by el_stinger » Mon Nov 13, 2006 12:08 am
The reality is, is that when we approach the big 3 games with a defensive mindset, we automatically resign ourselves to the fact that we cannot win.
What is the point in having players with a winning mentality, when all we are going to do away from home is set up shop, and defend?
Starting Crouch against ARSEnal was a big mistake. Bellamy, sure, his confidence is shot at the mo, but now is not the time to bench him. He needs game time to make it happen, and history suggests that Crouch, Mori and Cissy all had plenty of time to get into a rythm, why is Bellamy not given the same support.
As someone said ^ there, Gonzo will come good. He is a kid, he is learning, and will need game time to develop. Best thing at the moment is that he is having a crack at opposition. He gets his head down and is prepared to take them on in attack, something that we are lacking. The thing he needs to learn is what to do when he is in the position to cross/shoot/pass/hold. With Rafa's constant changing in formation its easy for us to see why there is confusion in the last third of the pitch.
Why did Rafa take Hyypia off last night? He did nothing wrong, and shouldn't be a scapegoat. Zenden was at fault for the first goal, he should have marked much tighter, and Gerrard should have marked Gallas all the way in the third. I really hope Hyypia was injured because there is no other explanation other than game time for Agger. But then again, whats the point in putting the lad on for 10 minutes?
There are too many passengers in the squad at the moment. Too many players waiting for something to happen, and not too many that make it happen. Momo, Gonzo, Kuyt and Bellamy at the moment are the only shining lights in showing some sort of passion, whether it be tracking back or taking the game to the opposition. They should not be flamed because they fail at the last hurdle, they are giving it a shot which is much more than the rest are doing.
I am completely fed up with losing $ at the TAB. I back my team every week, and I put my money where my mouth is. Of course the Title is a distant memory now, as it has been for the last 16 years. But we can see that 4th spot is now dramatically moving away so fast that it will be hard to catch up.
Our away form is disastrous, and its not just to the big 3. The big difference between home and away games is the fact that we take the game to the opposition at home, and we are content to defend away. The 4-5-1 formation does not work, and the insistance to stay with it can only be down to the hard-headedness of Rafa. We can't play like that, and lowly teams have showed that if you take the game to the opposition and boss the game, the big 3 can't cope. Sure you leave yourself open to the counter, but with the defence leaking goals like my grandma's water retention problem, whats the point in sticking with this failed formation?
Back yourselves in boys, you can do much better than your showing us at the moment, and that's the most frustrating part. We know you are better than this, and we expect great things from you. Believe, and anything is possible.
Last edited by
el_stinger on Mon Nov 13, 2006 12:11 am, edited 1 time in total.