This is the question my dad asked me as I was running out of Upton Park on Sunday. I had a train to catch, so missed the equaliser, but even that was scarce consolation in a game we should have won. So,, what is going wrong?
1. Cole's lack of support - it's not rocket science, too many times the ball is pinged up to him and as Hines is playing a deeper, wider role, there is no one to pick up the flick ons, so we give up posession easily.
2. Faubert is not a right back - don't get me wrong, Jules has shown some great improvement this season and is possibly the only real fighter in the team (see later) but he is not a natural right back and with no natural wingers playing either, he is exposed far too frequently.
3. Lack of leadership - I've not seen a replay of the penalty, but even it was one, where's the man saying 'you owe us one ref'? I don't want a team of Craig Bellamy's, but since Neill's departure, where is the fight and the verbals coming from? Scott Parker seems the most likely, though he can be a little too hot headed. But we simply lack leadership at the moment. Perhaps letting Collins go may have been an error too...?
4. Injured players coming back - no control over this one, but Upson and Illunga look pretty rusty to me. And how much do we miss Behrami? He gave us alot of lift when he came on, if he can stay fit and the others can find their form quickly, it will certainly help matters.
5. New signings - Franco is still not match fit. I can see that Jiminez is a skillfull player, but we need some bite in the middle at the moment as much as anything else. He is a bit of a luxury for me, great when we play well but when the chips are down, does not grab the game by the scruff. The only exception for me is Diamanti. I can't believe some fans were having a go. He went in for tackles, is not afraid to shoot and takes an excellent set piece. I like him alot and think he can be the difference for us this season.
6. Formation - had to be said I guess, and I think point number one refers to it. We do need to go 442 with Hines or Diamanti supporting Cole, it will give us more threat and increase our ball posession.
Well, a bit of a break until Stoke, hopefully some players can recover and we can do some work on the training field on who is playing where. I do have faith in Zola right now and he and Clarke continue to have my backing. We are not Newcastle and a bad start to the season is not for me a basis to sack someone. I just want them to sort it out! Come on you Irons!
Have to agree on most points. Upson had a shocker,but the person we miss most is Collison. We have to play 442 because the defence needs the cover at the moment. Were also missing Neill as at least he was streetwise. I cannot believe anyone has negative thoughts about Diamanti.All the vibes seem poor out of UP but a win at Stoke would help, surely were too good to go down
Posted by: Mike Austin | 07/10/2009 at 15:53
Going down, going down, going down, going down, going down, going down, going down, going down, going down, going down, GOING DOWN!!!
That's what we'll be chanting when we smash you at the Lane at Xmas time :-)
Posted by: thfc1882 | 08/10/2009 at 17:21
Yeah I covered this very same problem on my blog and to be truthful it's a vast amount of things that have finally come as one to hammer us (no pun intended)
Money, selling Collins and lack of goals are the real killers though.
Posted by: TBI | 11/10/2009 at 19:26
thfc 1882, keyboard warrior, shouldn't you be at school?
Posted by: mickey | 19/10/2009 at 13:53