Westham 2 Saints 1 reaction

[sadoldgit]

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.

 

Agreed. It sounds like they have high hopes for Juanmi for the future but we could really do with a game changer or two from the bench now. Players that are first team standard rather than bench warmer standard.

[Whitey Grandad]

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.

 

Well, I've watched MOTD again before deleting it and I stand by what I said. Antonio starts off wide and runs in to attack the goal in case there are any crosses or deflections. Yoshida is a total spectator throughout and hasn't got a clue that Antonio is running in behind him. It's the fullback's job to protect the flanks and watch for anybody attacking from that direction and he failed, and not for the first time when playing in that position. If Antonio's header had gone straight into the goal then we'd all be blaming Yoshida and quite right too. Was Cuco really that bad that Yoshida was a better choice for that position?

[Goatboy]

Well, I've watched MOTD again before deleting it and I stand by what I said. Antonio starts off wide and runs in to attack the goal in case there are any crosses or deflections. Yoshida is a total spectator throughout and hasn't got a clue that Antonio is running in behind him. It's the fullback's job to protect the flanks and watch for anybody attacking from that direction and he failed, and not for the first time when playing in that position. If Antonio's header had gone straight into the goal then we'd all be blaming Yoshida and quite right too. Was Cuco really that bad that Yoshida was a better choice for that position?

 

Cuco was shattered (understandably as he hasn't played much).

[Whitey Grandad]

Cuco was shattered (understandably as he hasn't played much).

 

Ah, thanks. It's a bit of an indictment that we get halfway through the season without a right back who can play a full 90 minutes of every game.

[shurlock]

Well, I've watched MOTD again before deleting it and I stand by what I said. Antonio starts off wide and runs in to attack the goal in case there are any crosses or deflections. Yoshida is a total spectator throughout and hasn't got a clue that Antonio is running in behind him. It's the fullback's job to protect the flanks and watch for anybody attacking from that direction and he failed, and not for the first time when playing in that position. If Antonio's header had gone straight into the goal then we'd all be blaming Yoshida and quite right too. Was Cuco really that bad that Yoshida was a better choice for that position?

 

I bet VVD wasn't even showing up on your screen he was that far off play In the meantime, I suggest you watch replays of spurs 2nd goal to educate yourself about a real example of ballwatching.

Edited 29 December, 2015 by shurlock

[Super_Uwe]

We will not be finishing in the top 7.

Be lucky with top half this season.

 

Enough sides better than saints who will fight it out for Europe

 

To be honest we could well finish 15th or 16th this year, that wouldn't be a massive surprise either.

 

But the league from 5th downwards is extremely tight this year. I very much doubt we will beat last years haul of 60 points, but if we can pick up 32 points from our last 19 games, that will put us on 56 points. This season I reckon that will be enough for 7th, and maybe even 6th.

[Whitey Grandad]

I bet VVD wasn't even showing up on your screen he was that far off play In the meantime, I suggest you watch replays of spurs 2nd goal to educate yourself about a real example of ballwatching.

 

I saw all our players, VVD was in the central area. Thanks for the advice but I don't need any education in ball watching, I've seen enough examples of it this season to last me a lifetime. The big question is: why do they all do it!

[shurlock]

I saw all our players, VVD was in the central area. Thanks for the advice but I don't need any education in ball watching, I've seen enough examples of it this season to last me a lifetime. The big question is: why do they all do it!

 

And what do you think of VVD's position. If he's in position, that cross gets cut out and never makes it to Carroll and gets deflected to Antonio. Simple.

Edited 29 December, 2015 by shurlock

[Whitey Grandad]

And what do you think of VVD's position. If he's in position, that cross gets cut out and never makes it to Carroll and gets deflected to Antonio. Simple.

 

Not really. He was in the correct position for what was actually a pretty feeble attempt at a cross which was deflected up by Fonte's outstretched leg. If Antonio's run gets picked up then he just gets blocked off and doesn't get a chance to make his header. We had both Yoshida and Fonte trying to cover Carroll and Antonio is completely ignored. It's not Virgil's job to be cutting out crosses from wide outside the box, that should be Bertrand's. I think we can both agree that defensively it was a complete shambles all round. I tend to concentrate on the fullbacks because that's where I used to play.

[Noodles34]

To be honest we could well finish 15th or 16th this year, that wouldn't be a massive surprise either.

 

But the league from 5th downwards is extremely tight this year. I very much doubt we will beat last years haul of 60 points, but if we can pick up 32 points from our last 19 games, that will put us on 56 points. This season I reckon that will be enough for 7th, and maybe even 6th.

 

I take it you're not actually being serious?

[Donatello]

Not really. He was in the correct position for what was actually a pretty feeble attempt at a cross which was deflected up by Fonte's outstretched leg. If Antonio's run gets picked up then he just gets blocked off and doesn't get a chance to make his header. We had both Yoshida and Fonte trying to cover Carroll and Antonio is completely ignored. It's not Virgil's job to be cutting out crosses from wide outside the box, that should be Bertrand's. I think we can both agree that defensively it was a complete shambles all round. I tend to concentrate on the fullbacks because that's where I used to play.

 

VVD is in the correct position when the cross comes in? Can't say I agree, he has his back to the ball for starters, he's not set for defending a cross. But as you say, that poses the question of why he was out there to begin with. Still don't think he should be letting Antonio turn though, regardless of his instinct to get back alongside Fonte - if he continues pinning Antonio, the cross doesn't materialise.

[bazza]

On the plus side (off the pitch obviously) the support was pretty good at the game. The 'Mr Moon' chants were very funny!

[Chez]

. Was Cuco really that bad that Yoshida was a better choice for that position?

 

He was poor IMO. Right back a problem, as is left back cover, we haven't solved the midfield issue, we lack a little creativity in the hole, and have next to no options off the bench up front. So, amazingly its just in goal that we perhaps don't need to improve the side. I doubt we will sign anyone on a permanent deal in the window, but perhaps one in on loan.

Edited 30 December, 2015 by Chez

[Whitey Grandad]

VVD is in the correct position when the cross comes in? Can't say I agree, he has his back to the ball for starters, he's not set for defending a cross. But as you say, that poses the question of why he was out there to begin with. Still don't think he should be letting Antonio turn though, regardless of his instinct to get back alongside Fonte - if he continues pinning Antonio, the cross doesn't materialise.

 

I think we must be talking about different situations. For the second goal Antonio starts off wide on our right flank and all alone. He then makes a run towards the far post behind Yoshida's back and gets his head to Fonte's deflection. VVD is over the othe side of the penalty area.

[derry]

I think we must be talking about different situations. For the second goal Antonio starts off wide on our right flank and all alone. He then makes a run towards the far post behind Yoshida's back and gets his head to Fonte's deflection. VVD is over the othe side of the penalty area.

 

Jenkinson had the ball on the right and moved forward passing to Valencia wide on the right, Both Juanmi and Bertrand were wide of Valencia, I didn't see who they were picking up but VVD was right in front of Valencia and could have easily blocked him off, instead he inexplicably ran back towards our penalty area leaving Valencia time to cross before either Bertrand or Juanmi were able to intervene.

 

It struck me that Juanmi and Bertrand thought that VVD would tackle/close down Valencia and were caught out by his decision to back off and leave him free, they then tried to get to him but he had time to cross.