yakubu isnt duncan ferguson

[Great Dane]

Long ball stuff was to be expected last night, lets face it. Injuries really hit us in midfield with four of our first choice midfielders out (Grav, Arteta, Cahill and Pienaar). All of those are better on the ball than what we had last night.

So we went into the game with two midfielders who's technical ability is limited and another who is easily bundled off of the ball. When you have defenders of limited technical means as well as a midfield that has been bossed it's inevitable that a lot of long balls will be played and our attack really doesn't suit long balls at all. Our threat improved once Anichebe was on the field because that's what he's good at.

When we have some semblance of a midfield available again then I suspect we'll start to see more of Yakubu.

You're so right Bruce. The service to the strikers was bad very bad. I still have faith in the Yak and AJ they just need service and that is not something that Nev and Cars can provide.

 

[Chris]

Long ball stuff was to be expected last night, lets face it. Injuries really hit us in midfield with four of our first choice midfielders out (Grav, Arteta, Cahill and Pienaar). All of those are better on the ball than what we had last night.

So we went into the game with two midfielders who's technical ability is limited and another who is easily bundled off of the ball. When you have defenders of limited technical means as well as a midfield that has been bossed it's inevitable that a lot of long balls will be played and our attack really doesn't suit long balls at all. Our threat improved once Anichebe was on the field because that's what he's good at.

When we have some semblance of a midfield available again then I suspect we'll start to see more of Yakubu.

Spot on Bruce lad. I have spent most of my morning arguing with reds and defending our lack of a midfield and creativity. I might just forward your response on to them via email lol

 

[GhostOfDixie]

Subjective and concise analysis is what is required.

Instead of slagging the manager off for not picking players we don't have available.

But what annoys me about last night was the barracking of Hibbert and Neville, but nothing really about Carsley. He was just as poor, and was always looking to pass it back 20 yards, instead of looking forward.

Nobody mentions Osman, with his quality one minute and then complete [Poor language removed] the next.

Faddy never got mentioned for his inability to control the ball, yet Yakubu got slammed as a waste of money. Not his fault Boro wanted 11m for him.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I'm reluctant to suggest a herd mentality but it is a natural human trait to share the opinions of others rather than stand alone. The likes of Hibbert and Neville have long had reputations as poor ball players so it's easy to reverb the old lines. Faddy is infuriating, Osman gets knocked off the ball, Yakubu is lazy, AJ dives (at least according to other fans).

All tags that players have earnt, rightly or wrongly, and in times of frustration it's the easiest thing in the world to trot out what has been before.

 

[zero]

Atleast Carsley plays the pass along the floor backwards, Hibbo and Pip just play aimless hoof balls into the middle of nowhere for the huge Johnson and collosal Osman now I aint no expert but I'm pretty sure Carsley back passes aren't nearly as bad as giving the ball away.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I guess it depends though doesn't it? I mean no team passes for the sake of passing. Everything you do on a football pitch should have an aim in mind. The very best teams can manoeuver teams around with their passing and are quite capable of stringing 20 passes together in the process and can afford to be patient in their approach.

I can't see us stringing 20 passes together against anyone with the players we had last night. So what do you want? If we try the patient approach we're liable to lose the ball before we get anywhere. With the more direct approach you're merely playing percentages as the odds are better of creating a chance and the risk less.

It's far from ideal, few will dispute that, but you have to play with what you have and last night our midfield stank so in large parts we had to bypass them.

 

[zero]

I'd want professional footballers to pass and move its not rocket science even Hibbert and Neville should be able to manage that there was one point where neville bottled it because he was under pressure from someone 5 miles away so tried his amazing long range passing for size....how many times was Baines stood on the wing when Neville was sizing up one of those amazing passes he's so fond of?

I guarantee it was most of the time but intstead of letting Baines run at them or even Hibbo for that matter we opted for route 1 dour football against a side Arteta could probably beat by himself.

Not good enough from captain marvel and Hibbo I'm afraid I know its a team game and all this but the hoof balls only come from those two players so they're the two I'm picking out.

 

[Dejan79]

The long ball was being played because of a lack of a creative midfielder, garantee if arteta was on the pitch (oh how we missed him) that it wouldnt have happened. I Havent got the time to type about everythin that pee'd me off about last night would take forever :angry:

 

[SuitsBlue]

if anyone can explain the chronically bad first touch from yakubu last night, please post it up.

AJ showed good touch regularly (bar the penalties)

mcfadden showed on live tv what he did vs blackburn, taking on too many players, looking for the hollywood pass, and doing a lot of falling over and gifting possession.

we had pushed up their keeper had caught and thrown it out quick, yakubu was harrying three metalists at the halfway line in front of the bullens, our players got back into position and he stopped closing down - he stopped running and went back to his idle walk. NOT SOMETHING AJ DOES !

there was no one in the metalist side that seemed overly tall like samba or bikey, how many headers of flicks did yakubu win? i really hope its fitness and form because last night was atrocious.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

if anyone can explain the chronically bad first touch from yakubu last night, please post it up.

AJ showed good touch regularly (bar the penalties)

mcfadden showed on live tv what he did vs blackburn, taking on too many players, looking for the hollywood pass, and doing a lot of falling over and gifting possession.

we had pushed up their keeper had caught and thrown it out quick, yakubu was harrying three metalists at the halfway line in front of the bullens, our players got back into position and he stopped closing down - he stopped running and went back to his idle walk. NOT SOMETHING AJ DOES !

there was no one in the metalist side that seemed overly tall like samba or bikey, how many headers of flicks did yakubu win? i really hope its fitness and form because last night was atrocious.

Tell me this Suits, did you not rate Yakubu before we signed him?

 

[chicoazul]

Now is not the time to be smartarse but I said about that Yakubu cat.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

What's that?

43% goals to games ratio

As opposed to AJ?

35% goals to games ratio

I think we all need to reserve our judgement till the boy has played at least one season, fair?

 

[SuitsBlue]

yakubu was the big fish in his previous three small ponds, that isnt the case at everton.

like benny mcarthy i am concerned about his focusing on a big money move to one of the big four. - that isnt dedication and commitment in my view.

the manner in which he dragged his feet and got stroppy at boro raises questions about his professionalism.

why has he been getting the squeeze for the nigerian national side?

He can move forward and be a great striker for us, i hope it happens, but as of this moment right now he is going to have to win me round back to neutrality before i consider him in a positive sense.

Victor came on last night and threw himself around more and won more headers in his first 10 seconds than yakubu did all night.

I wonder what yaks expectation is... hes the focus and everything is on a plate for him so he doesnt need to work and fight... if thats the case, hes in for a big big surprise.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

Stats don't lie though. And as a striker, he is ultimately judged on his stats in front of goal. You must at least see that, as a positive?

You also assuming too much there. He's only played 3 games, and scored in one of them.

 

[SuitsBlue]

stats dont lie?

maccabi haiffa doesnt count
portsmouth in the championship doesnt count because beattie has 4 in 5 there

so prem goals, has aj scored a similar amout whilst with us and in that one season at palace?

twisting numbers doesnt really get anyone anywhere.