The Mail Bag
Two points dropped
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That was a frustrating result and 2 points dropped before the international break, but I don’t think we can fault the tactics or the effort for the most part.
We created enough chances to win this comfortably (24 shots and 17 on target vs 8 and 6 respectively) and managed to raise the tempo when needed and reacted well to the goal against the run of play.
We just lacked the final ball, the incisive finish or even that little bit of luck — how often is Cahill going to head two clear-cut chances like that straight to the keeper?
I think the main difference here was on the flanks actually, Bily’s clearly still getting up to the pace of the game and doesn’t have the rapport with Baines that Pienaar does and we all know Ossie’s not really a winger, but in the circumstances there’s not much else Moyes could do, aside from perhaps giving Gosling a run-out.
I might have been tempted to take Cahill or Felli off for one of the strikers and play 4-4-2 a little earlier with Yak or Jo alongside Saha for 10 mins before bringing the other one on on, but equally, both have offered such a goal threat recently it’s not clear-cut.
With Pienaar or Arteta in the side, or with Bily looking a bit more accomplished, we might have rolled them over, but they aren’t so what can you do?
On the positive side, I thought Heitinga looked much better today... showing his willingess to bring the ball forward and some nice distribution and as a unit we were more balanced than in the last two games, but of course we won them both.
Let’s hope Pienaar is back fit for the next one and let’s rollover Wolves en route to the Stadium of Light! Can’t bloody wait! COYB!
Chris James, Posted 04/10/2009 at 14:45:40
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I agree Bily looked off the pace... hopefully in time he will be more consistent. Deffo 2 points dropped tho I know Stoke worked hard but a bit gutted we couldn't put them to bed (if that doesn't sound wrong!).
Anyhow, I for one am not disheartened, into the break, six games unbeaten still challenging in all competitions. New players bedded in and hopefully some time now for our injured players to return. The future is blue.
Sure, a home draw is disappointing but results like this happen when you have European football and long journeys.
To be honest I’d take a Top 10 finish if it meant a Europa League Semi or Final appearance.
Is the fast pace and tough physicality of the Premier League going to be too much for Diniyar Bilyaletdinov? So far, the signs are not good.
Yes, we needed a lot more guile to beat that lot. Leon’s goal, having had a practice at it a few minutes earlier, was a model of how it should have been done - the little guys running through the legs of the dumb giants.
But we actually outbattled them too when close to running on empty.
Two points to regret losing, but not a tragedy in the season we are in.
ps - Chelsea got a result today. Helps for a happy evening, at least.
Sadly Fellaini was again wasteful and his first touch made me look good.
Who was supposed to be marking Huth for their goal? Certainly not Cahill...
Heitinga looked very composed bringing the ball out, or trying (not always successfully) the long diagonal ball out wide (as in a pass, not a hoof). Even Hibbert would often look to pass it off to him. Hibbert did well, covered well for others when they went forward.
Three things struck me though (admittedly not having seen as much of them as many will have - no Carling Cup or UEFA Cup on over here).
- Bilyaletdinov as mentioned above seems to be off the pace, but bear in mind that he’s been playing since the Russian season started in March
- Jo’s first touch and general play really is poor. City, and to a lesser extent us, we’re had - I’m looking at you, YouTube!
- Fellaini loves the hospital pass. Twice in the second half he tried a simple pass - straight to a team mate with a Stoke player up his arse. FFS pal, you’re tall enough to see if someone is right behind them.
And who said Moyes doesn’t like wingers? Turns out we’ve got the widest pitch in the league. Or maybe that’s to play 6 across the middle when the big teams come to town!
Then a midfield of these three plus Rodwell and Fellaini is I think easily going to have enough to overcome the Stokes of this world in the future.
I know we aren’t the most attractive team to watch at times — but thank fuck we don’t play like Stoke (or Blackburn for that matter) week-in, week-out!!! People (and I admit to being one of them) accuse us of playing hoofball too often, but Stoke’s (and to a lesser extent Blackburn's a few weeks back) entire game plan is based upon pumping it upfield in the hope of winning corner or a throw-in...
They did defend very well today but they are truly awful to watch. It made me grateful that we do at least occasionally try and play football.
I thought the back-four looked good, credit again to Hibbo for another good performance. I was concerned Heitinga would struggle aerially today but he never, and his distribution is far better than Yobo’s. Distin looks like he’s been here for years.
We missed Pienaar and Bily’s crossing was below the standard he has previously set. He seems reluctant to run at a defender, is it due to a lack of pace, confidence, groin? Time will tell, but another summer has been and gone and the side still lacks PACE!!
Cahill should have scored and apart from the goal, Osman was AWOL again. Saha was surprisingly quiet today but credit to Shawcross who had a good game marking him.
We need to stuff Wolves at home!
COYB
He must be doing something right off the field in order to keep getting picked and certainly to be given the captaincy over the likes of Howard. Okay he finally scored again but he was basically a non-entity as usual. Sorry to say but some of Moyes decisions are just a joke.
We were desperately in need of some guile in the final third though; oh for a fit Pienaar and/or Arteta.
If we get Billy, Arteta, Screech, Pienaar and Rodwell in the same midfield and keep Saha fit and mobile, we’ll have a very good footballing side - a very good defence, hard to beat and a ball playing midfield.
Moyes is a genius assembling this side on buttons compared to teams like Spurs, Man Citeh etc — I just hope we can keep him here two more years before he inevitably ends up at one of the richer clubs.
Of course, some of you more discerning traditionalists apparently still living in the Mersey Millionaires era would prefer a new manager... who would be operating under exactly the same financial restrictions as Moyes — would they be as successful?
I really do wonder?
I for one thought both Hibbert and Osman were among our best players today, Hibbo narrowly behind Distin (a clear MotM for us I thought).
The ball wasn’t spread wide enough to the right for much end product to emerge but Osman was full of willing runs, constantly closing down and working back. He forced a good save from Sorensen in the first half and do I really need to remind people that he scored a brilliant goal? If Arteta or Pienaar had stuck that away, we would all be purring, so give the guy a break.
As for Hibbo, BATE seems to have been something of the making of him as he was solid, dependable and useful in helping others out today.
Not sure Felli and Rodders works as a midfield two (at least not yet) and Bily clearly needs time to get up to speed but Stoke are a tough side to break down.
Speaking of our esteemed opposition, how bad must it be watching them every week? Horrible hoofball and real dirty, hacking challenges. Awful stuff.
A point was probably fair and, as others have said, Cahill probably won’t miss two free headers like that in a game for a long time to come. Not to mention the late one that got away from the Yak...
After the tough trip to BATE, I’ll take that.
Wasn’t able to see the game, so really curious to hear a measured assessment of Bily. Is he quality but just a little off the pace? Or is he so slow that any quality is irrelevant?
Also concerned that if he has been playing in Russia since March and he’s knackered, his performances will only get more jaded.
BILY IS A CLASS PLAYER.
At least Jack was having a dig from distance, the only one that seems to recently, even Saha used to have digs from outside the area but yesterday wanted the pass instead.
Not an excuse but a reason may be that after 6 games in 21 days they may be a little tired (I don’t know why though).
Any good football comes from our left and our central midfielders turn back inside rather than pass it to the right. Hibbo has improved and had a very good game Saturday again but Osman, goal aside, contributes nothing.
As for the "local lad" argument, people say he gets stick because he’s local. Well, ask yourself this. If we bought Osman 2 years ago for say £4 million would you defend his performances? In the Park End yesterday the fans were clapping Hibbo and complimenting him. Credit where credit is due. Osman isn’t good enough, simple as. The sooner others are fit the better so he can take his place on the bench.
We have midgets like Osman and Pienaar who will never win a defensive header against teams like Stoke so why not have them on a post or up front ready for a breakaway instead of having nothing, meaning a cleared ball generally comes straight back.
On a plus side, I thought Hibbert played well again and his crossing looks a lot better this year too and Heitinga minus his Route One balls all the time looked very composed.
Bily is 6ft-1 — whoever said he is small? He is also fast although we have yet to see evidence. I think him playing triangles with Pienaar, Arteta and Rodders would be Arsenal-esque. Hate to say it but I can just picture him been more comfortable in the middle!
Arteta nearing a return! COYB
His game is not about pace... he’s about passing and moving. With decent players around him, he’ll shine.
I remember that Howard Kendall was crap when we first bought him but later became the best uncapped player in England so let’s give Bily some more time? I reckon by the end of November if we are still in touch with the top 4 or 5 then it will have been a great acheivement along with the good euro scores.
Taking captaincy against Hull & Stoke, and scoring on both occasions is fantastic. Good onya Ossie, keep those goals coming, COYB
Hibbo did well and Osman had a decent game.
The problem was that our boys were all knackered and Moyes was too conservative with 4-5-1.
Osman should have been put into the centre to provide a key to unlock a big back 4.
What the fuck’s going on in this young lad’s head?
As for his excuse making line for Fellaini and his tooth ache, this player is meant to be €15 milion worth of talent, from what I have seen I would not have paid 15 quid. Yeah yeah he runs the midfield, more like he has the runs in midfield. I thought we should improve season after season, but instead Moyes seems to be content with top ten finish as we have not spent the sort of money other teams have!!
On Sunday, it was quite humerous when Diniyar Bilyaletdinov was replaced by Jo! 20 letters replaced by 2...
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1 Posted 04/10/2009 at 16:57:36
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