Good afternoon.
First item of business has to be a big well done to BMJ for a last minute winner against the lonely mob from Woolwich.They rarely register on my radar, but the spectacle they made of themselves last night deserves a special mention. The must all had emanated from the same petri dish, surely?
They’re playing Fulham (badly) and are singing songs about us and that time expired handball queen Terry Henry. Then they get beat. You couldn’t make it up.
Elsewhere the Villa were well and truly shat on by the Swansea; 0-2 indoors. 3MP bojangled a brace in at Blackburn, Norwich firmly stamped a question mark over Neil Warnock as they won at Loftus Road and Cheatski snatched 3 points at Molineux.
So the Baggies tonight then. Let me blind you with some science. Their away record is better than their home one. By some way. They’ve played 9 games away. Won 4, drawn 2 and lost the other two other games that were then played. By them. Away from home.
Aside from the fact anyone’s mood must improve driving out the midlands, I think it’s as much to do with their support geting stuck in. These things count. I bet if Blackburn had beaten Manchester United at Ewood Park there’d still have been Kean Out flags being waved.
Looking at where their goals came from – of course, like most sides the answer is – inside the penalty area. But 17% of the Baggies’ net bursters came from ‘the right channel’ according to our friends at EA Sports. So if any of our coaching staff see this gem of information. Sort it out!
Looking at how we can make a difference you don’t need an MA in Looking At Things. Our defenders need to keep it tight, no mucking about playing at wing-backs and Luka Modric needs to dominate the game. His vision, tenacity and sheer quality is what is required in order we distinguish ourselves from what are an out and out second rate side.
Prediction? We’ll win by a single goal. That’s an awful way to carry on, I know. But as much as I would like to say we’ll give them a walloping of all times – that’s ambitious.
I’m having a bit of Raging Kaboul at 6/1 – Anytime Goalscorer – with our friends at Boylesports.
I was at a very low scoring cricket match once :blush:
Oh sweet joy,the prem table looks magnificent,semi lob heading for full stormer.
HH will be working on his player ratings this very moment (after midnight in the UK?, but then he’s dedicated and a professional; C’est vrai, n’est-ce pas, mon vieux?) and there’ll be winners and not so winners. Which is the way it should be.
Perhaps he ought/we ought to add a dimension to the ratings, an approach which takes into account not a single game (A), but the season to date (B). So Modders this time, for example, might score average to below average under A, yet much better under B.
Isn’t that the way good managers evaluate their players? In such a (revised) system, Defoe would score better than some of his frequent critics might realise, ditto Crouchie (on whom I was pretty hard in the past, mea maxima culpa – not that I want to see him return!), ditto PSB, etc.
Just a thought.
I like the reflective element Yachtsman. I’ll try and incorporate a sense of that.
Need Sandro or PNB fit ASAP. Without the glue we are noting..
Didnt get to see the game live (on tv) so just watched the delayed coverage whilst knowing the result.
Result is all important.
But, if we play like that we will definately drop a few points for the remainder of the season. Hope this is just Christmas fatigue and nothing more sinister.
Thought VDV was outstanding. Defoe took his goal well and IMO is undervalued. Deserves to play more often.
Main gripe is we still look a bit naive. Walker still marauding down the flank in added time when the main concern was defending.
Be glad to see Dawson back. Need his experience in the absence of King/Gallas. Hopefully Parker will be ok for Everton. Missed his drive.
Daylight between us and the goons/chavs. Long may it continue.
COYS