This Year

[little curly alan ball]

I'm sitting here trying to rid my mind of the tangent upon which the " meet-up " thread has currently jettisoned off on , and was thinking about our side this year .
We're a decent way in now , not quite a quarter but getting there .
Anyway , me point is , despite the fact that , I believe most would concur , we are a better SQUAD since huge fod' , however , I do not believe we are a better SIDE . At least right now , and I'd wager , this season generally .
Heitinga , Bily , Distin and Johnny will help us , but the loss of Piennar has illustrated how important that whole Bainsey , Elephant Man , Peanut triumverate were as regards our attacking potential .
Billy has ability , but does not look to get behind the full back , preferring to launch balls from much deeper , as he feels able .
However , this leaves Bainsey unable to get to the by - line without 2 or 3 big arse defenders in his way .It is a problem .
It's not just the absentees either , this , oh , and Heitinga may be a boss , Phil Neville type in the big games , but surely not at home anymore against the likes of Wolves .
Our strikers are now going to have to form a relationship , or - ships , literlally , on the run .
A further point is , that this league has moved on .No longer are the likes of Wolves , Stoke , etc going to be anyone's patsy's . Everyone is much of a muchness , with the difference a matter of degrees .
In addition , our current standing will probably dictate that we are unlikely to reach the heights of last year .
In honesty , with what I've seen so far , I'd say , we'll finish about 7th / 8th and perhaps have a EUFA run , with a view to settling down next year .
Pessimism , but honest pessimism .
What say you ???

 

[best little spaniard]

Fair enough.

I think we'll settle down, get everyone back playing, and have a good run of form.

And I fully expect us to go far in the Europa league.

 

[chicoazul]

7th/8th place. Id go with that based upon what Ive seen.

Crying shame but we never learn that the season starts in August as opposed to November.

 

[Goat]

I think 7th/8th is a fair reflection. Cant honestly see us getting higher.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

An interesting and well thought out post. The Baines-Pienaar combination is the most inventive string we have in our bow and it would be a blow, long term, to break up that partnership.

Bilyaletdinov is a good footballer BUT he doesn't show any willingness to take the ball and be that creative force that Pienaar is. And that's not just because he's new, Pienaar has always looked for the ball, from day one. You'll always see him coming towards it when Baines is bringing the ball forward. Bilyaletdinov runs forward or hides behind his marker.

It's a worrying trait for a 'creative' player and it's one I hope he grows out of. He needs to show hunger and take responsibility in possession.

He did improve in the second half when Moyes finally moved him to the right handside, maybe it's a positional thing and maybe my post is a bit harsh. I want to see more from him though.

 

[Goat]

Sharpy hates him, he was ripping him hard on City before and after the match, saying basically the same thing.

We surely gotta give him time, hes a talented boy, he just needs to realise that, watch him go when he settles, step overs the lot.

 

[little curly alan ball]

An interesting and well thought out post. The Baines-Pienaar combination is the most inventive string we have in our bow and it would be a blow, long term, to break up that partnership.

Bilyaletdinov is a good footballer BUT he doesn't show any willingness to take the ball and be that creative force that Pienaar is. And that's not just because he's new, Pienaar has always looked for the ball, from day one. You'll always see him coming towards it when Baines is bringing the ball forward. Bilyaletdinov runs forward or hides behind his marker.

It's a worrying trait for a 'creative' player and it's one I hope he grows out of. He needs to show hunger and take responsibility in possession.

He did improve in the second half when Moyes finally moved him to the right handside, maybe it's a positional thing and maybe my post is a bit harsh. I want to see more from him though.

Why , thank you , Monsuier Tox-Teth , my friend .
And , no , it's not harsh .

 

[ToxtethBlue]

I'll give him time and I'm not expecting miracles but I do expect every player to take responsibility and look for the ball. Especially those who are trying to make an impact in a new League.

He showed some promise in the second half when he moved wide right, hopefully he can build on it.

 

[chicoazul]

He's got a wonderful touch and pass.

If he develops and gets comfortable in the league, he'll be some player.

 

[little curly alan ball]

I'll give him time and I'm not expecting miracles but I do expect every player to take responsibility and look for the ball. Especially those who are trying to make an impact in a new League.

He showed some promise in the second half when he moved wide right, hopefully he can build on it.

He did , and I like him , but he has more responsibility than just when in possession . Given that , basically , we have no right side , offensively speaking , the left is everything to us . Thus , even while he's there , he's gonna have to learn , and fast . Even if it's acting as the dummy , as this leads on to being able , by beating the full back , to pull out the left centre half , thereby leaving space for Timmy , Screech , to come late . Have a look back and see how many goals have came via this route . Then compare it with the opposite side .
It's early days , no denying , but if you miss something on day 4 or 5 at a new school , it doesn't mean you don't have to learn it .
Let's hope the goal helps him , my mate .

 

[Goat]

He can pass like no other, he will learn.

 

[McBain]

I've got to say we have the weaponry.

If Saha had been on his game he could have had a couple, but saying that so should have Ebanks-Blake.

Billy is brand new to this league and it will take him awhile for his type of game to settle, but you cant not notice his delivery. He's got a wicked pass on him.

For me we drew today because of Moyes tactics. We go into every game with Plan A firmly on the whiteboard. You can't play the same game against every side. You can't play 5 midfielders and 1 striker against a 'weaker' team. You have to back your attack and fuel it, rather than stifle it. You can't grind a result against teams like this without bending them over and smacking their bottoms. They get disheartened with early goals and momentum and then you steer that baby home. You don't set the stall out to defend at home against the Wolves of the world.

We can't look on the draw as anything other than a tactical failure.

 

[Lao]

Totally agree McB. We are missing a few midfielders, have plenty of strike options so 4-4-2 looks the sensible option, yet we still play 4-5-1 against a 'weaker' side at home.

The Sky4, Citeh, Villa, Spuds, leaves us looking to finish 8th at best on form so far (Sunderland may even beat us to that).

 

[Wildcat]

afraid i have to agree with comments, he has shown us bits of magic, but for some reason the whole team seems disjointed, considering the way we played last season, cant really judge till we get our best players back and striking form,but i think it may be too late to save this season, we looking better in europe.

 

[BlueOz]

Expect us to finish 8-10th. Yesterday was a tactical failure, wasted first half of defensive tactics against a promoted team. Heitinga to start at RB, Fellaini in mid, adds another dimension. And enough of hoofball, so predictable!! Not hard to plan a defensive tactic against us!!