ricky2tricky4city
Steffen Freund
I thought Modric deserved a 5 from what I saw up. had to log off early.
Nelsen was probably a 4 so was Brad. Everyone else were between 1 and 3.
Though King had his worst league game ever, I reserve special criticism for Bale, Lennon, Saha and Defoe who did absolutely nothing whatsoever to be avalable outlets for the other teammates on the ball behind them. They just fudging stood around with Defoes run for the goal the one notable exception (credit for the marvelous finish).
This performance was a real stinker. Forget formations. Forget fatigue. When you don't move the ball and when you don't compete for 2nd balls, then you deserve nothing. We didn't do either and haven't done so for huge periods of our games since New year. Argue all you like, that's the harsh truth.
A promoted team should have scored 3-4 against us in one half and had 43% of the play pinned down into our half.
Agree with danish here.
We all argue about one formation or another but, all formations have worked at some point or another.
I do think we are looking flat though (dont know if that is fatique) directionless,and no spark.
Far too much passing that was two touch, sideways or backwards. Any intuition or telepathy between the players has vanished. Zero flow.
imo there is something in HR inability to rotate (and i only mean 1/2 players at a time) he plays his best team and obviously only trusts certain players. But that team will become jaded (together), and players left out for so long cant be expected (some can) to hit the ground running. I do think that VDV is one player he is scared of leaving out incase he kicks off, and regardless of formation trys to wedge him in.
The sad thing is it is now too late to rotate.
This is our lot until the end of the season, we a still in the mix, we have to tough it out, maybe being solid with the mod/park/sandro when need be but probably relying on our match winners lennon/bale/vdv to do something special. Someone beating there man was the only way of scaring the oppo yday, when normally we kill them with our passing.
Norwich done us a favour yday, they came to play, not park the bus, surely that would be suicide? Nope they were all over the second balls, organised, passed it when they could and fully deserved their win.