By Nas
September 20 2005

Hopefully Martin Jol has learnt his lesson that we can't play central midfielders on the wings, we deserved to get beat and we did. After 26 minutes it was blatantly obvious that Defoe and Keane were not going to work - wide players are not only there to supply balls into the box for 'big' men, and we cant sacrifice them if we don't have height in the box. Without a balanced team at any single point in the game we were always going to struggle to stretch their back four, which would have provided space for the quick and nippy defoe and keane - why make it even harder for them by congesting what space they can use by playing CM's on the wings.

On another thread i stated at half time that we needed to bring a winger on, i suggested lennon for brown with jenas infield. Lennon did come on but for our only other wide mifielder WHAT THE FUHK? So now we still had a lop sided team. The game just illustrates how badly we miss genuine pace down the wings. Nonetheless having reid on the left is better than a central midfielder (brown - wtf?) At least he will stay out there and hold the line stretching and creating space enabling effective overlaps.

Now that we have endured this humiliating defeat i hope Jol will from now on play wide players in wide positions - Despite his age lennon showed a natural wide player is so much more effective than a player with CL experience, england caps etc etc who is by trade a central player. I mean im not having a go at Jenas because i thought he looked so much better when Lennon came on.

Anyway, it was good to see Davis back in action (prefer him to Brown who despite his effort and endeavour is lets face it pretty****compared to the likes of jenas, davids carrick). I also thought Naybet did a sterling job once again, i love the guy and for 600k we got a bargain. I know he won't do alot for the first team from now on but a great organiser and i'm sure he can only benefit the likes of King, Dawson, Gardner and Huddlestone. Stalteri impressed me tonight, my patience had begun to wear thin with the guy - constantly giving the ball away, diving in but tonight he practically single handedly had to provide width for us and didnt shirk from the task in hand. Still would prefer Steo back thou....

As i said before hopefully jol has learnt from this horrible night, and hopefully we wont make similar mistakes in the all important premiership. I'd rather have Lennon and Routledge on the right and left if are short aswell - there is no substitue for genuine pace on the flanks. Infact with the way Reid has been playing recently (we paid £4m for this guy, and picked up lennon and routledge for like £2m combined?) i would'nt hesitate to try the combo of routledge and lennon. Still, reid is better thana bloody centre midfielder.

And im out.