Braga post-match

[Fredo]

not a full time plan B but he gives the option of going for plan B - something which barca and the arsenal lack (granted barca dont need it usually but they have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to world class players)

Nothing wrong with playing with a target man. I caught a glimpse of the match last night and there is this stereotype that Collymore was banging on about us not using Caroll's main strength. In short, we weren't hoofing the ball up towards him enough and that equated to playing with a slow tempo. That's nonsense IMO.

Surely, Kenny must have seen that he can more than that. The odd long ball accurately aimed towards him is fine but the incessant long punts upfront will get us nowhere. Carra is the main culprit of this and this needs to be eradicated from our game.

[elrichio86]

------------------Reina
Johnson-----Carra-------Skrtel-----Wilson
------------------Lucas---------------
-------Meireles-------------Maxi---------
---Kuyt-------------------------Pacheco---
------------------Carroll-------------------

No Suso or Insua

You're not the real Arn

[Fierce]

Game was awful
Performance was awful
A large volume of subsequent internet posts were awful



But then along comes Arn, to brighten our days and put a smile on our faces

[Lecter]

Nothing wrong with playing with a target man. I caught a glimpse of the match last night and there is this stereotype that Collymore was banging on about us not using Caroll's main strength. In short, we weren't hoofing the ball up towards him enough and that equated to playing with a slow tempo. That's nonsense IMO.

Surely, Kenny must have seen that he can more than that. The odd long ball accurately aimed towards him is fine but the incessant long punts upfront will get us nowhere. Carra is the main culprit of this and this needs to be eradicated from our game.

One thing I liked last night was the space Carroll made for Kuyt

IF we had someone faster alongside him and someone capable of picking the right pass through we could have really exploited that

Carroll to me is not just a target man hes more than that I think he will do fine in a passing system provided we get the right players around him

Gerrard, Suarez, Kelly, Agger back and things will be much improved

[The Erectile Banana]

Our season was almost over when we went out of the FA Cup. This competition was winnable, but only if our creative players (Agger, Gerrard) were going to be available throughout. This lesson was shown at home in the group stages.

The rot set in under Hodgson this season with his negativity and out-dated tactics that countered everything that had gone before and is being taught in the Academy. Kenny has been trying to get this team to catch up ever since.

Given Braga's setup last night, with their captain (name excapes me) sitting in front of the back 4, Cole should have been pressing him throughout to disrupt this central back 3, not unlike Gerrard on Essien at Stamford Bridge in seasons past. He didn't and Meireles and Lucas were outnumbered in midfield as he drifted across the front of their defence.

The pace of passes forward suffered as a result because Braga pressed very effectively and closed off the channels. The only width came from Johnson and this was limited, with him often being pressed by two defenders before he could cross or get to the byline. Hence the predominance of long diagonal balls to Carroll, an easier option to defend against.

The future?

A latter-day John Barnes is needed to be the outball and provide the width from getting behind defences. This would allow Gerrard/Meireles to play narrowly on the opposite flank providing diagonals into Carroll as part of the attacking options. Not sure Adam would do this and I'm struggling to think of alternatives.

Suarez can be a latter-day Beardsley behind Carroll (or equivalent of Keegan behind Toshack for those of longer memory like me), which is an exiting prospect given his performances since arriving.

If possible, bring Alonso back. Shelvey isn't ready, and Spearing, although bright after he came on last night, isn't at the level we need.

That said, we need to believe that we can get 5th. Without this we're in a 3 year recovery programme.

Time to re-engage lurker cloaking device and do some work...

Good post.

You should disengage your lurker cloaking device more.

[RichC]

One thing I liked last night was the space Carroll made for Kuyt

IF we had someone faster alongside him and someone capable of picking the right pass through we could have really exploited that

Carroll to me is not just a target man hes more than that I think he will do fine in a passing system provided we get the right players around him

Gerrard, Suarez, Kelly, Agger back and things will be much improved

Those 4 players would make a huge difference to the side wouldn't they, really looking forward to seeing Suarez playing off Carroll, hopefully they can quickly get an understanding of each others game.

We certainly need someone that can pick a pass for us apart from Gerrard for next season and someone to whip some balls into the box as well.

[Fredo]

One thing I liked last night was the space Carroll made for Kuyt

IF we had someone faster alongside him and someone capable of picking the right pass through we could have really exploited that

Carroll to me is not just a target man hes more than that I think he will do fine in a passing system provided we get the right players around him

Gerrard, Suarez, Kelly, Agger back and things will be much improved

It's early days but Carroll doesn't look like someone who's very mobile. I might be wrong as I haven't seen enough of him. His lack of match fitness is a factor as well, so I'll reserve judgement on that. I liked Crouch but I always thought that he only provided us with an option and that we needed more than someone like him. Carroll is a bit like him, but much more powerful.

[Mostar]

It's early days but Carroll doesn't look like someone who's very mobile. I might be wrong as I haven't seen enough of him. His lack of match fitness is a factor as well, so I'll reserve judgement on that. I liked Crouch but I always thought that he only provided us with an option and that we needed more than someone like him. Carroll is a bit like him, but much more powerful.

Carroll is very mobile for his height but not nearly match fit nor in sync with his teammates to showcase his true skills.

It will take time to gel but he is a genuine threat and will give us many different offensive options.

I like Crouchy but Carroll is way better in terms of physical predispositions and technical qualities.

[ronanm]

Well, it's unlikely that we'll have European football next season. Could be a blessing in disguise - and may lead to an exodus..

[Fredo]

Carroll is very mobile for his height but not nearly match fit nor in sync with his teammates to showcase his true skills.

It will take time to gel but he is a genuine threat and will give us many different offensive options.

I like Crouchy but Carroll is way better in terms of physical predispositions and technical qualities.

[Lecter]

Carroll is very mobile for his height but not nearly match fit nor in sync with his teammates to showcase his true skills.

It will take time to gel but he is a genuine threat and will give us many different offensive options.

I like Crouchy but Carroll is way better in terms of physical predispositions and technical qualities.

Hes clearly no Pacheco though

[CJ]

arnold need his screws tightening before any more fall out.

why has no manager picked pacheco for any run of games?

i hope he makes it but 3 managers or 2 and bodge havent picked him. also there doesnt seem to be a clamour to sign our gem either despite his lack of game time

probably tells its own story unfortunately

[Buzzo]

lacks any balance and would congest the central area way too much - kyut, maxi, lucas, meireles, pacheco all like to drift central.

its almost a 4-1-1-1-1-1-1 formation.

Mate you can't mention that formation these days without adding...

© Roy Hodgson LMA Manager of the year 2010.

[red g]

One thing Pat Nevin liked last night was the space Carroll made for Kuyt

IF we had someone faster alongside him and someone capable of picking the right pass through we could have really exploited that

Carroll to me is not just a target man hes more than that I think he will do fine in a passing system provided we get the right players around him

Gerrard, Suarez, Kelly, Agger back and things will be much improved

fixed

[Vermilion]

We'd have been playing Citeh had we both got through. hahahahahaha Doh!