|
Post by chiefdelilah on Feb 29, 2016 9:06:52 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2016 9:32:41 GMT
Good write up.
For what it's worth I think Hughes taking Afellay off and bringing Bojan off was purely with one eye on Wednesday night, Afellay has played a lot of games, Bojan needs minutes and I don't think there was a single person in that ground hand on heart who thought Villa had any semblance of a comeback in them at 0-2 down. In hindsight it killed the momentum of our play as Bojan kept losing the ball, it was a judgement call by Hughes that managers often make and it was arguably the wrong one. However I never felt that Villa were going to score a 2nd, and if we go on to win on Wednesday however scrappy it will be mission accomplished.
Same team on Wednesday with Diouf for Walters will do nicely for me.....
|
|
|
Post by foster on Feb 29, 2016 9:56:54 GMT
Bit too negative for my liking.
It was a fairly comfortable game and I was never worried about them coming back once we went 2-0 up.
I agree with the Affelay ahead of Bojan point.
|
|
|
Post by alster on Feb 29, 2016 9:58:22 GMT
Good read Rob, your last conclusion about Villa could in time apply to a good many clubs in our top two leagues. It's a very precarious situation. Thank God we've got the Coates', long may it continue. An English club in English ownership of people who historically support the club they own. The thought of ever losing that to become some rich foreigners latest toy brings me out in a cold sweat.
|
|
|
Post by mumf on Feb 29, 2016 10:04:01 GMT
Very good and very accurate I thought .
I don't know what's going on with Bojan . Since his injury he's nowhere near his previous form and his overall performances have been poor . I don't know what it is going to take for him to recapture it . It is a major concern , but something we all know can change given time .
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2016 10:23:36 GMT
Good write up that, rob. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it and feel it's bob on the money.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2016 10:30:42 GMT
Very good and very accurate I thought . I don't know what's going on with Bojan . Since his injury he's nowhere near his previous form and his overall performances have been poor . I don't know what it is going to take for him to recapture it . It is a major concern , but something we all know can change given time . According to Shearer he's hit "the wall" - first 12-15 games after a long lay off you get by on adrenaline, then you start to struggle again. Hughes backs Bojan 100% so the fact that he's left him out these past few weeks would suggest to me the fitness stats say he needs a rest. With a player like Bojan I think it only takes a moment of magic or one good game to get himself going again, I'd save him for Chelsea away and play the false number 9.......
|
|
|
Post by werrington on Feb 29, 2016 10:34:25 GMT
Good write up. For what it's worth I think Hughes taking Afellay off and bringing Bojan off was purely with one eye on Wednesday night, Afellay has played a lot of games, Bojan needs minutes and I don't think there was a single person in that ground hand on heart who thought Villa had any semblance of a comeback in them at 0-2 down. In hindsight it killed the momentum of our play as Bojan kept losing the ball, it was a judgement call by Hughes that managers often make and it was arguably the wrong one. However I never felt that Villa were going to score a 2nd, and if we go on to win on Wednesday however scrappy it will be mission accomplished. Same team on Wednesday with Diouf for Walters will do nicely for me..... I think he made like for like changes to give game time and continue with the dominance mate We didn't create as much but we continued to dominate possession etc Villa were woeful and even at 2-1 we were in total control
|
|
|
Post by metalhead on Feb 29, 2016 10:54:18 GMT
A bit negative for me too. I don't really understand the stick we're getting. Villa were happy for the draw. They had 11 men behind the ball in the first half, hence we found it near impossible to break them down and they received a booking for time wasting (first half!!!).
We got the penalty and they opened up, we dominated and we'd have won at a canter. Removing Afellay was bizarre. Was our best player by a country mile and we seemingly lost our way after. I can only think it's to start him against Newcastle.
|
|
|
Post by cheekymatt71 on Feb 29, 2016 11:09:38 GMT
Its definitely not just tactics that make us struggle to beat lower teams at home. A big problem is motivational for me.
After a nice week spent in the sun in Dubai you would expect everyone to be refreshed and come out all guns blazing from the kick-off against Villa.
But time and again we start games in second gear and pass it around at the back. We seem to just expect things to happen.
As much as Walters didnt play well overall, I think Hughes likes him exactly because he puts himself about a bit and ruffles a few feathers. All our other forwards bar Arnie arent in that mould.
|
|
|
Post by johnnysoul60 on Feb 29, 2016 11:12:24 GMT
"the ponderous, predictable build-up play, the one-pass-too-many in the final third, the carelessness and gaps at the back"
These are the things that we need to address at home , I think the defence will sort itself if Ryan gets back but for such a talented bunch , they dont half need to get fired up , they do it in most of the big games and must learn to in the ordinary ones too .
A decent 20 mins at the start of the second half but mostly dull end of season dross , how people prefer the premiership to cup competitions is beyond me . I would relegate five next season and keep the Capital One Cup all day if we need to ease fixture congestion
|
|
|
Post by Sergeant Muttley on Feb 29, 2016 11:17:57 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Lakeland Potter on Feb 29, 2016 11:26:43 GMT
As regards Bojan being subbed on for Affelay, we can all see it didn't work. However, Just before Affelay was subbed off, he had a sprint for the ball and from my seat in the Boothen I could see he was starting to look knackered and I turned to the Matt next to me and said I could see him being subbed - especially with a match coming up on Wednesday night. So I totally understand Ibi being taken off.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and with the benefit of hindsight, Ireland would probably have been a much better option than Bojan but I'm not sure Hughes would have had any more idea that Bojan was going to look so off the pace than the rest of us did. The positives are that Ibi will have had a bit of a rest and will probably be fresher for Wednesday than he would otherwise have been and, perhaps, if he does need to be subbed on Wednesday, Ireland may get the nod.
The other positive is that, as the Chief said, Affelay seems to be back to his brilliant best and is forging a potent partnership with Imbula with Whelan also looking to have recovered from a dip in form. We should win the midfield battle on Wednesday.
|
|
|
Post by reddipotter on Feb 29, 2016 11:58:27 GMT
Your comments on Shaqiri are interesting. I noticed that he created the penalty when playing a pass from a central position, and produced the cross for the second goal when he had run diagonally to the left of the penalty area. I become increasingly convinced that out on the right wing is not the position that suits him. Surely it is time to ditch the ridiculous 'inverted winger' idea.
|
|
|
Post by cousindupree on Feb 29, 2016 12:02:10 GMT
Good erudite write up as usual Rob and enjoyed the read while having breakfast here in USA. You did an excellent job to garner so much material from a pretty dull and insipid game. Particularly liked the Villa demise part it is astonishing that the biggest club in the second city in the UK is in such a desperate state.
|
|
|
Post by davejohnno1 on Feb 29, 2016 12:31:08 GMT
I live in hope that Shaqiri will show us all what he is capable of.
I never saw him light up the game for Switzerland or Basle so my hopes are based on the opinions of others who have seen this superstar produce the goods before.
I have been pretty disappointed with him in all honesty. He often reminds me of my little lad, who himself is a good player but very small. He shows glimpses of how good he can be but generally gets knocked about by the much bigger kids before retreating into his shell and taking the easy option.
He created both goals on Saturday but in truth, he was pretty poor throughout and his corners were abject.
I'm reserving judgement until next season, but to date I've been distinctly underwhelmed.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2016 12:59:00 GMT
3pts is 3pts next.
|
|
|
Post by thepremierbanksy on Feb 29, 2016 13:53:38 GMT
I live in hope that Shaqiri will show us all what he is capable of. I never saw him light up the game for Switzerland or Basle so my hopes are based on the opinions of others who have seen this superstar produce the goods before. I have been pretty disappointed with him in all honesty. He often reminds me of my little lad, who himself is a good player but very small. He shows glimpses of how good he can be but generally gets knocked about by the much bigger kids before retreating into his shell and taking the easy option. He created both goals on Saturday but in truth, he was pretty poor throughout and his corners were abject. I'm reserving judgement until next season, but to date I've been distinctly underwhelmed. Cutting back so he can cross with his left foot is his weakness for me - he made the time and space enough to cross time and again on Saturday but those inswingers are so easy to defend and so hard for the players in the box to time their runs to. On the rare occasions I've seen him cross with his right they've been decent. His through balls are generally fantastic when he gets the opportunity to play them.
|
|
|
Post by jezzascfc on Feb 29, 2016 14:16:58 GMT
Generally spot on - I think Ibra was rested with Wednesday in mind. I also agree that he is a different player to Bojan, an attacking midfielder (like Ireland), not a number 10. Right now we look better with three midfielders in the centre of the park, not two with Bojan in the hole behind a front man, not least because the dominant Shawcross is not behind them holding the defence together. The only way back for Bojan at the moment, as the central trio look settled, appears to be for us to try the false nine tactics again. After 5 goals in two games, a veritable glut by our standards this season to date, that would represent a bit of a gamble.
|
|
|
Post by jaybee on Feb 29, 2016 16:44:50 GMT
Hmm, can you link us to your blog please, then we can comment on that too. ???
|
|
|
Post by superheroantonius on Feb 29, 2016 16:50:52 GMT
I totally agree that affelay is a class above bojan .
I reckon he's the best creative midfielder we have had since alan hudson.
Johhny Eustace, Kevin Keen and Howard Kendall were ace but affelay is the business.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 29, 2016 20:48:08 GMT
Hmm, can you link us to your blog please, then we can comment on that too. ??? Sorry have I offended you, it was not meant as a criticism of Rob's blog just some other negativity.
|
|
|
Post by jaybee on Feb 29, 2016 21:06:14 GMT
Hmm, can you link us to your blog please, then we can comment on that too. ??? Sorry have I offended you, it was not meant as a criticism of Rob's blog just some other negativity. Not offended at all ... maybe you missed the three smileys??
|
|
|
Post by robstokie on Feb 29, 2016 21:57:37 GMT
another good write up Chief. Hopefully, Sparky and the lads have finally twigged that just keeping possession and playing slow, pedantic, unpenetrating football at home against teams struggling down the wrong end of the table will not get us the results.
|
|
|
Post by mrcoke on Feb 29, 2016 22:58:00 GMT
An excellent essay as usual.
I agree Stoke are over cautious when faced with a team who come to defend, maybe because Ryan is absent. I agree with your negativity comment but would dispute a couple of your examples. Last season Villa came and "did a job" on us by defending very well and taking their chance, exactly what we did at ManC last season. Watford deserved a point against us because they turned on the gas and played very well and took the game away from us, not because we stopped playing IMO. The game was very similar to what Blackburn did last season; they were losing and adopted the attitude, "What the hell, let's give it a go" and they rolled us over.
I too am disappointed in Shaqiri and Bojan, but, both are brilliantly talented and will come good when they sort their game out; Shaq is creating goal scoring opportunities, and Bojan will only sort himself out on the pitch and not sitting on the bench. On Saturday he again gave me the impression he was trying too hard and had no "timing" to his game.
Imbula is making my draw drop, the maturity in the young man is amazing.
|
|
|
Post by that's our Ric on Feb 29, 2016 22:58:53 GMT
"Proud motorist Joelon Lescott" haha good one
|
|
|
Post by TinkerT on Feb 29, 2016 23:02:18 GMT
I totally agree that affelay is a class above bojan . I reckon he's the best creative midfielder we have had since alan hudson. Johhny Eustace, Kevin Keen and Howard Kendall were ace but affelay is the business. Don't talk shit. He's been with us half a season and yes has been sensational, but not as good as bojan in his first.
|
|
|
Post by ayem on Feb 29, 2016 23:08:55 GMT
Very good and very accurate I thought . I don't know what's going on with Bojan . Since his injury he's nowhere near his previous form and his overall performances have been poor . I don't know what it is going to take for him to recapture it . It is a major concern , but something we all know can change given time . According to Shearer he's hit "the wall" - first 12-15 games after a long lay off you get by on adrenaline, then you start to struggle again. Hughes backs Bojan 100% so the fact that he's left him out these past few weeks would suggest to me the fitness stats say he needs a rest. With a player like Bojan I think it only takes a moment of magic or one good game to get himself going again, I'd save him for Chelsea away and play the false number 9....... Bojan is also our second highest scorer in the league. Taking care of his health is paramount to our team going forward. Also, bojan was playing against a different team IMO. They were much more active and stressed by the time he met the pitch.
|
|
|
Post by rennes on Feb 29, 2016 23:37:33 GMT
Thank you for another brilliant write-up Rob. I do so hope Boj+Shaq can show us what we know they're capable of, then we'll all be happy pussycats on here. Well most of us. Maybe.
|
|
|
Post by OldStokie on Mar 1, 2016 0:13:29 GMT
Great write up Rob. I'm also of the opinion that Affelay was taken off to rest him for the 'Castle game. But it backfired big time. I reckon if he'd stayed on your piece would have been telling us about a comprehensive 2nd half display that saw us winning 3 or 4 nil. No mention of Imbula? I'm surprised.
OS.
|
|