulisball did we.
I never said Hulisball would be the salvation.....merely pointed out that good things tend to happen when we go 'direct' and that it what I recommended we do more of.
Trying to outpass Swansea was fucking daft. We certainly haven't beat them previously by outpassing the cunts.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2014 13:18:31 GMT
...because we didn't fucking play Hulisball did we. I never said Hulisball would be the salvation.....merely pointed out that good things tend to happen when we go 'direct' and that it what I recommended we do more of. Trying to outpass Swansea was fucking daft. We certainly haven't beat them previously by outpassing the cunts. We didn't fucking try to out pass them though. We knocked it long throughout the game and it had the same effect, ie none. |
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Post by greyman on Feb 13, 2014 13:23:50 GMT
...I wish that were my pole ... Subjunctive. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2014 13:25:48 GMT
One did say that after the Manchester United match that the big test lies in our next home match as that'll tell us more about us as a team because even a legacy team talk by werrington would have still lead to the lads going out and putting in a performance.
Unfortunately last night just simply passed us by.
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Post by mcf on Feb 13, 2014 13:26:53 GMT
Did we bollocks....every now and again....
We didn't go to Crouch often enough or work the channels enough... and even when we did... the support and pressure from midfield just wasn't up to scratch.
That was mainly because it wasn't consistent...no build up of pressure where it looks like the wide players don't know what they are supposed to be doing.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2014 13:27:53 GMT
...because we didn't fucking play Hulisball did we. I never said Hulisball would be the salvation.....merely pointed out that good things tend to happen when we go 'direct' and that it what I recommended we do more of. Trying to outpass Swansea was fucking daft. We certainly haven't beat them previously by outpassing the cunts. Swansea at the Brit have never coped with us being direct. Good post nail on head. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2014 13:30:08 GMT
Did we bollocks....every now and again.... We didn't go to Crouch often enough or work the channels enough... and even when we did... the support and pressure from midfield just wasn't up to scratch. That was mainly because it wasn't consistent...no build up of pressure where it looks like the wide players don't know what they are supposed to be doing. No argument about the support and pressure but we went to Crouch more than we did any other player. To the extent that Swansea sussed it and doubled and sometimes trebled up on him. The big problem was the lack of movement up front again which gave us nothing to work with whether we went long or short. Can you let us know if you're seriously going to play the 'if we win it's all down to lovely long ball and if we lose it's because we didn't play enough of it' card for the rest of the season? |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2014 13:30:47 GMT
...because we didn't fucking play Hulisball did we. I never said Hulisball would be the salvation.....merely pointed out that good things tend to happen when we go 'direct' and that it what I recommended we do more of. Trying to outpass Swansea was fucking daft. We certainly haven't beat them previously by outpassing the cunts. Swansea at the Brit have never coped with us being direct. Good post nail on head. Apart from last night where our most common combo was Begovic to Crouch and they dealt with it fairly comfortably. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2014 13:36:05 GMT
Did we bollocks....every now and again.... We didn't go to Crouch often enough or work the channels enough... and even when we did... the support and pressure from midfield just wasn't up to scratch. That was mainly because it wasn't consistent...no build up of pressure where it looks like the wide players don't know what they are supposed to be doing. No argument about the support and pressure but we went to Crouch more than we did any other player. To the extent that Swansea sussed it and doubled and sometimes trebled up on him. The big problem was the lack of movement up front again which gave us nothing to work with whether we went long or short. Can you let us know if you're seriously going to play the 'if we win it's all down to lovely long ball and if we lose it's because we didn't play enough of it' card for the rest of the season? i'm guessing that last part is purely a rhetorical question Rob? i think we all know the answer (even when you've posted stats to prove we DID play the long ball last night) i believe mcf follows Lord Melchett's philosophy of "If all else fails then a complete, pigheaded unwillingness to stare facts in the face will see us through!" |
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Post by mcf on Feb 13, 2014 13:37:59 GMT
...but that wasn't the combo or tactics that got joy v The Shit was it....or for much of the previous 5 years. Those balls came from Shawcross or balls down the channels from the full backs.
Shawcross hit a few last night but not enough. I watch and I never know if he will or if he won't so unless he has some special hand code with the wingers and Walters then how on earth do they know where they should be.
The reason why Begovic to Crouch may have been more popular than anything else could be because we never got any other combos going from trying to play in the wrong areas.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2014 13:43:32 GMT
...but that wasn't the combo or tactics that got joy v The Shit was it....or for much of the previous 5 years. Those balls came from Shawcross or balls down the channels from the full backs. Shawcross hit a few last night but not enough. I watch and I never know if he will or if he won't so unless he has some special hand code with the wingers and Walters then how on earth do they know where they should be. The reason why Begovic to Crouch may have been more popular than anything else could be because we never got any other combos going from trying to play in the wrong areas. jesus mcf...so it's now not "Hulisball" unless it's specifically Ryan playing the long balls to Crouch?  |
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Post by mcf on Feb 13, 2014 13:56:59 GMT
It's very, very simple.
When we played at our best in the past and what we showed against Man Utd to a far greater degree than we had done under Hughes previously was a desire to get good ball upto the likes of Crouch and Walters and then press them from the wings and in midfield. Winning free kicks, throws, building pressure.
If we didn't win the ball we would then drop off, deny space with good shape, get the ball back and repeat.
It was a plan - plan A - that we would repeat and repeat.
We didn't do that last night....and whatever you think he was trying to do didn't work either.
As for trying to make out as though we were long ball simply because Begovic was twatting the ball to Crouch then I'd argue that this has been a regular feature all of the season. We would fuck around with it short at the back or in midfield and it would end back with Begovic who would end up twatting it up the field in any case. Just a by product of not being able to play through teams.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2014 14:09:15 GMT
Conditions were indeed awful....for both sides and yet Swansea seemed to manage ok.
No hiding the fact,we were awful,2nd best in every dept.
We should count ourselves fortunate we got a point.
Somebody started a thread about us being too good to go down.Not on that performance we aren't
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2014 16:36:24 GMT
It's very, very simple. When we played at our best in the past and what we showed against Man Utd to a far greater degree than we had done under Hughes previously was a desire to get good ball upto the likes of Crouch and Walters and then press them from the wings and in midfield. Winning free kicks, throws, building pressure. If we didn't win the ball we would then drop off, deny space with good shape, get the ball back and repeat. It was a plan - plan A - that we would repeat and repeat. We didn't do that last night....and whatever you think he was trying to do didn't work either. As for trying to make out as though we were long ball simply because Begovic was twatting the ball to Crouch then I'd argue that this has been a regular feature all of the season. We would fuck around with it short at the back or in midfield and it would end back with Begovic who would end up twatting it up the field in any case. Just a by product of not being able to play through teams. But you said we weren't direct and tried to out pass them, which we patently fucking didn't! |
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Post by iglugluk on Feb 13, 2014 16:40:53 GMT
Conditions were indeed awful....for both sides and yet Swansea seemed to manage ok. No hiding the fact,we were awful,2nd best in every dept. We should count ourselves fortunate we got a point. Somebody started a thread about us being too good to go down.Not on that performance we aren't I have to agree with your assessment...unfortunately!! We are way too unpredictable right now. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2014 16:41:04 GMT
It's very, very simple. When we played at our best in the past and what we showed against Man Utd to a far greater degree than we had done under Hughes previously was a desire to get good ball upto the likes of Crouch and Walters and then press them from the wings and in midfield. Winning free kicks, throws, building pressure. If we didn't win the ball we would then drop off, deny space with good shape, get the ball back and repeat. It was a plan - plan A - that we would repeat and repeat. We didn't do that last night....and whatever you think he was trying to do didn't work either. As for trying to make out as though we were long ball simply because Begovic was twatting the ball to Crouch then I'd argue that this has been a regular feature all of the season. We would fuck around with it short at the back or in midfield and it would end back with Begovic who would end up twatting it up the field in any case. Just a by product of not being able to play through teams. But you said we weren't direct and tried to out pass them, which we patently fucking didn't! it's mcf's new film rob  |
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Post by mcf on Feb 13, 2014 16:51:59 GMT
It's very, very simple. When we played at our best in the past and what we showed against Man Utd to a far greater degree than we had done under Hughes previously was a desire to get good ball upto the likes of Crouch and Walters and then press them from the wings and in midfield. Winning free kicks, throws, building pressure. If we didn't win the ball we would then drop off, deny space with good shape, get the ball back and repeat. It was a plan - plan A - that we would repeat and repeat. We didn't do that last night....and whatever you think he was trying to do didn't work either. As for trying to make out as though we were long ball simply because Begovic was twatting the ball to Crouch then I'd argue that this has been a regular feature all of the season. We would fuck around with it short at the back or in midfield and it would end back with Begovic who would end up twatting it up the field in any case. Just a by product of not being able to play through teams. But you said we weren't direct and tried to out pass them, which we patently fucking didn't! we patently didn't and we patently won't because it keeps fucking breaking down because this fucking team isn't built for fucking that is it....yet he keeps fucking trying it. Either get more of the 'footballers' that he has brought in and play more passing or stick to what suits the majority of the players (ie Pulis ones) that he keeps playing week in, week out. |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2014 17:13:39 GMT
But you said we weren't direct and tried to out pass them, which we patently fucking didn't! we patently didn't and we patently won't because it keeps fucking breaking down because this fucking team isn't built for fucking that is it....yet he keeps fucking trying it. Either get more of the 'footballers' that he has brought in and play more passing or stick to what suits the majority of the players (ie Pulis ones) that he keeps playing week in, week out. We didn't try to, let alone manage it. It should be possible to mix it and go long when we have to and keep it when we have to. I think we'll be ok this season but we need 3-4 quality additions at least in the summer. Read MarkW's piece in the fanzine last night and if the strategy from now on is to do everything on the cheap then, as you, Pugs, Momo, Onlooker etc have said all along, that road leads to relegation before too long. |
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