El Abd's behaviour...

[Easy 10]

I agree. But, do you think his winding up helps or hinders his game? I'm starting to think the latter and yesterday's game was a good example.

No more so than usual tbh. Although I thought it was a pretty idiotic challenge on Wood when he went straight through him shortly after their little handbags session - he could easily have seen worse than yellow for it, and that would've left us right in the shitter. A pointless challenge in a pointless area of the pitch that could have proved massively costly.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

No more so than usual tbh. Although I thought it was a pretty idiotic challenge on Wood when he went straight through him shortly after their little handbags session - he could easily have seen worse than yellow for it, and that would've left us right in the shitter. A pointless challenge in a pointless area of the pitch that could have proved massively costly.

Exactly. Arguably it was costly as El Abd got an early card and had to keep his game in check from there on in. Wood made him look pretty stupid over all.

 

[Monsieur Le Plonk]

Probably answered earlier on in this thread or on another thread and apologies if that's the case....but did anyone see what happened when El Abd went down in our penalty box leaving Trotter with a free header? Was there any contact? Didn't hear much noise of protestation from either the crowd or his teammates.

 

[APACHE]

The views of NSC mean nothing because Poyet picks the team and last night when he needed to change the set-up the weaker player was taken off. In any team sport nice guys win nothing, you always need someone to take on the other sides hard man, AEL is a player most I expect don't like playing against.

 

[Twizzle]

Adam has the job of marking dangermen and big forwards, which he does well.
If people think this doesn't get his frustrated charge aggressive enough to professionally foul or hurt him, you don't realise what's going on.
el Abd always puts his head in and takes the risks and hits that nobody else will.
Respect, or support another team

 

[Lindfield by the Pond]

Anyone remember the Portsmouth game at Withdean in the cup, when they were reduced to 9 men? AEA wound up Kitson like you wouldn't believe. They were already 1 man down, and we were 1 up I think. We were doing the old pass about the back 4 routine that Gus has us doing these days, when AEA seemed to agree that it was all a little pointless, and stopped, stood still with his foot on top of the ball, and gave it the old "come and get it". It was like red rag to a bull, and in steamed Kitson. Red card. 9 men. Game over.

 

[Questions]

This.

And while Wood mostly outjumped El-Abd and held the ball up well, there were many occasions when El-Abd snuck round Wood to get the ball before him. It did help with the eventual implementation the simple tactic of placing someone behind Wood and someone in front of him when a goal-kick / free-kick / long ball came his way. Wood, good though he was, didn't have it all his own way.

Apart from Woods 2 goals El Abd was the man. Jesus.

 

[Questions]

Anyone remember the Portsmouth game at Withdean in the cup, when they were reduced to 9 men? AEA wound up Kitson like you wouldn't believe. They were already 1 man down, and we were 1 up I think. We were doing the old pass about the back 4 routine that Gus has us doing these days, when AEA seemed to agree that it was all a little pointless, and stopped, stood still with his foot on top of the ball, and gave it the old "come and get it". It was like red rag to a bull, and in steamed Kitson. Red card. 9 men. Game over.

I don't think you were actually at the game where you ?

 

[The Large One]

Apart from Woods 2 goals El Abd was the man. Jesus.

Of course Wood did well. He took his goals superbly.

But I was specifically talking about El-Abd v Wood - the one-on-one battle. In neither case was El-Abd the principal culprit for the goals.

When El-Abd was tasked with marking him (we were already 1-0 down), the match-up was far more even.

 

[Questions]

Of course Wood did well. He took his goals superbly.

But I was specifically talking about El-Abd v Wood - the one-on-one battle. In neither case was El-Abd the principal culprit for the goals.

When El-Abd was tasked with marking him (we were already 1-0 down), the match-up was far more even.

Well after he hacked Wood down at end of first half he was told to back off and Greer took on the mantle for a lot of the time so it seems that El Abd hardly marked Wood at all. Beats me then.

 

[algie]

I don't think you were actually at the game where you ?

I was thinking the same

 

[TheMajor]

I wouldn't worry about AEA - what about Millwall? It was like a Winifred Zaha Appreciation Night.

 

[The Bun Elephant]

Danny Cullip was the king of the wind up. A little pat here, a nudge there. I think AEA learned his craft from him.

Well if he did, he didnt pay enough attension as he does in to openly unlike Cullip

Athough i agree that opposition forwards need to be put off thier game and stride, it needs to be more sutbtly done

 

[Pavilionaire]

No, no it's not.

There are two things being discussed now and people seem to be confusing them. To my mind:

1. The wind-ups. He's very good at this, is within the laws of the game and it's very funny to watch.

2. The play acting. He's so-so at this, is outside the laws of the game and is utterly embarrassing to watch. It also means that, for as long as he's doing it, we have absolutely no moral highground when faced with opposition divers and fakers.

You make him sound like Klinsmann or Ronaldo. I don't think there's an issue. As for the moral high ground there is no debate - the battle on cheating and diving has been lost, and it's all a complete lottery. All we can do as fans is voice our displeasure and hope it influences the referee in our favour.