Sun Mar 11, 2007 11:09 pm
Neil - good report but I must query your description of Sam's off-the-ball movement. Firstly, I was shocked to see the words 'Sam' and 'running' in the same sentence. :shock: He, Pead and Dobson are definitely our slowest players, You describe his movement as 'exemplary'. Well, if you mean by that, an example of what NOT to do, I will agree with you. I don't know whether this is the flip-side of your "I hate James Constable" campaign by bulling up Hector Sam to be something that he clearly isn't but there is no way, in my opinion, that Hector's off-the-ball movement could be described as good.
He does not come alive until he has the ball at his feet. He showed some true class when his shot unluckily hit the post - that deserved a goal. However, having studied him closely, over many games, at home and away, I have still to be convinced that he is good enough, even at this crappy level. In the first half, I looked up from my programme ( :D ) to watch a cross come over from our left wing. Hector Sam, making a rare and welcome visit to the opponents' goal-area, promptly ducked down behind two of the Chester gorillas, making himself unavailable for the cross. In the second half, North Staffs Saddler and I watched HS closely. When Foxy, or possibly Taylor, advanced forward, with the ball, no passing opportunities were on. Butler then broke wide to the left while Sam just STOOD STILL at the far right corner of their penalty-area, doing absolutely nothing! Movement, my a**e!!!
MMF and Phil - you make a very good point about Foxy inhibiting the play of Cooper. However, has it not occurred to you that he is only playing to his manager's instructions? In which case, we know who is responsible. Just a thought.............