Deeney was ready to rip the back of the net with a wholesome half-volley from a Parades cross in the first half yesterday; Ighalo was a quarter yard in front of him and slightly wrong footed and got to it first, sending it wide.
Think the 1881 criticism is harsh. They're decent every week, if the atmosphere is poor it's because no one else joins in imo.
Rarely have a view following performances, but we weren't up to scratch. Since we tonked Liverpool I thought we would have set ourselves a standard. Truth is, we haven't come close to that level of performance since. For me, it's the style of play which is not always good to watch, but when we play that way there's got to be a reason behind it. For me, it's the lack of creativity in midfield. At one point yesterday we had three defensive midfielders on the pitch in a game we should be pressing forward. It's that lack of creatively which forces us into being more direct. And when that doesn't work we seem to struggle to change the game plan. Deeney and Ighalo have become the victim of their own successes, and for that reason alone teams are marking them out the game. The only difference with yesterday is that Amrabat attracted attention, resulting in being double marked. This isn't a criticism but merely an observation, but interestingly, when Jurado is fit, we could for the first time this season have the capabilities to play a more fluid 442 formation with a game plan that isn't solely focussed on the two front men.
This shows just how wrong you are <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FFZC9dmiahc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Totally agree, Amrabat was superb and causing problems.....we didn't have a decent attack after he departed
Nice finish, but he was left unmarked standing at the back post 8 yards from goal - a striker should be scoring that whatever the level. Opportunities like that don't come around very often in the Prem though, which means that strikers need to have more to their game. His technique has come on in leaps and bounds since arriving, and he's good for this level in the number 10 role and as a backup number 9, but his lack of mobility really holds him back and makes him ineffective in games against well organised teams where space is at a premium.
The difference was that they played into the channels, particularly to King, whereas in the last half hour we played hopeless looping balls aimlessly down the middle and usually found the head of Francis...
A disappointing game, but Bournemouth are always a threat, so we did well to contain it, Gomes in particular. Amrabat was a bit huff and puff against Leeds but was my MOTM today. You can see he has ability there, which he will express as the games pass by, but he worked bloody hard today and was responsible for most the attacking impotus we had. Once we hit this magical 40 point mark I would favour a return to the formation we started with 4-2-3-1 - as I can see Jurado, Amrabat and either Abdi/Ighalo working well behind Deeney. For DM I can't see Watson or Berhami being dropped at present, so I think he's going to rotate Capoue with Suarez - who also looked effective when he came on. Parades was the other highlight for me, I'm the last person to sing his praises but he's had two strong and effective games now, and he managed to keep the very dangerous Gradel contained all game, and got forward very well. The biggest positive for me is that we are quietly building some depth in that he trusts to bring on 2-3 subs a game now. We are still short of backup for Deeney, but every other position is well covered.
It's all been said about the game in the comments. I know some have said for Duxbury to go about the UGT but for me, he has to go due to the lack of coach parking facilities. I am bloody fed up of queuing to get up Occupation Road each game due to the fact the Watford team bus blocks the top every single bloody week!:rant::rant:
Arambat MOTM for me too. Think we re going to see some cracking stuff in the next few games...if he can keep Jurado out of the team.
My thoughts on the game: Britos MOTM. Immense display and immaculate facial hair. I love him Jurado's absence has really highlighted his importance. He's comfortably in the top 5 players ever to play for us The holebas/ake conundrum is horrible. We are more of a threat with holebas in the team, but how do you drop ake? Ighalo is getting worse by the week. Suarez will run the show next season. **** game
Liverpool was the complete performance from start to finish.... In the games you mention I'm not convinced we played better and even if we did it wasn't for the entire 90 minutes.
I didn't say we played better in those, just that I don't agree that we haven't come close to the Liverpool performance since, even if as you say it wasn't sustained over the full 90 minutes. Who knows, maybe we have another one of those up our sleeves before the season's end - and what better test of that than the next two matches!
Too many players had an off day on Saturday. Deeney and Capoue were the most obvious ones, I thought the defensive quartet had good games and Amrabat had his best match since joining us but we were carrying too many players, even Watson looked jaded after half an hour. One positive is that we played very poorly and Bournemouth played at their very best but still weren't good enough to beat us! I suggest on Wednesday night we give Capoue a rest, I think he's needed one for a few weeks now. Also I would be as bold to suggest that we start with both Ake and Holebas to give us some attacking width on the left, but that could be seen as suicide as if we drop Capoue I'd want Abdi in his place.
I've seen a lot about how great Gradal was... Am I alone in thinking he was pretty rubbish? I barely remember him touching the ball, and I can only remember him beating Parades once and Parades is hardly the best defender in the world.
I seem to be alone in having really enjoyed the match. The result was always in doubt, Parades and Amrabat had their best games for us, and stupendous saves from Gomes saved us a point. I didn't enjoy finding the view from my new seat for next season, though.
Gradel looked pretty nifty. Turned 3 players inside out at one point and came away with the ball. Got a few "woahs" from us in the lower GT for that. Very pacey and direct, good balance which seems to come from smaller players like Sanchez, Hazard, Silva etc. Wouldn't complain if he was in our side. Most has been said about the game on here so won't go into too much myself other than things from my perspective of the ground. It was bloody freezing. I mean, really bloody freezing. Coldest I've been this season. Paredes little move was absolutely awesome from 20 yards away. Thaaaaat's showboatin'! He is getting better with every game and going forward is more of a menace than Nyom, just Nyom is probable the better defensive of the 2. Suarez's touch was superb when he came on. Ball pelted into his chest about 200mph brought down on a sixpence and sprayed a decent ball off. Has a touch of class that we will see much more of going forward. Amrabat was brilliant. MOTM as most have said. Took on players with ease and is growing in confidence you feel. The take on of their player and cross to Ighalo was one of those things where you think this guy can be a game changer in a split second. If Ighalo could pass then we'd score 20 more goals this season. Another couple of clear pass opportunities turned down to players in much better positions. I know there is a need for a striker to be selfish, but add 5-10 season assists to his game and you could probably add £5m to the pricetag. Finally, can't remember who had the blazing shot, but one of the Bournemouth team are going to have a ball shaped imprint on their arse for at least 3 weeks.
I thought exactly the same during the game but couldn't be bothered to post it on here and cause a huge reaction. I remember thinking during the game how useless he looked and that if this was the player Bournemouth fans say they have been missing then I think they are just using his long term injury as an excuse their lowly position. Based on his performance he was a championship player at best and rarely actually did anything effective with the ball other than retain it down the line for a while before being easily dispossessed.
This implies Bournemouth don't get decisions their way in the Prem. Rock bottom, we are midtable (obviously just one sites opinion) http://www.teamtalk.com/news/ref-review-the-incorrect-decisions-from-matchday-27?
Saturday was Gradel's first action in six months after a cruciate ligament injury. Will probably take him a few games to get properly up to speed.
