Pondering the Blackburn game

[Guest SLK]

Firstly, big cheers to the amazing NUFC fans who were the 12 player on the field today. They deserved a better result but it wasn't for lack of effort from the players who I think it was probably one of the best displays of passion, heart and effort by the players this season. Hard luck boys.

 

That said, I think with all the good play by our players, we still lacked the players with cutting edge, magic who can turn games around and get goals out of no where. Two weak points in our team were visible again for every to see:

- We lack free kick specialists. Since Robert, Shearer and more recently Solano left, we have been very poor in turning dangerous direct free kicks outside the box into goals. Opposing teams used to fear giving us fouls next the box since most of these chances  used to come off as goals but it hasn't been the case for a few seasons now and this needs to be addressed ASAP. We can't underestimate the importance of this role as we have seen this season we got undone by few such wonderful free kicks from other teams against us.

 

- Pace. Again we are so slow on the wings and the centre...We are unable to count attack with blistering pace like we used to do before. N'Zogbia who has some good pace, he is being wasted on the LB position. Geremi and Milner are hopeless with counterattacks as most defenders have enough pace to get back and defend against these two. A central midfielder with pace wouldn't go amiss either.

 

I think rectifying these two issues would help in getting some good results when the team is playing well...

[gray]

all we need is confidence really

[Guest]

As long as we continue to show signs of improvement against Arsenal I'd take that.

 

Next Saturday though is a must-win game.

[garth]

I thought Zoggs was  abysmal  his passing and control of the ball has been shit of late and I don't thinks it's down to playing at left back either and Geremi is probably our weakest link he's to slow, seems to be afraid of the ball or something! when ever he gets it. I wish Sam would drop him for while.

[Guest sittingontheball]

It would certainly help if the opposition didn't keep knocking in thunderbolts every week to open their account!

 

Pompey - Pamarot possible goal of the season (if they didn't always give it to ManU or whoever)

Pool - Gerrard thunderbolt

B'burn - Bentley understoppable

 

The latter two came from freekicks we conceded, as did Elano's earlier on, but still, its a bit of an unlucky run. When they hit them like that, team selections and tactics don't really matter. You can only blame us for not being as deadly with our own free kicks. We had a couple of similar opportunities yesterday.

[Thespence]

Of course everyone wants this but I honestly dont know anyone demanding & wanting it yesterday as Sam says. I think some people may be showing disapproval obviously at the results but also some of the selections, formations etc. We went to Sunderland & Beye & Enrique were on the bench, while Taylor & Zog played as fullbacks. We play Liverpool & Beye & Enrique are playing central roles, when one of Carr & Edgar who were on the bench could of started so we kept a 4 at the back. Zog & Milner not 100% convinced with what he is doing with these two. I can see the benefit of having someone with Zogs pace with more pitch to run into from playing deep but he does not seemed switched on defensively. Milner has scored goals playing on the left & Kranjčar proves right footers can play well on the left & Sam has explained the reasoning of this in his regular articles in Nuts/Zoo. I think he should adopt a back to basics formation of 442 & have players playing in there preferred positions during this blip. I also think Butt does not stop much of the incoming traffic whether that be long balls up field which he leaves to CB's & the opposition can pass round him as he is too slow. He  does put a few crunchers in, he gives his all to the cause & when he gets the ball he does look to get something started but overall he is past it & can see why some say we miss Speed.

[Rob W]

I think Sam makes it up as he goes along TBH

[Guest SLK]

I was disappointed with Butt...It was I think clear to everyone that Butt was struggling in the 2nd half...I don't remember him doing anything good and actually was more of a hindrance where he gave the ball to blackburn on the rare occasion when he had it...I don't understand how Sam couldn't see this (or I should say how Sam could actually see Butt because he was invisible in the 2nd half) and Emre should have come on for Butt...

[ohmelads]

I thought Zoggs was  abysmal  his passing and control of the ball has been s*** of late and I don't thinks it's down to playing at left back either and Geremi is probably our weakest link he's to slow, seems to be afraid of the ball or something! when ever he gets it. I wish Sam would drop him for while.

 

Maybe playing left back, left wing-back and right wing hasn't helped. His confidence seems missing at the moment. All he wants to do is get down the left flank, run at defenders and put balls in the penalty area and that's what he's best at. He has been totally messed about this season, you can't ask for consistency from a young player who doesn't know what area of the pitch he'll be playing in from one week to the next. N'Zogbia isn't a defender. He's tried but I think he's getting a bit disillusioned. He perhaps does have a huffy character, one that he might grow out of, but as someone who prides himself on man management I'd have thought Sam would let him and Enrique build some sort an understanding down that left flank and a chance to build some confidence. Putting him in positions he doesn't know or feels uncomfortable in is probably the last thing he needs. He is after all our only fit left winger and Enrique is our only fit left back, their manager needs to show some faith in them.

[Guest salva]

I thought Zoggs was  abysmal  his passing and control of the ball has been s*** of late and I don't thinks it's down to playing at left back either and Geremi is probably our weakest link he's to slow, seems to be afraid of the ball or something! when ever he gets it. I wish Sam would drop him for while.

 

Maybe playing left back, left wing-back and right wing hasn't helped. His confidence seems missing at the moment. All he wants to do is get down the left flank, run at defenders and put balls in the penalty area and that's what he's best at. He has been totally messed about this season, you can't ask for consistency from a young player who doesn't know what area of the pitch he'll be playing in from one week to the next. N'Zogbia isn't a defender. He's tried but I think he's getting a bit disillusioned. He perhaps does have a huffy character, one that he might grow out of, but as someone who prides himself on man management I'd have thought Sam would let him and Enrique build some sort an understanding down that left flank and a chance to build some confidence. Putting him in positions he doesn't know or feels uncomfortable in is probably the last thing he needs. He is after all our only fit left winger and Enrique is our only fit left back, their manager needs to show some faith in them.

 

:clap: I think exactly the same thing

[johnnypd]

a lot of sense in the OP, what have you done with the real SLK???

 

RW or down the right side in general is somewhere we can improve. milner had one of his better games but while he huffed and puffed and was 100% committed, bentley's class was effortless and that is what we need. down the left N'Zogbia is very hit and miss, partly due to being moved around all over the place.

 

also as i said in the match thread our lack of presence in the box is a natural by-product of playing 4-5-1 and/or smith and martins up front, both those players do most their work outside the box, stretching teams and bringing others into play, as a partnership they seem to link very well and give the midfield behind them many more options than owen or viduka would. but it means there is no goal poacher or anyone who can maneouver in the box to finish off chances, there isn't really anyone at the club who will get beyond the forwards from CM or the wings who will consistently score, nor anyone in these positions who will pull the strings and help exploit the qualities that martins or barton or n'zogbia have. even tho we had quite a bit of possession and lots of chances, they were mostly all half-chances, snatched at, where the balls as rolled or bounced kindly or unexpectedly, rather than well worked tap-ins where it is harder to miss, or a clear sight at goal from 15 yards out.

[Guest teepee]

well said ohmelads - zoggy and enrique really should be given a good run of games together. it may result in us being a bit weak defensively down the left, but i think we'd start looking very dangerous attackingly. besides we can hardly get much worse defensively

[Mowen]

Firstly, big cheers to the amazing NUFC fans who were the 12 player on the field today. They deserved a better result but it wasn't for lack of effort from the players who I think it was probably one of the best displays of passion, heart and effort by the players this season. Hard luck boys.

 

 

Deserves highlighting. I don't make too many aways but glad I made the effort for this one, the support was fucking brilliant.

[bulivye]

i think carr should've done better to prevent their 2nd.  if he slide tackles there, i think we'd have dodged that particular bullet.  seems like i'm singling him out i guess, but if your going to try and make the saving play, then throw yourself into it by gum!

[Guest JesperOdum]

I thought the commitment was absolutely spot on. Great passion by the vast majority of the lads, and honestly we were a bit unlucky to take nothing from a decent Blackburn side... A marked improvement from the Liverpool and Sunderland performances.

 

With all the views being presented, what would be your starting XI?

 

No injuries, I would say:

 

......................................Given......................................

Beye.............Faye.................Cacapa..............Enrique..

 

........................Barton...........Smith.............................

Milner.............................................................N'Zogbia

 

........................Owen..............Viduka...........................

 

Subs: Harper, Taylor, Butt, Emre, Martins

 

Looks a bit attacking, I know, but when Smith plays in CM he actually breaks up plays better than Butt does in my opinion. Him and Barton would be a scary proposition for any team to play against, and that's what we need in CM.

 

With the current injuries, I would say:

 

......................................Given......................................

Geremi.............Beye..............Rozenhal.............Enrique

 

........................Barton...........Smith.............................

Milner.............................................................N'Zogbia

 

........................Martins..............Viduka...........................

 

Subs: Harper, Edgar, Butt, Emre, Shola?

 

Possibly slotting Butt/Emre in the midfield instead of Smith and moving him up front, as he looked good up there with Martins v Blackburn.

 

What do you all think?

[madras]

i think carr should've done better to prevent their 2nd.  if he slide tackles there, i think we'd have dodged that particular bullet.  seems like i'm singling him out i guess, but if your going to try and make the saving play, then throw yourself into it by gum!

he got a tackle in and it was unlucky where it went. had he slide tackled he'd run a greater risk of given away a free kick.if he'd slid and the ball ended up going to the same place he'd get slaughtered for not staying on his feet.

[bulivye]

i think carr should've done better to prevent their 2nd.  if he slide tackles there, i think we'd have dodged that particular bullet.  seems like i'm singling him out i guess, but if your going to try and make the saving play, then throw yourself into it by gum!

he got a tackle in and it was unlucky where it went. had he slide tackled he'd run a greater risk of given away a free kick.if he'd slid and the ball ended up going to the same place he'd get slaughtered for not staying on his feet.

 

fair comment.  it's just having watched now in slow-motion, it appears, to me, that the tackle he gets in is slow & rather perfunctory.  i believe a spirited taylor or parker-esque slide tackle would've put our defence in better shape.  not having a go at carr, btw.  unfortunately the label he's gotten isn't helped by this sort of barely arsed attitude, imho.  20/20 hindsight and all...