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.
Need to tie Harry down to a long term contract like VDV said.
Then rebuff the inevitable offers for Luka/Bale and get Ade signed up for next year.
Then bite the bullet and accept that the likes of Bentley, Jenas, Gio are just not up to scratch and need to move on for whatever we can get.
Then shake up some of the youngsters as too many of them are not close enough yet to first team standard and need loaning out including Rose.
Then actually invest and bring in some players like we have not done over the past three years.
Probably require about £20m-£30m plus some drive to sort things that need sorting and not leave everything to the last minute.
I never thought I’d say this after the heroics of the past couple of seasons, but that thought scares me…
I don’t agree, modric had about 100 % pass completetion scored a worldly and assisted two assists, Ade was crap, worked hard but he could keep the ball his control and touch were bad, the only control that was successful was the second goal of his, the first was a tap in, sandro was good and defended well but it wasn’t a man of the match performance like at stoke, modric had to bloody do Sandros job of picking the ball up deeper than the defence sometimes I’m pretty sure the sweeper positions not used much anymore. -.- other than that I agree, but lennons should be higher tbh
Ade even though he scored 2 goals was terrible his first touch and general ball control is appalling and why we look like not scoring when we are on top! We need better. He scored his first and only convincingly good goal last night when he ran around bogdan. Before all his goals were scrappy, mis hits or tap ins!
Interesting idea to see if Walker can cover at left back. I have always preferred Kabull-in-a- chinashop as a right back. Too many conceded goals with him as a spectator when he plays CB.
If Rose and Bale are the best options for left side, why not reverse positions? Give Bale a chance to practise his tackling and put Rose where he is less of a liability.
I thought Modric, although keeping it short and tidy, played within himself (up until he scored) and has done for sometime.
Still our best player, just a shame he’s a bit of a scumbag.
Adebayor can be a handful, but lets not forget he’s playing in front of one of the best midfields in Europe. Despite what the stats say, and they’re hardly that of legend, he’s plain clumsy.
We need a proper technician in the box.
Perhaps it’s time for Levy to spend those untold millions you keep on about (still waiting, by the way) he’s squirrelled away over the past two seasons-then we can buy our way to glory like Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona-forget the FFP-Spend, Spend, Spend, Danny boy-Spend like a drunken sailor on leave