Lots of bizarre ranting on here tonight, a lot of it started by people who weren't there, or whipped up by the same. Here's my take, after the drive home, dinner, some nice wine, and a chance to reflect.
1. Early days. No need to wet the bed just yet.
2. Yes, completely new approach. Considering the nervousness first half, it wasn't unpromising.
3. Kemy lookes like something we did not have last season (a smaller slower Steven Gerrard) but he hasn't got his eye in yet, and is not fit. The long passes often went astray (as do SG's). But we had a liveliness in midfield that we saw only infrequently last season (when Vicente made his rare appearances). It was a bit unstructured, but . . . encouraging. Our midfield was mostly Bridcutt last season - and he's a sweeper really.
4. Last season we looked frail when a plan B was needed. Today we looked more positive all game, but the players have not yet learned where each other are (sorry for grammar meltdown there). So it was sometimes a bit Fred Karno.
5. Rohan looked robust. A bit raw yet, but promising. I like a bit of robust.
6. We seem to have ditched the wing play as first option (at least till Kaz came on). Bucko did a bit, but he kept going outside and it was rather deja vu all over again and again. Ancestral memory or something. That will soon change, hopefully. At least he looks more muscular and robust.
7. We seem to have lost all notion of formation. The disciplined two lines of 4 was absent. This cost us dear for the winner - we looked amateurish. That has to be sorted.
8. That said, there was more movement off the ball today, for 90 minutes. It wasn't all good, but it sure beats the 'lets play statues' of 80% of all gussie gametime.
9. Overall, we have changed from a unique, if annoying possession side, to a more exciting, but presently flawed team. We look much more English, and for some reason that saddened me. I'd be surprised if we end up looking like Big Sam's West Ham, but if we looked like anyone today, it was a sort of alcohol free, diet version of West Ham of 2 years ago. That also surprises me, and I expect this to just be a stage in the metamorphosis.
Enjoy Sunday, one and all.
1. Early days. No need to wet the bed just yet.
2. Yes, completely new approach. Considering the nervousness first half, it wasn't unpromising.
3. Kemy lookes like something we did not have last season (a smaller slower Steven Gerrard) but he hasn't got his eye in yet, and is not fit. The long passes often went astray (as do SG's). But we had a liveliness in midfield that we saw only infrequently last season (when Vicente made his rare appearances). It was a bit unstructured, but . . . encouraging. Our midfield was mostly Bridcutt last season - and he's a sweeper really.
4. Last season we looked frail when a plan B was needed. Today we looked more positive all game, but the players have not yet learned where each other are (sorry for grammar meltdown there). So it was sometimes a bit Fred Karno.
5. Rohan looked robust. A bit raw yet, but promising. I like a bit of robust.
6. We seem to have ditched the wing play as first option (at least till Kaz came on). Bucko did a bit, but he kept going outside and it was rather deja vu all over again and again. Ancestral memory or something. That will soon change, hopefully. At least he looks more muscular and robust.
7. We seem to have lost all notion of formation. The disciplined two lines of 4 was absent. This cost us dear for the winner - we looked amateurish. That has to be sorted.
8. That said, there was more movement off the ball today, for 90 minutes. It wasn't all good, but it sure beats the 'lets play statues' of 80% of all gussie gametime.
9. Overall, we have changed from a unique, if annoying possession side, to a more exciting, but presently flawed team. We look much more English, and for some reason that saddened me. I'd be surprised if we end up looking like Big Sam's West Ham, but if we looked like anyone today, it was a sort of alcohol free, diet version of West Ham of 2 years ago. That also surprises me, and I expect this to just be a stage in the metamorphosis.
Enjoy Sunday, one and all.
