I thought that Adebayor had a good game for us yesterday.
I would be interested to hear how many of those that thought he didn't have a good game yesterday have based that opinion on:
a) just the fact that they do not like him.
b) listending to the game on the radio
c) watching the match via a stream.
I would also be interested in what more he could've done in the view of those that thought he played poorly?
Adebayor was pretty much key to our whole game plan. He was generally isolated up front, given scrappy service and consistently confronted with both centre halves. Despite this he worked hard to pull them around and create space for our midfielders to run into. He also generally held the ball up well and brought others into play. Yes he found it difficult to get into the box - but that was because of the part he was having to play in the build up, without him linking up away from the penalty area we simply weren't able to get into positions to get the ball into the box.
Yesterday Adebayor played a big part in our goal, put Chadli in for a 1 on 1 with the keeper (where Chadli then took it too wide to get it on to his left foot instead of trusting the finish with his right from what would've been a much better angle) and also could've had a penalty/created another goal when he run into the box was stopped and Lamela then decided not to shoot).
Adebayor also did more pressing/closing down than just about any of our other players.
I wish that some people would judge players on their performance rather than their reputation/how much they like them. Just to show that I am able to do this I'd just like to say that a player I had almost given up on.... Etienne Capoue - played really well yesterday - sound defensive positioning, tackles and interceptions, consistently showed for the ball when we were in possession and also seemed a lot more progressive on the ball than in our previous home games.
I would question the "Ade had a great game" people to go watch that match again .. he had a poor game (as he has had most of this season, and the last few games of last).
I will attempt to answer your question
- Ade has fallen into the habit of that Robbie Keane used to do and people here used to ride him game after game for, he is not supposed to spend the whole ****ing game in midfield, too many times, Rose, Chadli, Eriksen, Lamela are further up the pitch and, Ade is not making the run to get ahead of them.
- If it was just a poor service issue, why did Chadli, Lamela, Eriksen all have shots on goal yesterday, how many did Ade have?
- Ade's true ability is his acceleration, case in point, the one time he used it yesterday was for the goal, he got the ball, accelerated away, made a pass (how many other times for game did he use that in an attacking sense?)
- He can hold up the ball well, but not recently, the amount of times he has been bullied off the ball, fallen down or just lost the ball in this season is very concerning.
- Completely disagree with him being any part of game plan, our game plan from what I can tell, is press opposition to get ball, move ball quickly, leverage FBs to potentially use width, otherwise use quick passing of Eriksen and Lamela to get to Ade supported by Chadli. If Ade moves too slowly, doesn't commit to being in the box, doesn't make himself available for the pass (if he is behind the midfielders doing a Keane), it all breaks down.
Funny when Soldado wasn't scoring but helping the play, this board was all "a strikers job is to score goals" now Ade isn't scoring "he's essential to our style/play" sorry I call BS ..
