It's been said on the opening page, but we need marked improvements in players getting on the end of great balls played along the ground in the 18 yard box. I've lost count of the number of times we've worked the ball up to the by line and rolled the ball into the area, only for it to carry on rolling right out of the other side. Now this raises a couple of points in itself.
Firstly, its making players like Henderson and Downing look bad. If half of the chances Downing created this season had been finished, then we'd be a hell of a lot better off and he'd not be getting half the stick he is at the moment.
Second, I've seen plenty of this type of chance go begging when Andy Carroll has been on the pitch, and this should really be his hunting ground. Many times he's just been a yard off the pace. Despite him looking leaner, he's still playing on his heals and doen't seem to be anticipating when the ball is gonna end up. The chances he's had have been hit right at him.