Fulham v. Aston Villa

Murphy wasn't terrible... otherwise Hodgson would have taken him out. Murphy's problem is that he is not a defensive midfielder, he's a creative midfielder. He's short and not that big, and will lose the physical battles... but he's very skillful and still has something to offer the team.

He also is the best pk taker on the team apparently.

 

American-Mike, you are not man, you are a legend!!!!

 

Okay, so its Monday and its time to put some perspective on things.

I didnt think Villa played that well.

There, I said it. It doesnt take anything away from Fulham, but I knew after the OG that we'd equalize - and maybe win it - because Villa wasnt creating anything or posing any serious threat. The absence of Young was HUGE for us.

Again, great result but all things considered.....

 

Villa didn't play their normal speedy attacking game I agree but I think that had a lot to do with our hard work throughout not allowing them to.

I think we can take a lot of positives from this game and looked strong in most positions. Not since Bolton have we come from behind to win a game and it showed great character. I genuinely feel that we can stay up now. We looked a different team out there and one that's definitely up for the relegation dogfight.

I must say though I really didn't think Baird had a good game. He had some good moments yes but still looked very suspect at times and most likely to concede a goal. I just don't think he can cut it at the level we want and need to be playing at.

Murphy looked poor again as well I thought and has faded in the second half a lot this year.

Everybody else looked great though with many stand out performances.
For me, most notable were Jimmy, Clint & Davies. Their work rate was awesome.

Anyway...Bring on Boro!!

 

He also gives the ball away an awful lot. Especially sencond half. I'm still not convinced by him to be honest and would rather play a 442 without him in the starting line-up and am looking forward to our strikers all being available so RH has that option.

 

He also gives the ball away an awful lot. Especially sencond half. I'm still not convinced by him to be honest and would rather play a 442 without him in the starting line-up and am looking forward to our strikers all being available so RH has that option.

 

Perhaps, but in other games he was the only person creating anything from the midfield. Players have bad games. He's not the future, but Fulham's midfield options are still limited. Andreasen might not be able to play a straight CM role, because he's more defender than midfielder.

Dempsey can't play a straight CM position either. So that leaves Bullard and Murphy as our two CMs in a 4-4-2.

 

Murphy may be the only true center mid (other than Bullard) but the constant give aways as well as the inability to contribute defensively make him a big liability, at least in my mind. I would love to see a midfield of Bullard and Andreasan in the middle with Dempsey and Davies on the wings.

 

Steven Davis is a central midfielder and defends better than Danny Murphy.

I'm just saying.

 

But he's terrible

Lyle - I'm not just talking about the Villa game, I'm talking about most of the season.

I agree whole-heartedly with SamStej, Andreasen in for Murphy and 2 up front. If not Andreasen then Smertin.

 

... and he's no longer in the team.

Murphy hasn't been awful in past games. He's been mostly decent to good. English media has given him plaudits for resurrecting his career again. So he's been doing something right.

It remains to be seen if Andreasen can play a role in a 4-4-2. He's the yang to Dempsey's yin in that he isn't quite a CB and not quite a CM, much like Dempsey isn't a CF or a CM.

So you guys shouldn't just boldly say that Andreasen is the solution. We don't know that at all. If the 4-5-1 can work against Villa and keep them from scoring, it probably can work against most of the other EPL teams. Our defense still isn't great and we might need Andreasen to sit himself in front of the back four to provide additional help.

Wins and draws come before style now.

 

Andreasen often played in the back of a diamond 4-4-2 at Werder Bremen. Something like:

-------------Andreasen---------------
-----Bullard--------------Davies------
--------------Dempsey---------------

might work. Hodgson seems to like using wingbacks instead of traditional wingers, so Bullard and Davies would be pushed closer to central midfield.

 

Agree Richard on the diamond in the midfield but looking like this instead:

------------Andreasen-------------
Dempsey------------------Davies
-------------Bullard-----------------

and to put this to rest...Murphy has been awful most games. He makes horribly errant shots, gives away posession, and doesn't put forth the effort most other do. And that isn't just looking at the villa game, it's looking at most of the season.

 

I think you're just plain wrong. And to slag him for no effort is shameful.

 

I wholeheartedly agree with HatterDon.