Let me repeat that for emphasis.
IT IS THE BEST I’VE EVER SEEN US.
We’re moving the ball smoothly, passing well and everyone is on the top of his game. I remember thinking ‘what’s going on’?
My last game was at Upton Park, and I can’t believe what I’m watching. Yes, Brum were rubbish. But we’ve played PLENTY of rubbish teams this year and NOT won, and we’ve often lost. To see us cutting through them was phenomenal.
(I asked Sunny for the team news just before we left the Harry and when Iggy told me off his phone, I wanted to cry…I thought we’d lucky to scrape a win, but this had draw written all over it 🙁)
To be honest, it wasn’t smooth sailing at first, we deservedly took the lead and Maxi’s placement was excellent. He really does look to be able to read Suarez well, and we did let them in for a well. But once Kuyt scores, they’re done. You could see it in their body language, they knew it too.
That’s another thing I’d like to mention now; we’ve heard about how there’s more unity and togetherness now?
Believe it.
It’s fucking real. Before the game, Reina comes over and talks to Flanagan and then smacks him on the back of the neck to give encouragement, Suarez gives Flanagan a thumbs up when a pass is misplaced..and the lads are always quick to help each other when one’s in trouble..i hope this lasts…but it’s magnificent to see.
I will say that their fans were good too; loud and boisterous, despite watching their team get hammered. It’s not a nice feeling, watching your team get outplayed when you’ve travelled a hundred twenty miles to watch.
The Kop was actually a bit quiet, prompting loud jeers of ‘your support is shit’ (although it was a bit hard to make out) and ‘sing when you’re winning’..oh I LOVE it when I hear that song, you bunch of numbnuts.
It found it’s voice soon enough though; the Redmen made sure of that.
It wasn’t just the scoreline, it was how we were moving the ball..everyone seemed confident in each other, everyone seemed to know that other player wouldn’t let him done, and for the most part no one did.
Flanagan and Robinson were excellent again, very calm and composed…and with some guidance, could turn out to be excellent fullbacks. Skrtel did have some stupid errors today as well, one horrible pass to Carra along the backline being the most terrifying example, but for the most part was excellent.
There is a big difference in Skrtel when he plays with Carra as opposed to playing with the Greek. Carra was excellent, and hardly put a foot wrong. He played like the true leader, and marshalled everyone properly. I cannot believe how often he gets slated, but he is still our best defender.
Lucas and Spearing were both excellent; and Lucas dominated the midfield. He also had a few bad passes, but he was a colossus in this game. (I still can’t believe it, but its true)..as for Spearing, superb…a real tiger, and I really don’t get the theory many have that ‘oh you don’t need a fierce DM when you’re playing the weaker teams’..having a good midfielder smashing through the opposition when they’re trying to play the ball through to Jerome is something very very valuable.
Did anyone notice Jerome becoming more and more invisible as the game wore on?
I sure did.
Meireless was excellent, and the number of tackles he made were fantastic..i loved watching him come back and sliding through like some bald ghost to dispossess some Brum player, and he did this countless times.
This game was won in midfield, make no mistake.
Kuyt and Maxi were both superb, although Maxi didn’t do very much except score a hattrick hahahahaha..in all seriousness, he was excellent and reads Suarez well, although it’s more probably the other way around..Kuyt was Kuyt…sometimes fantastic, sometimes terrible, but yesterday he was fantastic..harried the opposition, brought the ball forward, helped defend..AND scored the vital goal.
It was his goal that that sealed the game, despite 3 more being scored later.
Those of us who mock Kuyt should understand that despite the possibility of us getting a more mobile replacement, we would be losing a lot of what he does bring. His attitude and strength is something important on the pitch. But let’s be clear, he’s past 30 and it’s something to address.
I love him though. There’s a reason why he so often pops up with goals when the chips are down, when many others would much rather be in the showers, when I would much rather be in the pub.
Reina was excellent, and you could see that he was playing with a lot more confidence behind this backline. I know many on here are disappointed with him, and I admit that I am too. But if he stays and delivers his best the way he’s done over the years I hope that goes some distance to changing peoples minds.
FWIW, I don’t think he’s playing as if he couldn’t be arsed aka Torres.
Joe Cole had a decent cameo, and he did show some flashes that he is a very good player..the writing is on the wall, but TBH I’m a bit sad about it…it could have and should have worked out for him.
And lastly of course, Luis Suarez.
The man was incredible.
Despite not scoring, and despite the phenomenal work of Lucas, my MOTM was Suarez..he was everywhere, and the Brum players could not get used to his trickery, to his movement..I can’t remember now, but I’d say Suarez had a hand in at least 3 of the goals..there was one run he made (which didn’t come off I think) where he ran to the right to draw off 2 defenders, whilst running he screamed at Maxi to peel off to the left because he knew Flanagan (I think) was about to pass, and Flanagan (who was excellent) sent a hard one into acres of space beautifully weighted for Maxi.
That was vision, which Suarez has in spades.
Wish he’d scored.
Believe me, we’re on the way up…and if Kenny buys well this summer, we’ll be looking SPECTACULAR next season.
I notice the Japanese woman with her camera and she’s recording the whole thing..i feel like telling her ‘ excuse me please use the ultimate camera ie your eyes which are better then your Nikon’.
My eyes saw much beauty on Saturday. (though I do confess to taking a picture of the scoreboard after the game)…as it tapered off, everyone was so happy in the stands..so much so when Carra skied one ball into the stands, he got loads of playful jeers and he responded with a big smile on his face..
I think they were all just so happy to be on the pitch, I wsa just as happy to be in the stands.
Oh, I know…there’ll be bad days..we’ll lose again..
But on Saturday, we all felt like a million bucks..and I believe we can really look forward to the future now.
Some of you may remember me coming up for one game where we were shit, and I was talking about some lad who was watching his first game..i felt so bad for him, thinking ‘this is what he has to look forward to in his childhood’?
I don’t feel bad for him anymore 8)
