Bolton post match big style celebration

[Craig_H]

Let's be fair to Hodgson today, he's done my head in hugely this season and I'm convinced he should have been sacked by now, but there's not much to criticise today so let's not. Let's just give credit where it's due and move on.

We were average in the first half but still better than them. We were pretty good second half.

We had a go too, which we've not done in almost all of the games this season. I left satisfied with what I'd seen.

He was pasted after Wolves and deserved it. Let's not lay into him today when we actually performed well and got the win too.

Yes I know he was helped by injuries eg Aurelio and Gerrard coming into the side, but still, let's play fair. We did fine today.

As someone else said though, it's typical roy - wait til we're on the brink and they finally set things up properly, out of desperation. Then we get a win and he reverts to type.

[Drago]

Pretty good game today, best I've seen the team play in a long time even. Far less, if any hoofing and some nice pass and move football. We struggled at times for creativity in the final 3rd but that was always going to happen with Kuyt and Maxi as conventional wingers (both had good games though)

Thoroughly deserved the win and I don't think my post would have much different even if it stayed 1-1.

[Molby]

Just to park the Bodge debate for a second.......

Our captain today showed just why he is world class. For anybody to suggest we would be better off without him, quite frankly, is crazy. (Arn)

He was immense today, his ball through to Nando was sublime, and he set up cole's goal too.

He is unbelievable.

[Craig_H]

Just to park the Bodge debate for a second.......

Our captain today showed just why he is world class. For anybody to suggest we would be better off without him, quite frankly, is crazy. (Arn)

He was immense today, his ball through to Nando was sublime, and he set up cole's goal too.

He is unbelievable.

[Drago]

But we've got better centre midfielders and if we sign proper wingers there will be no place for him in the team.

[Drago]

Come to think of it, when was the last league game we won after losing at half time?

[Arn]

But we've got better centre midfielders and if we sign proper wingers there will be no place for him in the team.

Maybe you should check up his passing percentage. I can tell you that it was around 77%. It should be something like 85%-90% to be good enough when he play central midfield.

He also only won one out of three tackles. Not good enough when you play in a position that has a lot of defensive responsibility.

Priority one when you play in central midfield is safety first. Priority two is to make attacking passes when you get the chance to do it but it is safety first.

Check out how many of his passes that was a success in the final third. Almost the only ones was the ones we scored on. That isn't good enough.

Clicky

If you lose the ball to often when you play central midfield or make to many unsuccessful passes then it leads to quick counter attacks against you.

That is why it must be safety first. It wasn't that against Bolton. He won us the game with two excellent passes but the rest of his game wasn't good enough.

[Craig_H]

Arn - no offence mate, but you're talking twaddle.

Instead of getting into a hissy about his passing percentages, how about watching the game? I know it's radical, but....

He ran the show, set up BOTH goals and basically took us by the hand, and led us to victory.

[DannyMan2006]

@ Arn

Gerrard is a class act mate. Not always shown it these past couple of seasons but he ain't alone there and that's why we finished 7th under Rafa and sit about 9th under Hodgson.

Personally I think if we want to see the best if him we put him in a position where HD doesn't always need to track back. Not because he can't do it, but because any reasonable player can do the tracking back what Gerrard does. Stevie doesn't excel at running back and cutting off channels. He excels in the final third of the pitch and that's where he should spend most his time.

[Arn]

Arn - no offence mate, but you're talking twaddle.

Instead of getting into a hissy about his passing percentages, how about watching the game? I know it's radical, but....

He ran the show, set up BOTH goals and basically took us by the hand, and led us to victory.

I watched the game. The passing percentage is very important when you play central midfield. It isn't as important if you play higher up the pitch.

When you play central midfield then it is key that you have a very good passing percentage or else you risk quick counter attacks against you.

The reason to why Bolton almost got a point was that both Lucas and Gerarrd couldn't hold on to the ball long enough and missed to many passes.

Lucas only had around 75%.

If it would have been what you expect it to be, Gerrard 85-90% and Lucas 90%+ then we would have dominated the game as we should do against Bolton at home.

Gerrard played a very good game, not excellent. He can play much much better.

If you think I'm happy that Bolton almost got a point then you're wrong. We didn't play any good.

[Craig_H]

I think you should quit obsessing over your percentages, chalkboards and the like. You ARENT rafa.

Gerrard is brilliant, you're in a percentage (see what i did there?) of about 2% who dont think so. Sorry, but you're wrong.

"We didnt play any good" We utterly dominated the 2nd half and it would've been a travesty if we hadnt won. They nearly got a point because we didnt take our chances enough to kill the game off. Fact.

[dww]

Maybe you should check up his passing percentage. I can tell you that it was around 77%. It should be something like 85%-90% to be good enough when he play central midfield.

He also only won one out of three tackles. Not good enough when you play in a position that has a lot of defensive responsibility.

Priority one when you play in central midfield is safety first. Priority two is to make attacking passes when you get the chance to do it but it is safety first.

Check out how many of his passes that was a success in the final third. Almost the only ones was the ones we scored on. That isn't good enough.

Clicky

If you lose the ball to often when you play central midfield or make to many unsuccessful passes then it leads to quick counter attacks against you.

That is why it must be safety first. It wasn't that against Bolton. He won us the game with two excellent passes but the rest of his game wasn't good enough.

I think you point out the flaw in your own argument - the overall percentage is taken down by the passes in the final third. In the final third the criteria for success should surely be the percentage that lead to chances and goals. Taking higher risks there is fine.

I actually agree with your point when we play deeper and Gerrard stays in deeper areas more he has problems. Push further up and he is excellent.

Didn't see the game but I wonder whether another argument you have made before plays a part here, the argument being that playing Agger allows drags the backline further forward and pushes the midfield forward.

[nbryan1764]

Maybe you should check up his passing percentage. I can tell you that it was around 77%. It should be something like 85%-90% to be good enough when he play central midfield.

He also only won one out of three tackles. Not good enough when you play in a position that has a lot of defensive responsibility.

Priority one when you play in central midfield is safety first. Priority two is to make attacking passes when you get the chance to do it but it is safety first.

Check out how many of his passes that was a success in the final third. Almost the only ones was the ones we scored on. That isn't good enough.

Clicky

If you lose the ball to often when you play central midfield or make to many unsuccessful passes then it leads to quick counter attacks against you.

That is why it must be safety first. It wasn't that against Bolton. He won us the game with two excellent passes but the rest of his game wasn't good enough.

You want Steven Gerrard to be safety first? Really? I am glad he hasnt been over the years we would not done half as well as we have. Let the water carriers be safety first, Steven Gerrard? Give him the ball and let magic be created

[Fernandinho]

How good was it to have two defenders (agger and aurelio) who were looking to pass the ball out of defence! even if they looked slightly rusty and gave it away a few times it was nice to see the team build from the back again with lucas dropping deap to pick up the ball on a number of occasions. this can only get better for the team, not to mention for Fernando who doesn't have to spend half the game chasing lost causes and trying to win impossible headers from konch and carra sending it up the pitch.

[Danoner Forrest]

A few things I noticed.

When Johnson gave the ball away near to the end Bodge turned around to the main stand for about 5 seconds and rolled his eyes in a 'Told you so' style.

When Agger came off he had little/no time for Bodge, not snubbing him but not exactly warm.

When the ball came into the main stand on about 50 mins I punched it back on to the pitch with what can only be desrcibed as magnificent reflexes

Comollii was clearly pissed off in the 1st half, I saw him hitting the chair in fron on a number of occasions

Bodge normally rushes off down the tunnel at the end, win lose or draw today he made a stage managed attempt to suck up to the crowd by applauding every corner of the ground.