Taylor Swift Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 We were really sloppy in possession in the first half. The ball never stuck to the strikers and none of our midfielders, with the exception of Ben Arfa, could complete more than two passes in a row. Honestly, if we were down 2-0 at HT, I don't think any of us would have any reason to complain. The second half was much different. Tiote played better, Ba got more involved and Cisse even got a few touches. We started playing the game more in their half and then they goal relaxed us. It probably relaxed us too much but we played much better in the second half. I thought, on the whole, they were the better team. Their passing is slicker, their movement better and they created far more good chances than we did. It was a mirror of many of our matches last season, except this time we did it against a very good team. We took our chances and defended well at the end, much like last season. Its great knowing we don't get nervous defending leads in the last minutes anymore. We didn't drop back too deep and there weren't any nervy moments at the end. Such a change from five years ago. I'm really confident in our team this year. I think we'll challenge for 4th and I think that if we can play like we did in the second half, we'll beat most teams at home this year and we'll do well against most sides away from home, too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 had that chance where they were wrongly called offside, timmy had it covered anyway, hit the post, hit the bar aye they had a couple of chances Meant the 2nd half. Unlucky how they weren't ahead in the 1st half but after that their responses to the goals were fairly pitiful. Certainly not that of a side who are going for the top 4. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 saylor deserves a 10 just for his header back to krul Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tisd09 Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Encouraging that we can be well below par and still pick up 3 points against a good team. Defoe was a handful and we dealt with him pretty well. Bale looked a threat in glimpses but the most consistent threat was probably Lennon and in the 2nd half we dealt with that better. Cabaye, Tiote and Cisse all looking off the pace a bit which is understandable, makes Tiote's performance all the better, he put in hell of a shift and was running on nothing for the last 10 minutes yet was still looking for a team mate rather than kick it as high up the pitch as possible. That game would have done the 3 of them wonders in terms of match sharpness, I imagine all will sit out Thursday. Then on to a tough game against Chelsea, no reason to fear them though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeloEmre Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Are the ESPN post-match interviews online anywhere? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 We seemed to have morphed into a piss poor version of Swansea from last season first half, I'm all for recycling the ball but when their is 0 penetration it's not the best. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mole_Toonfan Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 just watching motd villas boas: "we showed that we had the better team" Was watching his post-match interview and he seemed to be saying they played well in the 2nd half. Apart from the goal which was given to them on a plate, did they actually have any sort of actual chance? Can't remember Krul having anything else to do, at all. Agreed they had a lot of shots and hit the post and bar in the first half but really can't remember Krul making a save. Having said that i don't remember Friedel making one either was a strange game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilko Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 We only had three shots on target - the two goals, and the long-range effort from Jonas near the end that got tipped over. We were very clinical. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Maul Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Their goal was offside, remarkable how many in the media didn't pick up on this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robster Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Did I hear someone on here comment that Defoe was offide for their goal ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG32 Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 We only had three shots on target - the two goals, and the long-range effort from Jonas near the end that got tipped over. We were very clinical. Lucky mag kernts more like. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG32 Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Did I hear someone on here comment that Defoe was offide for their goal ? Yes, he was when it was initially played in to him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Howaythetoon Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Most encouraging was how we tried to play the ball. There was a clear emphasis on retaining possession and being patient. I don't mind the odd long ball but last season we overplayed that kind of ball. Against Spurs we did it the odd time. Some of our short passing and interchange of play was a delight to watch, with Ben Arfa, Jonas and Tiote in particular demonstrating such play. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robster Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Did I hear someone on here comment that Defoe was offide for their goal ? Yes, he was when it was initially played in to him. Thought so. I was waiting for MOTD to show a replay along the line but it never happened. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cajun Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Cisee had nothing to do tbf. Can't remember him having even a half chance. We created very little in their box. He almost deflected in Ba's shot in the first half. That's it. Had a chance near the end as well where the back came in high, he took it down but the defender cleared before he had the chance to do anything with it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG32 Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Did I hear someone on here comment that Defoe was offide for their goal ? Yes, he was when it was initially played in to him. Thought so. I was waiting for MOTD to show a replay along the line but it never happened. I haven't seen the MoTD footage, just watched it on ESPN. He was defo off when it was played it. But like papa gimp says, the ref never blew. I dont recall our players claiming it was offside either. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beren Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 We seemed to have morphed into a piss poor version of Swansea from last season first half, I'm all for recycling the ball but when their is 0 penetration it's not the best. Bit early to say that no? We were conserving what little energy we had and making them do the running second half. Correct tactics imo especially since we didn't have shola to bring on.No point over extending yourself in that heat and with our fitness levels. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Maul Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Yeah it was quite clearly offside, the Mackems calling us lucky didn't pick up on that funnily enough! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinho lad Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 had that chance where they were wrongly called offside, timmy had it covered anyway, hit the post, hit the bar aye they had a couple of chances Meant the 2nd half. Unlucky how they weren't ahead in the 1st half but after that their responses to the goals were fairly pitiful. Certainly not that of a side who are going for the top 4. Krul made a quality save from a low Defore shot. (Then Saylor ground headed it back to Krul.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incognito Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 AVB is still a fucking nob then , I see. I can't stand the cunt after his behaviour at SJP last season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG32 Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 AVB is still a f***ing nob then , I see. I can't stand the c*** after his behaviour at SJP last season. When Ba scored he should have ran up and squatted in front of AVB and rubbed his chin in deep thought. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Wish ESPN would put the bloody post match interviews on their website. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ujpest doza Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 I'm taking everything as a positive today except Simpson's defending for the goal. The winger had at least 15 yards to work with when he got the ball. I'm definitely giving Cabaye the benefit of the doubt and saying it's his fitness today, but he does have a tendency to disappear in midfield. Today was easily his worse game for us. Tiote did the work of 2 men. HBA Not tracking back?????????????? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest icemanblue Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Where does the jubilation start? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exiled in Texas Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 We were really sloppy in possession in the first half. The ball never stuck to the strikers and none of our midfielders, with the exception of Ben Arfa, could complete more than two passes in a row. Honestly, if we were down 2-0 at HT, I don't think any of us would have any reason to complain. The second half was much different. Tiote played better, Ba got more involved and Cisse even got a few touches. We started playing the game more in their half and then they goal relaxed us. It probably relaxed us too much but we played much better in the second half. I thought, on the whole, they were the better team. Their passing is slicker, their movement better and they created far more good chances than we did. It was a mirror of many of our matches last season, except this time we did it against a very good team. We took our chances and defended well at the end, much like last season. Its great knowing we don't get nervous defending leads in the last minutes anymore. We didn't drop back too deep and there weren't any nervy moments at the end. Such a change from five years ago. Pretty much my read on the game too. Spurs closed us down very quickly in the first half forcing us to give away possession very quickly and cheaply. And yet we gave Spurs all the time in the world when they were on the ball. Our midfield was flat footed and static all through the first half...both when we had the ball (no supporting movement to open up for a pass) and when they had the ball no pressure on their ball carrier or closing down the passing lanes. We looked as static as we did during the Nicky Butt years. Thank **** that they changed up the format as we were getting overrun in the first half. Second half was much better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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