Before the game when I saw the teamsheets I thought you'd murder us, you have some internationals as well as quality ball players but we know it didnt turn out that way. You lot seem to think your players just had a bad day and that may be true but I have to say, some of the touches and lay offs from your lads in midfield were just class and when they're on it, they must be a joy to watch. You are a much more sophisticated football team than we are (and thats not to play down our strengths which I'll come to) and Poyet has done a good job of building a team over time. I could watch Orlandi go about his work all day long, what a clever skilful player. But...Dave Jones did his homework yesterday and we did a good job on you for most of the game. We chased and harried in midfield and constantly made you play the ball back to El Abd who is clearly no great distributor an our shape was good all day. Man of the match was Giles Coke who was everywhere in midfield and deserved a goal. You lacked a bit of oomph, it was neat and pretty but until CMS came on we were always confortable, after which he did his usual terrorising of our defence for 20 minutes until we adapted and got hold of the game again.
Now ..our strengths...you've called us dirty and ugly and thats not true. We are a strong physical team with pace to burn and Helan and Antonio in particular would make a big difference to your side. Our full backs have licence to bomb on because we play 2 full backs in front of them in midfield and its working well for us. 6 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat in our last 9 says this team is adapting to the championship and should stay up with ease. Calderon should by now be beginning to recover from the twists and turns that Helan put him through, Helan was taking him for a run several times in the second half. Not many sides can cope with the pace we have and the support from our rb and lb means we get plenty of crosses over...Buxton in particular seemed to float over a barrel load.
The ref, you're annoyed with him and I guess you would be but he certainly wasnt a homer, a stonewall penalty on Lita not given, Ulloa very lucky to stay on, El Abd pushing his luck at times too. The Danny Pugh foul looked a yelow card to me and I was right behind it...it just seemed that your players and coaches wanted the ref to even things out. That said, it didnt look pretty on the FLS last night although the camera angle was poor. The difference between Pugh's tackle and Barned was that Pugh went for the ball but was late, Barnes saw red mist and took the player out, a red card all day long.
Got to say I thought that Bridge and Upson were a let down, in this league they should dominate, they didnt. Did Bridge ever get forward and overlap for you?
Overall I can see why you beat a lot of teams in this league, and also maybe too why promotion might just just a bit beyond you this year. I like your football (not the histrionics of some of your players though) an if Poyet just adds a bit more pace and strength to the obvious quality you'll go far.
Good luck for the rest of the season and if you want to get rid of Orlandi, send him our way please.
Now ..our strengths...you've called us dirty and ugly and thats not true. We are a strong physical team with pace to burn and Helan and Antonio in particular would make a big difference to your side. Our full backs have licence to bomb on because we play 2 full backs in front of them in midfield and its working well for us. 6 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat in our last 9 says this team is adapting to the championship and should stay up with ease. Calderon should by now be beginning to recover from the twists and turns that Helan put him through, Helan was taking him for a run several times in the second half. Not many sides can cope with the pace we have and the support from our rb and lb means we get plenty of crosses over...Buxton in particular seemed to float over a barrel load.
The ref, you're annoyed with him and I guess you would be but he certainly wasnt a homer, a stonewall penalty on Lita not given, Ulloa very lucky to stay on, El Abd pushing his luck at times too. The Danny Pugh foul looked a yelow card to me and I was right behind it...it just seemed that your players and coaches wanted the ref to even things out. That said, it didnt look pretty on the FLS last night although the camera angle was poor. The difference between Pugh's tackle and Barned was that Pugh went for the ball but was late, Barnes saw red mist and took the player out, a red card all day long.
Got to say I thought that Bridge and Upson were a let down, in this league they should dominate, they didnt. Did Bridge ever get forward and overlap for you?
Overall I can see why you beat a lot of teams in this league, and also maybe too why promotion might just just a bit beyond you this year. I like your football (not the histrionics of some of your players though) an if Poyet just adds a bit more pace and strength to the obvious quality you'll go far.
Good luck for the rest of the season and if you want to get rid of Orlandi, send him our way please.