[Archived] Morten Gamst Pedersen- Time To Get Rid

[Tom]

The problem is our play is sooooo predictable. We are entirely reliant on set pieces to score, and if the opposition nullify that threat we are toothless.

We need to either sign some midfielders with genuine creativity or change the system.

My worry is that BFS gets £100m, blows it all, and we are still entirely reliant on set pieces as all he buys are taller players who can kick it further!

This is why I'm hoping we sign Popov, he looks to have a bit of something about him.

Like Villanueva, he may have been a let down but he was unpredictable and you had the impression he could do something, same with Hoillet but again he is too lightweight and a bit headless.

I honestly think if Sam had the money he would rethink the tactics, at the minute though with NZonzi and Samba in the team and a lack of strikers, our most likely route to goal is the ball being stuck in the blender and hoping for the best.

[92er]

Allardyce said on Radio Lancs Pedersen had made some excellent deliveries and that he was unfortunate that the players they were intended for failed to fully commit themselves to getting on the end of them.

[Amo]

It's obviously Sam's aim to play deeper than he did today, Dunn will occupy the attacking role when fit. I'd have Pedersen in the middle before Jones that's for sure and Emerton isn't the player he was, I like the look of Linganzi and hopefully in time he and Nzonzi can make a good partnership but for now Pedersen is the best option IMO.

I'd have Emerton ahead of Pedersen. He had a good WC too, so he shouldn't be ruled out.

[philipl]

MGP is playing much better but still frustrates.

Foster made a hash of catching a cross ending way outside his goal with the ball dropping nicely to MGP. Instead of volleying straight back into the mixer with the keeper stranded, MGP lazily chipped it up and Foster gratefully caught it.

Crazy decision making by MGP.

And yes it was a cracking save from the pen but the arc of the run said it was going to the keeper's left all the way and Foster was actually airborne when it was struck. An instinctive penalty taker would have hit it to the right at that point.

[MeanGreenMachine]

Sorry, it was a ###### peno. He hit it well but it was hardly in the corner at a lovely height.

Bar set pieces im still failing to see what he brings to the side. He is average going foward, poor defending and doesnt look as if he knows what he is doing. Lost little boy today.

[cn174]

He's incredibly frustrating! I wish he'd just try and beat the first man when he's 'floating in' his corners. Would be nice.

[Exiled_Rover]

I'd have Emerton ahead of Pedersen. He had a good WC too, so he shouldn't be ruled out.

Emerton is finished. He's lost a yard of pace.

[DE.]

Kalinic should have taken the pen. Regardless of whether it was good or not, I didn't think MGP was a regular penalty taker?

[thenodrog]

Fair play I'll have to see it again on tv but surely the strikers should be taking pens?MGP had a good game though.

That doesn't necessarily follow imy. In fact I'd say the opposite frequently applies. Apart from Shearer the best penalty takers I can rem are from midfield and defence. Alexander got another today and has a fantastic record. Lawler hardly missed any for Lpool way back, Stuart Pearce and Julian Dicks had superb pen records. Despite the likes of Torres, Drogba and RVP in their teams Gerrard takes em for Livvie and Lampard for Chelsea and I think Fabregas takes em for Arsenal.

.

And yes it was a cracking save from the pen but the arc of the run said it was going to the keeper's left all the way

I don't agree with that. His run up would have made it easier to knock it in to the keepers right.

[T4E]

Emerton is finished. He's lost a yard of pace.

Emerton had a yard of pace?!

[American Rover12]

He's incredibly frustrating! I wish he'd just try and beat the first man when he's 'floating in' his corners. Would be nice.

Yeah and call me crazy, but i think after the third or 4th time, brum knew to defend the near post...

[Tom]

But we scored off a Pedersen corner and had other chances, surely they are decent a lot of the time

[AggyBlue]

But we scored off a Pedersen corner and had other chances, surely they are decent a lot of the time

Can we afford a place in the team to a player that's only useful at set pieces?

[Blue blood]

Peds had a very good near post corner delivery. Problem was every single one of them was to the same spot which made it easier for Brum to defend against.

For what it's worth I thought until the pen Peds had a good game. There were a couple of really nice touches and he certainly is good as the all rounder in midfield. I'd be very excited about seeing a central midfield of N'Zonzi and Peds with a creative player just in front of them as the link up. Think that could work rather wel indeed.

[beerwins]

Pederson is a confidence player, not in a million years would I have let him take that pen, although the pen wasnt all that bad the last thing we need is his confidence denting.

Kalinic took plenty of pens for his previous team and it was my initial thought that he would take it, not only the fact that he has took them before but it also bumps his season goal tally too.

[Ricky]

Niko missed his last penno for us as well didn't he?

I didn't think gamst would score it, not sure why

[only2garners]

Yeah and call me crazy, but i think after the third or 4th time, brum knew to defend the near post...

I don't think they did - we scored from one and another resulted in a defensive header on the roof of the net both in the second half. He was putting them there because Birmingham were not dealing with them.

[Tom]

Can we afford a place in the team to a player that's only useful at set pieces?

Only useful at set pieces? He was MOTM against Everton and by most accounts good again today, plus he's useful at set pieces.

[FourLaneBlue]

Emerton had a yard of pace?!

Yes, in the Wolves game.

Don't you remember THE Wolves Game? Yep, that Wolves game. When Emerton was a mix of Stanley Matthews, David Beckham and The Messiah.

Not seen it since, mind...

[American Rover12]

I don't think they did - we scored from one and another resulted in a defensive header on the roof of the net both in the second half. He was putting them there because Birmingham were not dealing with them.

We scored on the first near post floater. Then every other corner was dealt with handily. I'm not saying that style is useless, but it becomes usless 6 times. A laser far post or a cross to the back of the 18 for a shot, anything to mix it up. I'm the first one to celebrate when one of his deliveries works, but it doesn't excuse 10 other less than average attempts imo.

[MarkBRFC71]

Only useful at set pieces? He was MOTM against Everton and by most accounts good again today, plus he's useful at set pieces.

I think most people had Jones as MOTM despite the award at the game, certainly the Lancs Telegraph and the Observer did. Let's be honest, the MOTM award at the games is more about who hasn't had a new watch for a while than how they've played!

Although he's doing OK (penalties aside!), he's only a stop-gap in midfield until we can afford a proper centre midfielder. Now if we can buy one who can take a half-decent free-kick, then I can 't see where Pedersen fits in the team barring injuries.

[Exiled_Rover]

Emerton had a yard of pace?!

More than a yard. He was a quick player at one point. Not lightning quick, mind, but fast enough to trouble defenders.

How he has nothing to his game.

[Amo]

It was one of those penalities. If Foster dives the wrong way, it looks like a good 'un, but he guessed right and it was at a good height for him.

[Wiggy]

Pedersen had one or two good plays at set pieces but far too often looked like he was auditioning for Billy Elliot.

[chaddyrovers]

Why does everybody start whinging about peds because we got beat. Yes he miss a penalty but his performance was good yesterday. he didn't let the miss get to him. he's better in the centre of midfield because he see more of the ball and can get more involved in the game. we lost yesterday because salgado was out of position and we didn't close down the ball before gardner shoot, plus our chances we miss aswell. Can we stop moaning about peds and support him. he's a good player and will have a good season.