25 Apr 2023 22:22:45
First half was ok we moved the ball well and fairly quickly but Watkins made a lot of good runs but we held onto the ball for to long and he looked quite frustrated at times. Second half it was like watching us under Gerrard too many balls going sideways, Moreno was playing further back not sure why but it didn't improve his defending any which is why I assume he was hooked off. However a win is a win. Onwards and upwards hopefully.
25 Apr 2023 23:07:37
You're not moving on that Moreno opinion LotM :-) I don't see it, I really don't, another clean sheet, I've lost count how many we've kept since he came in, you don't do that at this level carrying a passenger.
Agree with your summary though, very poor in the second half, seemed leggy. We really need to get a few bodies back soon, Kamara and Cash in particular would make a huge difference and help freshen up the 11. Huge game at the weekend, hopefully we see the Seville United turn up :-)
25 Apr 2023 23:10:20
Unfortunately we will have games like this.
Emery is pushing for us to keep possession of the ball. When teams defend deep we keep trying to draw them out to avoid losing the ball in those tight spaces.
Fulham then flicked a switch to a high press and we weren't set for quick pass and move.
Our squad is still more suited to being direct or playing on the transition which is where Ollie was getting frustrated.
The players will get better at finding the right balance and any summer acquisitions will be made on the basis that they are comfortable in that system.
Although the last couple of games haven't been great we at least know the gameplan works more often than not, every good team has a bogey team whose gameplan is the perfect foil to their own.
25 Apr 2023 23:35:51
It was pretty boring wasn't it.we were clearly set up to play fairly conservative football, which in turn created a pretty dull atmosphere and the whole match never really got going. Still, with so much at stake I'd have taken a dull 1-0 before the game and no shots faced by our keeper. Need to rest up for a midlands derby and all other matches against our competitors. So refreshing to have something positive to play for at this stage of the season.but even if we don't get over the line and end up 8th, we've got a lot to be optimistic about.
26 Apr 2023 00:47:44
Winning when your not at your best is what the top teams do, I agree with most analysis of the game, but it’s another win, another clean sheet, not only a clean sheet but they had only 1 shot and it was off target the whole game, I’m hoping we were keeping something for united on Sunday, if we have a repeat of tonight’s performance and result on Sunday I won’t care, 10 games unbeaten with 8 of them wins is great form coming into the last 5 games.
Lotm the commentators said Moreno hadn’t recovered from a knock he got in the first half, maybe this affected him in the second half but I couldn’t say for sure as only he knows and I didn’t see the first half myself.
I’d love to beat united but if you offered me 3 wins from the last 5 games I’d take spurs Liverpool and Brighton
26 Apr 2023 06:53:19
I think we will get those 3 wins you are looking for Whack and will probably finish 6th behind the current top four and Liverpool who I can’t see losing another game when you look at there run in.
26 Apr 2023 14:18:17
I hope your right lotm, I’d love to see a few guys back from injury for the final push, might not get as good a chance next year with Chelsea Liverpool and spurs bound to improve, if we can get 5th or 6th you would imagine the calibre of player willing to move to B6 would be higher.
On a different note, another goal for archer the other night, he’s into double figures now I believe.
26 Apr 2023 16:23:55
I really do hope one of two things happen either he gets his chance with us to show what he can do and by that I don’t mean 10 minutes here or there I mean a run of games. Or secondly we loan him out but only to a premiership side and see what happens, the worst of all options in my opinion would be to sell him. I think we should adopt the same approach with Aaron Ramsey but I fear we will end up selling both and coming to regret it later