Happy Face Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 There have definitely been games where Sissoko has played off the striker for practically the whole 90 minutes, particularly when he first arrived. Against Chelsea he started out in CM, ended up further forward and then out wide. Basically that's how I've seen him play since he arrived, in no real set position. I genuinely think the manager got carried away with his performance against Chelsea and dreamed up the number 10 role for him when in reality he wasn't playing that role at all much less is capable of playing it. Since then his form has been awful and he's looked like a poor player at times. True, I think it came out of desperation for someone who could turn our fortunes around. It nearly worked I suppose. I'm sure longer-term Pardew will use Sissoko in CM. I agree. He's a CM for me all day long. Someone when the game is stretched and opposition are tired, can burst forward from midfield to pop up with goals or to give us extra numbers up top. I don't think he has the awareness and passing skills to really dominate from CM from the off though. He's a bit dumb in that respect, a bit like Tiote. That's why for me we have to decide what to do with Tiote. http://i40.tinypic.com/6p15vr.jpg Is this too statty? Think player heat maps are interesting to see how we've kept our shape in games. they say he spent more time IN ADVANCE of Cisse in his first month Even whan Cabaye has been deployed in more advanced role, rather than alongside Tiote, it's not seen Sissoko dropped deep, he has always played further up the park (see Liverpool and Stoke - Cabaye and Cissoko are inseperable there). Perhaps Pardew sees the deeper midfielder role as a much more important one, which Sissoko couldn't be entrusted with when he had zero premier league experience. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDT Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 I'd take McClaren tbh. No, just no. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 Having a good laugh at some of these heatmaps btw.. Look at Man U's shape in their game against us. Clearly defined shape, every player distinct. Only the two strikers are touching. Us? The defence have a shape, fuck knows who's doing what otherwise.... http://i39.tinypic.com/4r97c8.jpg Similar story in the Arsenal game....it's not as bad, but apart from our centre backs, every other player spends so much time in another players position, 8 of them look like 4. http://i42.tinypic.com/2vss00j.jpg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Howaythetoon Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 There have definitely been games where Sissoko has played off the striker for practically the whole 90 minutes, particularly when he first arrived. Against Chelsea he started out in CM, ended up further forward and then out wide. Basically that's how I've seen him play since he arrived, in no real set position. I genuinely think the manager got carried away with his performance against Chelsea and dreamed up the number 10 role for him when in reality he wasn't playing that role at all much less is capable of playing it. Since then his form has been awful and he's looked like a poor player at times. True, I think it came out of desperation for someone who could turn our fortunes around. It nearly worked I suppose. I'm sure longer-term Pardew will use Sissoko in CM. I agree. He's a CM for me all day long. Someone when the game is stretched and opposition are tired, can burst forward from midfield to pop up with goals or to give us extra numbers up top. I don't think he has the awareness and passing skills to really dominate from CM from the off though. He's a bit dumb in that respect, a bit like Tiote. That's why for me we have to decide what to do with Tiote. http://i40.tinypic.com/6p15vr.jpg Is this too statty? Think player heat maps are interesting to see how we've kept our shape in games. they say he spent more time IN ADVANCE of Cisse in his first month Even whan Cabaye has been deployed in more advanced role, rather than alongside Tiote, it's not seen Sissoko dropped deep, he has always played further up the park (see Liverpool and Stoke - Cabaye and Cissoko are inseperable there). Perhaps Pardew sees the deeper midfielder role as a much more important one, which Sissoko couldn't be entrusted with when he had zero premier league experience. So.... He doesn't have a set position then.... Look at our shape though, what a fucking mess we are Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unbelievable Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 We have players carrying each other all over the pitch. That explains the lack of movement then... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LRD Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 http://i.imgur.com/l31ny3U.png Guess both teams http://i.imgur.com/Zck37Du.png Guess both teams too (especially the blue connect-the-dots). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest palnese Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 Man Utd - Swansea. Bottom one is Arsenal - Man Utd? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LRD Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 Top - Man U v Swansea Bottom - Arsenal v Man U Two teams recognised with good movement playing some weird formations, 4 Arsenal players holding hands. Man U playing a variant of the Brazilian 4-2-2-2. Average positions don't tell much tbh. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 PL table from Feb '13 onwards: http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/771194304.jpg?1368786369 Shows the importance of that investment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 Average positions are useless for the majority as players switch positions throughout a match, especially when substitutions are made. So players aren't "sitting on each other", they've just spent 45 minutes each around about the same area, more than likely at different times. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilson Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 NESFTD Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 PL table from Feb '13 onwards: http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/771194304.jpg?1368786369 It's bizarre reading that and comparing it to the feeling that we were dropping like a stone. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattoon Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 Having a good laugh at some of these heatmaps btw.. Look at Man U's shape in their game against us. Clearly defined shape, every player distinct. Only the two strikers are touching. Us? The defence have a shape, f*** knows who's doing what otherwise.... http://i39.tinypic.com/4r97c8.jpg Similar story in the Arsenal game....it's not as bad, but apart from our centre backs, every other player spends so much time in another players position, 8 of them look like 4. http://i42.tinypic.com/2vss00j.jpg Considering how much we work on "shape" thats awful from us The only thing I can take from the Arsenal game is us being ultra defensive and doubling up on their players. Some useful info there Happy Face. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unbelievable Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 PL table from Feb '13 onwards: http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/771194304.jpg?1368786369 Shows the importance of that investment. Wow, Di Canio has really helped Sunlun propel up the table. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 PL table from Feb '13 onwards: http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/771194304.jpg?1368786369 Shows the importance of that investment. Wow, Di Canio has really helped Sunlun propel up the table. His 8 points have kept them up tbf. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unbelievable Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 True I guess. Still, if you discount the honeymoon effect they haven't obviously improved that much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 True I guess. Still, if you discount the honeymoon effect they haven't obviously improved that much. The only boost they got was probably beating us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuce Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 How did we manage 10th place after that date, but still manage the joint second-worst GD in the league? I know the answer (2 loses of 0-9), it's just pathetic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 http://i44.tinypic.com/2zhedki.jpg To be fair, Di Canio was appointed March 31st. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattoon Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 PL table from Feb '13 onwards: http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/771194304.jpg?1368786369 It's bizarre reading that and comparing it to the feeling that we were dropping like a stone. The table glosses over the performances and the last gasp winners at home have propelled us up there. Plus the last two home games have really brought home how bad we are and it's easy to forget those scrappy points when we're in free fall performance-wise. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 The table glosses over the performances and the last gasp winners at home have propelled us up there. Plus the last two home games have really brought home how bad we are and it's easy to forget those scrappy points when we're in free fall performance-wise. I'm not saying we're good, but on the other hand you could argue that the manner of the Sunderland and Liverpool defeats made everything seem much worse than it was form-wise. Anyway, thank fuck it's over now! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 True I guess. Still, if you discount the honeymoon effect they haven't obviously improved that much. Aye, if you start taking points off of a manager tally his stats probably will look a bit shit like Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 The table glosses over the performances and the last gasp winners at home have propelled us up there. Plus the last two home games have really brought home how bad we are and it's easy to forget those scrappy points when we're in free fall performance-wise. We're 12-8 down on goals in the last 10 minutes this season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 The table glosses over the performances and the last gasp winners at home have propelled us up there. Plus the last two home games have really brought home how bad we are and it's easy to forget those scrappy points when we're in free fall performance-wise. I'm not saying we're good, but on the other hand you could argue that the manner of the Sunderland and Liverpool defeats made everything seem much worse than it was form-wise. Anyway, thank fuck it's over now! Regardless of scoreline we still lost 4 in 6 which really isn't out of tune with the rest of the season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattoon Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 The table glosses over the performances and the last gasp winners at home have propelled us up there. Plus the last two home games have really brought home how bad we are and it's easy to forget those scrappy points when we're in free fall performance-wise. I'm not saying we're good, but on the other hand you could argue that the manner of the Sunderland and Liverpool defeats made everything seem much worse than it was form-wise. Anyway, thank f*** it's over now! I was actually agreeing with you Ian, maybe I wasn't clear Your right, it's the performances that have made it feel so bad, it's the scrappy wins that make it look better than it is. You're also right in saying those two performances have brought extra doom and gloom on us! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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