I’m happy with that first half. Lacking quality in the final third and we tailed off as the half went off but we look better in possession, more patient and trying to actual play modern day football rather than Pardew’s give the ball to Phillips and Brunt to lump in the box.
I’ve been impressed by Brunt’s positioning. He’s not really got it to play as a centre midfielder but today he is playing as a Regista (Deep-lying playmaker. Think Andrea Pirlo) and has done well. Dropping in between Dawson and Hegazi who split into the half spaces to get on the ball and look to switch the play or play it short into midfield. This has made Livermore look better because he is playing a more natural box-to-box role and is getting forward to support Rondon and Rodriguez.
What I would do in the second half is I would switch Phillips and McLean around. Have them cutting inside onto the best foot and leave the wide areas for Nyom and Gibbs to exploit.
I’ve been impressed by Brunt’s positioning. He’s not really got it to play as a centre midfielder but today he is playing as a Regista (Deep-lying playmaker. Think Andrea Pirlo) and has done well. Dropping in between Dawson and Hegazi who split into the half spaces to get on the ball and look to switch the play or play it short into midfield. This has made Livermore look better because he is playing a more natural box-to-box role and is getting forward to support Rondon and Rodriguez.
What I would do in the second half is I would switch Phillips and McLean around. Have them cutting inside onto the best foot and leave the wide areas for Nyom and Gibbs to exploit.