Ahhhhh.....bollox!
I purposefully haven't posted until now, partly because there was absolutely no point in the febrile atmosphere on here last night after the game. I sincerely hope some are reading back and cringing at what they posted last night. And I hope we've all had our Snickers today, just so nobody is in danger of continuing to act like graceless, sore-loser Divas
Anyway, for what it is worth.
Wycombe - very effective Plan A - don't give us room or time to pass around/through them. Managed the game very well and nullified most of our threats going forward - not sure I can remember a performance from us with so many long cross field balls - first half especially! It was crying out for a different approach from us and it did come at half time, but more about that in a minute.
I would suggest (as have others) that this "simple" style of football is rather easier to reboot than the brand we try to play. I would also suggest that, on balance, the mix of youth and experience in the Wycombe squad is just about spot on - they clearly had some real leaders in there (and yes I also got sick of Sky banging on about their generals!) but the truth is they have some real experience and level heads which worked well for them on this occasion. We have bags of talent, no doubt, but we are a fairly young team crying out for some more mature players to take control, take it by the scruff of the neck, assert authority and calm everyone else down at the same time. When things don't go your way, you need resillience and the courage/preparedness to try something else.
There are numerous key moments that could've changed the outcome...the selection, tactics substitutions, fouls given, fouls missed - all are part and parcel and we can debate till the cows come home (and no doubt will), but these stood out for me:
- First goal: wicked corner from Jacobsen (oh for someone with that delivery!), Stewart stole a march on Ruffs, but was clearly heading back across when Eastwood (who arguably got caught flat footed as the ball sailed over his head) deflected it in - split second moments where millimetres either way could've produced a very different outcome.
- Long going for goal and blazing it across with both Taylor and Browne free at far post
- Replacing Gorrin with Kelly at half time: Instant change to the playing style - interesting to see Kelly coming so deep for the ball at times behind or between Dickie and Moore. Also noticeable that he was looking to get us quickly on the front foot at every opportunity with some real quality through balls and balls to feet. Very different to Gorrin who likes to put his foot on the ball and assess the options a bit more (and will go back as much as forwards). The quick, decisive passing that has been so effective this year had returned and Wycombe started to really struggle.
- Sykes goal - came from a great pass from Kelly (right back in defence) to Henry and then a perfectly weighted through ball from Henry to Sykes. Sykes clearly meant to cross but was off balance and ended up surprising the keeper...and every other player on the pitch no doubt!
- Henry opting to cross, rather than shoot - what more can be said....I would back him every time to score in that situation. Not forgetting another crucial intervention from Stewart to deny Taylor.
- Dickies double chance (from two successive corners), the second of which Allsop saved on the line and it ricocheted off a Wycombe defenders shin and could just as easily gone in!
- 2nd half drinks break. For me this was the single biggest thing that tipped the balance in the 2nd half. We had Wycombe on the ropes and this was effectively a standing 8 count for them. They came out refreshed and we lost our way somewhat - I think they closed Kelly down a bit more from there. We never recovered any real momentum from there.
- Browne and that throw in appeal....if he have kept running and challenged the keeper, maybe Moore wouldn't have had a "decision" to make with the resulting route 1 ball?
- Moore/Eastwood mix-up - if Onyadinma did make the call then Moore has really been done!....was there also an offside in the build up??
- Eastwood giving away the penalty - clear pen all day long. He's lucky to have stayed on the pitch...maybe he could've stood him up? Sam Long was already back pretty much on the line so it wasn't any way certain he would score.
- Taylor header from Forde's pinpoint cross: he had more time and a foot either side of the keeper and it's a goal.
- Agyei through ball to Taylor...tired shot from Matty . . . possibly the longest he's played football all season after months sat on his sofa thinking about
@RyanioBirdio
As for the ref/officials - no bias either way for me.
On balance - Wycombe stuck to their plan and it was simple but effective........but for the drinks break in the 2nd half.
As the saying used to go...if my Aunty had balls she'd be my uncle (maybe not so much there days, but you get the gist.
Am I disappointed - yes....gutted! Shoulda, coulda, woulda!
But I balance that with what I thought we might achieve this year....how things would go after Baptiste and Fosu left, how the season might end up after lockdown, how the season might've ended up if we hadn't had lockdown, what might've happened if Ruffs hadn't got that goal at the Shrews....what might happen to many clubs because of lockdown et etc etc.
As for Wycombe - extremely lucky to be gifted a place in the playoffs - stuck to their (one and only) plan and executed it well. A true football fairy tale, which the pundits are creaming over and which might end up looking like it was written by the brothers Grimm....good luck to them nonetheless.
Finally....I can't seem to stop hearing Cry by Godley and Creme:
Altogether everyone " You don't know how to ease my pain, you don't know!"