Romford wrote:Anybody notice how many long balls they played ?
The club whose fans like to take the p!$$ out of other teams style of play really have to look at themselves.
I cannot remember the last time i saw the oppos lump the ball aimlessly forward
They've been deluding themselves on being some sort of backstreet-Barcelona for years now; remember when they came to ours about 3 years ago and we beat them 4-1 - all the goals were in the 2nd half after they'd spent most of the 1st half pinging the ball sideways between themselves in front of the halfway line for 45 minutes then calling out how much possession they'd had... then of the 5 goals in the 2nd half, only their consolation was a long ball.
Must be extra-galling for them to see their neighbours in Bournemouth playing proper attacking passing football in the oppo's half on a budget that wouldn't have paid for Nigel Adkins' tanning for a month.
Shame in a way I was staying back in London for Xmas; would have enjoyed the usual train back to the south coast with those muppets.
Regarding the game, I thought Nobes was the glue in the 1st half that kept us in it. We need to have a real think about Song's place in our future; from his performances up until about a year ago we know there's a player there, but having added Obiang and Oxford (the latter obviously only to an extent) and especially Lanzini, I think the club need to ask themselves whether we have a player worth ****ing out a lot of dosh for or a reputation worthy of a gamble. I really hope the lad comes good again cos we can never have too many good players in the squad, I just question slightly whether certain folks at the club have become blinded to the reality of what he does or doesn't do. Slav rightly gave him the hook at halftime which suggests he isn't sacred; at the moment though i'd feel comfier having Obiang's energy/Noble's guile and passing ahead of him. Be fab if he made me wrong, mind!
It was great actually winning a game having been behind; can't remember the last time that happened. Was a huge one for us as it (psychologically at least) kind of validates the run of draws to a degree; it's good for morale both for the players and boss as well as the support to be able to say we've been hard to beat whilst missing our best players, a loss v Saints could've well turned the glass into a half-empty one in most eyes. As it is we're slowly getting our stars back, the likes of Antonio have blossomed pretty well in their absence (and Ginge has shown how indispensable he is when we're missing a defender or two), and fingers crossed we've got our annual injury crisis mainly out the way already to leave us starting 2016 in 8th place, with Payet, Reid, Sakho and Moses all to be added to the 2nd half of the season.
One or two tweaks needed in the window (maybe a RB and another striker), but neither essential if a good deal isn't available - certainly no panic buys needed.
We're alright.