Analysis of the goals conceded against West Brom (23/4)
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Odemwingie’s goal – Assou-Ekotto’s injury allows Odemwingie time to get a shot away after an excellent cross-field pass from Vela
Carlos Vela has the ball on West Brom’s left, and William Gallas has pulled over to cover for Kaboul. The gap between our centre backs is already ominous…
Gallas backs off as Vela spots Odemwingie’s run.
It is a fantastic ball and, although Odemwingie’s first touch takes him a little wide, he has time as Assou-Ekotto has been caught up field.
Assou-Ekotto makes a great effort to get back at him but…
…in going shoulder to shoulder, he collapses, having seemingly pulled a hamstring. Odemwingie touches the ball around him as Dawson closes.
Dawson throws himself at the ball, but Odemwingie gets his shot away, and buries it beyond Gomes in the far corner.
Cox’s goal – Wonderful curled finish as Gallas stands off.
It’s 2-1 with 80 minutes on the clock. West Brom have possession high up the pitch, with Shorey on the ball.
Shorey passes back to Brunt under pressure from Kaboul, who is pressing hard to try to force them back.
Brunt feeds the ball into Cox, who makes a run off Gallas.
Gallas snaps at his heels, and forces Cox to play back out to Shorey.
As Kaboul is chasing shadows, Shorey zips a pass into Cox’s feet – he has stayed in his deeper position, but Gallas has dropped back to keep the defensive line.
Cox takes a touch and turns in one motion, and as Gallas backs off, he shimmies to make a yard. Notice how many Spurs defenders are in the shot, but also how many of them are not behind the ball. At this stage of the game we should have two banks of four, and should also be making it much more difficult for West Brom to get a shot away.
Cox takes one more touch to shift the ball slightly more to his right before letting fly.
It’s an exquisite finish – right into the top corner.
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And Torres just broke his duck in time for us!
Gomes
Kaboul Gallas Dawson Bale
Sandro
VDV Huddlestone Modric Pienaar
Pav
Sweetsman
I would like to see that team too, but with Lennon for Pienaar, and VDV on the left (and Corluka in if fit). However, I think he will go either 3-5-2:
Gomes
Kaboul Gallas Dawson
Lennon Sandro Huddlestone Modric Bale
VDV Crouch
Or 4-4-1-1:
Gomes
Kaboul Gallas Dawson Bale
Lennon Sandro Huddlestone Modric
VDV Crouch
Anon @ 21:52 - agree. Pavlyuchenko's movement was decent, but he was poor on the ball. Defoe scored a great goal, but was a total passenger for the rest of the game. Awful!
Anon @ 00:21 - you are right, apologies. I went on to the Spurs site to confirm and they said Thomas... hmm!
Anon @ 01:15 - good point on VDV, and that was the point I was making when I talked about lack of players behind the ball. Also agree about the tactics - we're not as good when we don't stretch the pitch and, if it means playing one up front, so be it.
As for strikers, sell Crouch, Defoe and probably Pav; get in Odemwinge, Sturridge (unlikely) and Drogba.
Sweetsman
In terms of tactics, I hope we go 4-4-1-1 with VDV off Pavlyuchenko. By far our best set up IMO.
Sweetsman
Dawson left Odemwinge ands pulled a long way to the right, when there was no need. If he'd stayed in position, he would have benn able to close him down.
Goal 2
Kabouls was chargin in and out to the wing, trying to maek two players, while VdV stood doing nothing. THAT@s wht Gallas had to come out.
General
Why do we keep playing VdV instead of Lennon?
the big difference for me is the lack of realism by our strikers. pav had two very good chances, and you would expect (not just hope) that he would put one of them away.
if we're going to keep conceding we have to take our chances to cancel that out
cheers for the analysis (and lack of finger pointing)
Flyblown
Sweetsman