Maggie May Posted 28 December, 2015 Share Posted 28 December, 2015 Everyone could see them winning a mile off within a minute of the second half kicking off. If we could see that, Koeman should have too and made the relevant changes to preserve the win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obelisk Posted 28 December, 2015 Share Posted 28 December, 2015 Fitness is lacking. Great first half with the pressing but, as usual, missed loads of chances ... and then the inevitable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graffito Posted 28 December, 2015 Share Posted 28 December, 2015 Everyone could see them winning a mile off within a minute of the second half kicking off. If we could see that, Koeman should have too and made the relevant changes to preserve the win. :lol:Nice try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 28 December, 2015 Share Posted 28 December, 2015 Frustrating game. We were the better side in the main, just allow sloppyness at times, when we need to be more clinical throughout the pitch. We really need a settled back 4/5/6, can't see that happening this season and it'll cost us. I think we'll beat Norwich. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 28 December, 2015 Share Posted 28 December, 2015 Fitness is lacking. Great first half with the pressing but, as usual, missed loads of chances ... and then the inevitable. You've got to be kidding? Go back and watch the Arsenal game and the comments, in particular from Arsenal, afterwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obelisk Posted 28 December, 2015 Share Posted 28 December, 2015 You've got to be kidding? Go back and watch the Arsenal game and the comments, in particular from Arsenal, afterwards. Arsenal was a one off. Too many times Saints players don't last the game. Great stuff first half but still often second to the ball. It's been plain for months. Close your eyes if you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suhari Posted 28 December, 2015 Share Posted 28 December, 2015 We were so, so good first half. On another day, or perhaps with a more incisive striker, we'd have been three ahead. Second half we lost the midfield, lacked energy, and weren't flexible enough to adapt. Strong decision on the subs from RK, but ultimately not great. Gaston was very poor, Juanmi decent, but all shape lost. I admire the ambition of the changes, but Claise for Romeu should've happened. Will take the positives from the game. On to the next one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 28 December, 2015 Share Posted 28 December, 2015 Arsenal was a one off. Too many times Saints players don't last the game. Great stuff first half but still often second to the ball. It's been plain for months. Close your eyes if you like. How can it be a one off? Either we're fit enough or we're not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Saint Posted 28 December, 2015 Share Posted 28 December, 2015 (edited) Just back from the game, personal thoughts as follows: - First 5 mins Antonio skinned cucumber and I thought well that's the game on a plate for West Ham today. - I was then shocked that Bilic swopped Antonio to the right and we dominated the first half but we could not turn the possession in to goals, AGAIN. - As soon as horse head came on we froze but personally I don't think Romeo was the problem. I thought he had a good game alround but Victor was as bad second half as he was good the first. - Davis and long lacked a cutting edge as per Koemans post match quotes. - Mane looked out if sorts against a poor West Ham defence. - Yoshida is NOT a right back any more than Cucumber and I am not sure what else Cucumber could have done with the first goal, as bad as it was as if he did not touch it with his head, Antonio was in on goal anyway. (Although I agree it was very poor and did not help!) - We should have kept Antonio to bring off the bench. - Saints fans were 6/10 first half - Sants fans were 2/10 second half from kick off - Mr moon is a ****. Edited 28 December, 2015 by Nick75Sfc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 28 December, 2015 Share Posted 28 December, 2015 Everyone could see them winning a mile off within a minute of the second half kicking off. If we could see that, Koeman should have too and made the relevant changes to preserve the win. Is it Koemans fault too that we missed so many chances? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saints foreva Posted 28 December, 2015 Share Posted 28 December, 2015 Just seen the goals for the first time since the stadium. Disgraceful defending. Everyone ball watches on that second one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obelisk Posted 28 December, 2015 Share Posted 28 December, 2015 How can it be a one off? Just for a change the officials gave us a chance in that game. Occasionally Saints convert some chances ... all in one game and that was one of them. Then they proceed to miss a score in others. Consider goals conceded towards the end of each half. Also consider the poor shooting. Fitness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 28 December, 2015 Share Posted 28 December, 2015 (edited) Just seen the goals for the first time since the stadium. Disgraceful defending. Everyone ball watches on that second one. Have no idea where VVD was for the cross. Was also guilty for the Carroll chance that was blazed over the bar. Got sucked towards Fonte and the ball. VVD has great technique but his football IQ ain't all there. Edited 28 December, 2015 by shurlock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obelisk Posted 28 December, 2015 Share Posted 28 December, 2015 Is it Koemans fault too that we missed so many chances?In the end, well, yes it is if it happens time after time. If Saints were scoring for fun each game then RK would rightfully be getting praised. The lack of clinical finishing has been a problem for many months and precedes this season. It's problem number one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saints foreva Posted 28 December, 2015 Share Posted 28 December, 2015 Have no idea where VVD was for the cross. Was also guilty for the Carroll chance that was blazed over the bar. Got sucked towards Fonte and the ball. VVD has great technique but his football IQ ain't all there. Doubt many will agree but I'd like to see him as a CDM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 28 December, 2015 Share Posted 28 December, 2015 Just seen the goals for the first time since the stadium. Disgraceful defending. Everyone ball watches on that second one. Me too. For the second, why was Yoshida on the pitch if he's just going to wander about spectating? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 (edited) Me too. For the second, why was Yoshida on the pitch if he's just going to wander about spectating? Eh. The goal had much more to do with VVD who was 15+ yards off Fonte. Had he been closer and helping Fonte sandwich Carroll as the first defender, the cross would have most probably been cleared (the height on ball wouldn't have made it past the first man had he been in place). Yoshida was anticipating the ball before it got deflected which left him flatfooted and unable to adjust to the ensuing scramble. Perhaps he should have stayed with the attacker, though to call it ballwatching in the case where the ball was diverted inadvertently into the attacker's path is a stretch. Either way, things should have never reached that stage. Edited 29 December, 2015 by shurlock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsland Red Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 Just back from the game, I must admit my expectations travelling away are not much this season. We missed, what appeared to be from our end ( the opposite end), several good chances when 1-0; and the game totally changed after half time, albeit we still created chances. Juanmi and VVD were unlucky late on, with the Juanmi one looking like a penalty. Another one of those days on the road. Would be good to get something out of Norwich as we need to stay above such teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kermitsaint Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 Sell everyone, sack the board, sell the training ground, sell the stadium, close the forum, get a lynch mob out for Yoshida, dissolve the club We are clearly the worst football team ever... Jesus you are tedious with your hysterical inability to cope with any criticism of the team . I'm genuinely stunned you didn't mention the Chelsea result . Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsbridge Saint Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 We can't play a pressing hassling midfielder like Wanyama who then chooses to stroll around neither pressing or hassling. It's not like he can rely on his sublime first touch, blistering box to box activity, shooting or passing ability either. When he doesn't try, which is pretty much every week (except Arsenal) we are off the pace as a team. Their first goal was a very sloppy 'clearance' from him, that with a bit of care, or a bit of thought could easily have been avoided. As it was the turning point, I am putting this defeat, and the opportunity to turn our season around, down to him. Sooner he buggers off in the window the better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ART Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 Everyone could see them winning a mile off within a minute of the second half kicking off. If we could see that, Koeman should have too and made the relevant changes to preserve the win. Some may mock at what you've posted but I am one who could see them winning(check match thread). Constantly Koeman fails to see what most supporters see of how his team are losing the plot, and what action needs to be taken. I remember Strachan often went to the stand to get a different view of how his players were performing. Perhaps Koeman needs to give it a try. Somewhere he is just not succeeding to read the game fast enough and change tactics in order to save a game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Duckhunter Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 (edited) Some may mock at what you've posted but I am one who could see them winning(check match thread). Constantly Koeman fails to see what most supporters see of how his team are losing the plot, and what action needs to be taken. I remember Strachan often went to the stand to get a different view of how his players were performing. Perhaps Koeman needs to give it a try. Somewhere he is just not succeeding to read the game fast enough and change tactics in order to save a game. So one of the greatest centre halfs & best readers of the game in the past 30 years, a bloke who won the euros & played for Barcelona, needs to sit with the great unwashed to read the game better? I've no doubt whatsoever that he sees things supporters don't even realise happen. The idea that " most supporters" see things that he fails to is just nonsense, saying that they also know what action to take and he doesnt is pure & simply nuts. Its not a ps4 game . Edited 29 December, 2015 by Lord Duckhunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brmbrm Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 Everyone could see them winning a mile off within a minute of the second half kicking off. If we could see that, Koeman should have too and made the relevant changes to preserve the win. I quote this because it is probably the worst example of load of knee-jerking reactive crap here. OK, Maggie may, if you are so omniscient, why are you not managing a premier league club instead of spednng a semi-****ed Monday night on your keyboard? Sorry to pick on you, since there are dozens of others, but clearly you are nowhere near the required standard, so please dont make such sweeping nonsensical generalised assertions. Unless f course you only do it as a wind-up..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkeith Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 If it was a boxing match, the ref would have stopped it at half time. We should have been out of sight. The turning point was Davis's decision to try to lob the keeper, instead of put Long through on goal, acceptable if you are 3 nil up, or your surname is Messi, but not at 1 nil. Both goals were avoidable, with Antonio on the deck, surely the keeper should have just called for it and picked it up. As for the subs, what other attacking options were there ? I would agree with some of the posts about Clasie , if he wasn't fit enough for 30 minutes the Reed should have been on the bench instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shroppie Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 I don't know what was more annoying today . Having to work , listening to Dave ****ing Merrington & that other plum , the half bakes who text in afterwards , or reading some of the comments on here . I can't comment on the game , as I didn't see it , but my take on it is this . 3 points out of Arsenal & today is ok . We are ( like West Ham ) in the 7-18 band of clubs and are pretty inconsistent . There's no point in harking on about Morgan or Toby & no point in thinking we're going to " push on" and spend money in Jan .We spend sensibly & buy mid table type players , sometimes you get lucky & these type of players flourish , but in the main they'll get you mid table . They are honest hard working pros , but they will deliver results and inconsistency like today . We shouldn't get too down and complain that we didn't play like we did against Arsenal , just enjoy The Arsenal days when they come along . Palace , Stoke & Leicester will be just as inconsistent as us over the next 5 years , it's just their turn to peak this year . What do people think that we were going to be the " best of the rest " season after season or were going to join the elite clubs? Let's just be thankful we're not Sunderland , Villia or Newcastle and not run or managed like them. Sanity! Thank you! Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goatboy Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 Painful losing having been in front and in total control, but the substitutions were not to blame. I am not sure who was. It was more about missed opportunities, especially Davies' absolute load of toss lob when it looked easier to score or indeed to set up a colleague. I wish it wasn't today, but have to say I am glad Antonio finally got his chance at West Ham, after shining at Forrest last season and Wednesday before that. He is One of my all time favourite Saints players. Yes I know his limitations, but He showed exactly the sort of pacey powerful running with the ball that we need to get Mane doing again. Love that type of player. Despite the loss we do look to have got some of our confidence back, although West Ham look a poor side with the injuries they have, so we may not have turned the corner fully yet. I'm usually in agreement with your football views Chez but Antonio hasn't had the ball under control since leaving Saints. Not for me thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northam soul Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 What the **** is going on with Mane as he is just not doing it lately. For the Davis haters I thought he was excellent 1st half but as poor as the rest of them after the break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 I don't know what was more annoying today . Having to work , listening to Dave ****ing Merrington & that other plum , the half bakes who text in afterwards , or reading some of the comments on here . I can't comment on the game , as I didn't see it , but my take on it is this . 3 points out of Arsenal & today is ok . We are ( like West Ham ) in the 7-18 band of clubs and are pretty inconsistent . There's no point in harking on about Morgan or Toby & no point in thinking we're going to " push on" and spend money in Jan .We spend sensibly & buy mid table type players , sometimes you get lucky & these type of players flourish , but in the main they'll get you mid table . They are honest hard working pros , but they will deliver results and inconsistency like today . We shouldn't get too down and complain that we didn't play like we did against Arsenal , just enjoy The Arsenal days when they come along . Palace , Stoke & Leicester will be just as inconsistent as us over the next 5 years , it's just their turn to peak this year . What do people think that we were going to be the " best of the rest " season after season or were going to join the elite clubs? Let's just be thankful we're not Sunderland , Villia or Newcastle and not run or managed like them. Amen to that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 Or rather not selling our best players year after year and so retaining the quality we need to push on. We didn't sell Wanyama, look at his performances this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 If it was a boxing match, the ref would have stopped it at half time. We should have been out of sight. The turning point was Davis's decision to try to lob the keeper, instead of put Long through on goal, acceptable if you are 3 nil up, or your surname is Messi, but not at 1 nil. Both goals were avoidable, with Antonio on the deck, surely the keeper should have just called for it and picked it up. As for the subs, what other attacking options were there ? I would agree with some of the posts about Clasie , if he wasn't fit enough for 30 minutes the Reed should have been on the bench instead. If it was a boxing match, the ref would have never stopped that. You make it sound as if we were consistently working Adrian, creating clear-cut chances. Nope. To extend your metaphor, we were commanding the centre of ring, landing some good punches with plenty of clinching by Wham as a result. But we never really had them reeling on the ropes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 I quote this because it is probably the worst example of load of knee-jerking reactive crap here. OK, Maggie may, if you are so omniscient, why are you not managing a premier league club instead of spednng a semi-****ed Monday night on your keyboard? Sorry to pick on you, since there are dozens of others, but clearly you are nowhere near the required standard, so please dont make such sweeping nonsensical generalised assertions. Unless f course you only do it as a wind-up..... In fairness at halftime I had a feeling we'd go on to lose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goatboy Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 What the **** is going on with Mane as he is just not doing it lately. For the Davis haters I thought he was excellent 1st half but as poor as the rest of them after the break. Agree. I reckon Mané is carrying a knock of some description. And both Davis and Romeu were excellent in the first half. We just ran out of steam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 (edited) Doubt many will agree but I'd like to see him as a CDM. I would like to see him play there, maybe in a preseason friendly, especially once VW goes. He's good on the ball and might allow us to drive forward from central positions in a way none of our other DMs do (or even Morgan did). Saying that, unless we have another CB with suitable pace -and they don't grow on trees, probably best he remains at CB. And let's not underestimate the positional nous that DM requires, even if mistakes don't tend to be costly as those by CBs. Edited 29 December, 2015 by shurlock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 I'm usually in agreement with your football views Chez but Antonio hasn't had the ball under control since leaving Saints. Not for me thanks! You might just well be right there, but he doesn't half scare the **** out of fullbacks. Mane is certainly an upgrade, but we need him taking the full back on a little more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goatboy Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 You might just well be right there, but he doesn't half scare the **** out of fullbacks. Mane is certainly an upgrade, but we need him taking the full back on a little more. Agree. It's no coincidence that a dip in form for three of our most influential players (Mané, Wanyama and Pelle) has left us looking vulnerable. Mané looks like he's carrying an injury to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldNick Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 I can only give my view from watching Match choice on Sky. I was fully expecting after reading some of the reaction on here to see a wonderful flowing first half by Saints with chance after chance going begging. Sadly I was disappointed, and though we looked the dominant side (the ball in the air a lot with head tennis between the sdies) Antonio is still a raw talent but his strength and power was something we could do with. He seemed to terrify us and of course Carrol scares our centre backs and the mayhem seemed to duly follow. Still at 1-0 our most experienced player had the chance to slip an easy pass for us to be one on one but chose to lob, which if he had done it properly would have been superb but it was a 'in 2 minds lob' and became a back pass. I saw on the thread that Martina had messed up and was waiting for a bad back pass or something but it seems to me he stretched to head the ball and didn't get enough power allowing the hungry Antonio to get away and it was going to be a penalty if he didn't score anyway. The subs were odd in my opinion, bringing on 2 lightweights and taking off pace. Anyway the game went from us and the euphoria of the other was gone. We need to get a draw minimum against Norwich and hopefully get someone in to bolster the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shroppie Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 In the cold light of day this was frustrating and annoying but not a disaster. We set out to batter them early with pace and movement and succeeded, except we should have had 2-3 more goals. Perhaps RK could have responded differently to their subs, but he tried to keep the same game going. If he'd brought on defensive options the criticism on here would be just as bad if we'd sat back and conceded. As it was, their first goal, which lifted them and frustrated us, was pure freak. Don't see how it could gave been avoided. Easy to say Stek should have picked it up, but there was such a crowd and Antonio could still have swung a boot so wasn't really on. Wanyama did the right thing but got unlucky. The second had an element of luck too - the initial cross was half intercepted and looped up perfectly for Antonio. Agreed we then reacted far too slowly. The subs were bold. Can only assume Mane was knackered or carrying a knock. Clasie and JWP would have been good options to protect a lead, but I won't criticise going for the attacking option. And the criticism if individual players isn't warranted. There were plenty of good performances until fatigue caught up. On to Norwich, with confidence. Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitzhugh Fella Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 Is it Koemans fault too that we missed so many chances? Partially as a lack of a cutting edge is a long-standing problem he has yet to address satisfactorily. An Austin-like player (or even the man himself) instead of Juanmi and our season would have been a lot better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitzhugh Fella Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 Agree. I reckon Mané is carrying a knock of some description. And both Davis and Romeu were excellent in the first half. We just ran out of steam. But why didn't West Ham run out of steam as well? Serious question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goatboy Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 But why didn't West Ham run out of steam as well? Serious question. I don't think they did anything much different in the second half. They put the massive horse head on up front and Noble dropped deeper to get on the ball a little more. Our intensity dropped which gave them more space and most importantly, momentum. They weren't fitter than us, just took their (lucky) chances. We should have been out of sight by half time, seen off the first 15/20 of pressure in the 2nd, job done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 (edited) I don't think they did anything much different in the second half. They put the massive horse head on up front and Noble dropped deeper to get on the ball a little more. Our intensity dropped which gave them more space and most importantly, momentum. They weren't fitter than us, just took their (lucky) chances. We should have been out of sight by half time, seen off the first 15/20 of pressure in the 2nd, job done. They also had more options off the bench than us, even for a side plagued by injuries. Lanzini's introduction probably had a bigger impact than Carroll's (btw Noble couldn't do any worse after his first half display). Edited 29 December, 2015 by shurlock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St_Tel49 Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 It's games like this that make you realise if we want to push on as a club Steven Davis just isn't quite there in terms of ability. Massive missed chance and then if he had played decent ball to long when one on one we'd have won. You are a broken record , aren't you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goatboy Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 They also had more options off the bench than us, even for a side plagued by injuries. Lanzini's introduction probably had a bigger impact than Carroll's (btw Noble was pretty poor). Not Noble's best game I agree but he makes them tick. Agree about their bench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALWAYS_SFC Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 Jesus you are tedious with your hysterical inability to cope with any criticism of the team . I'm genuinely stunned you didn't mention the Chelsea result . Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk And you are just as tedious with your clueless continual slagging of the team, guess we will just have to put up with each other or put on ignore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kermitsaint Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 And you are just as tedious with your clueless continual slagging of the team, guess we will just have to put up with each other or put on ignore Good try but I have not commented on this latest game ? Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derry Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 Have no idea where VVD was for the cross. Was also guilty for the Carroll chance that was blazed over the bar. Got sucked towards Fonte and the ball. VVD has great technique but his football IQ ain't all there. Valencia had the ball out on the right but had no tracker, no idea where Bertrand had got to, VVD was coming out to close him down but just as he was getting in range to close him down he inexplicably decided to leave him and try and get back into the middle. That left VVD in no mans land allowing Valencia the comfort of all the time in the world to cross without pressure. A really poor decision, once he had come out he had to close down Valencia. He has spent too much time playing in poor leagues and his ball watching and decision making is costing us goals. Palace and Spurs as an example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALWAYS_SFC Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 Ran out of steam 2nd half Should have killed the game 1st half though And 2 of the most luckiest goal I be seen in a long time Perfect summary, in a few words, particularly the last line Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goatboy Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 Valencia had the ball out on the right but had no tracker, no idea where Bertrand had got to, VVD was coming out to close him down but just as he was getting in range to close him down he inexplicably decided to leave him and try and get back into the middle. That left VVD in no mans land allowing Valencia the comfort of all the time in the world to cross without pressure. A really poor decision, once he had come out he had to close down Valencia. He has spent too much time playing in poor leagues and his ball watching and decision making is costing us goals. Palace and Spurs as an example. And yet he has been more consistent and in better form than our captain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donatello Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 Valencia had the ball out on the right but had no tracker, no idea where Bertrand had got to, VVD was coming out to close him down but just as he was getting in range to close him down he inexplicably decided to leave him and try and get back into the middle. That left VVD in no mans land allowing Valencia the comfort of all the time in the world to cross without pressure. A really poor decision, once he had come out he had to close down Valencia. He has spent too much time playing in poor leagues and his ball watching and decision making is costing us goals. Palace and Spurs as an example. It was all a bit of a co*k-up between VVD, Bertrand, and Juanmi. Juanmi had tracked back well, and Bertrand, rather than standing on Valencia, decided to go with whoever Juanmi was tracking, at which point VVD probably thinks it's 2 on 2 so retreats, but Juanmi was in no man's land because of his earlier tracking (which he can't be blamed for). Ultimately, VVD shouldn't depart the scene, but I don't like the way Bertrand leaves the wide players with too much to do. He did something similar to Mane away at Liverpool. Forcing the wide players to close two players which they don't have a realistic chance of achieving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackanorySFC Posted 29 December, 2015 Share Posted 29 December, 2015 Honestly not going to miss Upton Park. Pain in the **** to get to and back from, the surrounding area is a complete dump, no beer/ food at half time (who's great idea was this, it almost caused a riot?) and shockingly high prices (before SFC subsidised by 50%). Their new council house/ stadium that we as tax payers funded will definitely be an upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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