| A really pleasing win, with a few thoughts 03:07 - Jan 18 with 490 views | ashtonscoffeecup |
Firstly, I think that was a solid professional win by the boys yesterday. Helped hugely by getting that early goal which I'm sure they were delighted to get, was a lovely move by highly intelligent players in the key attacking positions.
I felt we completely dominated, but lets be honest, Blackburn were absolutely dire. Part due to us making it impossible for them to do anything, part them just being poor. We switched off for 5/10mins in that second half and almost seemed to try and gift them a goal to make things more interesting. But their lack of quality was clear to see that they didn't make the most of those chances. I do think we'd have been punished had that been a team in the top 8 - fortunately it wasn't.
Special shout out to Nunez, Furlong and Jack Taylor.
Nunez; Jeez this guy can play. Have to admit I knew very little of him from his time with them, and did wonder if the hype was purely around the transfer more than his ability. But he's really becoming our most important player of late. Makes us tick, makes others around him better, busy, clever. He's worth the entrance fee alone.
Furlong; If we go up VAR will not be his friend, I saw a thread around him and the dark arts, and I do think he is very lucky at times. That said, he's an extremely strong right back. Wins his battles, looks comfortable on the ball, and again, makes us tick over nicely.
JT; proper bite to him, loves to stick in a hefty tackle when he can sense the game is going a little flat. He covered so much grass yesterday.
*Kipre is likely my favourite current player - but his 8/10 weekly seems a standard thing these days so end up overlooking how solid he is.
Now, if I may (and I know that some on here get a little upset if negatives are called out - but there's enough positives to hopefully calm them down)
Walton had very very little to do yesterday, but made a couple of really poor choices when he was playing it out. He was facing Azor and could see how closely he was being marked/tracked and gave the ball to him, nearly costing us a goal at a key time in the game, I felt that was a really poor "in game decision" from him. Yes his manager wants him to play that way, but use your brain in those moments, that pass was not on at that time.
For anyone saying "we don't need a striker" or "KM will be happy with the squad he's got" that's just kidding yourself really, isn't it? preparing for the worse that we don't actually sign one. Hirst had a couple of good touches, but reverted to factory settings when he fell over his feet, and looked chaotic when he got in a couple of good positions. We are crying out for some quality up there to take a few of the multiple chances we create. We are heading for a tight finish at the top here, and that striker is the difference between 1st/2nd or 3rd
Final point, and likely to be the only thing some will take from this post, is on Walle. This isn't about price, but about his contribution since arriving. I take the points that he's 19, that he's in a different country, that he's away from home, and that he will be inconsistent. All those things in mind, I just don't feel we are seeing enough quality from him, from someone that is getting a lot of game time. He's not a few sub appearances into his ITFC career, he is getting proper game time.
I don't believe this is down to instruction from his manager, but the constant cutting inside really hurts us, he limits the ability to get in a good cross by doing so and more often than not hits the first man. For a guy who's highlights reel (pre joining) were of frightening shots from distance, his shooting has been really tame/weak. He seems to lose the ball when not really even attempting a high risk move, or a difficult bit of skill.
He had a 5/10 mins spell in the second half where he was on par with the rest of the team and seemed a key part in a few moves.... but is that really all we can hope for from him? I'd like to think not really.
His best game was Vs QPR for me, getting at his man, right footed crosses, looked dangerous. So we know he can do it, just so very little am i personally seeing anything from him.
On to Tuesday we go, 6 points in these 2 games is so important with the away games we have coming up. Seeing Morsy back here will likely take the headlines, and I hope we don't give him too much love and focus on the lads in blue that want to be here for us now.
Thanks
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| A really pleasing win, with a few thoughts on 10:57 - Jan 18 with 216 views | jasondozzell |
Glad you got the positives in! 😉
Agree about Nunez, Furlong and Taylor standing out yesterday. And as you say Kipre but he is doing that every game at the moment.
Nunez has such quick feet and great vision doesn't he. Lovely weight of passing too.
Thought Walton was great yesterday in the build up. The pass to Azor you're talking about wasn't a mistake - it's the risk/reward thing again. If Azor ISN'T being closely marked/tracked it doesn't have any value as a pass. It was a foul on Azor. No need to worry.
Hirst had a good game. I don't think KM judges number 9s by goals really and never has. It's about the team play. You're not going to find many better than Hirst at that. I suspect a number 10 is more important. Let's see.
Think you're being very harsh on Egeli. He's already scored crucial goals this season. He's developing. We've bought the potential not the finished product. KM is helping him adjust to a big step up. He's worked with him for a few months. Patience.
Momentum is with us. COYB. |  | | |
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