Pack your bags Roy

[Pablo]

Be very interested to see how Torres playes against the smaller sides from now on, not that i believe it....but some numpty just suggested he's picking and choosing his 'in form' games..performing against those that can afford to buy him... don't think you can turn it off and on like that though.

Complete nonsense. I've got a feeling he's going to absolutely destroy Wigan.

[Vermilion]

Complete nonsense. I've got a feeling he's going to absolutely destroy Wigan.

[Pablo]

Jog on

I wish. I'm so wrecked today I think I'd even struggle to beat Bender in a fight

[Dirk07]

what a horrible thread this is

Don't get me wrong i'm no Hodgson fan but I think it would do everyone a favour if we put this thread to sleep

[Lecter]

I went to that game last year when we lost. and we were ****ing awful.

I dont think we are capable of being as bad......and wigan are truly wank.

I'll see your Wigan and raise you a Northampton, a Blackpool and an Everton away

[kris90210]

Just a note on possision...BBC has it at 56-44 in our favour, over the whole game...pretty good going, considering we were under the cosh for periods of the second half.

Does anyone know what the possession stats are broken down into thirds of the pitch? I remember they had **** loads of possession in the first half but pretty much played it around the back 4.

The pundits saying that Chelsea started slowly. That was clearly a game plan by Ancelotti to quiet the crowd. Well I say clearly - that's what I think anyway!

And yeah, the possession stats look worse on us because we sat back on our 2-goal lead. Sensible.

[Lecter]

We were more comfortable first half because we were higher up the pitch. Not as high enough for my liking, but we started to press them at around the half way mark, meaning that we could win balls and counter attack quickly from then. Possession wise we were not that good though. Confidence shouldn't be an issue as from now on, we've shown in the past we can control teams like Chelsea much better than what we did last night.

It was a great result and one which saves Roy's skin and buys him more time. More ambition is needed, he's still got it all to do still.

There were two major changes

One as you rightly said we held a higher line (first half anyway) not as high as you or I would like but still high

Secondly we actually pressed the opposition when they brought the ball into our half rather than only doing this when they get near our penlaty box in previous games

This is an improvement on Hodgson Tactic Mark I but to me its more akin to Houlliers tactics than anything else we have had. I must admit I'm none too convinced that is the way forward

Also as a further point the quality players in the side have started to perform, I said a couple of weeks ago when some people were saying the squad Roy was left with was poor that the squad was capable of more than Roy was getting out of them and that if we went on the front foot we'd get more rewards

We've seen part of that and I'm further convinced that an even more attacking approach would be to our benefit

[Lecter]

9th on goal diff alone. joint 5th on points. sure were still not the finished article and sure we need to improve our league position, but 4 wins in a row with wigan stoke west ham all coming up.......this could be a good run of games that could propel us to close to the top 3. we're only 5 points adrift after what can only be described as a shockingly bad start.

people will get carried away -

Arent you guilty of that in your post above

[Arn]

I will give Roy credit when it his tactic that win us games and not some fantastic moments from our players.

Roy used the same old tactic. The difference now is that Torres are more match fit and scored a couple of crackers.

As many already pointed out. We are now back to playing Houllier tactics when we need fantastic moments from our star players to get out of jail.

[kris90210]

This is an improvement on Hodgson Tactic Mark I but to me its more akin to Houlliers tactics than anything else we have had. I must admit I'm none too convinced that is the way forward

What seems clear to me is that the way we play is a work in progress. As you said, we pressed higher up the pitch yesterday. We're finally moving in the right direction.

[Vermilion]

I will give Roy credit when it his tactic that win us games and not some fantastic moments from our players.

Roy used the same old tactic. The difference now is that Torres are more match fit and scored a couple of crackers.

As many already pointed out. We are now back to playing Houllier tactics when we need fantastic moments from our star players to get out of jail.

Was hoping for a bit more possession at home in a game we won 2-0, but having seen the stats it's not so good as regards our all round play and ball retention.

[Chrono]

I will give Roy credit when it his tactic that win us games and not some fantastic moments from our players.

Roy used the same old tactic. The difference now is that Torres are more match fit and scored a couple of crackers.

As many already pointed out. We are now back to playing Houllier tactics when we need fantastic moments from our star players to get out of jail.

So the entire first half was down to our players ability and nothing to do with tactics or gameplan?

[Scratch]

I will give Roy credit when it his tactic that win us games and not some fantastic moments from our players.

Roy used the same old tactic. The difference now is that Torres are more match fit and scored a couple of crackers.

As many already pointed out. We are now back to playing Houllier tactics when we need fantastic moments from our star players to get out of jail.

As opposed to Rafa tactics where we'd set out to stifle the opposition in the hope of catching a break. Give over Arn, the first half was a great performance, and the players can be forgiven for sitting back on a lead in the second, yet still looking dangerous on the break. You won't give Roy any credit, which is a bit sad, and all because he's not Rafa.

[Vermilion]

ffs back to Rafa...again! He's gone..just let it go...release the stress man..

hehe..always wanted to say that in a patronising way.....

[Lecter]

What seems clear to me is that the way we play is a work in progress. As you said, we pressed higher up the pitch yesterday. We're finally moving in the right direction.

I'd be surprised if we actually moved higher and pressed higher than we did yesterday

That was Roy's Fulham tactic at its best against a side that that comes on to you

How we will cope with a team that sits back and defends themselves is another story as we all saw how Houlliers teams (virtually the same tactic as Roy yesterday) and even Rafa's sides (who pressed higher and held a much higher line) faired in those sort of games- none too well really