That was some effort by Kasami on his weaker right-foot !
I did hear at the time that the goalkeeper should never be beaten from that angle from that far out !
Kasami is now on 'Loan' at Nottm Forest from Olympiakos.

Edited by Willo (16 Jan 2017 10.19am)

I suspect that Carroll probably found the space, and Ward was off him. Whilst Ward probably should have been tighter, its hard to tell whether that was because Ward f**ked up, or Carroll's timing and positioning were better.

Its easy to say with hindsight what 'we should have done' but in the instinct of the moment, its a very different matter. Also, its hard to tell what the other side has been doing in training. A ball like that, like Giroud's, you never really imagine being converted, you'd expect Carroll to probably take a touch, or play a header across the box.

So which do you do, get tight, and create the space for the header, position yourself so you can put pressure of the knock down and have space to pressure and tackle if he takes the touch down.

You can't do everything, so do you go to protect against the spectacular but unlikely, or go with the norm? As a defender, you go with the most likely - and chances are 90% of attempts like that end up in Row Z, or going tamely to the keeper.

If you go tight, he gets first touch, he's big and strong, its in the box, and if he gets past you, its an easier shot, or even worse, a lay off into the path of a midfielder, to put it away.

Defending is about probabilities, you cannot get it right every time.

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One can analyse defensive situations and what players could have done better but sometimes one just has to admire the technique and sheer brilliance of a goal.

Not sure the left-footed Carroll would have scored that with his right-foot !

Fitness levels ?

The constant 'High press' etc is very physically demanding requiring real stamina, mobility and a degree of pace. I feel we are lacking in these departments all over the pitch.

we just don't seem to have players that would put there head there at the risk of being kicked. and there lies our biggest problem.

@sxp55555

The Giroud goal against us got acres of space in the press - about two pages in the Guardian alone. Carroll's goal got similar treatment. Wilf's wonder goal against Swansea, which matched the first two in skill and technique, was almost ignored.
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