Comments on: By the pictures http://hammyend.com/index.php/2009/04/by-the-pictures/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:11:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: rich http://hammyend.com/index.php/2009/04/by-the-pictures/comment-page-1/#comment-3412 rich Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:27:06 +0000 http://hammyend.com/?p=1594#comment-3412 Fair enough, but I think Hodgson must have his reasons. He rarely played Andreasen and has given Etuhu plenty of games. Clearly Bullard's departure has much to do with it, but Andreasen's absence from the team last year coincided with our late run too, so perhaps Hodgson just decided that he lacked the discipline needed for the holding role and the skill required for the advanced role. That's funny re. Batty! Fair enough, but I think Hodgson must have his reasons. He rarely played Andreasen and has given Etuhu plenty of games. Clearly Bullard’s departure has much to do with it, but Andreasen’s absence from the team last year coincided with our late run too, so perhaps Hodgson just decided that he lacked the discipline needed for the holding role and the skill required for the advanced role.

That’s funny re. Batty!

]]> By: Dan http://hammyend.com/index.php/2009/04/by-the-pictures/comment-page-1/#comment-3410 Dan Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:11:27 +0000 http://hammyend.com/?p=1594#comment-3410 I wouldn't call Etuhu a weak link, but I'd love to have seen what Andreasen would have done with a run in this side. Don't get wrong, I wouldn't say Batty was a poor player by any means and he probably was underrated. I just think that, for the majority of the time when he was at the peak of his career, England had better options in midfield. Someone who rarely ever scored (and had never taken a penalty) was a baffling choice in Saint-Ettiene too. Intriguingly, he's one of the few professional players I've ever heard admit to not having any interest in football. I wouldn’t call Etuhu a weak link, but I’d love to have
seen what Andreasen would have done with a run in this side.

Don’t get wrong, I wouldn’t say Batty was a poor player by any means and he probably was underrated. I just think that, for the majority of the time when he was at the peak of his career, England had better options in midfield. Someone who rarely ever scored (and had never taken a penalty) was a baffling choice in Saint-Ettiene too.

Intriguingly, he’s one of the few professional players I’ve ever heard admit to not having any interest in football.

]]> By: rich http://hammyend.com/index.php/2009/04/by-the-pictures/comment-page-1/#comment-3407 rich Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:25:51 +0000 http://hammyend.com/?p=1594#comment-3407 Indeed, but all of our players will face a tougher test. Dickson isn't a weak link anymore. Noo, I think a case could be made that Batty was the most underrated player of the 90s. He was a holding player before they were invented, ahead of his time and one of those mysterious players who strangely seem to keep on winning. Indeed, but all of our players will face a tougher test. Dickson isn’t a weak link anymore.

Noo, I think a case could be made that Batty was the most underrated player of the 90s. He was a holding player before they were invented, ahead of his time and one of those mysterious players who strangely seem to keep on winning.

]]> By: Dan http://hammyend.com/index.php/2009/04/by-the-pictures/comment-page-1/#comment-3406 Dan Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:38:36 +0000 http://hammyend.com/?p=1594#comment-3406 Not disputing your points it was just an observation of my own that he remains a 'safety first' type player. I'd agree that his performances have been greatly improved - it's a point I've made myself - but games like Saturday's against Chelsea will be an altogether tougher test that what he faced this weekend. Batty was a honest, hardworking stalwart but it galled me that he reached international leve, much less taking a penalty in a crucial shoot-out. I reckon that Makele is/was more comfortable on the ball than Dickson (that's not to say our man can't improve) and actually initiated a lot more attacks at both Real and Chelsea than people gave him credit for. Not disputing your points it was just an observation of my own that he remains a ‘safety first’ type player. I’d agree that his performances have been greatly improved – it’s a point I’ve made myself – but games like Saturday’s against Chelsea will be an altogether tougher test that what he faced this weekend.

Batty was a honest, hardworking stalwart but it galled me that he reached international leve, much less taking a penalty in a crucial shoot-out. I reckon that Makele is/was more comfortable on the ball than Dickson (that’s not to say our man can’t improve) and actually initiated a lot more attacks at both Real and Chelsea than people gave him credit for.

]]> By: rich http://hammyend.com/index.php/2009/04/by-the-pictures/comment-page-1/#comment-3405 rich Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:31:53 +0000 http://hammyend.com/?p=1594#comment-3405 Martin - yes, but he did it once or twice, which is not ideal but is the first we've seen for some time. It hasn't been a habit so there's no reason to assume that it's a feature of his game. Dan - that was my point though, he's passing forwards much, much more than he was earlier in the season. Did David Batty ever do much with the ball at his feet? Claude Makalele? I agree he's not remotely at the same level as the top players, but given the grief he got in his first few games I think his recent (match fit) performances have been excellent and very encouraging. You have to wonder if Hodgson can really make something of him, as all the ingredients are there. And if not, well he's already shown that he's a more than adequate player to have around. Martin – yes, but he did it once or twice, which is not ideal but is the first we’ve seen for some time. It hasn’t been a habit so there’s no reason to assume that it’s a feature of his game.

Dan – that was my point though, he’s passing forwards much, much more than he was earlier in the season. Did David Batty ever do much with the ball at his feet? Claude Makalele? I agree he’s not remotely at the same level as the top players, but given the grief he got in his first few games I think his recent (match fit) performances have been excellent and very encouraging. You have to wonder if Hodgson can really make something of him, as all the ingredients are there. And if not, well he’s already shown that he’s a more than adequate player to have around.

]]> By: Martin http://hammyend.com/index.php/2009/04/by-the-pictures/comment-page-1/#comment-3404 Martin Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:25:26 +0000 http://hammyend.com/?p=1594#comment-3404 I've got respect for Rich's statistics but I can't agree that some of Etuhu's mistakes wouldn't matter. Against a better side his loss of concentration outside the box in the first half would have been punished. Such sloppiness is very dangerous. I’ve got respect for Rich’s statistics but I can’t agree that some of Etuhu’s mistakes wouldn’t matter. Against a better side his loss of concentration outside the box in the first half would have been punished. Such sloppiness is very dangerous.

]]> By: Dan http://hammyend.com/index.php/2009/04/by-the-pictures/comment-page-1/#comment-3403 Dan Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:15:06 +0000 http://hammyend.com/?p=1594#comment-3403 I think Dickson's range of passing could improve as he could his selection - sending the ball forward a bit more as opposed to sideways or backwards. There's a bit of a worry that he could be found out against the better sides. I wasn't having a pop at him but he's not at the same level as some of the more exalted holding players. I think Dickson’s range of passing could improve as he could his selection – sending the ball forward a bit more as opposed to sideways or backwards. There’s a bit of a worry that he could be found out against the better sides. I wasn’t having a pop at him but he’s not at the same level as some of the more exalted holding players.

]]> By: rich http://hammyend.com/index.php/2009/04/by-the-pictures/comment-page-1/#comment-3402 rich Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:56:44 +0000 http://hammyend.com/?p=1594#comment-3402 I suspect Murphy's partly knackered, and partly just not as effective against teams like Stoke. He remains pure class, but at this stage in the season it'd be a surprise if he wasn't a bit tired. He's been excellent though, on balance. Etuhu's distribution has been excellent though, if not always ambitious: Danny Murphy 1915 78,2% Simon Davies 1190 76,2% Clint Dempsey 910 78,0% Dickson Etuhu 675 84,1% Zoltan Gera 651 80,0% (Number, percentage accurage) That's simply very, very good, and it's no longer because he's only taking the easy pass. He often does, but that in itself isn't a crime. He's doing what he's supposed to do, and while people remember the lapses, the metronomic rhythm and surprising accuracy is more important. It's easy to say that he's not doing anything difficult out there, but I would disagree with that. If we need better distribution in the team it's not from Dickson's role. As for Gera, I really can't see why people would be on his back. He did okay when he was playing and did very well yesterday. Chopper, myself and the usually very harsh Mick Roots in the Observer all independently singled him out; he had a fine game. I suspect Murphy’s partly knackered, and partly just not as effective against teams like Stoke. He remains pure class, but at this stage in the season it’d be a surprise if he wasn’t a bit tired. He’s been excellent though, on balance.

Etuhu’s distribution has been excellent though, if not always ambitious:

Danny Murphy 1915 78,2%
Simon Davies 1190 76,2%
Clint Dempsey 910 78,0%
Dickson Etuhu 675 84,1%
Zoltan Gera 651 80,0%

(Number, percentage accurage)

That’s simply very, very good, and it’s no longer because he’s only taking the easy pass. He often does, but that in itself isn’t a crime. He’s doing what he’s supposed to do, and while people remember the lapses, the metronomic rhythm and surprising accuracy is more important. It’s easy to say that he’s not doing anything difficult out there, but I would disagree with that. If we need better distribution in the team it’s not from Dickson’s role.

As for Gera, I really can’t see why people would be on his back. He did okay when he was playing and did very well yesterday. Chopper, myself and the usually very harsh Mick Roots in the Observer all independently singled him out; he had a fine game.

]]>