Didn't see the game as I was in Pembrokeshire all weekend. Can anyone tell me what sort of shape the midfield was with Adam in there? Rob's write-up says he played the deeper role, but surely Glenn was still shielding? So was Adam kind of alongside him with N'Zonzi up front or was Adam the middle of a more vertical line of three like we usually play?
Yeah, Glenn was shielding and deeper than Adam and Nzonzi.
Begovic has to take up a more central position on the free kick for my money.
You can't just concede that much of the goal from a free kick that close to goal, and in a central(ish) position.
He has to be able to react to a shot either side of him. A wall isn't there as 100% security. Most decent dead ball specialists can get it up and over. To take up a position that basically says "if you can get it up and over, that side of the goal is yours." just isn't good enough for me mate.
My conclusion is simple we just aren't clinical enough in front of goal, I mean the amount of Shots we blazed wide eg Nzonzi, Look at leicsters stats againts Utd they only had five shots but they managed pull of 5 goals.
I agree that integration of new players takes time, I've written on here countless times that football is a team game, but IMO the signs are now looking good. The defence is generally sound but leaking the odd goal. In Crouch, Diouf, and Moses, Stoke have an attack which will give opponents problems with height, speed, and physicality, between them. It is just a question of who is going to be best to exploit that: Adam, Ireland, or maybe Bojan. Bojan is clearly going to be the longest to integrate, but we should have realized that when Stoke bought him, with the problems he has had at previous clubs. He is clearly hugely talented though and will develop into a fine player.