Again, it's the manner of which we have lost the game that is annoying. Ten minutes before and after Van Der Vaart's penalty, we had the possession and looked most likely to score. It's a silly tackle by Ward, but he had no protection then and for a lot of the match. No one gave him any support, Van Damme started walking and Mancienne turned his back on Ward who makes the wrong decision.
The second goal was hard to watch. It's not a good pass by Ward, but the ref gets in the way of our player and they are off on the attack. We fail to clear, and it falls from the deflected shot to Pavluychenko. There's not much to say about the third.
It was a good performance, we played some great football and were unlucky not to get a penalty on three occasions. Gallas' foul on Jarvis is unbelievably blatant, and Assou-Ekotto has clearly handballed. Not to mention Gallas' other foul on Fletcher.
Once again, Karl Henry was impressive in the middle. He did well to link up with Jones in the middle on played in some superb passes behind the full back. Mancienne did well to hold the midfield together, as Jones and Henry moved forward and it was certainly a better performance than last week.
If we keep playing like this, we'll start to pick up more points. We are gonna need some from the next three, as the four after are going to be very tough.
Hahnemann - 8
Foley - 7
Stearman - 6
Ward - 7
Jarvis - 7
Henry -8
Mancienne - 7
Jones - 7
Fletcher - 7
Doyle - 8
Hopefully, we have shaken off the 'dirty' tag and can look forward to the cup game against Notts County.
I was in the observer this week in the verdict, you can see it Here
Shouldn't we be selling Ward to Sunderland soon?
ReplyDeleteEventually I believe Van Damme will end up at left back. His effectiveness in the air will help him in this league when we have our backs to the wall. I like Ward, but that was a bad mistake to make.
ReplyDeleteDoes Van Damme's effectiveness further forward mean Mick is gonna splash out again but on a proper left back this time? Ward is doing his best and at times looked good going forward too but his lunge cost us 3 points
ReplyDeleteI can't see how he cost us 3 points. The pathetic capitulation which followed the penalty (and if you watch closely ward is very unlucky. Hutton let's the ball run slightly away and ward tries to grab the opportunity to nick the ball away from him) was the responsibility of the whole team. Up to the penalty, and for the 5 or 10 minutes after, we played very well and then for the last 5 played appallingly. We are supposed to be superfit and Spurs had played midweek champions' league. It doesn't add up but as mick said mistakes get punished at this level by the top teams.
ReplyDeleteCan't see the difference between Torres penalty and the foul on Jarvis by Gallas