Good morning.
At last something to be passionate about in a positive sense. Bolton was never going to be a straightforward gig but this was a game where the gulf in class thankfully shone through.
Any that were permanently seeing a cloud over Adebayor’s head must surely feel slightly more optimistic about him. 31 games now that have generated 15 goals plus 4 denied by insane officiating. His unselfish play is a delight. His wages must come in under budget, but we must get a deal done.
Sandro is clearly beginning to flourish. It’s essential that he’s kept on the boil over the break. He plays fearlessly, tempered with reason. The beauty is, he compliments Parker. There’s no need to get bogged down in a, ‘which one do we play’ debate. They have much in common but offer different riches. It’s important that they are thought of in this way.
By contrast, Bale would give an aspirin a headache.
I’ve used the phrase before, but he clearly has decided that things like tackling and defending in general are things that,’ happen to other people’. It’s endemic of of our current zero coaching policy that this has been allowed to develop. His entire play revolves around some cartoon fantasy he has in his head whereby he takes a ball, makes a quick release and heads off into a central position so he can get himself cued up for a Hollywood finish.
Look I like the guy, but answer me this; could you see Slur Alex, Pep or Jose encouraging this? Last night in fact he managed to counter balance ‘his vision’ by some great work on the wing. But this is like the lead guitarist in a band suddenly ‘deciding’ one day he wants to be the lead singer.
Bolton are going down and they won’t be missed. If Owen Coyle picks a second row with Joe Jordan he’ll need more than the power of prayer to save him.
7.000That Gomes style double punch wasn’t clever but otherwise he would’ve breezed any 11+ in the country ….just as long as they didn’t have any questions about coming off his line for crosses.
4.090Daft as a brush and I remain unconvinced if he’s as useful as one. He’s primarily an athlete, not a footballer.
7.234If he should get the last remnants of Davis’ DNA washed off him after a week or two with some intense loofa action.
6.234 He was outfoxed by Petrov maybe twice. His defending makes me nervous. His forward runs may excite 200m fans, but he frequently only clutters up Azza’s space.
6.235 Not outstanding. But then a mistake free shift isn’t a bad shift. Should’ve had a penalty awarded for the ABH from Wheater.
8.222 Simply Brazilliant. Just as well given Bale and Modric spent much of the game acting like a pair of freeloaders. More please.
7.100 Stellar goal. But he failed to achieve the sort of grip on this game you might expect. Not looking like a £40m player when not scoring stellar goals.
6.888 Unconvincing display largely due to lack of service. A few forays but when Bale and Kyle encroached he went invisible.
6.607 Sorely needs coaching. Rapidly becoming a self indulgent tart. Tackling? Playing for others? These are clearly beneath him these days.
8.322 Wow. Some delicious passes and always looking to play for others. Class act. More please.
8.432 Gave it everything and a one of his best showings in the shirt. So pleased he got his goals. Loved the celebration for the first one.
How good is VDV,…seriously? When he is in the game and getting touches, he makes the rest of our team look ordinary. Best finisher by a country mile. I love Ade’s work rate, movement, etc. but have to agree with others that he has a donkey of a first touch. For that kind of money we could do better. Bale usually starts the season good and tapers off at the end. Does seem to be getting carried away with himself. If HR says he has got everything already then how can we expect him to work on his game?
Van de Vaart is one of our best ever signings. Hazard would be :dizzy2: at the lane. We have to secure champions league football this year to get the level of players we require. I Can’t see Bale or Modric going now arrys chosen to stay.
Chivers was a shinner too but scored great and beautiful goals,had a pretty good header on him as well.
:daumen: Pretty good headererer of the ball. Just, “pretty good”. Do you remember Rafa’s bullet header against Villa at home last season. Mercy me.
Two things
Rose should review his performance and compare it with his publicly expressed frustrations of not having enough first team play this season. He was a liability throughout the game and should be allowed to leave in the summer.
Bale too should really do something to his form particularly in losing possession so cheaply as if he is scared of tackles. After all he has no Euro Finals to avoid injuries.
Ade on 170 large is a joke. Can’t trap a bag of cement. He should score two every game on that cash. People bang on about his assist rate but it’s his goal rate that’s important. Still he’s better than Twizzle even if the lanky one still might get goal of season! Nuff moanin. We looked like old spurs last nite. Mod much better and Bale even tho he’s gone daft was involved in the goals. Coys!
He has the 7th best goal conversion rate in the PL this season (Sky had that stat tonight – 17%). If you factor in his high assist total, there is absolutely no reason why he shouldn’t be paid as one of the top 10 of strikers in the league.
We start winning again when that stupid job the fa are offering is taken! Coincidence?
Anyone else think Bolton played into our hands, last night?
They needed a win and went for a win, leaving themselves very open… makes a huge change, when most teams just want to put 9 men behind the ball and we struggle to break them down…
Can’t see Villa being that open, even though they could do with a result in their last home game… Mcleish just doesn’t “do” open…
Mcleish just doesn’t “do” anything…
It would open up Villa if Bale and Lennon play wide open throughout with pace and speed down the lines.
It was totally naive on Bolton’s part to attack and leave big gaps wide open for the counter attacks. Your observation is spot on.
With one exception, in all recent games the team played well but failed to get past solid defenses of 9 players. To complicate the situation Bale kept drifting into the middle of the park where as his real threat is on and down the touch line.
This free role recently given to him by HR should be stopped with strict new orders to play on either flanks but not in the middle.