Thursday 25 February 2010

The Lessons To Be Learned From Old Trafford.


In my match report, I declined to give players individual ratings because I said to do so would be unfair. Cole looked very average but the supply he received was awful. Spector was murdered second half but the protection he received was all but non existent. Once we were behind, there was only one team in it and we were lucky to come away with just a dent to our goal difference. Had Valencia been so inclined, he could have opened us up to a tonking of the order of Lennon's destruction of Wigan.

So what lessons should we learn? Well the problem remains one of balance in midfield and up front. Without Parker, there was no forward drive from the middle of the park. When we did try to get up in support of the strikers, we became stretched and it was easy for the Mancs to break and score. Think back to the fixture between us at Upton Park and we saw the same thing, looking comfortable when we were not trying to go forward, but once we were behind and trying to get back on level terms, looking as secure at the back as a Liverpool teenager's hymen, and still utterly impotent up front. Why?

A large part of the problem was Franco. The guy has talent but no pace so United were able to sit tight on our two strikers, knowing that there was zero possibility of a "knock through" and a pacey striker outstripping their defence. I was thinking of our performance at Liverpool last season as I watched the game, remembering how Bellamy was a constant threat to the Liverpool back line because of his pace. The score was 0-0 but, ironically, that was in large part down to the efforts of Bellamy because the Liverpool backline and midfield always had to be aware of an attacking threat and so could not over commit. At half time on Tuesday, however, Ferguson probably said "Play as high as you like, there's no danger of them running in behind you." That meant Valencia could play as high as Rooney, which ensured he was one on one with Spector as soon as he received the ball. The consequences of that were frightening! When Mido came on, our goal threat was, if anything, lessened because, in his desperation to get involved, he kept coming so deep to look for the ball. At one point, he looked as if he was playing as an axillary right back!

The lack of creativity in midfield was the other problem. Diamanti had a very bad day at the office and without him and Parker, the midfield offers nothing as an offensive unit. I know Behrami scored on Saturday but goals from him are once in ten blue moon events. Kovac is impressing when he does the simple things, but 99% of the passes he plays are square so he needs somebody alongside him who looks to get the ball forward quickly. And sadly, Noble looks as creative as carbon paper. Either he is in a prolonged dip in form or he is not the player we all hoped he might be.

So, what did we learn? Probably nothing that we did not already know. It boils down to:

1) We are not good enough. Yes we can beat poor and mediocre teams but put us up against the likes of Manchester United, or even Spurs, and we look woefully inadequate.
2) Tomkins will play for England one day but is not yet ready to be a first choice centre back in the Prem.
3) We desperately need specialised cover for left back.
4) We also desperately need a pacey player to play off of Cole. Ilan must be the best alternative of those currently on the books surely?
5) Noble needs to spend some time out of the spotlight, trying to rebuild his game.
6) Behrami is a great dynamo but offers very little in terms of creative inspiration.
7) Diamanti, at the moment, is a flat track bully like Graeme Hick. Put him up against dross and he looks brilliant, but against the best, he looks innocuous in open play.
8) The team is no better than mid table quality. European aspirations are unrealistic without a major overhaul of the squad.
9) Given the financial problems, to progress we have to accept the sale of players in order to free up funds for squad restructuring. If we go into next season with a broadly similar squad, we will struggle again.

I think Zola will go in the summer. And I expect Upson, Parker, Green and Behrami to depart too. How the proceeds are invested will decide whether we are destined to kick on, or slide even further backwards.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

We can't sell Upson during the summer - you said that he'd be sold last January... and ti think I believed you! :-)

Hammersfan said...

Then in came Sullivan and Gold, at which point they guaranteed Upson a move in the summer. Sullivan has already said that we will accept thye right offer for him. Keep up!

Stani Army said...

HF,
I think we have more to fear from Zola and Clarke leaving than any of our players. It means that G&S will bring in someone to toe their line and this cannot be a good thing.

Also, are we really in a position (financially and otherwise) to attract a better management team than Zola and Clarke? I think we're fortunate to have them.

Anonymous said...

good post for a change but don't believe that Behrami is as creatively inept as you think. he was swamped at ol trafford mainly as you say because we miss parker badly now. Noble's confidence has gone is all and i think that he will develop if he keeps his head up.

Essexhammer said...

I agree with that assessment HF,a few player assassinations there,but accurate.Just watching the INTER MILAN V CHELSEA game the other night ,we are so far behind these teams in quality the gap is just too big to bridge without heavy investment.UPSON will be gone for sure this summer as he has said that he wants to be playing CHAMPIONS LEAGUE football next season,which is fair enough.He gave us a fair crack of the whip,and I don't blame him.Can't see COLE or GREEN staying if big bids from top clubs come in for them.Staying with WESTHAM in it's current financial mess is hardly going to further their careers,when there is no investment to strengthen on the horizon.PARKER our Mr Consistent will probably go as well,he is not getting any younger and he too might want one more crack at CHAMPIONS LEAGUE football.Doesn't really paint a rosy picture does it? We are truly in meltdown without big investment for new players.The likes of BEHRAMI will probably move on as well as noises have been made from certain GERMAN clubs wanting him.I said in one of your threads yesterday ZOLA will probably walk or be sacked in the summer,because I cannot see a sudden surge up the league,which would be the only thing that could delay his departure.

Hammersfan said...

I'm not arguing for the dismissal of Zola Stani. I think he will walk when he sees the players being sold.

Essex, we see things the same way.

Stani Army said...

I know HF :) I was just saying they'd (Zola/Clarke) be the greater loss.

G&S have gotten rid if Dux and Nani so maybe the plan to get rid of Zola is already underway.

If Upson is sold and a good replacement is bought then I won't mind. Neither will I mind selling Green if we get Hart. I think Zola will go not on the basis that players are sold, but on the basis that the ones sold are not replaced.

Cole should not be sold regardless.

Anonymous said...

100% sure Zola will stay, upson behrami amd possibly green will depart, definately going to see some new faces in the squad

Anonymous said...

2 threads about a defeat to the champions on their own turf and you write 2 threads saying how poor we are.

only you could write such utter bullshit.

you are beyond belief.

Unknown said...

Harsh but fair we need younger and faster midfield happy to see green and Upson go as long as we get younger talent

Hammersfan said...

2018, you are in a minority. Sub normal minority at that!

Anonymous said...

2018 - I think it's time for another vote - I think you're right - it's the idiot that runs the blog that's in a majority of one.

Hammersfan said...

LOL Talking to yourself again! Go on, hold another vote! Do we even think he supports West Ham despite buying a season ticket for the last six games? Nah, must be a Spud! Delusional or what? LOL

Oh, and I will post pictures taken at the games. You can all play spot the Fanno! Well, if you go to the games that is!

Anonymous said...

Sorry to disappoint but buying a ticket for 6 games isn't a season ticket

Let's hope fanno Jr. has inherited some of Mrs fanno's genes too.

Hammersfan said...

Sorry to disappoint but it was marketed, very cleverly, as a "mini season ticket".

He has inherited his mother's genes, he is very good looking!

Anonymous said...

har har har @2303 - it's an end OF the season ticket....

mini ticket for mini man.....

Hammersfan said...

Clever ticket for the clever man.

Anonymous said...

@20:18 think you should be writing for this blog...... how about it fanno? can we have a guest writer each week, I reckon most could do a better job than you