The Man in The Shed
4th April – Youth at last
It was time to play our game in hand. A chance to push for
that top four finish. With Tottenham’s very timely implosion over the last few
weeks and United’s demise at Wolves the previous night there was now a position
where four were chasing two spots. Added to this the distraction of an F A Cup
semi-final for Brighton in a few days’ time then surely lady luck was looking
our way at a good time.
The team sheet was showing seven changes from Sunday. The
huge news was that not only was young Hudson-Odoi finally starting a game but
Loftus-Cheek had joined him. With Christensen starting alongside David Luiz
there were three youth products in the team. Add Emerson in for Alonso, Giroud
for Higuain and the return of Kanté and Hazard. There was optimism in this team
!
Sadly I was not to be anywhere near the ground on the night.
By the time the game had been rearranged I was already booked to be out of
town. Judging by the number of tickets on the resale site and the gaps showing
on the TV coverage I wasn’t the only one. Even putting tickets on general sale
had failed to fill the ground. Do we really need a bigger stadium – how many
times a season could we fill it and how many years will it take to recoup
£1billion ?
Back to the game. With the exception of the top six you
pretty much know how the opponents are likely to set up. Two banks of four
across the pitch behind the ball. Nevertheless, the first half showed a
positive approach. The youthfulness of Hudson-Odoi continuing to bring
positivity. And perhaps with opponents already wary of his potential was it
giving Hazard a bit more space to operate ?
Brighton were under siege. A blocked shot from Hudson-Odoi,
another over the bar from Hazard. And the boy is more than just speed and
trickery – he can hit a sweet long pass too. So 38 minutes in, Hudson-Odoi gets
the ball wide right, Dave runs inside taking a defender with him giving the
young man some more space to put in a near post cross. Somehow Giroud manages
to flick it in. Great move, great finish. There was just enough time for the
young man to prove he is human by managing a complete air shot before half
time.
Well the team’s half time routine must be different at home from
the one they use away as the team continue the second half the way they ended
the first. OK, so it helped that we were
a goal to the good but it is a real joy (and what makes you part with your hard
earned money) to see your favourite team when they are playing well. And I
guess we need to savour every remaining moment that Hazard graces our team as
it appears more and more likely that he won’t be with us next season.
He didn’t disappoint. Another great move, he loses a
defender with a great turn and caresses the ball into the net. It must be
inspiring for our young players to train and play with this guy !
It didn’t take them long to try and copy him either. Barely
three minutes later and Loftus-Cheek does a pretty impressive job of
replicating the carefully guided shot and it is three nil.
Game over.
There was still time to see another brilliant Hazard pass
scooped over the bar by Kanté. If the little guy could improve his finishing he’d
be three players on the pitch instead of two.
Poor Brighton fans were left to shout Olé’s when they
finally got an extended period of possession and their first corner in the 79th
minute. Lewis Dunk even did a Luiz “Hail Mary“ quarterback pass which deserved
a better finish. I guess by this stage Brighton players were all starting to
think about the simple task of trying to beat Man. City in the cup. Good luck
with that.
So three more valuable points and we’re up to 5th,
only a point behind third place.
An extended break of five days until another home game
against West Ham. I can’t wait.
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