Yesterday's 2nd half - Hughes-like

[Skibum]

Now before I start this isn't a Hughes in or out point of view just my observation. Also it isn't a get rid of the Brazilians thing either.

Don't you think that the team 2nd half yesterday looked like the team that Hughes would prefer to play away from home on a regular basis, more efficient than lightweight. The Brazilians would still be in the squad but perhaps come on with 25 mins or so to go when the opposition are more tired. We would have won yesterday with a fully fit Boj from the start and another quality striker and Dunne replaced by Kompany or another quality centre back.

Personally I was impressed 2nd half and thought that Hughes must have had a positive effect at half time in the dressing room. I was surprised by the double substitution and thought that he had made a mistake because we were on top at the time even if we hadn't scored and was concerned that our rhythm would be disrupted. It just shows that I know nothing because the subs worked, it was just a pity that a fit Santa Cruz wasn't coming off the bench instead of Benjani (he looks like a 40 year old).

Sorry for the positivity and this isn't a Hughes in but credit where it is due.

 

[BlueRockape]

Now before I start this isn't a Hughes in or out point of view just my observation. Also it isn't a get rid of the Brazilians thing either.

Don't you think that the team 2nd half yesterday was looked like the team that Hughes would prefer to play away from home on a regular basis, more efficient than lightweight. The Brazilians would still be in the squad but perhaps come on with 25 mins or so to go when the opposition are more tired. We would have won yesterday with a fully fit Boj from the start and another quality striker and Dunne replaced by Kompany or another quality centre back.

Personally I was impressed 2nd half and thought that Hughes must have had a positive effect at half time in the dressing room. I was surprised by the double substitution and thought that he had made a mistake because we were on top at the time even if we hadn't scored and was concerned that our rhythm would be disrupted. It just shows that I know nothing because the subs worked, it was just a pity that fit Santa Cruz wasn't coming off the bench instead of Benjani (he looks like a 40 year old).


Sorry for the positivity and this isn't a Hughes in but credit where it is due.

Thats the way i saw it good post

 

[banbury_blue]

Good post, I was impressed with the half, not so much the fact that it didn't contain any Brazilians, was just more th attitude of the players to give it a go. I thought first half we were just too cautious and let Spurs come on to us.

Considering it was his first game back from a long injury again I thought Benjani did well when he come on, he held the ball up when into feet, was just a shame he couldn't have kept the header down in the dying seconds

 

[Skibum]

Considering it was his first game back from a long injury again I thought Benjani did well when he come on, he held the ball up when into feet, was just a shame he couldn't have kept the header down in the dying seconds

Perhaps I was a bit harsh, what I meant was I wish he was 2 or 3 yards quicker. We all know we are lacking at leat 2 top quality stikers but hey we have time and money to adddress that and personally I do trust Hughes in that deapartment.

Oh, that header!!

 

[taggarc]

Now before I start this isn't a Hughes in or out point of view just my observation. Also it isn't a get rid of the Brazilians thing either.

Don't you think that the team 2nd half yesterday looked like the team that Hughes would prefer to play away from home on a regular basis, more efficient than lightweight. The Brazilians would still be in the squad but perhaps come on with 25 mins or so to go when the opposition are more tired. We would have won yesterday with a fully fit Boj from the start and another quality striker and Dunne replaced by Kompany or another quality centre back.

Personally I was impressed 2nd half and thought that Hughes must have had a positive effect at half time in the dressing room. I was surprised by the double substitution and thought that he had made a mistake because we were on top at the time even if we hadn't scored and was concerned that our rhythm would be disrupted. It just shows that I know nothing because the subs worked, it was just a pity that a fit Santa Cruz wasn't coming off the bench instead of Benjani (he looks like a 40 year old).

Sorry for the positivity and this isn't a Hughes in but credit where it is due.

Great post totally agree. 2nd half performance was in complete contrast to the 1st

 

[Project]

We were excellent in the second half, and if we played consistently like that away from home we would have picked up many more wins. We won every 50/50 ball. De Jong completely dominated the midfield. Kompany and Zab were putting in bone crunching but fair tackles. Nothing got past Ned. Ireland was picking out the forwards time and time again. Micah was beating their full back and getting into dangerous positions. We even put in very good crosses. Shocking I know.

We have a very good set of players. People who say otherwise are stupid. Our downfall is one of consistency and the ability to grind out results. We seem to have solved that at home, even when not playing well - if we can do it away then we have the basis of a Top 5 side because nobody here can tell me that Everton or Villa have better players than us.

 

[apple pie corner]

Totally agree........

Was sat with Spurs fans yesterday & they were creaming themselves at H/T & rightly so cos they mullered us. Second half they were shitting themselves & with the Boj goal, could only see one winner!! Doh!

Second half was much more positive & much more fluid.

Unlucky to concede the penalty but we gave Keane far too much space at times

 

[greenie]

great post, totally agree.
second half we battled and looked like a team who, with a few more additions, could handle away games better. boj was ace and with another striker, he would be great to play away.
also, me and my old man thought de jong was immense yesterday, hardly gave the ball away
bring on next season and hopw Hughes STAYS
*tin hat time probably*

 

[berkowizard]

Fair reflection of the game imo, fella. I feared a rout in the first half and felt we were by far the better side in the second. Why doesn't he get credit for the substitutions. didn't seem to be any tactical naivety from where i was sitting.

Let's remember, Spurs are no stranger to a cheque book themselves. Look at the quality they have on their bench compared to ours. Give sparky another transfer window to address that and then judge him.

Also, Spurs hadn't conceded in seven home games. They are the in form team of the Prem. We outplayed them in the second half and could easily have nicked it.

Also, and sorry if this has been posted elsewhere, imho Elano is a DISGRACE. We are under fire to some tune in the first half, they score and what happens? An innocuous challenge to his face and he's off, clutching his eye like it's been burnt out with a poker. Five minutes later, he's chatting merrily on the bench with his old chum Berti, laughing and joking without a care in the world. No white stick and no labrador in evidence.

When the going gets tough, he goes missing. I'm sorry, but that's what it looks like to me. In my view, he's completely self obsessed.Look at all the press leading up to the derby. Great interviews about team work and spirit from De Jong, Kompany, Superman, Dunney. One whining interview " I told you I was right" from Elano. Me me me me me. "I play for Brazil don't you know"? Well, so you do. But the fact is, our performance in the second half without him, way outstripped the first. I'd rather he not be at the club than have to take bets as to whether we're going to get a genius (and he can be) or the invisible man at every game next season.

 

[BobKowalski]

Interesting observation yet we doing what we always do in these situations and that is take one half of a football match or even a whole football match when we play well and then projecting that over a season and going 'what if we...'

The problem then comes when we play the next match setup the same way and then get mullered. We indulge in too much short term thinking and projection based on short periods of play.