45 Minute Wonders

[D410]

I am more concerned about what we are doing on the the last third of the pitch and seeing our CF drop further and further back to pick up the ball becuase it,s not coming up quick enough from back to front.

 

[royalblue66]

We definitely tire out after about 65 mins. I used to think that Moyes fed them a roast at half time due to the way we came out. That's carried on for me. I dont know the stats but we concede more goals in the second half at home I reckon than we do the first.

Newcastle and City where both games that saw us flag after the 65th minute. Lukaku looked knackered, as did Barkley. I think the hi-tempo passing game that we are adopting under the new regime is taking some getting used too and taking it out of the attacking players (Defenders seem okay).

For me, Mirallas goes missing in the 2nd half and struggles to get involved - is that fitness or is it a lack of service from a tiring midfield?

Mirallas needs to get his finger out IMO , was more or less threatening to leave for C/L backend of last season, just not doing it sorry.

 

[RowloEFC]

I agree - showed flashes of brilliance until Liverpool crocked him. Since then he's not been anywhere near as good as he can be. But lets wait and see - these belgians seem to take 10 games to get into the flow of things.

 

[mkrudden]

Lukaku is the one who best describes 45 minute wonder.

First half against Newcastle, 2nd half against West Ham (didnt see the full game for City so cant comment) were unbelievably good. Against Newcastle, i thought 2nd half he was really poor, looked so fatigued it was untrue.

Could this be the reason that Chelsea offloaded and West Brom didnt start him every week as we have/will be doing?

Still the best striker we have by a country mile, and hes on fire, but when we do tire as a team in the 2nd half as is natural in the first season under said style, we need him to simply hold up the ball and distribute back to McCarthy and Barry so we can build attacks.

Just my opinion anyway fellas.

 

[blue61]

Lukaku is the one who best describes 45 minute wonder.

First half against Newcastle, 2nd half against West Ham (didnt see the full game for City so cant comment) were unbelievably good. Against Newcastle, i thought 2nd half he was really poor, looked so fatigued it was untrue.

Could this be the reason that Chelsea offloaded and West Brom didnt start him every week as we have/will be doing?

Still the best striker we have by a country mile, and hes on fire, but when we do tire as a team in the 2nd half as is natural in the first season under said style, we need him to simply hold up the ball and distribute back to McCarthy and Barry so we can build attacks.

Just my opinion anyway fellas.

Your opinion is spot on, we either need Lukaku to be fit enough to last the full 90, or we should be bringing him off with 20/30 to go when he tires. I'd always start him though, as I'd rather be protecting/building a lead rather than chasing one.