srsmithusa

My rationale my be crazy. but I give MOTM to Gabby. Dunne was a notch above his brilliant. Just as important, maybe more so, to the win... but Gabby was 6 notches above where he's been recently. So, I'll give him the nod. Downing was much better today. Ashley really does seem to be doing well. I even thought Heskey did well in the very unusual role he has been given. He's sort of striker, sort of link-up man, sort of defensive mid-fielder. Strange role in a team line-up but I actually think he's doing it pretty brilliantly. He has to decide when to sacrifice one role to focus on others... requires a lot of intelligent reading of the match.

OH MY ! - I don't find your posts annoyingly hostile, but you do seem to tend toward the critical. If you were impressed and pleased we must have glowed.

Good run out for youngsters and a couple fringe players. No major injuries (apparently). Next round. Job done. Sounds like Delph and Delf both had great showings. It's all good.

3-1 still (until Milners next touch)

Unless he went to school in Brighton of course. Then he would have been very popular indeed. Laugh of the day, there.

Delph scores !!!

I think it's fun reading these pages. The consensus in the first dozen or so is that Villa is an utter shambles and may play in coca-cola next week. Gradually a few interject some positives, eventually a more balanced view comes to play. I thought our midfield 4 bossed their midfield 5 for 90% of the game. Very impressive display of movement and possession passes. I believe the totals were something like 16 corners, 15 shots, 38% of the match in our attacking third. Clearly we put too many crosses too close to Green and too many crosses were too short or too long, but there were at least 10 blocked shots that could have just as easily bounced into a corner of the net than anywhere else. Need to be more precise and ruthless in the final third, no question about it. But a thoroughly dominating performance overall.

I think MON will go Friedel Young, Cuellar, Dunne, Warnock Downing, Petrov, Milner, Young Heskey, Agbonlahor. He's probably right, but i would like to try Guzan Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Warnock Petrov, NRC Downing, Milner, A Young Agbonlahor

Must be resting Delph for Tuesday

I'm just not certain if it speaks volumes about NRC's performance or about the wisdom of the 20 some odd people that voted that way.

I deleted the last of this quote becuase I didn't agree with his proposed solution, but I thought this was a very good analysis of what happened in the match.

Arsenal played well but not their best. They started the match with the clear tactic of "if you lose the ball, foul immediately to prevent the counter." Dowd didn't recognize it, or didn't care. Worse he was clearly not even handed in letting Song go 5 times and booking (was it?) 5 of us. The last card to Delph was especially pointless. But the reason we lost was not their play, or the ref. It was us. We simply didn't perform in front of the back 4. We gave everything away and established no possession at all. Not always long ball, but still, not possession. A midfield like ours has to get a lot of touches on the ball to break an opponent down. We didn't do it. We can. We just didn't. I don't know if our own hype went to our heads or what. If that's the cause, I hope this match helps us realize we can't beat quality opposition just by showing up.

Sunday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday... I can understand the conservative tacticians thinking we could rest somebody on Sunday and put the best team out on Tuesday. But I don't think that's normally MON's style (last year in Moscow as a notable exception) and I like the "go for it every game" approach. I think we'll put our best team out Sunday, after that, you rest the injured, the suspended, and whoever says "I'm not ready to go another 90," on Tuesday. I can understand the argumenet to be tactical about it, but I also like the tactical advantage of a positive attitude...."we put our best availabe team out at every match." That in itself is a positive statement and creates a mental advantage.

I thought MOTM was Milner. He made dozens of brilliant, insightful passes. The fact that the recipients didn't finish the chance doesn't diminish the quality of the passes for me. He played much better than Barry in that creative center midfield role. Then in the end, when we just needed the ball held. There was Jimmy playing keep away deep in the other end. I agree that Dunne and Cuellar were both excellent. Sorenson called into action repeatedly, Brad could have napped. I also agree that Warnock and Downing were not up to their dazzling standards, but I didn't think they were at their best for Sunderland either. But Downing would have the hardest time with the busy schedule and a "whiplash" injury (Warnock picked one up at Man U) often lingers for a while. I think we'll see them back to form in a week.

This, except it's MON, the players, and me.

1) The referee was forced to call the game very tightly because of 3 late, brutal tackles by Sunderland to halt a Villa break. (BTW - I noted in the pre-match thread that Cana was a filthy hack of a player) 2) Anytime a referee starts calling the game very tightly it's always inconcistent becuase it rests entirely on the angle of the view the referee has. Not on the bigger picture.

Who is the referee?

Cana is a filthy hack. Watch your ankles and achilles boys!

Agreed this one is slippery, but I really don't see our defense falling apart today. 2-0 AVFC I still think MON will start the same as ManUre except Collins for Warnock. And I'm OK with that.

I understand those that suggest resting some players with a bit of rotation, but I disagree. I think the milner in the middle, young and downing on the wings is brilliant, but will become better with more time to gel and for each to gain a better understanding / anticipation of where the others will go. I would start with the same line-up if possible. If Warnock can't go, then young to left, cuellar to right, and collins into the middle. On the other hand, with a lead, I would sub NRC for Petrov and Delph for Downing at 50 or 60 minutes in.

Agreed

Heskey made way for Carew

Two footed challenge on Gabby deserved in booking IMO

Our formation is very fluid. (As evidence by Dunne's goal) but it looks lke we're in something most resembling a 4-1-3-1 and running the show. One other note... no sign of changing to a drop back and defend approach. Although Downing looks like he may be getting a little tired.

Somebody whose a stat monster. How many goals and assists does Milner have since moving to the middle (agreed it's only one and a half games so far) I'll bet it's a record anyone would envy.