Just back from the match

[Gunga Din]

well f*** me sideways. he changed it. he dropped Lucas, he dropped Kuyt, he played an attacking side, and for the first time in 6 months we put a team to the sword. A midfielder who got forward from the middle, pace out wide, quick passing, it was great to watch at times.

 

Thought Aquilani showed glimpses of promise, thought Babel had a decent 90, still takes the wrong option for me to often, but he isnt afraid to have a go, Maxi never ever gives the ball away, and when he has players running ahead of him looks such a threat. really happy with that, i just hope thats the way we go for the rest of the season.

 

makes you wonder whats been going through Rafas heads the last 6 months. more of the same on thursday please.

[Earl Hafler]

  On 15/03/2010 at 23:55, Gunga Din said:

well f*** me sideways. he changed it. he dropped Lucas, he dropped Kuyt, he played an attacking side, and for the first time in 6 months we put a team to the sword. A midfielder who got forward from the middle, pace out wide, quick passing, it was great to watch at times.

 

Thought Aquilani showed glimpses of promise, thought Babel had a decent 90, still takes the wrong option for me to often, but he isnt afraid to have a go, Maxi never ever gives the ball away, and when he has players running ahead of him looks such a threat. really happy with that, i just hope thats the way we go for the rest of the season.

 

makes you wonder whats been going through Rafas heads the last 6 months. more of the same on thursday please.

 

 

Exactly as you say - the line up and tactics we've been crying out for. Maxi has more quality than Kuyt, Babel has pace and though he does still frustrate, the pace and directness offers us something else and helps create space for Torres

Aquilani - the other forwards ( those that started tonight ) thrive on that kind of flair and creativity

 

Wouldn't be surprised if Aqua started against Lille and then was dropped to the bench against Utd.

 

Personally, i'd keep that side for the next two games, fitness permitting.

Edited March 16, 2010 by Earl Hafler

[crisps]

it was almost hard to watch at times thinkin why the f*** hasn't he just picked a side like this much more often, a manager of his experience surely should have been able to realise earlier, of has he just been far to stubborn to change...

 

  On 16/03/2010 at 00:20, Earl Hafler said:

Exactly as you say - the line up and tactics we've been crying out for. Maxi has more quality than Kuyt, Babel has pace and though he does still frustrate, the pace and directness offers us something else and helps create space for Torres

Aquilani - the other forwards ( those that started tonight ) thrive on that kind of flair and creativity

 

Wouldn't be surprised if Aqua started against Lille and then was dropped to the bench against Utd.

 

Personally, i'd keep that side for the next two games, fitness permitting.

 

Yep wouldnt mind seeing Babel get a decent run in the side to see what he's made of and if he can build on some decent showings, kuyt has had far more than he deserved.

 

just benayoun or reira for maxi on thurs, think he's tied???

[Hodgson for Chelsea]

To say I was 'pleased' to see Lucas on the bench is a slight understatement.

 

I was tempted to go out and celebrate!

Edited March 16, 2010 by stozza

[Earl Hafler]

  On 16/03/2010 at 00:24, crisps said:

it was almost hard to watch at times thinkin why the f*** hasn't he just picked a side like this much more often, a manager of his experience surely should have been able to realise earlier, of has he just been far to stubborn to change...

 

 

 

Yep wouldnt mind seeing Babel get a decent run in the side to see what he's made of and if he can build on some decent showings, kuyt has had far more than he deserved.

 

just benayoun or reira for maxi on thurs, think he's tied???

 

 

Benny it is then

[Maldini]

He was up against Brown and Bouba Diop in there tonight as well, they didn't put major pressure on him when on the ball but he handled the physical side better than he has done. Seemed to move it on a bit quicker too.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

It was like this time last year. And while we can justifiably say 'it was only Pompey' what about last Mon when 'it was only Wigan'?

[Zoob]

We passed and moved consistently though the match. Probably did this more in this one game than in our last 15 games combined.

 

Torres looked fitter than he has done, Aquilani got forward well, passed quickly, and had confidence in his own ability. And for all the graft Kuyt puts in (which is pointless when he's run out of steam as in recent months), Babel, although often wasteful , was still much more of a concern to their defence. And I can understand why Rafa likes Maxi so much - good movement, excellent touch, makes intelligent passes...

Edited March 16, 2010 by Zoob

[fred milne]

  On 16/03/2010 at 00:20, Earl Hafler said:

Babel has pace and though he does still frustrate, the pace and directness offers us something else and helps create space for Torres

This is a point that often gets overlooked - the threat of what Babel might do (whether he does or not) puts defenders on the backfoot and results in the other attacking players having that fraction more time and space on the ball.

[smithdown]

  On 16/03/2010 at 09:16, fred milne said:

This is a point that often gets overlooked - the threat of what Babel might do (whether he does or not) puts defenders on the backfoot and results in the other attacking players having that fraction more time and space on the ball.

 

Especially when we have a midfielder who can find either of them if they win a bit of space

[dorgie]

  On 16/03/2010 at 09:16, fred milne said:

This is a point that often gets overlooked - the threat of what Babel might do (whether he does or not) puts defenders on the backfoot and results in the other attacking players having that fraction more time and space on the ball.

 

I just wish Babel would fizz some crosses in early with his left foot sometimes rather than trying to beat the man every time. Overall he did well though.

[Frosty Jack]

  On 16/03/2010 at 00:26, stozza said:

To say I was 'pleased' to see Lucas on the bench is a slight understatement.

 

I was tempted to go out and celebrate!

 

 

I've often wondered what it would be like to see the world in binary.

 

Yeah Aquilani is very good, as some of us have been telling you since he signed.

Edited March 16, 2010 by Wyndham Lewis

[Damian_de]

  On 16/03/2010 at 09:38, Wyndham Lewis said:

I've often wondered what it would be like to see the world in binary.

 

Haha. Just hang out on any football forum and find out

[Nate.]

I'm still waiting for Kev and Sons reations to the game.

 

Baited breath.

[johngibo YPC]

  On 16/03/2010 at 09:22, dorgie said:

I just wish Babel would fizz some crosses in early with his left foot sometimes rather than trying to beat the man every time. Overall he did well though.

 

He'd probably do this more if he were played on the right

But agree with others in that, even though Babel isn't the best player in the world, we just really need more pace in the side at the moment. Especially away from home

[beejay]

  On 16/03/2010 at 09:49, johngibo YPC said:

He'd probably do this more if he were played on the right

But agree with others in that, even though Babel isn't the best player in the world, we just really need more pace in the side at the moment. Especially away from home

 

He also scores goals and in the last few outings the penny finally seems to have dropped and his work rate has gone up in leaps & bounds.

 

That was well enjoyable, fabulous entertainment at times - a commodity which has been missing for most of the season.

[Des]

  On 16/03/2010 at 09:47, Nate. said:

I'm still waiting for Kev and Sons reations to the game.

 

Baited breath.

 

Posts like this are tiresome.

[Flasher]

That performance was the most mobile I have seen from us all season.

 

Maxi, Babel and Aquilani were running at good speed all over the pitch and Torres had a blinder.

 

Just proves what we are capable of when our players are fit.

 

Lucas and Kuyt are good players, excellent squad players in fact. But when they are not on the pitch, we move much quicker and much better.

[johngibo YPC]

  On 16/03/2010 at 10:21, Flasher said:

Lucas and Kuyt are good players, excellent squad players in fact. But when they are not on the pitch, we move much quicker and much better.

 

I think Lucas would have enjoyed the greater movement ahead of him as much as Aquaman did last night (although Aquilani is obviously the more naturally talented of the two)

However Kuyt's form has been a real hinderence to us as an attacking force and i hope he plays alot less from now until the end of the season

[dorgie]

  On 16/03/2010 at 10:33, johngibo YPC said:

I think Lucas would have enjoyed the greater movement ahead of him as much as Aquaman did last night (although Aquilani is obviously the more naturally talented of the two)

However Kuyt's form has been a real hinderence to us as an attacking force and i hope he plays alot less from now until the end of the season

 

Agreed. However I think Rafa will put them back in, particularly away from home. Our away form has been abysmal this season and if he puts Lucas and Kuyt back in for the away games at the expense of any of Babel/Maxi/Yossi/Aquilani, then I think that away form won't improve one jot.

Edited March 16, 2010 by dorgie

[Nate.]

I'd be amazed if Dirk wasn't back on Thursday.

[Owen1978]

  On 16/03/2010 at 10:33, johngibo YPC said:

I think Lucas would have enjoyed the greater movement ahead of him as much as Aquaman did last night (although Aquilani is obviously the more naturally talented of the two)

However Kuyt's form has been a real hinderence to us as an attacking force and i hope he plays alot less from now until the end of the season

 

I think even when kuyt is in good form, he still hinders our attack in terms of not being able to beat a man, slowing the pace of the game...

 

I think the fans will realise this when we eventually get a very good right sided player in... similar to the Peter Crouch situation where most fans realised what actual world class talent looks like when he was replaced with Torres.

 

Like I have always said he is a squad player at best, but in times of such financial constriants i would cash him in while his value is high.

[richwilks]

I think Kuyt will replace Maxi on Thursday and play Sunday.

[crisps]

Kuyt is a failed striker playing on the right wing basically and he's only in the team because of his attitude and work rate which obviously does it for rafa, perhaps he's a good option to have running around closing down in the last few minutes of games but I think for the qualities he does offer, his negative far out weigh his positives. Constantly passes to the wrong team and has a woeful first touch, can't beat a man or cross too well and always slows down attacks, I think we'd even cause 'big teams' more problems by playing someone like Maxi there who may not cover as much ground as Kuyt but his all round football ability more than makes up for it.

[CarraLegend]

  On 16/03/2010 at 11:04, crisps said:

Kuyt is a failed striker playing on the right wing basically and he's only in the team because of his attitude and work rate which obviously does it for rafa

 

Indeed, I dont ever remember him scoring a goal or anything to contribute, the guy is a disease on our great institution.