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Perceptions of the game

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McBain

McBain

Player Valuation: £80m
Just a quickie, did anyone notice how Everton were putting Man U under pressure, only for them to use the same play every time to get out of trouble? Scholes would come back, put a foot on it and spread it out wide right every single time. There was a diamond of 4 Everton players pressing, and as soon as Scholes chips it to the right back, he's got 20m of space and all the pressure is relieved. Now Im no coach, but it got to the point where I was thinking, has nobody noticed how easy it was for them to do that? It was like watching a man with no fingers playing scissors paper rock. He's only got ROCK!!!! So all you need is paper and you win. There seemed to be no left side pressure.

And do you reckon Moyes bowed to pressure in playing Turner? The lad did cost us the game, everyone was so glad when he was called up. I guess he doesnt have any confidence in Wright, so he was in a catch 22 there.

And finally I was exited to see Fernandes on the park, and what a goal! Seriously when was the last time scored a goal at home as good as that? He gave the Mancs a bit of biff in the middle aswell which was great to see. Get out the chequebook and grab this guy, he's a player youd pay to see.
 
Its easy with hindsight, but arteta should have been brought into the middle, and nevs pushed right to help cover hibbert better.

osman did little if anything so we played 4-4-1, wasnt silva available especially as moyes knew we were going to play on the defensive.

saturday just shows again that the left side of midfield is the most important position for us to strengthen this summer.

MGP to the rescue.
 
without doubt im totally gutted compared to other games this yr...if we lose out im gunnin for neville and hibbert.....turner only gets away due to lack of experience.........

i read earlier bout neville been captain id rather hav captain birdseye than him...captains lead by example and take responsibilty...what was his part in the collapse....

BRAIN DEAD = a guy who is facing his goal kicks the ball away with his leg that is furthest from the ball

or

in a game 2-2 under pressure from the opposition so ill play a hospital ball across my packed box

i just hope privately DM got stuck into the 3 of them as it may mean on us missing out on europe and the messed up my golf game on sat when i got the news.........
 

sure.. hibbert was weak in defense. i just saw the highlights again. i was quite pissed the first time so missed most of the bad defending in detail.. but watching it in the cold light of day. mercy! hibbert for goal 3 was terrible.

all 4 goals were awful. but that third... was just something else. to pass at the way he did.. and then dive in on rooney. it so easily could have been a pen.

lets hope he learns from that. and we get out of jail and qualify for the uefa.
 
I dunno if Hibbert can really change his style. Ive never really rated Hibbert, because in todays game you really need your fullback to get forward, to be confident in their play. Hibbert just doent give a good enough attacking option, and any player you can openly question consistantly as to his weaknessses, shouldnt be a regular for us.

He's just not good enough.
 
there was a time when our defene was like a sieve, hibbert being a capable marker and tackler WAS a step up from the likes of hottiger and other such dross.

the likes of daniel alves dont turn up every day, and i dont think there are many payers in our squad that can put a 'reducer' in like hibbo can.

is it enough? no, is it the best we have had for a few years - hell yes.
 
Ingredients required to be able to consistently, and safely, play the ball out from the back:

1) Defenders whith good touch and vision comfortable on the ball. Lescott, Yobo, Valente and to some degree Naysmith all fit. Neville at RB sort of fits. Hibbo and Stubbsy - no. (Although I still feel confident when Stubbs is back there.)

2) Central midfield players who can shield the ball, have excellent vision, and always find space near their defence. Arteta - yes. Manny - perhaps. We need more.

3) Most important ingredient - do NOT play a tall striker, good in the air, with little speed and mobility (Dunc, BT). With any 2 of AJ, Vaughan, Faddy and Vic, we are a little more likely to play to feet.

Sad to say, I agree with the majority on this thread. 2 or 3 years ago Hibbo was good enough, but the team has progressed beyond him, and if we are to meet the expectations set this season, his role will have to be cover / squad player in the future.
 

Sure, he can tackle, but at the level we're at that should be a given. There's more to a top 6 (or better) team than defenders who can tackle.
 
I look around and ask myself why do certain other 'defenders' never look as assured in the tackle as tony. his passing and pass selection are dire, but we are strongest defensivley with him at RB.
 
As CT said, the very best teams have full backs that offer width in attack. If you look around Europe now the trend seems to be to have two reasonably defensive minded midfielders in the middle, with two attacking midfielders either side of them. These midfielders typically cut inside and offer a goal scoring threat. Gerrard plays right mid for Liverpool, Ronaldo is a perfect example, Rooney often starts on the left side, both Arsenal wide men cut inside at every opportunity, Ronaldinho and Messi both usually cut infield.

The only way teams can play this way and avoid clogging up the middle of the pitch is if the full backs bomb forward and provide the width. It's increasingly common for full backs now to be as adept going forward as they are defensively, think of Evra, Cole, Eboue, Zanetti, Cafu, Roberto Carlos et al.

At the moment we don't have that, and it's worrying that Lescott looks more comfortable on the ball than Hibbert. Once sides realise a technical weakness exists then massive pressure is applied to that weakpoint, witness Milan against United on Wednesday, and teams will increasingly target Hibbert whenever he has the ball because they know that they'll easily get it back.
 

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