Did you see the so called "expert analysis" after the coverage of our game tonight? Like me, they were obviously struggling to find anything to talk about so come clown decided to highlight the performances of Ilan and Noble.
The Ilan coverage was laughable. They managed to find two pieces of "action" apart from the goal, the clever layoff for the Behrami shot (which I missed watching the game live) and one moment when Ilan ran off the shoulder of Cole with Carlton failing to deliver the pass. That was it! But on the basis of those moments, Keown expressed the opinion that Ilan was "always available" and was "a real presence all afternoon up front for West Ham"! Cobblers, had we failed to win, Ilan would have be highlighted as lightweight and anonymous - which was a much fairer assessment of his performance!
But even funnier was the supporting evidence for Noble! Sure they picked out three thunderous tackles that were in Keown's words, "just like Scott Parker" - all three of which would have secured red cards if fractionally mistimed - but the joke came when they tried to show Noble's contribution to our attacking play. The first was a "give and go" which Keown conceded, "ok it came to nothing", because Noble lost the ball on the edge of the Sunderland box, and the second was a sweeping pass, across the pitch, to Faubert, but the action was cut before the pass was completed because Noble overhit it and we lost possession! Brilliant! They should have highlighted the Gordon handball - that came from an overhit Noble pass too! Oh, and not forgetting, they showed Noble carrying the ball into the corner in the closing minutes as if that was a piece of inspirational genius which closed out the game. Funny, I remember the final action being a corner in our penalty box with Gordon joining in the fun!
That coverage highlighted what a joke MOTD has become. There was also a load of guff about Burnley's spirit. They should have been analysing how crap both Burnley and Hull were at the back, not trying to suggest that Burnley played out of their skins!
10 comments:
I watched the match and the comments about Ilan are perfect.
This post is a joke for me.
I don't know what you're pretending!?!
Bah....
So what did he do? Tell me, aprt from score an excellent goal of course. You say you watched the match. Live or the MOTD highlights?
HF, I missed match of the day tonight but if you see my post in your previous article you will notice that although I agree that the game was not good, the only two players you could talk positively about is Noble for his hard work in replacing Parker adequately and of course Ilan for his finishing (he is a bit of a push over in the middle of the field but I am sure that it will improve with time as he gets use to the physical English game). He does however bring something we were missing to the game. Goals! He smells a goal and he is not afraid to be in the box. Remember the shot in the first half by Behrami that the Sunderland goalkeeper couldn't hold and Stanislas was not anticipating it the tap in. I don't think Ilan would have missed that if he was standing were Stanislas was. So, not much to talk about this game except for those two (one for having a flair for scoring goals) and the other for competently replacing Parker.
If I was on MOTD, I would have been looking at why Behrami is so ordinary, especially in the light of rumours linking him with Man City or a return to Italy. I would have looked at how many times he took a tumble because of poor basic ball control and how little he offered the team going forward.
I would also have looked at how the midfield failed to link with the attack as a unit. Typically, the goal came from a long lump from Da Costa, onto the head of Cole who flicked on for Ilan. No midfield involvement whatsoever! So much for the beautiful game that Zola favours, this was straight out of the Wimbledon Crazy Gang textbook! Why weren't they asking, "Where is the so called Zola style?" I said that Clarke had set the team up tactically for the Everton game and my money would be on the same again for this match. Priority number one was to be compact, to hold Sunderland at bay, and then hope to nick a goal. Fortunately we did! And Bent fell flat on his face when clean through!
In truth, the midfield were very ordinary, including Noble. Yes he ran his heart out, but Behrami does that every game and to what effect? He covered miles against Wolves, but headless chickens run around the farmyard!
I'm not disputing Ilan's value. I'd start him every game because he scores goals - and nobody else in the squad does! But to suggest he was a real presence in the game was absurd - which is why they weren't able to back up the claim!
Ilan's overall presence, the goal apart, was not much to write home about. I would agree with you that he lacked enough physical presence and must work on this part his game. Why we won today was probably more luck than any strategic genius plan from Zola and co. And also, I may add, because GZ did not have the brilliant idea to give Mido another chance! But it was what the doctor ordered. Three precious points and we will take them any way the come. So, let's be happy for that and hope that we will get another 3-4 points to make sure the nightmare is over.
I say that in the match report Sav. I was just staggered by the MOTD analysis which grossly overstated the overall contribution of Ilan and Noble.
Spot on HF.
As I watched I was thinking the exact same thing. Keown, it seemed, was even stretching his words at one point to fill the time because he had nothing to say. It was excruciating. The taking of the ball into the corner?! Something never before seen on a pitch and what amazing analysis.
I think we need at least 7-8 real decent footballers in during the summer. We cannot fool ourselves into going into another season thinking that our players are that good.
Fair point HF. But why are you surprised by this? It is not the first time the "gurus" at Match of the Day exaggerate and twist things in order to make up a good story to tell?
No Sav but I have never seen it so obviously before. I rate Ilan 4 and Noble 5 on my match report and Keown tries to make out they are Messi and Rooney!
ye i think ur a joke u twist there words aswell they were saying at least he was trying to get forward he was making tackles tht were outstanding if noble didnt play i wud bet my life we wudnt of won as for ilan i agree with u but if hes bringing in goals i dont really care
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