Neither here nor there
Well, it's really starting to get to TDH that virtually every minute of Toon action this year has gone unwitnessed. TDH could only read, from San Francisco today, about the draw with Tim Howard. At least TDH will be able to see the match against Manure next Sunday, from a footie-friendly island thousands of miles away from here... yes, TDH is talking about Hong Kong.
TDH is not too sad that Bramble was sent off, as it'll give Steven Taylor time to get back into the swing of things. And with Amoeba possibly suffering an ankle injury, it's a shame that Rossi isn't allowed to play against Sir's scum. But we might just get a chance to drink in the bracing aperitif made from two young stars who are barely old enough to drink it... yes, TDH is talking about Martins & Rossi against the Estonians in midweek!
So, tune in as the Toon turn Tallinn into, er, vermouth. In the meantime, groan about being a bottom-half team. Enjoy the fact that Bobby Convey and Marcus Hahnemann helped Reading to draw against the Red Mist - a fact that would have been unbelievable a year ago. And revel in having predicted the rise of certain towering Greek striker... yes, TDH is talking about Giorgios Samaras! Okay, enough already.
TDH is not too sad that Bramble was sent off, as it'll give Steven Taylor time to get back into the swing of things. And with Amoeba possibly suffering an ankle injury, it's a shame that Rossi isn't allowed to play against Sir's scum. But we might just get a chance to drink in the bracing aperitif made from two young stars who are barely old enough to drink it... yes, TDH is talking about Martins & Rossi against the Estonians in midweek!
So, tune in as the Toon turn Tallinn into, er, vermouth. In the meantime, groan about being a bottom-half team. Enjoy the fact that Bobby Convey and Marcus Hahnemann helped Reading to draw against the Red Mist - a fact that would have been unbelievable a year ago. And revel in having predicted the rise of certain towering Greek striker... yes, TDH is talking about Giorgios Samaras! Okay, enough already.
posted by Daniel Altman at 8:18 AM
5 Comments:
I, like Palms, thought Rossi looked excellent. It seems like a clever deal for both Toon and United, as Rossi added a bite that was missing to the Newcastle attack and he's getting experience he wouldn't get at Old Trafford. I like the way every time him got the ball his footwork was instinctive and rapid to get him facing the goal at an angle as quickly as possible, and he fired off a few decent attempts. Even when he drifted wide he immediately cut back in to go for goal.
Oba looked explosive at times, but clumsy as well. But did anyone else see his incredible pace when he misplaced a pass and then, realising it was going towards Everton players, sprinted so quickly that he overtook the ball and actually received the pass as well?!
Yes I was in the ground and saw Oba's pass to himself. Startling. Sad to say/see that his second fastest turn of pace was when he sprinted off upon being substituted for Rossi
I'd not seen anything of Martins before his arrival - yes he has pace and is ball-hungry, but he doesn't behave like a goal hungry finisher - seems keener to pass the ball than have a shot, even when he's in the more dangerous position.
He badly misread/fluffed the chances coming his way yesterday - and there were a few. On current evidence, he will not be the goal machine we desperately need. Here's hoping I'm proved wrong
In Tokyo at the moment... and just heard Arsene Lupin on BBC World calling Gallas "a team player"!!! Will wonders never cease? Is Cashley Hole a "locker room leader"???
Okay, so what's up with Sheva? Has he simply failed to figure out the English game, becoming one more in a line of, er, Rebrovs? If he's truly one of the top three strikers in the world, he should be able to play anywhere. I'd suggest a wide TH-style role, except that he scores so many in the six-yard box. In any case, Drogba is showing him up - and no one thought, except perhaps until this World Cup, that Drogba was of equal quality. Okay, Mara, leap to the ex-Milan man's defense....
woah. I might be stupidly busy at work, being on leave from sunday, but I had to rise to this provocation.
Shevchenko is a genius. Firstly, drogba's good form (while entirely deserved, I firmly believe him to be one of the most under-rated players in the world) is due in no small part to Sheva's brilliance of the ball. Even when his touch, shot and pace seem short, watch where he moves during a team move. Invariably he takes one or two defenders into completely useless positions.
Second, don't forget Titi, most people's choices for the best forward in the modern era in England was also a very very slow starter - people were talking about him as a failed experiment for a while, before he exploded to life.
Sheva has gone through dry patches for Milan (okay, only one, in an injury interupted season), and he's come through.
Finally, he played at Milan for 7 years, with a remarkable consistency of personnel from about 2002/3 onwards - he's so geared towards Pirlo and Seedorf style slick, accurate, but not necessarily quick or early passing that he's really having to change his style to suit the much less patient build up in the premiership, though Chelsea are far more methodical than most opponents. They're a long way from Milan, insofar as patient build up goes.
The defence rests.
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