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What are you talking about!!!? Ronnie has been instrumental in our good/great start and the way we now play positively with less fear on the ball. Nothing like Sam.
I love how we're still pushing for a third, not retreating into our 6 yard box. Probably will for the last few mins but this front foot fearless stuff is great to see.
Burrell's been a bit shown up technically when playing out wide so far. Potential for getting on the end of through balls inside his fullback but when he gets the ball out wide faced up it's a bit of a challenge for him.
Looking forward to the football Edwards, Madsen and Chair can play through the middle if they keep up the positive, quick passing mindset we've seen so far this season. Probably easier said than done against a hard working, well prepared Mowbray team. Good test this.
Sure, "Ultras" and all that nonsense, easy for us to get sniffy and I don't doubt they had some dickheads in the leadership because, you know, people. But it always looked and sounded like they generated a loud and consistent atmosphere every game. And in a time of ever increasing atmosphere killing, cameraphone wielding, tourist based attendances in the Premier League Global Circus Show a few local lads getting organised to support their local team with a bit of noise and passion isn't all bad. Better than them wandering around Croydon in a Man U or fkin Real Madrid shirt.
Back in my early 90's, meditation heavy, quest for the true experience of oneness with all creation this tune made me realise I was not alone. Perfection.
Ooh, I love to see it. You can't play good football if you don't try and play good football. We've spent a lot of time in the last 12 months listening to Stephan and Tuchel bemoaning their players refusal to do so. In picking Chair and Vale to start centrally away to Portsmouth (Portsmouth!), JS made it quite clear. 'We are going to start passing this ball properly if it f*cking kills me'. Fair enough.
There is a whole world of difference between fear based playing AROUND at the back, which is what we have often been doing for years, and brave actual playing OUT from the back which we saw yesterday.
Obviously it all starts with Charles. I mean, f*ck me, his calmness, vision and technique is mental. Any type of attack can start with him. Short balls with perfect weight to allow the recipient to move forward even in tight ish spaces ( not you, pass straight to the Portsmouth forward in the 2nd half!). Long, driven balls landing perfectly on the foot of a winger. Lofted passes landing straight on Amadou's head to set up the 2nd goal. So hard to defend. Beautifull! There's no pass he can't do. It sets such a tone for the defenders and midfielders and really, really helps players receive the ball in more space. Allied with them then being braver, making bolder choices and trusting themselves the ball moved up the pitch. Witchcraft! After years of groaning at our ability to turn any situation in a back pass to the keeper, now it's exciting.
That 20 odd minutes period in the 2nd half when we passed them to a standstill was a joy. We were bold, confident and eventually they (Portsmouth, at home, first game of the season) kind of gave up pressing, knackered. That's some achievement. We seemed to create opportunities at will. Adamson's square balls to the centre mid, that filthy pass by Varane to Kamara after he was trapped by the left corner flag, Charles goading the presser onto him before slipping it away. Seemingly little things but along with Ronnie and Kamara being neat, positive and trusting themselves they beat the press and opened up a whole world of space for Smyth, Alfie etc.
All of that with no Madsen. Impressive, keep it up.
I am definitely not going over the top by stating that we have basically morphed into 1970 Brazil. We've sat back now but for about 20 minutes we had Portsmouth absolutely gassed chasing the ball around like little kids playing the dad's whilst we made a chance with every attack. Mad.
Still very vulnerable at the back but for now who cares.
What a half. Originally looked like the 'gamble' of Vale and Chair central was struggling but they were well involved with the goals. Special mention to the quality of a couple of Burrell's layoffs which is not his strong point.
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