Fulham v. Leicester City [R]

I love the Senator! :banana: :banana: :banana:

Anybody going to be in the chatroom tomorrow? I still haven't heard if GJ is going to broadcast the match.

SteveM19: I think he might spend some of it telling himself, "when the guy starts looking shattered, don't wait 12 minutes before you substitute!"

Seriously, I'm hoping he'll work out a little training ground surprise for Bolton like the one that culminated in Hangeland's goal against Arsenal.

 

See you there, pard.

Kev, I see that you got the Paintsil photo from the Official as your new avatar. Did you -- DID EVERYONE -- check out the Hangeland-Hughes hand-grip on the photo series? Good visual metaphor for our defense, I'm thinking.

 

Last season under Sanchez, he compressed the midfield by keeping the back line well forward. This means that any pacy forward was going to cause us trouble. The person who suffered most from this high back line was Baird -- primarily because he was playing a weaker position, and because the distance from Sanchez's back line to the goal required a pace he didn't have. Interestingly, I watched the Fulham v. Reading match again last night, and was stunned at how far up we were playing. The key to our winning that match [I don't keep losses!] was the raw speed of Ashton and Omozusi on the flanks in being able to match the Reading forwards' attacks. PK and Baird didn't have that speed. They're more suited to what Roy's doing.

Roy wants to use his midfield in the broadest and deepest way possible. What you saw Saturday was key. Yes, Murphy and Seol did a lot of back marking, but that's what allowed Roy to position his back four solidly in a defensive posture. Arsenal likes to knock it around, and the way to beat them is to disturb their rhythm. Murphy did a MAGNIFICENT job of that, and I don't think they ever recovered. I'm a little surprised at how few blogs/papers gave him the MOM.

All this is a way of saying that the back four was not the major problem with the side, nor is it a major problem now. I have no problem with the Hughes/Hangeland pairing. You can't logically expect any back four + goalie to not concede. The other guys are pretty good, too. What you CAN expect is that they, in concert with the holding mid, can protect a lead as we went down the stretch. I know it seemed like Arsenal were hammering us for the last 25 minutes or so, but with the exception of Andranik losing the ball in the center circle, there wasn't a time that I didn't think that we were controlling Arsenal and the match.

Now, back to Wednesday's match.

 

two schools, Morry

1. we have no matches for the next 2.5 weeks, so we have nobody to rest -- look for the regular lineup
2. here's a good chance to give our fringe-squad players -- including those we may wish to transfer out -- a chance to demonstrate their ability.

The key will be just how seriously Roy takes this cup. I think we need to get two wins in a row. Good for everyone's morale.

 

same as regular season.

And it DOES look like the regular lineup. Guess that's why I don't get paid for my football pontificating!

COME ON YOU WHITES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get some Foxes