We are losing control of our own destiny

ablueclaret · Post by **ablueclaret** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:13 pm

Looks more and more that it's the form of other sides that is going to be crucial, I'm afraid we're on the slide, and usually one mid table side ends up being pulled into the mix.

joey13 · Post by **joey13** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:14 pm

Effort lacking today , which is worrying

HiroshimaClaret · Post by **HiroshimaClaret** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:17 pm

Poor as it was (admittedly against a very good team) I think we will be OK. The chronic lack of creativity though HAS to be addressed. JBG and Brady on either flank at the end I suspect (hopefully)is a sign of things to come.

ablueclaret · Post by **ablueclaret** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:17 pm

We never set-up to surprise our opponents.
Sadly we didn't experiment when we had the opportunity, somehow this rather dispirited looking group have to produce the goods.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:18 pm

Time to revive a couple of older threads..

http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... =2&t=14075" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... =2&t=14544" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ablueclaret · Post by **ablueclaret** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:18 pm

You have to try and win the midfield battle we just submit in that department.

MACCA · Post by **MACCA** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:19 pm

Play like that again and we will struggle against any premier league team, home or away.

Lacking in almost if not every department.

When we get out faught and battled it never looks good.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:22 pm

and http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... =2&t=14074" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ablueclaret · Post by **ablueclaret** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:23 pm

our lack of possession beginning to take its toll.

Sidney1st · Post by **Sidney1st** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:25 pm

ablueclaret wrote:our lack of possession beginning to take its toll.

We do better with less, but 46% is quite good.
Did you mean what we do with it, instead of how much we had of the ball?

You do know we had 46% of possession don't you?

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Claretmatt4 · Post by **Claretmatt4** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:27 pm

Seventeen fouls fml

ablueclaret · Post by **ablueclaret** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:29 pm

Look at our possession figures over the season Sidney, fit we are, but doubt creeps in when you just feel you're never in control of games.

Sidney1st · Post by **Sidney1st** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:31 pm

We had the possession today, just lacked an end product.
Dispels your possession comment though.

ablueclaret · Post by **ablueclaret** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:32 pm

Palace becomes our destiny match, lose that and the walls might cave in.

ablueclaret · Post by **ablueclaret** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:33 pm

But we lost the possession battle Sidney.

HiroshimaClaret · Post by **HiroshimaClaret** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:34 pm

ablueclaret wrote:Palace becomes our destiny match, lose that and the walls might cave in.

Agree with you a lot abc but that`s a bit much, isn`t it? We will be OK.

jlup1980 · Post by **jlup1980** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:35 pm

4 games left, one win needed... arguably you could say one point needed. We're still in control as we have 4 winnable games left.

Sidney1st · Post by **Sidney1st** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:35 pm

We've won games with far far less possession.

What you do with the possession matters more then how much you had of it, but you're nailing it all to how much possession we've had.

Most teams would accept 20% possession if they win, like we did against Liverpool.

Yes, across the season we could've probably done with more possession, but equally across the season we haven't done enough with the ball when we've had it.

ablueclaret · Post by **ablueclaret** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:36 pm

Lose at Palace and doubt will creep in big-time, a draw and that makes it harder for Swansea as they then need 2 wins and a draw. We should do it but the wheels are coming off.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:37 pm

The game we're most likely to pick something up from is on the last day of the season.

ablueclaret · Post by **ablueclaret** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:39 pm

The trouble with football is that confidence is a distressing mistress, lose her and she rarely comes back. We have stopped looking as if we are team that believes it can win matches, whilst Swansea and Hull do.

ablueclaret · Post by **ablueclaret** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:40 pm

If it goes to the last day of the season I don't fancy our chances, we need to put this to bed soon.

taio · Post by **taio** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:41 pm

The problem today wasn't possession. It was our lack of pressing, tempo and aggression. Exactly what United would have wanted. A breeze for them. De Gea a spectator.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:43 pm

ablueclaret wrote:If it goes to the last day of the season I don't fancy our chances, we need to put this to bed soon.

I don't think we'll pick up anything away at Palace or Bournemouth and the last time we played WBA they destroyed us 4-0.

bartons baggage · Post by **bartons baggage** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:44 pm

ablueclaret wrote:Looks more and more that it's the form of other sides that is going to be crucial, I'm afraid we're on the slide, and usually one mid table side ends up being pulled into the mix.

Arm chair harry,your opinions are of no relevance.
You never attend any games,yet more often than not your'e the 1st to slag the team off.

HiroshimaClaret · Post by **HiroshimaClaret** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:44 pm

Team selection will be fascinating against Palace. I keep banging the drum for a 4-3-2-1!

Heaton
Lowton Keane Mee (if fit) Ward
Hendrick (bad today) Barton Defour (what must he be wondering!?)
Gudmundsson Brady
Let`s try Gray!

ablueclaret · Post by **ablueclaret** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:45 pm

You can only keep up the level of pressing for so long, eventually it eats you down, because we retain the ball so poorly we are coming under the cosh more and more. The next 4 matches are like cup-ties I fancy SD will go back to basics and try and shoe-horn Arfield back into the side.

Tall Paul · Post by **Tall Paul** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:51 pm

FactualFrank wrote:Time to revive a couple of older threads..

http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... =2&t=14075" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... =2&t=14544" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What about this one?

http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... &h#p356813" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

RingoMcCartney · Post by **RingoMcCartney** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:52 pm

Annoyingly, watching last nights MOTD. Everything thing that hull did well, kamil grosicki was involved in.

ablueclaret · Post by **ablueclaret** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:54 pm

Hull have got Momentum, shame Jeremy has as well.

FactualFrank · Post by **FactualFrank** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:56 pm

RingoMcCartney wrote:Annoyingly, watching last nights MOTD. Everything thing that hull did well, kamil grosicki was involved in.

Very true. Grosicki is a class player.

boiledclaret · Post by **boiledclaret** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 4:59 pm

Hopefully go 4-5-1 and grind out some draws. Get Defour back in with Gud.

They let us have possession 1st half and picked us off when we inevitably gave the ball away. Barton looks knackered and too much is expected of Hendrick in a midfield too exposed.

10 points in 2017 is worrying.

Flat Stanley · Post by **Flat Stanley** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:03 pm

Lack of posession was not the problem today. In the second half in particular united let us have a lot of the ball but we had no clue what to do with it. No movement, No one dropping into the hole, running in behind or going wide and wingers constantly going into an over crowed middle. So easy to defend against and not one shot on tatget. United are a very good side but didn't get out of second gear it was so easy for them.

Jose set them up perfectly. Fellani cut off most of our long balls so we tried to play more than usual and couldn't create anything of note. We tried to press high initially but then got caught with a few quick breaks including the first goal so had to stop that. They let us have the ball and we were hopeless with it. We were so predictable today. We look very short on confidence and won't get another point this season unless we are much better than that.

The two goals today were poor from our point of view. Very unlike us at home and we were so open in the first half. They totally outclassed us in midfield. 3 against two all game. We needed 5 in there today. Only hope United make it look that easy against Swansea.

willsclarets · Post by **willsclarets** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:04 pm

I think we'll be ok, but it's hard to argue we're a better side than Swansea or Hull at the moment.

Always going to be tricky to beat United, but it's a tad disheartening to see your team hitting high balls up to Barnes with everyone crossing their fingers we'll scrap a chance from the second ball. Mourinho anticipated it, dealt with it, and we had no answer. And when we did get it wide on the odd occasion, the final ball was horrific.

RingoMcCartney · Post by **RingoMcCartney** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:06 pm

boiledclaret wrote:Hopefully go 4-5-1 and grind out some draws. Get Defour back in with Gud.

They let us have possession 1st half and picked us off when we inevitably gave the ball away. Barton looks knackered and too much is expected of Hendrick in a midfield too exposed.

10 points in 2017 is worrying.

That's a great shout.

We lack pace. But a little bit of magic or classy creativity, which Defour, certainly has. Can unlock a side without the need for pace. A quick footballing brain is, sometimes worth a yard or two.

JBGudmonsson is almost like a new signing for us and he has pace and a wicked shot. He was just stepping up a gear, for me, when he was crocked. Hopefully he's back upto speed.

Reasons to be cheerful.

boiledclaret · Post by **boiledclaret** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:15 pm

Thing is Ringo we have to play to our strengths and pace isn't one of them.

It wasn't the fact that we lost to a good side that's disappointing, it's how we lost. Both of their goals were really soft at this level.

Conroy92 · Post by **Conroy92** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:18 pm

Like another poster said, look like we are lacking in every department at the minute. Midfielders who can't carry the ball. Wingers who can't cross. Strikers who can't net. It's not a good combination. Gray is costing us points, he's flattering to deceive a lot of people by getting a touch on the ball, it's just a shame his second touch or pass gives it away nearly every time. I'd rather have Barnes up top by himself with a midfield 5 that can accommodate defour.
Im starting to think dyche has lost his way a little. We've been carrying Hendricks and Barton for the last few weeks and there's been no change. Westwood looking a poor signing, if he's not been able to get on over the past few weeks he can't be up to much! Instead were chucking teenager Dan agyei on at 2-0 when Sam vokes is also sat on the bench. We've been s*** for weeks, if not months and just accepted it because it looked like we would stay up. I know a lot will say "2-0 against United isn't bad" but the overall performances recently have been utter gubbins.

taio · Post by **taio** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:20 pm

Conroy92 wrote:Like another poster said, look like we are lacking in every department at the minute. Midfielders who can't carry the ball. Wingers who can't cross. Strikers who can't net. It's not a good combination. Gray is costing us points, he's flattering to deceive a lot of people by getting a touch on the ball, it's just a shame his second touch or pass gives it away nearly every time. I'd rather have Barnes up top by himself with a midfield 5 that can accommodate defour.
Im starting to think dyche has lost his way a little. We've been carrying Hendricks and Barton for the last few weeks and there's been no change. Westwood looking a poor signing, if he's not been able to get on over the past few weeks he can't be up to much! Instead were chucking teenager Dan agyei on at 2-0 when Sam vokes is also sat on the bench. We've been s*** for weeks, if not months and just accepted it because it looked like we would stay up. I know a lot will say "2-0 against United isn't bad" but the overall performances recently have been utter gubbins.

It's Hendrick.

Vokes wasn't on the bench.

Gray played better than Barnes.

Conroy92 · Post by **Conroy92** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:22 pm

So you were happy with that taio?

taio · Post by **taio** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:24 pm

Conroy92 wrote:So you were happy with that taio?

Not particularly - I thought our performance lacked drive and bite - but that's got nothing to do with my previous post.

Sean Dyche's Watch · Post by **Sean Dyche's Watch** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:29 pm

Conroy92 wrote:Sam vokes is also sat on the bench.

Sam Vokes was in the upper tier of the James Hargreaves Stand.

Conroy92 · Post by **Conroy92** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:29 pm

Just curious! I don't think Barnes had his best game today but it would have always been tough feeding off scraps and battling with fellani. Gray on the other hand received the ball to his feet plenty of times, he actually received service and gave it away far too cheaply.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:31 pm

One thing you can guarantee after a defeat is Ablueclaret coming on with his dose of absolute nonsense.

Bin Ont Turf · Post by **Bin Ont Turf** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:35 pm

He's a bit like them flying things that annoy him.

Drone.

fidelcastro · Post by **fidelcastro** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:35 pm

ClaretTony wrote:One thing you can guarantee after a defeat is Ablueclaret coming on with his dose of absolute nonsense.

In a game that he most probably didn't watch.

boyyanno · Post by **boyyanno** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:36 pm

In what world did Gray play better than Barnes?

Barnes won a number of ariel duels and has a very good touch with his chest/head, often pulling the other players into the game. Nearly every time the ball went to Gray today he lost it.

Both of them are feeding off scraps and neither had a "good game" but I find the fact you can state with absolute certainty that Gray played better than Barnes a little strange.

I like Gray and I think he can be effective running the channels with the right balls, but without Defour we don't look capable of playing them into the areas that Gray is most effective from. I think a five man midfield would have made a lot of sense today. Asking Barton and Hendrick to outdo Pogba and Fellani man to man was very niave.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:37 pm

boyyanno wrote:Both of them are feeding off scraps and neither had a "good game" but I find the fact you can state with absolute certainty that Gray played better than Barnes a little strange.

I thought Gray was one of our better players today

RingoMcCartney · Post by **RingoMcCartney** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:39 pm

boiledclaret wrote:Thing is Ringo we have to play to our strengths and pace isn't one of them.

It wasn't the fact that we lost to a good side that's disappointing, it's how we lost. Both of their goals were really soft at this level.

Sadly , you're not wrong there mate

taio · Post by **taio** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:39 pm

I also feel Gray had a better game than Barnes today.

fidelcastro · Post by **fidelcastro** » Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:41 pm

taio wrote:I also feel Gray had a better game than Barnes today.

And me... but then he usually does.