Firstly I want to get a few incidents in the game out of the way. Walters made a blatant dive upon feeling Fryers hand rest on his shoulder, I have never seen someone go down so easily. Assaidi was NOT fouled! Dawson made (thank god) a glorious challenge to touch the ball away from his attacker. I will admit on another day he would have chopped him down. Nzonzi should have been sent off for a clear attempt to hit Adebayor in the face! The guy should be punished for this.
Ok down to the game.
Under Sherwood the team have changed their tactics and are already settling into the well (seemingly). With numerous key figures out for us we still managed a good result and convincing displays from all the players.
The 4-4-2 formation has been working well. I was surprised that Lamela was not started, however the midfield looked good. 6.4% of the game was played in the final third of Stokes left channel. This was all down to Lennon. He looked sharp and it was him and Naughton that created the first clear chance.
On 15 minutes when Lennon cut the ball back to Ade I thought excellent 1-0, however the shot was very tame and Eriksen's follow up was weak.
Paulinho showed some fantastic skill throughout his game and his first show piece came on 16 minutes when he allowed the ball to drop between his legs and he then back-heeled a looping pass to Soldado who pulled his shot wide. For me Paulinho was one of four Man of the Match winners. It would have been easier for Soldado to score (but it will come in time).
At this stage I wrongly began to think that again tonight was not going to be our night.
Lennon was fed a sublime pass from Ade which he them cut back inside and clipped a ball across the 6 yard box only for Soldado to miss. We kept the ball and Fryers hit it back into the “mixer” and Soldado got a good touch, but was unable to get his shot on target and Paulinho was that little bit too slow to react (otherwise he would have had himself an easy goal. You could see that Soldado was getting increasingly annoyed with himself spurning some great chances.
Our next chance was one of two moments of the game. Soldado pulled out to the right and crossed the ball into Adebayor. Ade then chested the ball and connected sweetly for a scissor kick, however Shawcross blatantly used both arms to block the shot. Some say it may have been lucky for us to be awarded it, but I feel it was actually Shawcross that was lucky (he should have been sent off). As you would expect Soldado stepped up to take the resulting penalty and slotted home to take his personal tally up to 10 goals in 19 appearances (keeping his goals to games ratio at .526).
Another moment of genius and my other moment of the game as Paulinho plays keepie uppies to the embarrassment of Nzonzi and Pieters, Pieters than mistimed his tackle to give us a freekick. As with all free kicks in the game so far Eriksen fails to find a Spurs man.
The next 4 moves before half time all bar one involved Paulinho. He danced around his man and unleashed a tame shot which is as wide as it was high. Paulinho then linked up with Lennon and Palacios was on hand to clear the ball at the near post.
Fryers got in a deep cross, but Pieters managed to beat Adebayor to it and headed it out. Soldado and Eriksen combined to fed the ball to Paulinho, but he loses the ball before he could create an opportunity.
A great first half for me. Paulinho, Eriksen, Dembele and Lennon had all worked well in a slightly make shift midfield. Plenty of chances created, solid defending and some attractive attacking play.
Paulinho started as he left the first half and had our first chance in the second half. After he found himself in space in the penalty box he blazed his shot high and wide again. I was beginning to become a little impatient at this point, but I was certainly enjoying the attacking style play created by Sherwood.
The next clear chance again fell to Soldado and it was following good work from Dembele who brought the ball into Stokes half and fed the ball to Lennon on the right who cut the ball back to the edge of the six yard box where Soldado was waiting to pounce. Unfortunately he mistimed his shot and it looped up directly into Sorensons hands. Although Soldado is still struggling to score in open play in the EPL his confidence is increasing and with Ade as his strike partner he is getting more chances.
After a clash with the JOKE of football Charlie Adams Paulinho is substituted for Capoue. I did feel that Lamela should have been brought on at this stage and we could have had two wingers on each side, however Capoue I feel had a decent game so I can’t complain.
Eriksen, Ade and Dembele combined well on the left working in the triangle passing which allowed Eriksen to take the ball on and shoot low at the near post (almost catching Sorenson out).
Our second goal came from some good patient build up play around the box. Ade passed to Soldado on the edge of the box who passed off to Dembele. Nzonzi tried to get to Dembele, but he he was too slow in his thinking as Mousa out paced Nzonzi and then stopped dropped his shoulder faked and took the ball onto his left again and unleashed a well placed shot across the keeper and into the keepers bottom left corner.
Our final goal saw Eriksen and Ade combine well after winning the ball back on the half way line and the later carried the ball forward to the box and passed off to Soldado. He then put a low cross to Lennon (helped a little by a slight touch by Adebayor), the ball bounced Lennon controlled the ball (his defender desperately trying to block him) and volleyed the ball into the keepers top right corner. It was a great goal to cap off the day. I will be the first to say that I was annoyed with Lennon earlier in the game failing to take a few shots on. This time he did not disappoint and I hope that the youngster will add a few more before the end of the season.
Not long after Lamela was brought on for Lennon and he almost made an instant impact. After a wayward pass by Stoke Ade and Lamela take on the three defenders scrambling to get back. Ade drew them in and passed the ball off to Lamela who had a bit of space, however rather than hit the ball first time with his right he waited for the ball to come to his left foot (which allowed the defender the time to get across and help block his shot.
Interestingly enough at this stage we had notched up 20 shots to Stoke’s 1, but Crouch then managed to connect with a cross on the edge of the 6 yard box, but his header was weak and easily found it’s way into Lloris’s arms.
Lamela was working hard and I was gutted that the youngster did not manage to have more impact in the game, but he has at least been working hard to force his way into the starting 11.
That was pretty much it for the game. We managed to end the game with 59% possession, 20 shots (only allowing Stoke 2 shots), won 7 corners and gave away 1, but maintained an 85% pass completion throughout the game.
Although Dembele won Man of the Match under Squawka’s stats, I feel that Paulinho was as good a candidate, as was Ade for his work rate and Soldado for his goal and two assists. Dembele managed a humungous 97% pass completion, 100% take on succession, 3 clearances, 1 interception and 1 goal. Not bad for a day in the office. We achieved the three top scoring players again with Dembele on 79, Soldado second on 68 points and Chiriches on 65 points.
As a team we notched up a great 480 points and looked good throughout. A clean sheet, a solid looking defence, a creative and attacking midfield and a front line that is working very well together.
The players look comfortable and confident in the games. I have not seen the lads panic on the ball since Sherwood has taken charge and I would hope that they can continue to press high up the pitch and keep the attacks coming thick and fast.
Again you have to ask what AVB was thinking in freezing Adebayor out? He has been instrumental in his 4 appearances under Sherwood. I hope that AVB is finally able to look at his mistake and now learn from it.
Soldado looks comfortable and happy with a strike partner, there is fantastic link up play with the two and in such a short space of time playing together. What was great was after scoring his penalty Soldado went straight to Ade to thank him.
COYS!!!!
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