Put your ear to your machine and the sound you hear is me getting back into my box.
The came, they scored, they went home again. I really felt we were going to blow it. You know, a bit windy, a bit nippy. A bit not quite us.
I didn’t see any more than the highlights. I was toying with going, but I wouldn’t want to tar myself with the ‘real fan’ brush and so lose street cred with the bulk of my readers who are either house bound or incarcerated (Hey, easy there – just sharing some of the emails I get ).
So 3 points and my best wishes to ol’ Modders on his tummy tribulations. Here’s the MOTD highlights.
Pete:
“Chris Samba is a tough opponent. He’s big, strong, but I’m confident I can beat anyone in the air and I’m very pleased it turned out to be the winning goal.”
It’s good to confident, Pete: I don’t know where you get this confidence to beat anyone in the air since you display this talent so rarely for a goal. Maybe he means when defending. It’s true he is rarely beaten when he helps to defend.
That’ll keep Crouch ahead of Pav for the rest of the season.
A great win considering the weather, opposition and a squad list as threadbare as Carmen Electra at the playboy mansion.
Luka was obviously sorely missed, but I thought Wilson and Jenas did a fair enough job of giving the defense options when we had the ball. Not a lot of creativity going forward, as you would expect, but did a decent job at restricting Blackburn in the center of the park as well.
Modders’ absence also asks a lot more of A&E, who I thought had a great game. The sheer amount of our play that started out with our left-back was astounding. He is our (not so) secret weapon in playing it out of defence, and one of the biggest reasons we are able to dominate posession in so many of our games. Would be interesting to see how many touches A&E gets per match compared to other side backs. Pure supposition and I might be forgetting someone, but I think he might be in a league of his own on that front. Not every pass he plays finds it’s target, but he trys some very ambitious ones and generates a lot of positive play. He does take some big chances which occasionally are punished, but as long as he keeps his cool he just about the best in the business. My MOTM.
Proper JD would have scored. He knows it. We all know it. It means there’s room for improvement, which is certainly needed up front. VdV did well from the right. Apparently he likes crossing from deep for Crouch goals against Blackburn, last time was from the left, so not can’t accusing him of monotony. If you do have to play 3MP (and I think it was the right decision in this game, in no small part due to his defensive dead-ball contribution) getting crosses in from wide areas is a good thing. It left me wondering why Azza and Rafa didn’t switch sides a bit more often. Speaking of Mr. Blud, he ran well with the ball and threatened their left side incessantly. Alas, no end product today, but invariably gives defenders a marking headache and generally makes space for his teammates. JD let him down for what would have been an excellent assist.
Bassong was good if not a colossus. Gallas was good, and did in fact manage a moment or two of collosicity. Well, excellent reading of the play once or twice at least. I have no doubt he puts his teammates at ease with his presence, so another plus for that. Charlie not at his best. A few mistakes, but plenty of effort. I’m sure he’ll improve if played more (also think he ups his game when playing alongside his good chum Luka). With VdV on the right, Begbie’s willingness going forward would have been a useful foil. Don’t really trust his defensive positioning any farther than I can throw it (which is not very far, as throwing abstract concepts proves tricky). I have to say I don’t have a real favorite at the moment, so I’ll go with Arry’s intuition.
Gomes was good. For a while I had him as my MOTM, but after the adrenaline subsided and replay’s were watched it turned out he was mostly just doing his job, albeit quite well. The feeling does sit with me that either one of our two substitute keepers might have let one slip by.
Did I read that this was our fourth clean sheet in six? What a turnaround from the beginning of the season. Dawson undoubtedly had something to do with that (minus against Fulham, which was about 90 % entirely his fault imo). Still, give the other boys credit. They seem to have sorted something out, and if we keep it up we might just look like we could SHHH!!! Don’t say it…
All hail A&E. I love every bit of the ‘Can’t be bollixed’ look on his face… But he’s always the first to jump in going wild when we score. He’s so secret, even he doesn’t even know who he is.
Modders’ absence also asks a lot more of A&E, who I thought had a great game. The sheer amount of our play that started out with our left-back was astounding.
If Bassong can play left back, Benny would look good as one of our CM’s until Luka comes back. Great feet and wins the ball cleanly. Less worry about someone sliding behind him for a dangerous through ball.
Perhaps, though doubt he has much experience there. Moot point though, as Bassong pretty much has to play at CB at the moment.
I’d like to see how well any of the title challengers would cope without three-quarters and (arguably) all of their central defenders missing at such a tricky venue as Ewood Park. Given the circumstances it was an outstanding result last night.
On the positive side VDV and Lennon looked like they might be returning to something like their best, Gallas was a colossus (player of the season so far for me) and Corluka demonstrated why he should be our first choice right back unntil Walker’s ready — nothing too flashy, just reliable, in the right place at the right time and rarely wastes the ball (unlike Hutton).
On a less positive note: step forward Mr Palacios. His passing last night was as bad as I’ve ever seen it. Sandro, when he came on, looked half-decent and has to be worth a run in the side to see what he’s made of.
Finally: *****. He’s a very lucky boy in my view. He knew nothing about his last-minute clearance which could just as easily have gone in for an equaliser; consequently this blog would have been awash with asterisks.
Bollocks — you proof read and still you fuck it up. “…without three-quarters of their first choice midfield…” that should have read.
Sandro and Windsor both had their moments to be honest. Sandro trying to play that cross-field pass that reminded me of the one that got Ginola dropped from the French team for ever. There were enough good moments in there for both of them to take a bit of heart though, and god bless Sarn’t, he’s battling to try and get that form back… He did one volleyed lay off that was just incredible.