Adam El Abd

[Beach Hut]

Was he injured therefore subbed ?

Seemed strange to drop Hammond into central defence, can't ever recollect him playing in that position before and Dunk was on the bench.

 

[trueblue]

More height for attacking corners and more attacking generally. I reckon we'd just sussed by then that Birmingham had no intention of crossing the halfway line. If it was an injury, Dunk would have come on.

 

[stss30]

Was he injured therefore subbed ?

Seemed strange to drop Hammond into central defence, can't ever recollect him playing in that position before and Dunk was on the bench.

I think it was just to get an extra man in midfield, to try and help break them down. Seeing as they posed 0 threat in the 2nd half I thought it was a good move.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

What's everyone struggling with this for? We didn't need two central defenders, because Birmingham didn't want to do any attacking. El-Abd was woeful on the ball tonight and it made perfect tactical sense to get him off the pitch and get a ball player on. Hammond was ineffective in attack, but he's much better on the ball than El-Abd so dropping him back a place was a clever tactical move because we lost nothing for doing it but we gained a better technical player.

Like back in the League 1 days when we'd sub off Painter if we needed to chase a game (it only happened a few times!). Calderon to left back, Bennett to right back and whoever else into their position. This might become standard Poyet tactics, teams with 1 striker and no ambition don't require two centre backs to deal with.

Just to clarify though, I didn't call it at the time. When El-Abd came off I was baffled for a few minutes too, and then the penny dropped. Poyet is a VERY clever guy. Could have thrown LuaLua on quicker though!

 

[HawkTheSeagull]

El-Abd was taken off to bring another attacking player on. Was a good tactical decision just a shame it had no effect.

 

[timbha]

More height for attacking corners and more attacking generally.

.....but no one ever attacks the ball on our corners

 

[Ninja Elephant]

.....but no one ever attacks the ball on our corners

Because they're always put into the wrong areas. You'll see Greer make his run and the ball go somewhere completely different. We lack a good corner taker, and have done since Bennett left. Bennett would put the ball on the head of whoever he wanted to, usually Glenn Murray. We scored a LOT of goals from corners and free kicks in the Championship winning year but it's a big weakness in our game now. Orlandi is the answer, but Buckley and LuaLua certainly aren't. Too early to say Lopez isn't either, but first impressions were not good at all tonight.

 

[timbha]

Because they're always put into the wrong areas. You'll see Greer make his run and the ball go somewhere completely different. We lack a good corner taker, and have done since Bennett left. Bennett would put the ball on the head of whoever he wanted to, usually Glenn Murray. We scored a LOT of goals from corners and free kicks in the Championship winning year but it's a big weakness in our game now. Orlandi is the answer, but Buckley and LuaLua certainly aren't. Too early to say Lopez isn't either, but first impressions were not good at all tonight.

i don't disagree. Dicker takes a poor corner as well. Disappointed with Hammond and Dobbie tonight - both seemed to be playing in the wrong areas.

 

[Mutts Nuts]

What's everyone struggling with this for? We didn't need two central defenders, because Birmingham didn't want to do any attacking. El-Abd was woeful on the ball tonight and it made perfect tactical sense to get him off the pitch and get a ball player on. Hammond was ineffective in attack, but he's much better on the ball than El-Abd so dropping him back a place was a clever tactical move because we lost nothing for doing it but we gained a better technical player.

Like back in the League 1 days when we'd sub off Painter if we needed to chase a game (it only happened a few times!). Calderon to left back, Bennett to right back and whoever else into their position. This might become standard Poyet tactics, teams with 1 striker and no ambition don't require two centre backs to deal with.

Just to clarify though, I didn't call it at the time. When El-Abd came off I was baffled for a few minutes too, and then the penny dropped. Poyet is a VERY clever guy. Could have thrown LuaLua on quicker though!

ElAbd was far from woefull he had a good game the decision was tactical,Birmingham were shit 1 shot 1 goal

 

[perseus]

Adam el Abd was not needed to defend against their corners.

 

[Beach Hut]

Birmingham were shit 1 shot 1 goal

Shit or not they got the points

 

[Lindfield by the Pond]

It was tactical. Didn't need 2 CB's. Greer is captain. AEA was subbed - no reflection of his performance - thought he did ok. Expect him to be playing CB on Tuesday.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

i don't disagree. Dicker takes a poor corner as well. Disappointed with Hammond and Dobbie tonight - both seemed to be playing in the wrong areas.

I think you might have missed our tactics tonight then. Hammond was playing as a false number 9 for most of the first half, Dobbie dropping off to get the ball like Spain did at the European Championships. Without the invention of Bruno from right back playing the passes that usually only the crowd sees, it didn't work. Hammond didn't get into the positions Fabregas was, and Dobbie isn't good enough to attempt to imitate Iniesta.

ElAbd was far from woefull he had a good game the decision was tactical,Birmingham were shit 1 shot 1 goal

El-Abd had a good game.

Birmingham were indeed shit. Complete shit. But they obviously knew (or worked out immediately) that they didn't need to worry about El-Abd on the ball because he doesn't know how to use it. He had an off day, nothing more or less. We know what El-Abd is good at, and we know what he isn't good at. Unfortunately, today highlighted the negative in his game but ultimately, one bad performance doesn't change the fact he's our number 1 centre back. But more work needed on the training field to continue his passing education and ability.

 

[studio150]

Bham tactics seemed obvious to me in first half all behind the ball, and leave el abd as the spate man, as they were aware GIS distribution is poorer than rest of defence. Subbing purely tactical and a good call ny Poyet. Just frustrating couldn't get the goal

 

[timbha]

I think you might have missed our tactics tonight then. Hammond was playing as a false number 9 for most of the first half, Dobbie dropping off to get the ball like Spain did at the European Championships. Without the invention of Bruno from right back playing the passes that usually only the crowd sees, it didn't work. Hammond didn't get into the positions Fabregas was, and Dobbie isn't good enough to attempt to imitate Iniesta.

what the f*** are you on about? "might have missed our tactics", "false number 9", "Dobbie dropping off to get the ball like Spain did", "usually only the crowd sees", "Hammond didn't get in the position Fabregas was", "Dobbie isn't good enough to attempt to imitate Iniesta"........are you pissed, patronising or what?

 

[catfish]

We could have taken Kuszczak off in the second half for all the attacking ambition Birmingham showed.

 

[Easy 10]

El-Abd had a good game.

Birmingham were indeed shit. Complete shit. But they obviously knew (or worked out immediately) that they didn't need to worry about El-Abd on the ball because he doesn't know how to use it. He had an off day, nothing more or less. We know what El-Abd is good at, and we know what he isn't good at. Unfortunately, today highlighted the negative in his game but ultimately, one bad performance doesn't change the fact he's our number 1 centre back. But more work needed on the training field to continue his passing education and ability.

What a load of old BOLLOCKS.

How many times did El Abd lose the ball ? He was perfectly decent in possession as he always is. He's not a playmaker, never has been. He defends, keeps it simple, and passes to our more creative players. His substituion was no reflection on his performance whatsoever, just that Gus recognised we needed to try something different to try and break them down.

He performed as he always does. Reliably. How you can call it as a stinker I have no idea.

 

[BensGrandad]

lt would appear that Lee Clark is the only manager that has sussed us out and regularly takes points off of us. obviously the El Abd substitution was a tactical move that didn't come off because most of our players weren't up for it tonight and expected to win rather than fought to win.

 

[goldstone]

El-Abd was taken off to bring another attacking player on. Was a good tactical decision just a shame it had no effect.

Pity the player brought on was so bad. Added nothing whatsoever to the game.

 

[Bladders]

What a load of old BOLLOCKS.

How many times did El Abd lose the ball ? He was perfectly decent in possession as he always is. He's not a playmaker, never has been. He defends, keeps it simple, and passes to our more creative players. His substituion was no reflection on his performance whatsoever, just that Gus recognised we needed to try something different to try and break them down.

He performed as he always does. Reliably. How you can call it as a stinker I have no idea.

El Abd did have a good game as usual and his substitution was tactical but he had plenty of space to bring the ball out of defence on numerous occasions and just passed it either sideways or into someone who's only option was to pass it back.

Brum never pressed him so he could have done more with the ball to be fair.