COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY
From My Seat: Blackburn (Cup)
Comments (11) : A game to forget on a night when the close season woes on the transfer front really were chickens coming home to roost.
On the face of it our manager had chosen a strong line up with the intention of going through while Paul Ince made seven changes giving a few youngsters a chance in a more laid back view of the importance of the Carling Cup.
With the game only ten minutes old not only was it clear that Tugay in his 39th year was running the show but he had been influential with raking passes that switched play in finding Olsson who exchanged passes with the ageing Fowler strode between the hesitant pair of Jags and Neville and beat Howard at his near post.
Yet again a goal down from sloppy play and only for poor finishing and one good save from Howard we could have been three down at the break.
At the other end Castillo had a shot deflected for a corner which Osman took and Saha missed the target.
Rodwell in the unaccustomed wide right berth was coming more into the game and produced two crosses,the first Jags headed wide and the second Fellaini really should have scored but managed only to put his header wide.
These were the only tests given to the rookie keeper who had replaced first choice Robinson who went off injured early on.
That first half had been all over the place as far as we were concerned mainly due to Tugay pulling the strings and us missing midfield out altogether.
Blackburn played the football we played the hoofball much to the detriment of both Vaughan and Saha who never got a worthwhile ball.
Half-time was particularly sad for me as a section of the large travelling army booed off the players and on the resumption of the second half the manager had seen fit to take off both central midfield players.
This more than highlighted the fact we have no alternatives in those positions as it was a case of square pegs in round holes in a desperate attempt to claw something back and as the second half proved grit, guts, fight and endeavour will never really open up defences to allow good strikers to ply their trade.
With any semblance of balance gone we had Cahill and Vaughan as wide men. Osman and Rodwell as our centre two and Blackburn saying thank you very much.
We huffed and puffed a lot that second half without a breakthrough ever looking likely. We did have the ball in the net from the head of Vaughan from a corner but it was quite rightly ruled out for a Yak foul on the keeper.
We tried to press by humping the ball forward and following up but this left us open to counter attacks and a team with a little more composure than Blackburn would have punished us further in that second half.
The final whistle after three mins of overtime brought a crescendo of booing from the faithful and the players were left in no doubt what was thought of them as they made their usual pilgrimage to salute their fans.
Where do we go from here I really don't know.
If, as it seemed tonight, both new central midfielders are nowhere near ready for the style of play in the EPL in fact they both looked as though this is football played in way that they have never seen nor experienced before.
It will take some time to get them up to the standard required and with no natural replacements square pegs in round holes it will have to be.
With Hibbert on the bench tonight I can see him being thrown into the derby and Neville and young Jack as centre mid!.
To my mind after the good position we were in last May we have gone backwards instead of capitalising.
As a fan I have no idea why this situation arose or who or what is to blame but after our expectations had been boosted over the preceding seasons the wheels have come off somewhere.
With January being a notoriously poor time to buy as things both stand and look the season will not be the one we all hoped for.
Looking at our present squad strength I have the feeling the manager will have to stumble upon a formation that somehow gives the key players we have a chance to perform.
For me its not a choice of being either pessimistic or optimistic but rather one of what I have seen to date,projecting it down the line and I have to say that I see little in the way of those all important ingredients ? creativity coupled with a style of play that is understood throughout the club.
Still I always have hope so bring on the next games.
UP THE BLUES
Reader Comments
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
He looks completely out his depth for me.
Oh dear what are we doing.
451 against Hull, 442 against Blackburn with players out of position, can it get any worse.
Need to go 4132 against Liverpool simple as
Neville Yobo Jags Lescott
Felliano or Castillo
Arteta Cahill Osman
Saha Yakubu
Yes we did seem to see the potential in Arshavin before other Premier League clubs but as I?ve said on many occasions we could never have bettered (or even matched) the wages that he was already getting at Zenit!! But I agree with you on the quality (or lack of quality!!) of our performances over a long period.
Fucking hell stop it.
We should’ve kicked started our season at the very first game of the season. The team is playing crap and it’s not going to suddenly fall in place come Saturday. Paul Niklas’ formation is probably what I’ll field but I would place Stubbs in there - but for the fact that we need to replace 4 buffoons.
In an ideal world as 2 out and out defensive midfielders they should never play beside eachother in CM.
I will wait to judge until I?ve seen them line up as the sole Def M alongside the match fit Arteta, Pienaar/Osman on the flanks and Cahill/Osman in CM.
I’m fairly certain that it’s a major factor.
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment to Column articles, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and MailBag submissions across the site.
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
-sm.jpg)
1 Posted 26/09/2008 at 07:36:50
Report abuse
Moutinho would have been a hero at Goodison because he at least knows how to beat a man and pass. Arshavin we should have signed before he made his name in the European Championship... I'm certain we missed the boat on him.
Our scouts have brought nothing to the table... we have not yet replaced the players we have lost from an already small squad and our football is the worst in the division, equally as bad as Stoke City. Even when we finished 4th, I critisised our style of play because then we could not score except for set pieces. We actually qualified for the Champions League with a negative goal difference.
I can count on the fingers of one hand how many times we have really played good football and the best we played this season was in the DEFEAT by Pompey when we did at least cross the ball well and pass through the midfield. Our period of lousy hoofball has been ever since Duncan Ferguson's days so it is nothing new. It shows a complete lack of confidence and a desperation attitude.
I watched Fellaini and Castillo and am not impressed, as far as I'm concerned they were panic acquisitions and do not improve the team. I would play Castillo in the Carsley role and play Baines in front of Lescott... Fellaini and Osman should be on the bench.