You’ve probably all picked up on this, but I wanted to highlight a couple of things from our third goal on Saturday.
First, watch Andy Johnson. In the top frame that’s him on the right. His wonderfully angled run works on two levels: it gives Murphy a great option for a through ball, but, and this was the key to the whole thing, it drags the defence right out of position.
We see as Murphy receives the ball Johnson points ahead and bursts forward into space. At this point Murphy is poised to make the pass, but, and this was fantastic play too, he stops himself, checks, and rolls a perfect pass (and really it was a perfect pass) into Clint Dempsey’s path. It was absolutely the right option. As the second angle at the bottom shows, if he’d passed it to Johnson the latter would probably have been forced away from goal and closed down (that’s if the pass had got through the two defenders closing Murphy down). Instead he served the ball on a plate to Dempsey, who finished well.
I didn’t realise how good a player Andy Johnson is. He works, and we expected that, but his intelligence on the pitch is very impressive. So thumbs up to him for an outstanding run, to Murphy for exploiting a situation incredibly well, and to Dempsey for finishing the job. And probably to Roy for making it all happen.
To be honest I thought that was/is Zamora, but the basic point applies regardless.
Comment by b+w geezer — December 22, 2008 @ 10:57 pm |
When I saw the goal “live” [on internet TV as it was happening], the first thing I thought was “this is an unusual type of goal for us. There were a good 5 or 6 players involved in this. We had run their defense ragged and slapped their midfield around. On this play we spread them thin and put the nail in. Beauty stuff.
This is the kind of cool clinical passing I hope to see more of as the season goes on.
Comment by HatterDon — December 23, 2008 @ 12:06 am |
The top three frames excellently illustrate the space created on an, all around, beautiful goal… good stuff.
Comment by Stephen — December 23, 2008 @ 12:31 am |
It definitely is Zamora who made the run because Andy Johnson was the one who passed to Danny Murphy! This is another example of the ways that Zamora (despite his lack of goals) really contributes to the team and changes the dynamic of Fulham.
Comment by Anonymous — December 23, 2008 @ 12:33 am |
Yes, it was number 9. BZ
Comment by Mike H — December 23, 2008 @ 5:30 am |
But AJ makes two equally crucial contributions to the goal, by first beating his man on the left wing and then finding Murphy without breaking stride.
Comment by b+w geezer — December 23, 2008 @ 8:45 am |
er… woops. Sorry about that, and well done again Bob!
Comment by rich — December 23, 2008 @ 9:16 am |
I’d also like to point out that when he realizes he’s not going to get the pass, he turns back towards goal (58:49) and ensures he is perfectly positioned for a deflection/post/tap-in. Really good stuff.
Comment by Mr. Ploppy — December 23, 2008 @ 2:38 pm |