Well, yes. OTOH there were those deluded souls who held out hope. You extinguished it with that post. Which makes you a monster, twice over
In all seriousness, I would also love to see anyone but City win the Cup. After yesterday's display against Forest, I would think there are enough vulnerabilities there for Palace to have a half-decent chance
Nuno's block 'em and shock 'em tactics have outfoxed many an EPL coach this season. Getafe are doing the same thing in Spain. We're headed back to a more defensive, long ball game.
I entirely agree about the defensive bit but are you sure about the long ball game? I'm seeing a lot more direct play than 15 years ago but not very much of the Route One stuff - long goal kicks to the big No. 9 with everyone else looking for knock-ons.
It's direct. It's long ball compared to Pepball. I think we'll see more long ball, in the lower divisions initially.
Tyler/Bournemouth thread.. ahem.. v ManU. Frustrating game to watch Tyler. He got worked around so easily most everytime he pressed leaving tons of space behind. Bruno and others easily by passed him all game. That's always my concern, love the high work rate and aggressive press but good midfields can navigate against it. The obvious heavy, but awesome, tackle that was reviewed for red, yellow instead. Loved the bite, not sure it needed a full 2 leg hard-core challenge in ManUs own 3rd on Garnacho of all people that will milk it. Deserved yellow unfortunately. Offensively outside of a couple really nice quick feet and good vision in tight spaces.. our boy provided no real progressive passes, not a line breaker, not a diagonal, not a over the top attempt to release a forward. Just nothing but steady and calm recycling. My 2 cents after watching the full replay.
1st half v Arsenal. Heading to the Derby.. only got 1st half in Same old stuff from Tyler. Had 1 nice line splitter in the 22nd, and then just normal basic progression. Couple high team presses but sat way deep. Rice goal was from a breakdown in midfield, Tyler partially to blame for that part.
From UTC forum. Adams ----- Even though Arsenal were playing within themselves, you could see the difference in class in central midfield. It was tough for him out there and I thought he looked a little lost at times in the first half but much improved in the second. And that made a huge difference as part of the platform for what was to come.
According to the BBC commentary Arteta was playing for a Champions League spot, which is now under threat, with games coming up against Liverpool and Newcastle. Maybe the players took their foot off the gas but there was no real evidence of that. Meanwhile PSG fielded 9 replacements against Strasbourg, as they had against Nice last week, resulting in their only two Ligue 1 defeats.
vs Villa Good game from Tyler. Defensively he had 3-4 outstanding tackles, the ones that give the coach justification for starting him every game. His explosion when he predicts where the pass will go is special. Sometimes it exposes the space behind him but this game he pulled off several amazing #6 plays. On the ball, he tried 2 "long balls" that didn't come off at all.. I laughed a bit as its probably why he doesn't do it very often. Its interesting when Bmouth have the ball in possession at tbe back, Tyler drops between, and behind, the 2 CBs. Those 2 CBs are pretty amazing and they push the ball into space and drop dimes to the wingers. Every time. Tyler just doesn't have that. Was his usual self on talking tons of shit to the other team. So fun to watch. He played well.
Adams starts! Bournemouth visiting Manchester City. Interestingly, both teams might be greatly helped by a win. City would move from T-6th to clear 3rd; Bournemouth from 11th to 9th.
Bournemouth would benefit from a win, but not in any major way - just playing for prize money at this point, in all likelihood. A City loss would make the final day of the season about 1000x more interesting though.
I assume all the potential slim to no hope 8th place contenders hoping for a City win? In theory couldn't Bournemoth still finish 8th? Ironically, that harms the chances it matters, I assume. KDB's final home game. Gotta assume they might be up for this one.
A little bit, at least. For 8th to get in, Chelsea needs to finish 7th and win the Conference League (or win the Conference League and finish 6th with Newcastle 7th, which is very unlikely), so anything that makes a Chelsea 7th-place finish more likely is marginally good for them. The chances aren't very good and also depend on a Spanish team losing a European final, which hasn't happened in 24 years.
B'mouth go down 3-1 with the consolation goal at the end of the game. Citeh were reduced to 10 first around 65 or so, but B'mouth evened it out not long after. I only caught the smallest bits of the game, but B'mouth were pretty well overrun the few times I was able to tune in.
1st half vs City wow, City is doing their thing. 70% possession and moving the ball at will. All sorts of space. Tyler and team just chasing. - 1st min really heavy first touch on a half turn, on an easy pass from Kepa. 2nd touch was a tackle and luckily it bounced to teammate. Maybe too amped up but thats unacceptable for a #6 tbh. - Cook switched off and let marmoush drive 20 yards into the heart of their D and ripped from 30, no one around. Tyler sat off and backed up to cover KDB, Cook wasn't anywhere. I think Tyler chould have read Cooks error and stepped. They had numbers defensively, maybe couldve rotated and stepped. - 28th. Nice little back flick thing to retain possession off a City turnover. - 33th great dispossession by Tyler in the center of park, perfect TA stuff. - 39th failed diaganol ball. Left it way short. He just doesn't have that in him lately, its been many months since he's pulled that off. He's gotta get that skill/confidence back. - 45th, nice little thru ball to the wing in the City 3rd. There you go Tyler, a forward pass. Ha. Several times just unwilling to try to turn with the ball, instead knocking it back. If he did it would relieve so much pressure off the team. Super conservative with the ball. Running his ass off this half, but damn City works those CM triangles and space like no other. They easy passes around him/them. Ok watching 2nd half now.
2nd half vs City - 57th able to get onto loose ball passes out wide to maintain possession. - 58th played easy 1-2 at top of City box. Led to a shot. Playing much higher this half. -60th. Ha. Late shove on Silva, obvious foul. That's our Tyler! - 77th. Playing more RM with the man down. Nice poke away dispossession again. He's just annoyed right now, pissed. Some afters from our guy, not taking any shit. - 84th. Nice short line breaker to CM, his 1st and well done progressive pass in the middle. - 85th boom! Perfect Adams, chases back 60 yards and cleans up an attack in his own box. What a motor. 10v10 the last 20 minutes, City too good today. Adams played fine.
Adams starts! Bournemouth (11th) hosting Leicester City (18th, relegated). Bournemouth playing for final placement, 9th through 12th.
To save folks clicking through multiple threads, Adams, Richards and Jedi all start today. Turner does not.
Adams played all of the finale, beating Leicester 2-0. Tyler and Bournemouth dominated the midfield battle.
I heard he's been reading our recent board comments and figured out Berhalter is a better coach than Poch and want's to play for the Fire!
vs Leicester Overall solid game from our guy. Very typical performance on all fronts. With the ball, his normal extremely conservative but quick ball movement. He works hard to show for his outside backs for an outlet. You know they appreciate it. He had a few nice dribbles forward to get out of trouble and lead a transition. Always found the easy pass to a playmaker, good to see him advance via the trouble. Took 2 shots from the top of the box, one got blocked and the other was a shank.. still good to see him try. Got stuck in a few times with obvious fouls, it worked to break up any Leicester momentum. Tracked back in defensive transition with massive passion, again fans gotta love that effort. A bit of high press at times otherwise played more of a single 6 and doing his thing. Great season for him, he's a lock for starting next year.
One thing I've found interesting is reading all the cherries boards and they dont talk about Adams too much. They usually complain about players but rarely adams and they rave about their stars, no adams. They discuss the correct CMs, lots of turmoil about the right players in CM... but no one questions (or mentions) Adams. I read this as they appreciate what he does defensively. Aware of his offensive limitations... but never do they question his starting role. Kinda vague observation but I find it reassuring.
Adams did not dress for the friendly vs Switzerland due to a foot injury of some sort. He has not trained with the team (though he was present, and a followup tweet says he was working out during the training session), and is not dressing for the match vs T&T tonight.