How much better are we - really?

[Douglas Higginbottom]

How much better are we? Than what?

The game is all about winning and that really means scoring goals.We have had 2 games in a row now with masses of possession but through each of them I had a growing feeling that we were not going to score. Not sure entirely whether that's because we weren't making enough chances or just good enough ones but it didn't feel as though we would score.

It's probably a mixture of both.We have tended to overplay and look for the perfect pass to create the perfect goal but at the same time our crossing of the ball is still dismal.We don't have a lot to cross to when it comes to high balls but it's still crap.Plus we don't seem to take shots on very often from 20/25 yards and when we do we are largely crap at that as well. I hear Mario as an argument with that and I know he is more likely to take shots on but it would seem without much success this season.

The fact seems to be that our strikers are off the boil at the moment.We dominate games as we were doing but the goals are elusive so it's just a matter of getting sharper with the chances which come along and all will be well.Yesterday Dzeko got tons of stick for his overall play and I would agree he was far from great but he had a lot of efforts on goal and on another day one would have gone in.One hit the bar,another point blank save,headers under strong challenges went wide.Aguero missed the best and easiest chance of the lot and had another good shot blocked at the end.

It will come back I am sure but the pressure is on.

[Ted Hughes]

I think the finishing has been poor on the whole. There was another really simple chance missed by Aguero yesterday & one 2nd half from Dzeko when set up by AJ on the edge of the box, which you would expect him to slot away or at least hit the target.

I think the difference is that most of the opportunities we are getting in these games are in crowded penalty areas wheras earlier in the season they tended to come in counter attacks. We are not showing the same composure finishing these moves as we do on breakaways, when Aguero never misses. The ball bounces to him in a crowded box, he seems to miss every time unless it's a tap in.

[blues-clues]

Something has been missing the last few games. The crispness of our passing game seems to have been replaced with mere possession that has taken us nowhere. Holding the ball in midfield has allowed the opposition to get back in numbers increasing the reliance on a killer pass, the perfectly timed run and a good finish but somehow those factors have all disappeared.
The passing game we used to such effect to wear down the opposition does not seem to be having the same impact now but it is hard to pinpoint exactly why, its all relative of course but Silva had a bit of a mare when he came on yesterday, misplaced two or three passes and it seemed infectious. Similarly when Richards came on his marauding runs seemed clumsy rather than incisive.

Maybe a little complacency or arrogance, maybe weaker home teams realise they have to play us as though they are the away team but it has been a real turn around in away form and I hope we get it back soon.

A little more adventure early doors and some goals in the first half of games would be my request please Roberto!

[Lev Bronstein]

Some of this is a bit unreal. Since the semi-final the rags have been really worried about us, the 6-1 just increased their insecurity. So lets not panic about them, let them panic about us.

We need to focus on our own game.

As for us, I take on board our aimless posession. Perhaps the movement off the ball is poor at the moment. No we aren't making enough chances. Maybe the opposition have found a way to play us and cut the supply to the forwards. Give them some credit, they aren't mugs and if arrogance and complacency are the problem it wants stamping out now. We are being set different problems at the moment, it's up to Bobby and the squad to solve them - we've been here before.

In a months time we could be out of the FA and Carling Cups, lose to Spurs and be 6 or 7 points off the lead in the league. Would anyone mind if I saved my panic if/until that happens.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Some of this is a bit unreal. Since the semi-final the rags have been really worried about us, the 6-1 just increased their insecurity. So lets not panic about them, let them panic about us.

We need to focus on our own game.

As for us, I take on board our aimless posession. Perhaps the movement off the ball is poor at the moment. No we aren't making enough chances. Maybe the opposition have found a way to play us and cut the supply to the forwards. Give them some credit, they aren't mugs and if arrogance and complacency are the problem it wants stamping out now. We are being set different problems at the moment, it's up to Bobby and the squad to solve them - we've been here before.

In a months time we could be out of the FA and Carling Cups, lose to Spurs and be 6 or 7 points off the lead in the league. Would anyone mind if I saved my panic if/until that happens.

A little rant wouldn't go amiss.

[DoomMerchant]

Some of this is a bit unreal. Since the semi-final the rags have been really worried about us, the 6-1 just increased their insecurity. So lets not panic about them, let them panic about us.

We need to focus on our own game.

As for us, I take on board our aimless posession. Perhaps the movement off the ball is poor at the moment. No we aren't making enough chances. Maybe the opposition have found a way to play us and cut the supply to the forwards. Give them some credit, they aren't mugs and if arrogance and complacency are the problem it wants stamping out now. We are being set different problems at the moment, it's up to Bobby and the squad to solve them - we've been here before.

In a months time we could be out of the FA and Carling Cups, lose to Spurs and be 6 or 7 points off the lead in the league. Would anyone mind if I saved my panic if/until that happens.

A little rant wouldn't go amiss.

have you ever met a rant you didn't like? Be honest.

cheers

[Chinners]

I like rants (when they are used at the right time), they can be quite relieving abit like when you swear after hitting your finger with a hammer instead of hitting the nail.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Some of this is a bit unreal. Since the semi-final the rags have been really worried about us, the 6-1 just increased their insecurity. So lets not panic about them, let them panic about us.

We need to focus on our own game.

As for us, I take on board our aimless posession. Perhaps the movement off the ball is poor at the moment. No we aren't making enough chances. Maybe the opposition have found a way to play us and cut the supply to the forwards. Give them some credit, they aren't mugs and if arrogance and complacency are the problem it wants stamping out now. We are being set different problems at the moment, it's up to Bobby and the squad to solve them - we've been here before.

In a months time we could be out of the FA and Carling Cups, lose to Spurs and be 6 or 7 points off the lead in the league. Would anyone mind if I saved my panic if/until that happens.

A little rant wouldn't go amiss.

have you ever met a rant you didn't like? Be honest.

cheers

Theres a few runts on here.

I keep watching the goal that they scored and watching Lescott s SHIT attempt is enough to make me want to puke....completely his fault it was.

I want a replacement in the summer.....I fuckign really do.

[DoomMerchant]

Some of this is a bit unreal. Since the semi-final the rags have been really worried about us, the 6-1 just increased their insecurity. So lets not panic about them, let them panic about us.

We need to focus on our own game.

As for us, I take on board our aimless posession. Perhaps the movement off the ball is poor at the moment. No we aren't making enough chances. Maybe the opposition have found a way to play us and cut the supply to the forwards. Give them some credit, they aren't mugs and if arrogance and complacency are the problem it wants stamping out now. We are being set different problems at the moment, it's up to Bobby and the squad to solve them - we've been here before.

In a months time we could be out of the FA and Carling Cups, lose to Spurs and be 6 or 7 points off the lead in the league. Would anyone mind if I saved my panic if/until that happens.

A little rant wouldn't go amiss.

have you ever met a rant you didn't like? Be honest.

cheers

Theres a few runts on here.

I keep watching the goal that they scored and watching Lescott s SHIT attempt is enough to make me want to puke....completely his fault it was.

I want a replacement in the summer.....I fuckign really do.

i never would have guessed you felt that way. If the lino had gotten it right it wouldn't have been an issue, but you are correct that he could have done much much better. Same for Vinnie earlier on. For keeping some clean sheets recently i don't feel incredibly confidence in defence. Fortunately, the other team rarely tries to attack. Tomorrow should be interesting since it's the first team in a while that SHOULD have a go at us.

cheers

[guv111]

We can't fucking buy a goal at the minute so i think the BLIP is our strikers being fucking faggots. Balo is the only one who seems capable and willing to actually try. Aguero (since he changed his boots) has needed 3 1 on 1's, 2 open nets and 5 other chances to get a shot on fucking target and dzeko seems to be our very own super special limited edition berbatov.

When balo is fit again (heard he is injured but not sure) drop the 2 queers and let balo have the spotlight, we all know he fucking loves the spotlight. Make a statement about resting on you lorals or whatever and try getting them all back firing for the second haf of the season.

EDIT* After reading i realised which thread i was in and this has fuck all to do with the thread. Shit thread anyway though so i dont care. The rags are wank and sunderland would of beat them by more than an offside 93rd minute goal if they had played them today (especially since that cheating orange cunt went off early)

Actually, the shittest thing about this thread is your presence in it.

[ashton287]

Actually, the shittest thing about this thread is your presence in it.

My presence is the only good thing about this shit thread you pleb.

Anyway to counter your shit point I think de Jong is probably better in net than evra so we are better than them.

How do you like them apples?