Frustrating night.
Over-riding thought from me is we are starting to look a bt leggy. Looks like the big run we put in is starting to take its toll a little.
Didn't win enough 50/50s, second balls, and just seemed to be lacking that zip.
Seemed too narrow at times, shame with the injuries as i think Romm would of made a difference second half.
Benty worked his socks off, but he is simply to isolated at times. We weren't getting enough bodies into the box when we played on the counter.
Like City, out final ball wasn't good enough, particularly from wide areas.
Impressed by Reading, organised outfit who knew their shape well. Two big assets down the left in Hunt and Shorey.
But still feels like a missed opportunity, and quite grateful for the point on reflection. Felt they had more chance of nicking it than us.
Yet another clean sheet though, defence has really sorted themselves out.
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And the worrying thing is - those chances we had tonight might never come again.
But indeed, clean sheet and all that. What a missed opportunity, though...
It's a big ask for Baby Bent to carry all our offensive threat and we need other players to step up like Ambrose and Thomas did against West Ham.
For me Song must be encouraged to shoot on occasions, so must others. Our shot count at Citeh was piss poor.
Still, I thought we would probably stumble in this game so a point is ok. It's going down to the wire. These things usually do. We are still in good shape.
We look like we've lost a little of our momentum. A couple of days off then a big concentration on the next batch of fixtures is what's needed.
Song was clearly rattled by his 'nearly sending off' early on and was very subdued after that.
Thomas......well, if we think Rommers is inconsistant then Thomas is in a world of his own. So much talent, so little end product.
Positives:
Borat, desperately unlucky with his header against the underside of the bar, but a rock mostly, determined and up for it. Wish he'd stop play acting, though and just get on with the game.
Diawara, sometimes a little positionally unaware but makes up for it with speed, bravery and a 'thou shall not pass' attitude.
Dazzler, ran all day, sweated blood for the cause but I wish he could read offside situations better. And a little composure wouldn't go amiss.
Zhengy ZZ, opponents can't handle his movement, neat touches, good skill, workrate that makes Holland look like Thomas, but a little lightweight. Another day would have scored, great positional sense.
Carson, absolutely fautless. Great command of his box, clear communication with back 4, superb distribution.
You never thought we would concede. How old is he, 21?
You couldn't fault the team for lack of effort. You can see they're absolutely commited - but trying too hard.
Everton next. Is this our 'surprise/against all the odds' away win?
Like others, he has just come off the boil a little, and the quality of his final ball and his desire to beat the full back has just eased off a bit from a few weeks ago.
I think he will come good again, may benefit from being rested a week.
But I take on board your views. Maybe the guy just needs a rest.
Now where's Dennis?
Still on the bench...c'mon Pards, use him.
Didn't concede, didn't look like conceding, and we just need a bit of momentum back, and onwards and upwards.
Totally agree AFKA, it seems to me that in the last six games, this is the first time we have "under-achieved". Yes you could argue Watford also but we came back from two down and should perhaps have won the game. Tonight we were "lucky" to get a point in a game where our expectation would have been a win.
Let's not be too downhearted. I always thought we would stumble (and so I think did Pards). For us to climb our of the hole, we have to believe we can pick up points in unexpected places. It is for Pards now to ramp up the motivation.
"Come on lads, you have it within you to triumph, you are unbeaten in six, have not conceded a goal in the last four, you are extremely difficult to beat, now go out and claim your destiny. To do it you have to have the courage to win in adversity. It's courage that has got you to the brink of survival. Now go out and finish the job. You can do it - now believe!!!"
Its a bit corny but that's the sort of thing that I am sure he will be saying (but much better than my feeble attempt).
I too think it's time for Rommedahl.
The end product is obviously hit and miss, but his pace can give defenders a real headache and should at least win us some free kicks etc - which is where all our threat has come from recently.
yep and shoot !!!!
There is a reason Lampard gets 20 goals a season!
Had this down as a defeat on my predictor thing a couple of weeks ago. Injuries cost us as Dennis would have made a difference running at tired legs.
Pards needs to work on JT's final ball. Annoyed the hell out of me last two games. Beats his man last night, gets to the touchline, perfect opportunity to ping it in the mix and all he wants to do is try to win a pen, grrr.
We'll be ok, point at Everton, wins against Sheff Utd and Blackburn and at least a point against the yids.
Neil Warlock will have them well fired up and they'll be in our faces.
They'll have to be, they've nothing else to offer.
But they have to go to Old Trafford on the Wednesday before. They come to The Valley having just (hopefully) been mauled by Man Yoo.
But don't worry, lads & lasses, everything is gonna be just fine....... (!)
Couldn't agree more. Our reluctance to shoot last night was so frustrating. You can see that Song is from Arsenal, he tries to play the killer pass a bit too often. Just hit it!
But i think we have to look on it as a good point as it means even with a win (unless its 6-0), Wham can't go above us.
It was completely unrealistic to expect us to win our last 6 home games and of any of the last three for us not to win I'd have picked last night.
I thought the performance was OK. We started fairly well and were zipping the ball about a bit. Song's booking and the injuries did seem to take the wind out of us but we still had a few chances where the right choice of final ball or a decent shot could have won us the game and I think that that's where the nerves took their toll. I think a draw was about right, Reading looked the more likely team to nick it second half but I'd say we probably had the more clear cut chances/nearly chances.
Also agree with AFKA that we're being a bit harsh on Thomas, he was completely anonymous for the last half hour but he makes so many runs up and down that line that he's obviously going to tire. My guess is Pardew likes his wingers to work like that with an eye for replacing at least one of them when they're spent, unfortunately the injuries blew his gameplan on that one. I admit Thomas' final ball was a bit lacking yesterday but he definitely wasn't the only one guilty of that
I'd have liked to see us pick up 4 points from the Easter weekend but that said we're out of the relegation zone and staying there is still in our hands and I didn't think I'd be able to say that back in the dark days of December and January, I thought we'd be mathematically gone by now.
Form book's out the window now, we have to get up for every game like it's a cup tie. We'll definitely stumble again but I'm convinced we'll pick up a surprise result or two in our favour as well. Whether that'll be enough or not though I really don't know!!