But Allardyce bottled it again, sticking with 4-3-3 which is, in truth, 4-5-1 because the wide men lack goal scoring punch. So, it comes down to Nolan and Cole to score from open play with the present formation and we all know that Carlton isn't going to bag the necessary 25 to 30 goals to make this system work. Nolan isn't firing, never mind scoring, so, as I said in midweek, we are going to struggle to score unless Baldock is drafted in and is effective.
So why the reluctance on Doctor Evil's part? Well, as I argued, it comes down to accommodating Nolan. If Baldock plays, we either play the diamond or Nolan is dropped - unless Captain Kev is played up front alongside Little Sam. And Allardyce is naturally reluctant to use Noble alone at the base of the diamond whilst he is still learning the role.
Faubert / Bentley on the right with Taylor on the left can only work with two goal scorers up front. Clubs are getting wise to us already and the Pompey game apart, we have failed to score more than once in any of our home games. That is a terrible record and will cost us promotion without question over the season. Allardyce needs to act and fast!
36 comments:
You didn't even watch it how the fcuk do you have a clue?
Proper armchair fan, you
So why have we bought Baldock? You tell me.
I remember the commentators on the radio making the point regarding how the crosses coming in and the bits and pieces situations would be perfect for Baldock. Not sure where Pam's going with this one
Can Lansbury play wide in a 4-4-2? How about a midfield of Nolan, Noble, Taylor and Lansbury with Cole and Baldock up front? I can hear the answer already. Playing people outside their natural position. Zola, Grant all over again. But is it worth a try?
lansbury is a wide player usually. really want to see baldock in action, has he even got a few minutes run out yet or just warming the bench? :S
with ipshite on tuesday im hoping to see him feature from the start alongside carew.
Its true. We play a 4-5-1 at home, how negative is that? We are the best team and best squad in the league yet we play a system that doesn't work for teams who want to win things, look at his time with Bolton and the toon, its a mid table formation. Nolan is awful, he was bought to early and in theory isn't actually needed. Taylor was awful today. As for Julian, well he's still living in the past with that cross against Everton and his successful time at Real Madrid..... If it were me personally, I'd play the 4-4-2, Collinson and Taylor playing wide and Lansbury and Noble in the middle. O'Brien is also awful and should be dropped, Demel should be playing (I know he isn't fit yet) Tomkins and Reid can both play right back there is no excuse for Fat Head playing him. Also, people say we have signings of Premier League quality, well I've yet to see this. On a added note of what was actually the worse game I've ever seen at Upton park, and I went 18 times last season, was Faye, he was fantastic and played with a lot of desire. Good on him. Don't get me wrong I think we will win the league and go up, but we have so much to do because if we play like that in the big 6 matches we have now till November, we will struggle.
As long as Sam is collecting the points he has time to work out how to improve the team and get it right. So, I like our league position and we have time to become Barcelona. I am sure Baldock will be given his chance. We still have another 40 games or so to go.
Nolan's been disapointing but there's no chance I'd drop him for some unknown from the lower leagues especially when we're sitting fourth in the table.
Big Sam is no mug and is doing his job, we are unbeaten in 7 and In a good position to in the league. Two players were our weak links today & Sam spotted & subbed them and boy we looked better after Cole & Faubert left the park for Carew (I'm surprising myself saying that) and Bentley who has quality. If we had scored the important 2nd goal cushion Baldock would have been on for Taylor In the last 15 to see how it looks but it was not to be & Sam will not be pressured into tactical risks. Curbs was tge last one to try to move from the safety of 451 to 442 and it nearly cost us and did cost him his job. Trust and patience will be rewarded. COYI
I listened to a lot of people criticising Allardyce yesterday.I would personally play 2 up top at home as well but for christ sake let's at least stop the moaning til we start losing.
I have no idea why Sam thought we needed Baldock? We have not played 4-4-2 yet so unless Baldock is going to play wide (instead of Faubert or Bentley - which is unlikely), he needs to drop a midfield player in order to play 4-4-2. He is unlikely to drop his captain, so it is a choice of Noble or Lansbury for the bench. Can't see either happening any time soon
We created next to nothing again yesterday. The 4 goals against Portsmouth flattered us too. We only looked half decent when they went down to 10 men
The 4-5-1 system is working brilliantly away from home but at home it works against us
Having said all that, all the while we are averaging 2 pts per game I will trust BFS
I Believe you show far more feminine traits than Mr Dale - because you are forever wining, bitching and moaning.
All this, "We must trust Allardyce whilst he is taking two points a game" crap takes no account of the easy fixtures we have been given so far. What happened to Millwall in midweek and yesterday? So why did we struggle to break them down?
Wake up! The tricky fixtures lie ahead of us and playing like this, we will struggle!
That may be 0941, but I don't take it up the jacksy and I guess that's what counts.
Guys I am not being funny but whne will you whingeing lot be happy. Which one of you whingers can remember when we started a league so well? Also how do you come to beleive that Baldock is somehow our saviour when a)we have n't lost in 7 and b) none of you have any idea how he will perform. If he had been played on Saturday and weh ad lost what would you all be saying about Sam A today. F F sakes we are winning so at least be pleased by that.
You seem to have missed the fact that we were relegated last season Vusa. You would EXPECT to start the season well in the Championship. With our squad, you would EXPECT us to start better than all the other teams, especially given the kind fixture list at the start of the season. We haven't. At home we have been poor. Why? 4-5-1. Baldock may not be the answer, in which case we shouldn't have bought him, but we need to be more aggressively offensive at home and need more POTENTIAL goal scorers in the team.
Just an idea, drop Noble and include Baldock. That might work!
Why? Noble was man of the match and had the balls to take the penalty and score. Revealing a blind prejudice here methinks Sav.
And then you say that PR is not the main criterion for selecting Noble... Of course, who would drop "Mr. Man of -a crappy- match"!
There is nothing blind in my opinion about Noble. It all comes from having my eyes and my mind wide open and watching him play without any prejudice. The rest is all his doing.
Balls to take a penalty HF? He's supposed to be a professional footballer!
Footballers take penalties all the time!...but I suppose it's special when Nobes does it!
Lots of players don't have the balls to take them Stani!
In a cup/tournament penalty shoot out maybe....not in a bread and butter league game.
So, we have established that Noble is wonderful because he takes the penalties. What would we do if Noble is not playing and we win a penalty! Really disastrous scenario...
ha penalties are alot harder to score then you think and just look at the mido pen and cole pen
I bet that Taylor and Lansbury (who actually won the last two penalties by the way and you don't think it is even worth a mention) would kill to be allowed to take them. Both of them can be at least as successful as Noble.
How can you possibly use such a weak argument to say that Noble is indispensable? Is it because that it is so hard to find anything else that Mark is really good at?
I don't think Taylor took them for Bolton did he? Why if he is so keen to do so? Do you think Noble would be allowed to take them by Allardyce if, based on training, Allardyce didn't think he was the best man for the job? I think Noblle proved his balls when he took and scored two against Man Utd last season. I was screaming for an alternative penalty taker after the first successful penalty for fear that Noble would be in two minds which way to go with his second. Dare he go to the same side? He calmly stepped up - in a vital game against the Champions - and went same side, double bluffing Kuszczak in the process.
You seem to think penalty taking is easy Sav. It is amazing how many top forwards are reluctant to accept the responsibility, however. It takes an iron nerve - and, like it not, that is a strength in a player and a strength that Noble has. In fact didn't he once have one saved but then took a second one in the same game and scored? Against Hull? Or is my memory playing tricks on me?
Hahahaahaaa, you're a funny man HF. Look what kind of argument you've had to resort to.
Your memory is playing tricks, just like the way it's telling you that Noble's a talented footballer. That penalty he missed against Hull was in a game we won 2-0, DiMichele and Cole the scorers.
Yeah I thought it was. But he stepped up and took a penalty very soon afterwards, not letting the miss unsettle him. Isn't that his only penalty miss?
Yep, against Blackburn. Now scored 10 pens.
Yeh, it's astonishing he didn't go into therapy with post traumatic stress disorder after that miss. To be able to step up and take the next one is unheard of.
Of course he's going to keep taking them HF. When you contribute Jack, you're always going to want to put yourself at the front of the queue when there's an opportunity of a free shot from 12 yards.
I don't see Captain Kev stepping forward to take them at the moment. Nor did Captain Upson. Nor, for that matter, did Captain in all but name Parker. If it is so bloody easy, why doesn't the "leader" of the team take them?
HF, have you ever played football? If you have, you will know that it is the natural instinct of players to want to score from the penalty spot. It is not a matter of who has the guts (or the other stuff you mention) but rather who has the arrogance or audacity to pick up the ball and put it on the spot first.
I would not expect the new boys (Lansbury, Taylor or Nolan) to go to Noble and tell him "hey you, we are here now, and we are better than you in taking penalties, so take a walk...".
Silly question Sav. But have I ever taken a spot kick in a game? No. Why? Nerves. I've bent in free kicks like Beckham from outside the box but always left the penalties to others.
Well, you are the exception. If you are that good to bend in free kicks and score you should have the confidence in yourself to take a penalty. The trouble is, in my experience almost everyone wants to take the spot kick even, as it is usually the case, when they are not very good at it. At least Noble scores most of the time.
HF I agree that we need to sort out the Baldock situation - there is no point in keeping a striker on the bench while we are misfiring., but also please get your facts right when you publish we have only scored more than one at home on two out of four league games. Does the 2 goals against Leeds not count?
Also when remarking on our league position you should note that very few of the top six have met each other yet so most teams in the top six are the same as us - unproven and yet to set the world alight.
Sav , you are ranting anti noble garbage. HF is spot on. However , Baldock will play in time, and 442 will come. I think Sam wanted to cut the defensive errors out first - its a long season.
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