Dead horse to flog, one abusive owner…
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Another Friday…warm, but grey, dreary. Has potential, but you just don’t know what to expect. Take a rain jacket, umbrella, scarf, sunglasses and suncream. 4 seasons in one day weather. Never a more apt description of our current team….
It shouldn’t be like this, of course.
The most expensively assembled squad ever, arguably our best ever attacking line up….great keeper.
And yet.
Of course, we’re (currently) 7th and have a QF against the soon to be crowned German champions. I’m not going to knock that. I’m not THAT silly.
And yet.
It’s always puzzled (and troubled) me how over the last 40 years of attending WHU, that I (and many I know or speak to) see the same problems, the glaring issues that need to be addresses, or the tactical flaws that could be solved….
And yet.
Two games in the 6 days have probably epitomised the Moyes reign.
Newcastle away. Optimistic given their injuries and drop in form. However, always a tough place. Good positive line up. Horrendous start with aging and slowing Coufal turned inside out by a pacy winger AGAIN (needed to address this position last season…and yet)
Fight back well, the 4 Amigos dovetailing beautifully, causing all sorts of problems as we know they can. Toon all over the place. Still attacking, but this is now a heavyweight slug fest – biggest swinger win.
3-1, their bloodied and on the ropes, but still 30 to go, anything can happen. Antonio still causing problems, but most importantly, holding the ball up and letting the 3 amigos go past him and break.
And yet.
Off he goes. I’ve seen him look more tired after 30 minutes, and yet….off he goes.
OK, OK, think of the blood pressure Darren, Ings could work OK, he could drop off Lucas in the 10 hole he did well against Sheff Utd….Oh….Its Phillips….Oh….OK….we’re going low block with 30 to go….
Well….I still think there’s chances here…..Oh….3-2….
Now, I won’t go into the penalty decision. Those who have played the game at any level and watched the game know its not. But we know there’s a conspiracy against us here in terms of officials and VAR. Its relentless, but we seem powerless.
Still, 3-2 up….
And yet.
Yes. I blame Moyes for that defeat. Taking Antonio off that soon, caused a complete sea change. We became passive, willed them on, gave their subs momentum, the crowd were up. Completely and utterly misjudged the situation and tactical error. We couldn’t get out, there was no out ball. Literally threw away 3 points.
And yet.
Spuds at home. Always a big occasion. Crowd was as big as I’ve seen it all season. Silly fireworks show (obviously practising for Leverkusen at home) over, the game began.
Coufal, again, being torn apart defensively. He retreated to Hackney Marshes for the first goal. Embarrassing. However, gradually getting back into it. A foothold. We know their Achillies heel is the keeper on set pieces. Start heavy artillery.
Equaliser.
Game on.
35 mins in. Antonio hands on knees. Looks leggy. Game, willing, strong, but he won’t see past 60 mins here.
And yet.
The is tight, meanders, both sides look likely to score. Its entertaining. This is the football I like. We’re not good enough defensively to keep people out confidently, so attack, we know we can hurt anyone.
And yet.
Second half. Low block. Dave is happy with a point. But, but, we’re at home Dave, 62k in here want blood, sweat and tears, paid through the nose for it…
And yet.
OK, OK, well, at least get Antonio off Dave, he’s starting to look like an asthmatic ant carrying some very heavy shopping (Blackadder ©)
And yet.
Yes. I blame Moyes for a point. Antonio had battled well, given it everything. But he is not a 90 min player now. We know he doesn’t trust the bench (another reason why we have a now underprepared, under motivated squad) but you simply cannot get through every match with 11 players. The lads we’re literally splayed on the grass at the end. It was embarrassing. Spuds used 5 subs…..5.
Ings or Mubama may not have made a match winning difference, but Jesus they would have moved and pressed and given Spuds back line something different to contemplate….or push one of Bowen/Kudus/Lucas up top, shuffle personnel behind….look as though you have a plan B for God’s sake man….this is the topflight.
And yet.
One of the issues here, as a club, is this “I’d have taken a point at the start” mentality. This is old fashioned thinking. It may be realistic from fans, but as a manager and staff, if that’s where your mentality is, that’s what you deserve.
The PL is a different beast now. Its fast, its furious, its mayhem. Rules, to an extent, are gone. Ingenuity and creative thinking wins. If you’ve got a great keeper and back 4, fab. But what all teams have now, are strikers. Goal scoring midfielders.
We’ve had 4 years to replace Antonio….
And yet.
Tomorrow, Wolves away – its another 4 seasons in one day game. Could win 3-0, could lose 5-0, could be 0-0. Literally all bets are on the table.
The same 11. Will have the energy? Is Thursday the dominant thought?
Well. We haven’t got a squad to rotate, not one that’s ready but our own creation, so who knows.
We could have, we could have introduced players over the last 12 months for meaningful game time, challenging the first X!....pressuring for the shirt, wanting to bust a gut to get a place...
And yet.
