the two of them are causing the opposition defence all sorts of problems, they win balls they have no right to get and they are creating space for the others to score from...20 shots at goal last week and probably at least that today...that's how much an effect the two of them playing upfront are having on the side...and when was the last time we had the space to hit that many attempts at goal from 20-25 yards ?...
Obviously I liked the way we played today but for me the jury is still out on McLeod. I really wished he had scored today. Varney has improved significantly and I think its possible Mcleod could do the same given games and time.
I thought the atmosphere dropped a notch when Big Chris came on.
Strange only a few weeks back we were all wondering how we would cope if Big Chris was injured.
Agreed. Varney had an excellent game today. Never stopped running. Even managed to get back & block a very dangerous shot from a Blackpool striker. Also thought ZZ had a blinder. If these two can carry on with performances like that we are going to be a decent team for the rest of the season. Liked the look of Ambrose & Youga down the left as well. Youga hurled himself forward at every opportunity which always gave Ambrose an easy ball. Helped Ambrose enormously I thought.
There weren't too many bad performances for me today. Sam was probably the weakest. For me ZZ was my MotM, closely followed by Holland and Varney.
Youga had another very good game, spoiled only by a tiny bit too much showboating in the second half.
Both Magic and McCarthy did well, although occasionally I wonder if Magic is over-confident. Moo2 also had a decent game. Ambrose was good in patches.
What was good was that Blackpool clearly had a plan to try and neutralise our pace down the flanks but that opened options through the centre which we exploited. McLeod's influence should not be under-estimated and again, like last week, it seemed to bring the best out of Varney.
IMO Thomas is the man to get us back to the Prem. I know people don't like him but he is a superb footballer.
He is not over-rated.
Unfortunately he is everthing that us normal people hate about the modern game: Flash, Cocky, Celebrity seeking, overpaid etc etc. However he is a talent.
Not sure we really needed the show-boating either; guess they love it at some clubs but we're just not used to being in a position to get away with it. I actually thought Sam did well; another pacy nuisance for them to deal with, and even though the final ball / shot needs plenty of work, he even chipped in with a few headed flicks from Weaver kicks. I like his industry and ability to unsettle fullbacks by shifting to either foot, making him less predictable than some. Trouble is sometimes I'm not sure he knows which way he's going.
Varney got to the bi line and crossed and we scored, how often did we do that last few seasons with Romm and Thomas on the wings. Both Varney and ZZ look like they have settled in and we have found the ability to attack the bi line and the penalty area
[cite]Posted By: DJ Davey Dave[/cite]IMO Thomas is the man to get us back to the Prem. I know people don'tlikehim but he is a superb footballer.
He is not over-rated.
Unfortunately he is everthing that us normal people hate about the modern game: Flash, Cocky, Celebrity seeking, overpaid etc etc. However he is a talent.
True but he had one good chance and one open goal and put both over the bar. He came on with fresh legs when we were 4 - 1 up and should have been killing them off with his running but didn't get at them at all on the left. Thomas is real talent but Wes Hoolihan was the best winger on the pitch yesterday bu a country mile.
I like the Varney and Izzy combination. Gives the defence plenty to think about.
My MOM was ZZ. Not only for the two goals but had the confidence to try the defence splitting ball even if it didn't always come off. He also tracked back from the half way line to make a crucial challenge in the box when we were 4 1 up. Showed grat commitment.
Loads more coverage in China this weekend I suspect :)
I agree with that Henry. Thomas is and will remain a player of great talent but with the wrong attitude in my opinion. Hoolihan was excellent yesterday and would make a great signing.
What I would like to do is for Pards to make up a serum with the essence of ZZ and Holland, and give it to all the players. These are true professionals who give 100% each time they come on. Sure they make the odd error but it won't be because they are wrong-headed, worried about their image or how cold their hands are.
If Pards can manage to get inside Thomas' head and motivate him to play, then we do have a hugely influentual player who can make a difference. Unfortunately for me, the chances of that are slim, and he will remain a peripheral player.
Varney was excellant McCleod still low on confidence,he brought a lovely ball down on his chest in the second half and then passed it straight to a defender.When you are low on confidence I think you should untilise the one positive to your game that confidence doesn't effect ie pace.Would of liked him to run more at defenders and maybe make some of the runs Varney did.Dixon on the other hand impressed me when he came on,tried a couple of shots from impossible angles when a pass would have been better,but a couple of real classy bits of skill.Give him a go with Varney.
Thought Varney had his best game so far, looked superb. After yesterday's performance i am proud to call McLeod a Charlton player, thought he worked his arse off and deserved a goal, once that decent strike hits the net i think he will be a great signing, just needs a run of games to get his form, play them together on Tuesday night and lets scare the shit out of the baggies defence, I'll be there to see it!!!
A couple of weeks ago I started a thread: Why Pards bought McLeod
(can't do hyperlinks) where I was trying to get people to see that Dizzy Izzy had ability to spare but presently was just lacking the confidence that a run in the team could bring.
Since then, without uprooting trees or even just finding the back of the net, Izzy has worked his socks off, proved perfect foil for Varney - and scared the hell out of opposing defenders.
He just needs 2 or 3 goals to come in a run of the next few matches - and I believe we will see a player who begins to rediscover the form that made Pards happy to spend a million.
[cite]Posted By: Oggy Red[/cite]A couple of weeks ago I started a thread:Why Pards bought McLeod
(can't do hyperlinks) where I was trying to get people to see that Dizzy Izzy had ability to spare but presently was just lacking the confidence that a run in the team could bring.
Since then, without uprooting trees or even just finding the back of the net, Izzy has worked his socks off, proved perfect foil for Varney - and scared the hell out of opposing defenders.
He just needs 2 or 3 goals to come in a run of the next few matches - and I believe we will see a player who begins to rediscover the form that made Pards happy to spend a million.
Comments
I thought the atmosphere dropped a notch when Big Chris came on.
Strange only a few weeks back we were all wondering how we would cope if Big Chris was injured.
Youga had another very good game, spoiled only by a tiny bit too much showboating in the second half.
Both Magic and McCarthy did well, although occasionally I wonder if Magic is over-confident. Moo2 also had a decent game. Ambrose was good in patches.
What was good was that Blackpool clearly had a plan to try and neutralise our pace down the flanks but that opened options through the centre which we exploited. McLeod's influence should not be under-estimated and again, like last week, it seemed to bring the best out of Varney.
He is not over-rated.
Unfortunately he is everthing that us normal people hate about the modern game: Flash, Cocky, Celebrity seeking, overpaid etc etc. However he is a talent.
Well "over-confident" or "self-assured" - one or the other!
True but he had one good chance and one open goal and put both over the bar. He came on with fresh legs when we were 4 - 1 up and should have been killing them off with his running but didn't get at them at all on the left. Thomas is real talent but Wes Hoolihan was the best winger on the pitch yesterday bu a country mile.
My MOM was ZZ. Not only for the two goals but had the confidence to try the defence splitting ball even if it didn't always come off. He also tracked back from the half way line to make a crucial challenge in the box when we were 4 1 up. Showed grat commitment.
Loads more coverage in China this weekend I suspect :)
What I would like to do is for Pards to make up a serum with the essence of ZZ and Holland, and give it to all the players. These are true professionals who give 100% each time they come on. Sure they make the odd error but it won't be because they are wrong-headed, worried about their image or how cold their hands are.
If Pards can manage to get inside Thomas' head and motivate him to play, then we do have a hugely influentual player who can make a difference. Unfortunately for me, the chances of that are slim, and he will remain a peripheral player.
McLeod TV - He ain't bad
(can't do hyperlinks) where I was trying to get people to see that Dizzy Izzy had ability to spare but presently was just lacking the confidence that a run in the team could bring.
Since then, without uprooting trees or even just finding the back of the net, Izzy has worked his socks off, proved perfect foil for Varney - and scared the hell out of opposing defenders.
He just needs 2 or 3 goals to come in a run of the next few matches - and I believe we will see a player who begins to rediscover the form that made Pards happy to spend a million.
I make you right Oggy.