Clearly our best performance of the year, but really a continuation of our effort vs Birmingham and for a large part of the Reading game as well. Apart from some questionable tracking back and slow aniticpation in defense, we have actually been playing the best stuff of the year for a little while now....
This performance / result was coming - we have really hit our strides over the past few weeks. For me you can tell from the players first touch, lack of fear to run at players and off the ball movement (apart from defensive lapses. All at their peak in last 3-4 games.
I think the most noticable elements are (among others):
1. Nolan being active - probably 30-40% more dynamic
2. Vaz Te clearly can get the crowd, and the rest of the team going, not to mention put the ball in the net... just the spark this team needed.
3. Winston Reid is growing very quickly into a top tier defender in this league. Close to our most improved this year I would think?
4. Structure- instead of aimless runs by mccartney/faubert and co down the right, we are more willing to go through the middle first, squeeze defenders into tighter/narrow passages, and then look to spread the play. not only is the team more dynamic and fluid, but also a whole lot less predictable. Lansbury might not have had his shooting boots on - but just having his threat there meant a lot of extra time for Taylor and co out on the wings.
Form is everything at this time of year, and we just need to keep at it. Quality is there and starting to show in spades.
Pity it came too late. Probably only 3-4 games earlier and we would be going up auto.
COYI!