M_Afro
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Everything posted by M_Afro
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We passed the ball around the back 4 a lot and then lost it when we tried to progress it through the midfield. This is what always happens. We look at our best when we bypass the midfield and angle balls into the channels for Ollie to try and win, moving us quickly up the pitch. Sadly this is a tactic that is limited and will never lead to sustained success. We rarely win any second balls. To dominate you keep the ball high up the pitch, pushing the defenders back, moving the ball quickly whilst looking for an opening. When you do lose it, you smoother the opposition and quickly win the ball back, high up the pitch and start again. Of course for a club like us it’s unlikely that we can consistently do that for the duration of a match against the very best and you have to adjust your tactics accordingly but we should be able to do it against at least half of the teams in the league.
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But who’s better? Do you really think that one of this Country’s finest ever centre mids, who spends every day with his players, doesn’t know who his best three centre mids are? You can make arguments for Luis or Sanson based upon your own objective opinions but if you’re really honest we are talking about really fine margins. I would play Bouba, Doug and McGinn personally but is Luis really that much better than JJ? Not really.
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Ok. So why do we never dominate the middle of the park? I can never remember us bossing the game from the middle of the park. We are poor in possession and even worse out of it.
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- aston villa
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I just don’t think we could attract an elite manager though. I would love Poch. He is really class but I just can’t see him coming. I think we could maybe get Rogers as things aren’t looking great at Leicester and I think he would be great but for now let’s get behind our incumbent. What’s the worst that could happen?
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Maybe it’s a bit of an exaggeration but I have never been an Ings fan. I was very much of the opinion that he was a panic buy but he’s been much worse than I feared. He looks done at this level to be fair. I do like Ollie but his form has been terrible for ages. He is young enough to come good and I really hope that he does but he’s miles off at the moment. I do think that we always look better with him in though as a lone striker. I stand by our midfield being the worst in the league. Bouba will hopefully come good but he’s young and new to the league. He needs time to settle. JJ is not good enough to play 8 yet. He is not involved enough in or out of possession. I think his best position would be as one of the 10’s. He has been really bad as an 8 for a long time now. I think the same for McGinn. He needs to be playing higher up the pitch or not at all.
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I agree with this. We are so weak. I think that’s why he is so reluctant to play Emi and Phil together as they are both so small. Bringing Ty back in is a must.
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- season 2022/3
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Why do you think this? Our midfield is possibly the worst in the league and our strikers are probably top end championship level. We have a great GK and our defensive options are pretty good. We have a Gazzilion good options for the 10 slots but the overall balance of the team is poor. We also have a really physically small and weak team. Bring Mings back in for Konsa and buy two beastly 8’s and we would be a different proposition. A new 9 would also be nice and absolutely necessary to be able to say that our first 11 is top 8 quality.
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Look. I was a bit disappointed with the appointment of Gerrard but he does have some substance. He stopped a Celtic juggernaut winning 10 in a row. He did well in Europe and he built a side that went on to get to a European final after he left. I just don’t think the Villa job is attractive enough yet to attract a top manager and so we need to get behind the one that we have. He is at least attracting some good players to the club. If he does fail, hopefully we will have a squad of players that may just attract a higher calibre of manager.
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Remind us how Deano has been getting on since he left!
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That’s the spirit
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I’ve just seen the second goal! Oh dear. A totally free header from the second phase of play following a set piece. That is school boy at best. Mings must still be carrying a bit of a knock. He’s easily been our best centre back since he joined. I suspect he will be back in next week. Hope so too.
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Good to hear that there were at least some positives. Cheers.
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My post is not hysterical in the slightest and I will never be a happy clapper. I do however recognise that we had two players making their PL debuts today, it’s only the first game of the season and we are not yet at the close of the transfer window. It’s not time to lose our composure after an admittedly poor afternoon. If things are no better in 15 games time then let’s start the conversation.
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I didn’t see the game. How did Leon play?
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Absolutely spot on. The most sensible post of the day.
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What an embarrassing bunch of over reacting individuals some of our fans are. Get a grip. This thread is astonishing……….By the way. Poch would never come here in a million years! Support your team or find something else to do. It’s the first game of the season. We were poor. It happens. We’ll be better next time (hopefully!)
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Didn’t we then fail to win any of our next 19? Just goes to show how you get unusual opening day results. I think Bournemouth went on to finish in the top half that year! Anyway. 0-2. UTV
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I watched Arsenal v Palace last night. The Palace team is full of big, strong blokes. I still feel that we are lacking in terms of physicality, particularly in the midfield three. We are desperate for a destroyer in there and I still fear for us until we address this. Hopefully a new 8 will be signed who gives us more energy and physicality in the middle three. If not I can see Tim getting some serious minutes this season. Having him, Bouba and one other suddenly feels a lot better.
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It’s amazing how good we are at working under the radar. Not a sniff of this and then boom! £20m for an eighteen year old. Credit to the management for playing this so effectively.
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One of my work colleagues has just had to cancel his summer holiday. His entire family applied for new passport’s in March. They have all arrived apart from one for his daughter which is still pending. I wouldn’t believe everything you are being told there. Maybe tell your son to hang fire on plans if possible.
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To be honest, they have looked good. Without the ball they are league’s ahead of us. I think they will finish top 4 this season now that they have a decent manager
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Agreed. Our two 8’s have been awful. Totally passed them by. Kamara has also struggled but that’s understandable. Coutinho has been poor too but a lot of that is to do with the lack of quality behind and in front of him. We also need a forward. Ings has been awful. He actually looks disinterested. We need some pace and physicality in midfield and up front.
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I have often thought that he is much better and more effective when he comes on for the last 30 minutes or so, compared to when he starts matches. Maybe Gerrard is getting it spot on and using him in this way is bringing the best out of him. The effective use of subs is becoming more and more important. That’s why Eddie Jones refers to his as finishers. They aren’t reserves or subs, they are specifically chosen to cause damage later on in the match.
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This guy deserves a bump. He was excellent today. If Emi gets injured we have a great deputy to come in and fill the role. Great to see.
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I like Ollie a lot. He has been great for us and I still think he is our first choice number 9 but his miss today is a great example of why he will never be a top player. It was such a great chance. He had all options open to him. He could have scored either side of the keeper, tucked it between his legs or the easiest option to take it round the keeper and roll it into an open net. Instead he hit it straight at the keeper who does make a very good save. A top level striker does not give the keeper a chance there.
