1. We’re the new Manchester United! – Manchester United seem to be the only team who can consistently come back to getting all 3 points, despite playing poorly. That was what I saw yesterday. A team that weathered the storm in the first half and went on to win a game that they didn’t play amazingly well in or have a lot of possession in. So that means we’re gonna be title contenders, right?
2. Sam Allardyce must give a bloody good half time talk – We were pretty pathetic in the first half, but then rocketed out for the second 45 minutes. Scoring 2 goals in the first 3 minutes meant that the players truly took his advice to heart and kept that determination going to seal the win.
3. Modibo Maiga should get a start – For one thing, he can take over Ricardo Vaz Te in the interesting hair stakes, and for another that goal was bloody class! He’s got the speed to tear apart a defence and I think we need to throw him in the deep end with a full 90 minutes and see what he can do.
4. Yossi Benayoun can be a Jekyl or Hyde – In the first half, I was so frustrated by Benayoun. He didn’t seem to be getting stuck in, and he didn’t seem to be displaying the pace and trickery that made West Ham bring him back to Upton Park. But in the second half, that all changed. He wasn’t afraid to put in a tackle and he made Kevin Nolan’s goal. Hopefully from now on he’ll carry that on for the whole game.
5. Mark Noble can take free kicks! – This one is a bit tongue in cheek, but I’ve never been hugely impressed with his corners or free kicks. It also made me laugh that Benayoun and Gary O’Neil both tried to take a corner, but were stopped by Noble striding over when they were getting ready to release the ball. But I did very much enjoy his free kick, as I’m sure all of you did too.
What did you learn from the match? Tweet me at @alwaysintune or leave a comment.
I too want to see more of Maiga….but who sits? Benayoun was frustrating in the first half, but he was a close second for MOTM with his second 45. Jarvis ain’t sitting. We need his crosses. Of the three in the middle, who gets bumped?
I see Maiga as our 60th minute man for AC, Nolan, Noble, or Diame depending on circumstances.
What a great problem to have, eh?
Agree with the guy above. With the system we play, Maiga is a good player to have to bring on in the second half for a midfielder or attacker depending on circumstances. If we are winning, bring him on for Carroll or one of the wingers. If we need a goal, bring him on for one of the central midfielders. Perhaps he could play on the wing, but I feel he is probably more comfortable playing upfront, and with the system we play I cant see him dislodging Andy Carroll from the side