Retaining Possession and controlling tempo

[chicoazul]

Problem is that Fernandes can be a liability sometimes when he just cant get in the game, prefer to see him as a bit of flair rather than constrained by defensive duties.

I know Jagielka made an impact in that position today but think his immediate future lies in defence and speaking to Sheff Utd fans. But, I've been known to be wrong before, many times. Many.

 

[neonleon]

mannys ambitions are to play in the holding role. he's not just flair, he can keep the ball and distribute. If he can learn what cars does with such aplomb, he can be world class in that role. He didn't get nicknamed mannelé for nothing.

at 21 moyes can shape him into whatever he desires - but at the moment he's a box to box midfielder with flair and skill. He could easily be our gerrard for want of a better term. Cahill is our lampard. [Poor language removed] that he's better than lampard.

Arteta you can't compare with anyone. but when the team fails to keep the ball arteta will struggle - although he and lampard salvaged a point from nowhere today.

that's how class he is.

plenty to be optomistic about.

I thought stubbs tried to play the ball on the ground (of all people) from the back today, shame that cars, neville and hibbert didn't follow suit.

 

[chicoazul]

Didnt see it myself mate but agree that theres plenty to be positive about, even after by all accounts an inept performance.

Baines and Jagielka are the bonus for me. With more to come. One we hit the winning combination and keep everyone fit we will be sound.

 

[SuitsBlue]

............howard
neville yobo lescott baines
............jagielka.............
arteta......cahill..fernandes
.......johnson..yakubu.......

that left side is baines territory, and with lescott covering we should be ok.

 

[neonleon]

Jags looks like cars' successor at the mo'.

equally though I can't see him being an upgrade in the distribution and passing stakes. Time will tell. He's versatile and young. Looks like at the very least he'll be a good squad player. Baines looks like he could go further than that, although he's still quite raw as well.

(his crosses were [Poor language removed] ace though (copyright chico).)

A winger and fernandes are the missing links for me. Maybe Pienaar can prove himself. Maybe a formation of pigs will cross over a blue moon and VDM will rise to the challenge.

Other than that, some continental thinking - from the back, tactically, combined with the moyes method of hard work and closing down, could facilitate our keeping possession and dominating games.

 

[Dylan]

I watched it, and all through the second half, when ever a blue player was challenging for the ball, it was Jags! He was everywhere. I thought him and Baines take the plaudits today. With Jags, we have the replacment for SuperCars. Sorry to say, but Jags should be starting before Cars. He did enough today to warrant that.

 

[neonleon]

i thought Howard did well today. Couldn't fault him for the goal, it was one of the only places he couldn't of saved it from - he made some good saves to keep us in it.

 

[Ct jr.]

i thought Howard did well today. Couldn't fault him for the goal, it was one of the only places he couldn't of saved it from - he made some good saves to keep us in it.

No doubt he saved us from 3 or 4 other goals against us.

 

[McBain]

How good was baines down the left! He kept popping up and retains posession well. No big man in the middle for that style of play though...

Unfortunatley fell asleep at 3.30am so I didnt see most of the second half.