by Kippax » Sun Dec 27, 2009 12:46 am
Yeah! A more than adequate performance in his first game in charge, in what could have been a banana skin game especially if Delap had been playing.
Was particularly impressed by the wearing of the scarf, if you are going to try and win over a bunch of supporters then that is a great first step to make. Was also VERY impressed by Brian Kidds contribution today, from where I sat I had a good view of the bench and he and Mancini were in constant dialogue.
Tactics I thought were pretty good, especially the switching of Zabba to left back at that time, I agree with you about the skinning Doug, but put that down to bedding in, and if anything thought that Vinnie should have been paying closer attention until Zabba found his feet on that side. Other than that I thought Vinnie had a very good game.
Ireland showed some good flashes, although you wouldn't say that he excelled, there were some signs of his old self, with some great runs and sublime pass attempts. I often think that Stevie is too far ahead of everyone else with his football brain sometimes and the more I think of it the more I wish I could have seen him and Kinky in the same team. But with a few others of a similar ability. lol.
Would probably have given the Man of the Match to Barry, who does seem to be back to his old self, and really seemed pretty comfortable as did De Jong. I just don't know what to say about Robbie, part of me wants to say get rid but another says keep him and wait and see. To be fair to him he did do quite a lot of running in the first half, without much end result. Unlike Petrov who was in the right place at the right time for the goal and seems full of confidence. May be a couple of goals for Robbie would get the Boo boys off his back and lift his confidence.
A couple of down sides for me today. As much as I welcome Tevez,s contribution and work rate in a game, thought he was exceptional again today, I just feel that he wastes too many good chances and gives the ball away a bit too easily when he has done all the hard work. I guess I'm saying he tries to complicate things too much.
The back four, it's long been a gripe of mine that when the back four are back tracking and pass back to Shay that they don't immediately spread out to give Shay more options of tapping it back to them, thereby keeping possession rather than have Shay lump it up field giving us a 70/30% chance of losing the ball. We seemed to employ this tactic a few games ago under hughes, but seemed to take a backward step today.
Someone has already pointed out that if Hughes had been winning games like this then he may still be in a job, but the fact is he is part of our history now, so it's forward with Roberto, let's hope we can build on this tomorrow at Wolves.
See you there.
Kippax.
.
