[Archived] Fourth Round Draw

[John]

Like the first day of the season I left West Ham with a bitter taste in my mouth.

Few observations...

Reid playing superb at the moment - seems to be improving with every game.

We do suffer without Nelsen.

Bentley started the game well - needs to try and keep involved during more of the match though. Again I think he needs to play games to improve. I know we can't carry passengers but he would be a good option off the bench when we have a full squad fit.

Axe did well - but the combination of him and Savage does not offer much going forward.

Pedersen seemed tired to me.

Stating the obvious but a quality striker would make us a really good team. Hard to find though and cost cash, not enough time in the window to get anyone decent in my opinion.

[JamieUK]

Been away and not read anything much about the last 2/3 games but Reid seems to be getting rave reviews - which position has he been playing?

[rover6]

Imo, if a player can only play the holding role in midfield it reflects badly on their talent because that position is the easiest to play in football. For that reason, Phil Neville occasionally looked something like impressive playing there for Man U.

Maybe that's where we went wrong with Darren Peacock - we didn't play him in the holding role in front of the back four.

I agree that it is harsh to criticise a player when he comes in for his first game in aeons. The Axe probably needs more games but i still think he lacks the technical and passing ability to hack it (no pun intended) as a genuine midfielder. A holding midfielder? He did it well last season so maybe that will be his role from now on.

[thenodrog]

oops

Edited January 29, 2006 by thenodrog

[thenodrog]

Imo, if a player can only play the holding role in midfield it reflects badly on their talent because that position is the easiest to play in football.

379495[/snapback]

Claud Makelele? Ivan Campo? Tugay?

Edited January 29, 2006 by thenodrog

[John]

Thought Neil was excellent yesterday.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

Imo, if a player can only play the holding role in midfield it reflects badly on their talent because that position is the easiest to play in football. For that reason, Phil Neville occasionally looked something like impressive playing there for Man U.

379495[/snapback]

Never heard such rubbish in my life - the holding role in midfield is extremely specialist and requires a certain type of player. At it's best the player will have good defensive capabilities married with good passing ability. In Gerrard and Lampard we have (arguably) two of the best midfield players in the world and yet neither of them can truly master the holding midfield role.

Playing well in a certain position isn't just about raw talent - it is about positional sense, reading the game etc etc. I am amazed - surely you see that in Ryan Nelsen we have a player who typifies this - not the quickest, not the best tackler, not the best header of the ball. But the guy can organise a defence, concentrate and sniff out potential danger. For pure talent he isn't a patch on Ferdinand - but because of these other abilities he is as valuable to us as Ferdinand is to United. In many ways I would actually say that these abilities make him a better defender.

[thenodrog]

Thought Neil was excellent yesterday.

379536[/snapback]

Now I've only seen the goals from yesterday once but where was Neil for their second goal?

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Pedersen seemed tired to me.

379486[/snapback]

Probably all the shaggin he's doing with this Miss Norway!

Edited January 29, 2006 by SIMON GARNERS 194

[chris]

Never heard such rubbish in my life - the holding role in midfield is extremely specialist and requires a certain type of player. At it's best the player will have good defensive capabilities married with good passing ability. In Gerrard and Lampard we have (arguably) two of the best midfield players in the world and yet neither of them can truly master the holding midfield role.

379541[/snapback]

yeah it is rubbish because he's totally over the top but i do think some players can adapt to that position, I mean how on Earth did Alan Smith become a midfielder, he was put into the defensive role, but he didn't do it very well, but he can do it

Even Campo's in the same postions as Phil Neville and Alan Smith, players poor in other positions so they play in defensive midfield

having said that a very good defensive midfielder has allot of talent. Some of my favourite players were defensive midfielders such as McKinlay, Batty and several others

Edited January 29, 2006 by chris

[Ozz]

West Ham got Bolton away.

[T4E]

Now I've only seen the goals from yesterday once but where was Neil for their second goal?

379544[/snapback]

On the couch eating a pizza.

Sorry.

[philipl]

West Ham's win at Arsenal (comfortably too) shows just how good the Hammers are now. Had it not been for our demolition of the Mancs, that result would have been the headline.

Rovers are obviously looking at the clubs ahead of us but, I'm glad we don't have to play them again and have two points, three goals difference and a game in hand lead over the Hammers.

They are looking at the same Euro places that we are.

[Bobby G]

And they have a good squad that can match most teams around the mid-table mark.

I think they have done well this season and that the 4th - 10th positions can switch around any way you can think of between now and the end of the season.