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Post by cobhamstokey on Apr 30, 2016 21:20:12 GMT
Clearly having so many injuries has affected team selections but we just looked more solid and balanced today with the British lads being the main reason. I have to say when I saw Crouchy and Charlies name on the team sheet I was a little worried but I thought both were excellent and more than earned a place v Palace. Glen too seemed back to his best and Super John had an excellent cameo.
The back 4 also looked much stronger with both Erik and Geoff improving us defensively.
We've got some real flare but it's all about getting the balance right. If we get the balance right then we'll be a better side for it. I don't think we can afford to have Bojan, Shaq, Arni and imbula all on the pitch at the same time. For me we definitely need to have 2 proper DMs next season allowing Imbula to play in front of them so he doesn't have to worry about his defensive responsibilities.
So we end up with something like
.....Whelan........DM......
............Imbula.........
.Shaq.................Arni.
..........New striker......
Bojan still has a big part to play in what is very much a squad game but we have to do what's best for the side. Shaq too needs to start working harder on his defensive game as at the moment it's causing us problems.
With Jack back I think our defensive play will be hugely improved. I got the impression today that our defence have no confidence in Haugaard.
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Post by march4 on Apr 30, 2016 21:25:06 GMT
Clearly having so many injuries has affected team selections but we just looked more solid and balanced today with the British lads being the main reason. I have to say when I saw Crouchy and Charlies name on the team sheet I was a little worried but I thought both were excellent and more than earned a place v Palace. Glen too seemed back to his best and Super John had an excellent cameo. The back 4 also looked much stronger with both Erik and Geoff improving us defensively. We've got some real flare but it's all about getting the balance right. If we get the balance right then we'll be a better side for it. I don't think we can afford to have Bojan, Shaq, Arni and imbula all on the pitch at the same time. For me we definitely need to have 2 proper DMs next season allowing Imbula to play in front of them so he doesn't have to worry about his defensive responsibilities. So we end up with something like .....Whelan........DM...... ............Imbula......... .Shaq.................Arni. ..........New striker...... Bojan still has a big part to play in what is very much a squad game but we have to do what's best for the side. Shaq too needs to start working harder on his defensive game as at the moment it's causing us problems. With Jack back I think our defensive play will be hugely improved. I got the impression today that our defence have no confidence in Haugaard. The TP 'golden oldies' all played well. Unlike Shaq and Imbula. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2016 21:28:33 GMT
Did Walters do much when he came on?
Haugaard can thank that same defence for denying him a clean sheet.
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Post by chrisparker on Apr 30, 2016 21:34:43 GMT
What we need is for a couple of our midfield players to start making some forward runs. In the last few weeks, if you actually notice, whenever Shaq or Arnie get the ball there is almost no movement ahead of the ball & no one is making forward runs for them to try & pick out. So what do they do? They naturally just end up passing it backwards.
If you watch any spurs game, whenever Dier or Dembele get the ball, just watch how many players start making runs at the same time - Kane, Ali, Lamela, Erikson, Rose & Walker all push up the pitch - & this is what makes it impossible to defend against teams like that.
We're the exact opposite, we expect the front 3 to do all the attacking work but it's ridiculous to expect 3 or 4 players to break down a 7-8 man defence. It's a team game & everyone has to play their part at both ends. You rightly point out that Shaq & Imbula have to do their defensive duties but players like Whelan, Pieters or whoever plays in the defensive midfield also have to contribute when we attack. What I want is for the manager to come up with a fixed reliable attacking strategy that doesn't overly rely on the trickery of the front 3 which will win us games, especially at home when we have to play against parked buses.
We have to attack & defend collectively.
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Post by cobhamstokey on Apr 30, 2016 21:40:24 GMT
What we need is for a couple of our midfield players to start making some forward runs. In the last few weeks, if you actually notice, whenever Shaq or Arnie get the ball there is almost no movement ahead of the ball & no one is making forward runs for them to try & pick out. So what do they do? They naturally just end up passing it backwards. If you watch any spurs game, whenever Dier or Dembele get the ball, just watch how many players start making runs at the same time - Kane, Ali, Lamela, Erikson, Rose & Walker all push up the pitch - & this is what makes it impossible to defend against teams like that. We're the exact opposite, we expect the front 3 to do all the attacking work but it's ridiculous to expect 3 or 4 players to break down a 7-8 man defence. It's a team game & everyone has to play their part at both ends. You rightly point out that Shaq & Imbula have to do their defensive duties but players like Whelan, Pieters or whoever plays in the defensive midfield also have to contribute when we attack. What I want is for the manager to come up with a fixed reliable attacking strategy that doesn't overly rely on the trickery of the front 3 which will win us games, especially at home when we have to play against parked buses. We have to attack & defend collectively. Well put so more box to box athletes than DMs. I like Imbula but I just don't think at the moment he has any defensive awareness. |
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Post by BuzzB on Apr 30, 2016 22:25:28 GMT
How anyone can knock the selection of Charlie, whether it be before or post match (not referring to this thread by the way) is beyond me. We have been crying out for some positive driving from the middle and some bloody gutsy tackling! Okay he aint all glttery and sparkly as others but his commitment for the cause can never be questioned. He would run through a brick wall for this club and should be the first name on Sparkys team sheet for Palace. MOM for me not Crouchy although he was decent.
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Post by heworksardtho on Apr 30, 2016 22:34:51 GMT
No wonder I can't get me petrol hedge cutters going
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Post by chuffedstokie on Apr 30, 2016 22:52:48 GMT
Having sat through that it was possible to see close up the communication and chat going through the defence. Apart from a couple of scrappy moments which meant Defoe could twist a couple of shots off it looked a lot tighter.
Something has obviously been said and someone's been listening on the basis of that.
Against palace Charlie from the off to get in their faces and take the game to them.
Crouchie continues to be a threat when needed and put in a shift today.
Gutted obviously with the penalty, 4 minutes of hoofball pretty or not would have been enough but not to be.
Take this to South London and I reckon we'll get something.
Optimism is what I do.
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