it's not entirely his fault.. seriously.
When you’re playing against a team like Stoke; who throw every single limb they have at the ball at any given time; a flair(ish) side like ours has to be sure of two things. The first of these is that you’re making enough space to force your style of play upon them; rather than allow them to dictate the game through simply clipping your heels and forcing the run of play. The second and arguably most important is that you have to make sure; when each of their players are playing out of their skin; that you absolutely HAVE to have a full compliment of players on the pitch. The reason for this is that we’re a side which folds under relentless pressure; and as such to keep a workhorse side from scoring from their only clear cut chance in the game; we have to keep the ball away from them.
This brings us to Aaron’s indiscretion. Whilst he found himself unable to continue in his full capacity due to a knock taken to his ankle; his decision to leave us with one less man on the pitch lead to the last gasp goal which consequentially has dashed a continued upward momentum. I’m certainly not suggesting that he should have stayed on and bombed up and down the wing as is his usual style of play; but merely as an extra man to pass to have allowed us to retain the ball and have a greater chance of taking something from the game.
Should this have been the decisive factor; two parties can be suggested for blame. The first would be Aaron of course for not ‘manning up’ enough for his club, (a sure sign that perhaps his allegiances lie elsewhere which frankly doesn’t surprise me so much). The second man in the frame would be Harry himself for playing three substitutes before the very end of the game. Perhaps sentimentality by bringing the much criticised Pavlyuchenko on; or simply impatience by bringing on Jenas too early for his energy.
What has become clear through; is that we certainly didn’t play as if we were a top 4 side yesterday; despite dominating the game and making an abundance of chances; it’s the scoring of goals, and the shutting down of sides which separates us from the sides that are deserving of a place in the elite of the Premier League; and indeed Europe on the whole. I feel this is what makes the EPL so strong; as at full strength and on our day we have the potential to match great clubs; yet it’s realizing this potential that is our major stumbling block. Whether it’s the economic factors that don’t persuade/encourage our players; or just the way in which we see ourselves as underdogs and thus are a self fulfilling prophecy, is up for debate.
What must be said is that Stoke approached the match very well tactically; whereas we were somewhat dubiously rigid to our linear setup, and despite making our chances, they were lucky and took the points.
Arsenal away next; and it’s fair to say that I’m personally not as confident as I may have been should we have won yesterday. But the NLD always brings out the best in our players; so let’s see what we’re really capable of please.
