the polecat wrote:
LA Dave: Yes, Collins was dragged off the pitch after receiving some medical treatment and yes, he would have been marking the big french fella who scored.

Monk: I thought Nolan played well yesterday, but you're right - he can't last anywhere near 90 minutes and by that token, probably shouldn't be starting. When Poyet came on he just kept things simple with easy passes.

Java: Agreed, Jenkinson has a great game. He has a turn of pace, can play very directly and was unlucky with a well struck shot.

We don't seem to getting the rub of the green at the moment. Our performances aren't getting the results they deserve and I thought we deserved all three points yesterday.
We were unlucky re collins being off.

I believe that it is very hard to judge CMs unless they are very creative or very defensive and doing a wonderful job.  But I really can't see what Nolan brings to the party other than being another body or when he is playing as a borderline second striker.  Seriously, what did he do that was anything other than bare minimum?

We're no getting the rub of the green.  Maybe, with hindsight, we were more lucky in the first half of the season than I thought.  Then again the performances don't seem all that to me.  And I really don't like 352.  I'm not saying never, and maybe it was the right option yesterday, but I really don't get it.

To my mind the full backs need to get forward in a 442.  To my mind going 352 is an acceptance that you have not got the defensive quality and discipline in CM to cover for the full backs getting forward like they should be doing anyway.

We seem to be getting back to how we were last year.  Big lump up top, insufficient ability of the other forward minded players to get into the box with good effect.  the 442 diamond hit the spot because in that system we seemed to have 3 attacking players all capable of getting forward with very good effect all across the width of the pitch.  We seem to me to be back to a situation where the big striker is the only one capable of getting forward, and it is that lack of support that is costing us.  Cresswell looks considerably less able to get forward when played in this slightly more advanced position.

BFS has done an amazing job this year, which makes Nolan's presence very disappointing.  Sorry, his role is to play off carroll when an old-fashioned 451 is being used.  And maybe to play the odd game against weaker opposition when noble is missing.  And to come off the bench when we are 2-0 up with 10 mins to go.  And to cover when we are desparate.  As for Carroll - love him, but I really can't see him working withh Valencia.  Maybe we should give Zarate a run in the team with carroll this month, or has BFS done something fucking stupid like leave us with CFC as our 3rd choice striker this month?