Con Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 Repeat of last year, excellent result against Liverpool (this year Southampton) then the wheels came off. Vlaar out for 135 minutes, 4 goals conceded. Could have been many more in both games. Just against Fulham today it could have been many more, we cleared twice off the line and had the goal frame hit twice. Nobody knows how we didn't concede more against Southampton. Against Man Utd next week, it's going to be a cricket score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantis Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 Repeat of last year, excellent result against Liverpool (this year Southampton) then the wheels came off. Vlaar out for 135 minutes, 4 goals conceded. Could have been many more in both games. Just against Fulham today it could have been many more, we cleared twice off the line and had the goal frame hit twice. Nobody knows how we didn't concede more against Southampton. Against Man Utd next week, it's going to be a cricket score. Bit premature don't you think? I mean, Vlaar got injured last season in late November if I'm not mistaken. We coped ok without him for a few games and then the wheels came off for some reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwan Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 For once I think Con is right. It will not be pretty on defense as long as Vlaar is out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgyknees Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 The problem is Baker, too raw and naive. Easily pulled about. Having a DM in defence next to him is no help either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Con Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Repeat of last year, excellent result against Liverpool (this year Southampton) then the wheels came off. Vlaar out for 135 minutes, 4 goals conceded. Could have been many more in both games. Just against Fulham today it could have been many more, we cleared twice off the line and had the goal frame hit twice. Nobody knows how we didn't concede more against Southampton. Against Man Utd next week, it's going to be a cricket score. Bit premature don't you think? I mean, Vlaar got injured last season in late November if I'm not mistaken. We coped ok without him for a few games and then the wheels came off for some reason. Man Utd are smarting from being beaten twice in a row and being 9th in the table. They've got nothing better to do than thrash the team just below them in the table to make themselves feel good again. If we don't get thrashed then I'd conclude the defence has improved and this won't happen again. I'd be tempted with this line up. Lowton, Clark, Herd, Baker, Luna - Bacuna, El Ahmadi, Delph - Kozak, Agbonlahor The most resilient line up we have available. Kozak - used to be a CB before he turned striker, so he will be better defending set pieces than Benteke. Agbonlahor - plays at home for this one because against Man Utd we'll need his counter-attack. When we attack, Bacuna and Delph can cover LB, RB positions when Lowton and Luna push forward. Herd - man-marks Rooney or Van Persie, whichever is considered easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pembers Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 (edited) Repeat of last year, excellent result against Liverpool (this year Southampton) then the wheels came off. Vlaar out for 135 minutes, 4 goals conceded. Could have been many more in both games. Just against Fulham today it could have been many more, we cleared twice off the line and had the goal frame hit twice. Nobody knows how we didn't concede more against Southampton. Against Man Utd next week, it's going to be a cricket score. Bit premature don't you think? I mean, Vlaar got injured last season in late November if I'm not mistaken. We coped ok without him for a few games and then the wheels came off for some reason. Man Utd are smarting from being beaten twice in a row and being 9th in the table. They've got nothing better to do than thrash the team just below them in the table to make themselves feel good again. If we don't get thrashed then I'd conclude the defence has improved and this won't happen again. I'd be tempted with this line up. Lowton, Clark, Herd, Baker, Luna - Bacuna, El Ahmadi, Delph - Kozak, Agbonlahor The most resilient line up we have available. Kozak - used to be a CB before he turned striker, so he will be better defending set pieces than Benteke. Agbonlahor - plays at home for this one because against Man Utd we'll need his counter-attack. When we attack, Bacuna and Delph can cover LB, RB positions when Lowton and Luna push forward. Herd - man-marks Rooney or Van Persie, whichever is considered easier. Delphs suspended due to 5 yellow cards. I would consider putting Herd int CM. I thought he was okay when he had his stint in the team there. United's central midfield is pretty weak physically if Fellaini is still out. I imagine if someone is set up to mark Cleverley and rough him up it would essentially take him out of the game (not that he does a lot anyway) I think Herd could do a good job at putting himself about and just being a nuisance to their players, I think he's got decent defensive qualities but we can all see that he's just not a CB. Sylla would normally be the first choice for this kind of role but he really hasn't got me convinced with his performances so far this season. Edited December 9, 2013 by Pembers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodgyknees Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Repeat of last year, excellent result against Liverpool (this year Southampton) then the wheels came off. Vlaar out for 135 minutes, 4 goals conceded. Could have been many more in both games. Just against Fulham today it could have been many more, we cleared twice off the line and had the goal frame hit twice. Nobody knows how we didn't concede more against Southampton. Against Man Utd next week, it's going to be a cricket score. Bit premature don't you think? I mean, Vlaar got injured last season in late November if I'm not mistaken. We coped ok without him for a few games and then the wheels came off for some reason. Man Utd are smarting from being beaten twice in a row and being 9th in the table. They've got nothing better to do than thrash the team just below them in the table to make themselves feel good again. If we don't get thrashed then I'd conclude the defence has improved and this won't happen again. I'd be tempted with this line up. Lowton, Clark, Herd, Baker, Luna - Bacuna, El Ahmadi, Delph - Kozak, Agbonlahor The most resilient line up we have available. Kozak - used to be a CB before he turned striker, so he will be better defending set pieces than Benteke. Agbonlahor - plays at home for this one because against Man Utd we'll need his counter-attack. When we attack, Bacuna and Delph can cover LB, RB positions when Lowton and Luna push forward. Herd - man-marks Rooney or Van Persie, whichever is considered easier. Delph is suspended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantis Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Repeat of last year, excellent result against Liverpool (this year Southampton) then the wheels came off. Vlaar out for 135 minutes, 4 goals conceded. Could have been many more in both games. Just against Fulham today it could have been many more, we cleared twice off the line and had the goal frame hit twice. Nobody knows how we didn't concede more against Southampton. Against Man Utd next week, it's going to be a cricket score. Bit premature don't you think? I mean, Vlaar got injured last season in late November if I'm not mistaken. We coped ok without him for a few games and then the wheels came off for some reason. Man Utd are smarting from being beaten twice in a row and being 9th in the table. They've got nothing better to do than thrash the team just below them in the table to make themselves feel good again. If we don't get thrashed then I'd conclude the defence has improved and this won't happen again. Not saying that it will be an easy game or that there isn't a chance of a thrashing, just saying that it might not turn out like that. Bizarrely we managed to keep 3 clean sheets in the space of about 3 weeks when Vlaar was out last season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Con Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantis Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 You only just found out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Dodgyknees Posted December 9, 2013 Popular Post Share Posted December 9, 2013 You only just found out? He doesn't watch games. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwan Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Unrelated but I love that gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wainy316 Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 We really need Ron back don't we. Typical we lose our two best centre backs (one for the whole season). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skruff Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 We really need Ron back don't we. Typical we lose our two best centre backs (one for the whole season). I still wondering why Okore is being labled as our best centerback after only playing a few games. He did look very very promising though, but with the tremendous steps Clark has made and considering Okore only played a handful of games i think it's a rather bold statement. (I was about to type state boldment, lol) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coda Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 This "news" about Vlaar being out for 2-3 weeks seems to have originated form AVFC Transfer Tweet. Is this guy actually connected? No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
romavillan Posted December 9, 2013 VT Supporter Share Posted December 9, 2013 physio room's list has him as failign a late fitness test for expected comeback on the 8th. if that's true he could well start against united after training all week. please god let that be true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mantis Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Yeah, you would've thought that if he had a late fitness test yesterday then he'd probably make the team for this Sunday's game. Fingers crossed. Despite Delph's recent form I actually think Vlaar is probably the most important player to our team - captain, great defender, drives the ball out from the back and will often create things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 (edited) Lambert is optimistic his lay-off will be a matter of weeks rather than months. “I don’t know how long Ron is going to be out,” he added. “It’s hard to say, but it’s not as bad as his last one was last year. Things are a lot more positive. I don’t think it’ll be months. “I don’t know about the United game, it depends how he’s feeling.” Edited December 9, 2013 by PaulC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVTuco Posted December 9, 2013 VT Supporter Share Posted December 9, 2013 (edited) "I don't think it'll be months"!!!! Better not be. Edited December 9, 2013 by AVTuco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVFCforever1991 Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 You only just found out? He doesn't watch games. Well, only Crystal Palace games... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts