Kayal is the key to this new run of form.

[Mackenzie]

CMS drives me mad.

On the one hand he ran his socks off (as always), he was CONSTANTLY on the shoulder of the defender, bending his runs, finding little gaps and for the most part staying onside. He gave Kayal plenty of through-ball options, pulled their defence all over the place all night long and was a real thorn in their side.

On the other hand, the guy cannot trap a bag of cement. Time and again when it was played up to him the ball was just bouncing back off him, gifting possession back to them. And I lost count of the dangerous breaks on goal where we outnumbered them, but then fizzled out and came to nothing because of CMS choosing the wrong option, either shooting feebly or nousing up his cross.

But then he DID do brilliantly putting that one on a plate for Baldock for 1-0. And I think the whole team appreciate his workrate, and the fact that he never stops making himself available and looking for the ball. I suppose it could be summed up by the fact that his movement and workrate is fantastic, he creates options and space for others. The only downside is when he actually gets the ball - that usually means end of move.

You can learn how to have a good first touch, it's a skill that requires practice, but it really isn't that difficult. It's not an instinct or vision thing that you've either got or haven't.

Frustrating.

 

[Lush]

Definitely. I like Greer, but Kayal is constantly organising things, high 5ing players, shouting at them but most of all, he leads by example. Lots of momentum going forward and not scared to get stuck in.

Greer and Kayal were deep in conversation when they were preparing for the warm up. I thought it might be a Scottish thing. Be good to build a 'leadership spine' in the team.

 

[Brighton Boy]

Post of the day. I would go as far as to say years.

Yeah you're completely right but it's forgiveable as we rarely conceded. The Hyppia era wil go down as the way not to play offensive or defensive football. Just run around aimlessly and get picked off.

 

[Dave the OAP]

Hughton. Hughton Hughton HUGHTON

Houghton schmuton

 

[Marshy]

CMS was marginally better than usual, but still can't hold the ball up effectively. Lovely cross for the first goal, but otherwise OK at best. O'Grady on the other hand showed in his ten minutes on the pitch what a striker should be doing.

We played CMS because Leeds push up the pitch, Ogrady would have been the wrong selection from the start, CH got it spot on in fairness.
Bringing him on with 15 to go was also the correct call when we just wanted to see the game out.

 

[Dave the OAP]

Post of the day. I would go as far as to say years.

Of the decade to be fair

 

[moggy]

I was under the impression kayal was on loan till I read this thread

 

[Easy 10]

Yep. It was clearly his best performance of the season. His runs were actually- in the main- constructive, and he was, along with Teixeira and Baldock, pulling their shoddy defenders all over the place. I can't remember the last time we picked a defence apart so easily. I freely admit he's driven me nuts for a long time now, and I still have very little hope that he'll ever truly come good for us. But I can't really fault his effort last night. It was more than just aimless running around in circles. Happy to concede he had a half decent game. If only he could develop a better first touch, and get a few jammy goals, he'd have an awful lot of goodwill coming his way.

I admit when I saw the lineup last night with the front three comprising of CMS, Baldock and Teixeira, I wasn't overly confident as it looked lightweight...some guile from Tex and lots of running around, but nobody to hold the ball up. As it turned out, the guile was there in spades as was the running, but with real PURPOSE, not just chasing aimless hopeful balls dinked over the top by Dunk/Greer following the usual JFC spin and backpass.

Kayal has made such a difference in that respect. Leeds were garbage mind so I'm not getting too carried away, I can't see us getting that much space against someone decent, ie Derby next week.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I admit when I saw the lineup last night with the front three comprising of CMS, Baldock and Teixeira, I wasn't overly confident as it looked lightweight...some guile from Tex and lots of running around, but nobody to hold the ball up. As it turned out, the guile was there in spades as was the running, but with real PURPOSE, not just chasing aimless hopefull balls played over the top by Dunk/Greer following the usual JFC spin and backpass.

Kayal has made such a difference in that respect. Leeds were garbage mind, so I'm not getting too carried away, I can't see us getting that much space against someone decent, ie Derby next week.

That's why those two wins were so important, for when Derby, specifically Lingard and Bent, hammer us next week. Inevitable

 

[James Bond's body double]

I was under the impression kayal was on loan till I read this thread

Oh dear me Moggy!!!!

 

[Langley]

CMS drives me mad.

On the one hand he ran his socks off (as always), he was CONSTANTLY on the shoulder of the defender, bending his runs, finding little gaps and for the most part staying onside. He gave Kayal plenty of through-ball options, pulled their defence all over the place all night long and was a real thorn in their side.

On the other hand, the guy cannot trap a bag of cement. Time and again when it was played up to him the ball was just bouncing back off him, gifting possession back to them. And I lost count of the dangerous breaks on goal where we outnumbered them, but then fizzled out and came to nothing because of CMS choosing the wrong option, either shooting feebly or nousing up his cross.

But then he DID do brilliantly putting that one on a plate for Baldock for 1-0. And I think the whole team appreciate his workrate, and the fact that he never stops making himself available and looking for the ball. I suppose it could be summed up by the fact that his movement and workrate is fantastic, he creates options and space for others. The only downside is when he actually gets the ball - that usually means end of move.[/QUOTE
I take it that you don't like CMS. He is nowhere as bad as you paint. I and many others seem to have been watching a different game to you. You forgot to mention the high balls he brought down with his chest and the passes made from them. Yesterday we saw the old CMS back to his best.

 

[Landgull]

Next season's captain and bloke who we'll build team around

YES with bells on. At last a mid-field general and a massive help to the younger and less experience players coming through from the DS squad.

 

[Triggaaar]

Agreed. Not sure about who his best partner would be though.

Me! :safeway:

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

I admit when I saw the lineup last night with the front three comprising of CMS, Baldock and Teixeira, I wasn't overly confident as it looked lightweight...some guile from Tex and lots of running around, but nobody to hold the ball up. As it turned out, the guile was there in spades as was the running, but with real PURPOSE, not just chasing aimless hopeful balls dinked over the top by Dunk/Greer following the usual JFC spin and backpass.

Kayal has made such a difference in that respect. Leeds were garbage mind so I'm not getting too carried away, I can't see us getting that much space against someone decent, ie Derby next week.

True. But we now have proper manager who no doubt looked at what he had, what Leeds had and addressed it accordingly.

Plus Beram likes to play it forwards. Amazing people would shoot you down on here if you criticised the SIDEWAYS /BACKWARDS stuff of Poyet and Oscar as advocating "long ball" or aimless hoofs.

Nah

Beram showed how you can pass forwards, on the deck with aplomb. Thats getting it forwards. Its only taken three ****ing years. But we got there.

 

[Bold Seagull]

I take it that you don't like CMS. He is nowhere as bad as you paint. I and many others seem to have been watching a different game to you. You forgot to mention the high balls he brought down with his chest and the passes made from them. Yesterday we saw the old CMS back to his best.

I'm hoping that isn't back to his best. Refreshingly honest, hardworking strikers performance getting into some great positions, a good assist BUT, my goodness he should have bagged at least a brace and probably set up 2 further goals. Let's hope there is improvement to come, and match sharpness will give him some much needed confidence when he is in those critical positions in front of goal.

 

[Easy 10]

I take it that you don't like CMS. He is nowhere as bad as you paint. I and many others seem to have been watching a different game to you. You forgot to mention the high balls he brought down with his chest and the passes made from them. Yesterday we saw the old CMS back to his best.

I didn't think I painted him ALL bad, but yes, I admit to stifling a groan these days when CMS is in the team, because despite all the running he IS so ineffectual. And I maintain that his control last night when receiving the ball was, more often than not, atrocious. A typical "second touch is a tackle" night.

That said, last night was certainly one of the best games he's had for us in years. His runs were more intelligent, better timed, and he had something to work with from the passes he was receiving from midfield. Last nights performance is still not enough to convince me he has much to offer at this level though, I've seen nearly 4 years of mostly gubbins from him to know that.

 

[Guinness Boy]

I'm hoping that isn't back to his best. Refreshingly honest, hardworking strikers performance getting into some great positions, a good assist BUT, my goodness he should have bagged at least a brace and probably set up 2 further goals. Let's hope there is improvement to come, and match sharpness will give him some much needed confidence when he is in those critical positions in front of goal.

Exactly. If there is one negative from last night it's that we should have won 5-0 instead of 2-0. It is the only negative mind and I do think starting with CMS was the right thing to do. Terrible first touch and finishing aside he'd be a nightmare to follow all night if you were a centre back with even slight fitness issues.

 

[Pavilionaire]

While Kayal is undoubtably one of our best signings of recent years I'd say the key to this run of form is mainly the departure of Hyypia.

 

[Perfidious Albion]

Is it worth considering also that in the first week in Feb we appointed Colin Calderwood as Assistant Manager.. Since then we lost one (the first game ) but have drawn two and won two. We do not know the exact influence that he is having on the coaching...but he is not being paid for nothing ...

I'ld bet that his influence has improved things.

 

[Marshy]

I didn't think I painted him ALL bad, but yes, I admit to stifling a groan these days when CMS is in the team, because despite all the running he IS so ineffectual. And I maintain that his control last night when receiving the ball was, more often than not, atrocious. A typical "second touch is a tackle" night.

That said, last night was certainly one of the best games he's had for us in years. His runs were more intelligent, better timed, and he had something to work with from the passes he was receiving from midfield. Last nights performance is still not enough to convince me he has much to offer at this level though, I've seen nearly 4 years of mostly gubbins from him to know that.

See I dont believe his runs were any different last night than they have always been, just that with Kayal and Tex we actually have players who see those runs and release CMS before he runs offside....