Thoughtful and interesting article as ever, Paul, particularly in regard to the injury situation analysis. This was the opportunity to build on the last few games and put a League 2 team to the sword but in the end we were fortunate to get a draw. Was it a blip? Guess we may know more after the Gillingham game (share your concerns) but missing Whyte and Mackie (and Holmes, Ruffels?) is not going to make it any easier.
You’re right. Even the long anticipated arrival of Erick Thohir felt a bit like a damp squib when it was finally announced and failed to get the juices flowing. Is he just going to offer advice or is he going to invest? And still no real explanation regarding the unpaid tax bill. Everything still has the feeling that it needs to get going somehow..Good read as usual. Sums up the lack of hope and general gloom about the place right now.
I might be the only one here who was expecting yesterday to be a dull affair?
I know its the FA Cup but lets be honest, the early rounds are usually very crap. The total attendance sums up the feeling towards yesterdays match and who we were playing. If the fans struggle to go and watch us in the FA cup at home then I can bet my last £ that the players will struggle to get up for a game in a soulless, 1/4 full stadium against a village team.
I don't see yesterdays game as a set back, a sign of a bad run coming or anything else untoward. It was 2 teams playing a game football that more than likely neither particularly wanted to play when the draw was made.
I worry that you may be right and your analysis of the injury situation in respect to so many of those key players does not offer reassurance.I'd like to think it is a blip but I'm not convinced. Take out a key player or two and we really do look in trouble.
League position is one thing but direction of travel is important. The unbeaten league run suggested that we are / were moving forward, albeit not at a massive pace. This was a worrying backward step. Luckily though no league points dropped and we are still in the Cup. If we don't up our game we won't be for long though.
Agree with everything you wrote especially the comments over the w****r in the black on Saturday, I just hope he isn’t selected as our ref for the replay or for the matter of fact ref for us ever again.
So do i you forgot also the blatant body check on Gavin WhyteHe didn't even play 45 minutes in the first half let alone add any time. I forgot to mention that.
I think in the past it used to be the same referee but I hope that's not the case now.
I might be the only one here who was expecting yesterday to be a dull affair?
I know its the FA Cup but lets be honest, the early rounds are usually very crap. The total attendance sums up the feeling towards yesterdays match and who we were playing. If the fans struggle to go and watch us in the FA cup at home then I can bet my last £ that the players will struggle to get up for a game in a soulless, 1/4 full stadium against a village team.
I don't see yesterdays game as a set back, a sign of a bad run coming or anything else untoward. It was 2 teams playing a game football that more than likely neither particularly wanted to play when the draw was made.
The quality of play and commitment was so far from what we saw on Tuesday, that a backward step was what it was. This, along with kr reverting back to type, blaming the ref, injuries et al. He keeps going on about clean sheets, but until we start winning games, and climb out of the relegation zone, clean sheets don't count for a lot.
We were superb on Tuesday, yesterday was a massive worry.
If you keep a clean sheet then you don't lose the game. KR was correct when he said it is an amazing achievement to have got 6 clean sheets out of the last 8 games.
Also we are 7th in the league 1 form table. That again shows we have turned a corner.
I suppose how a supporter feels about yesterday's game depends on whether you are a glass half empty sort or glass half full. I am the latter so see it as a positive that we got another clean sheet, keep the unbeaten run going and we are in the hat for round 2. I also think it's a positive that performance was in the cup and not in the league.
If you keep a clean sheet then you don't lose the game. KR was correct when he said it is an amazing achievement to have got 6 clean sheets out of the last 8 games.
Also we are 7th in the league 1 form table. That again shows we have turned a corner.
I suppose how a supporter feels about yesterday's game depends on whether you are a glass half empty sort or glass half full. I am the latter so see it as a positive that we got another clean sheet, keep the unbeaten run going and we are in the hat for round 2. I also think it's a positive that performance was in the cup and not in the league.
I had meant to include that but forgot.So do i you forgot also the blatant body check on Gavin Whyte
If you keep a clean sheet then you don't lose the game. KR was correct when he said it is an amazing achievement to have got 6 clean sheets out of the last 8 games.
Also we are 7th in the league 1 form table. That again shows we have turned a corner.
I suppose how a supporter feels about yesterday's game depends on whether you are a glass half empty sort or glass half full. I am the latter so see it as a positive that we got another clean sheet, keep the unbeaten run going and we are in the hat for round 2. I also think it's a positive that performance was in the cup and not in the league.
Well thats Eastwood fcuked then.I here [sic] via a family member of Ruffels, he doesn't have much time for any player he didn't bring in.
Thanks for pointing out my schoolboy spelling mistake, have corrected. Late night posting after several medicinal glasses....Well thats Eastwood fcuked then.
And it makes you wonder if the surgery to Baptiste, Hall and Obika was just a cover.
Mous and Nelson can't have long
And as for the youth development players...........
Thanks for pointing out my schoolboy spelling mistake, have corrected. Late night posting after several medicinal glasses....
As to the players, yes, it could be construed that several of the "good" players fall into the bracket of neglect but to hear such information even third hand, would suggest that not all is well.
I wouldn't dismiss such things so lightly. The post match interviews have shown how much of what KR says is not thought through and his tendency to name players and criticise is well documented.
Saturday was woeful. Although we kept a clean sheet, I think we all know we were fortunate.
My main issue is that we have no clear style when attempting to score. We have zero ability to move the ball in to the box. We get to the edge then rely on Browne/Holmes/Whyte to score some screamer. If they aren’t shooting they are crossing at head height.
In this respect I feel a little sorry for smith. Whilst he has to work it out himself, he isn’t being helped by those around him. Mackie is clever, occupying the CBs making space for others, Smith doesn’t have the physicality for this yet.
We really miss Baptiste. Creatively he is very good for us along with bringing lots of energy to the midfield. The sooner we can get him back the better
Thats just drivel!I might be the only one here who was expecting yesterday to be a dull affair?
I know its the FA Cup but lets be honest, the early rounds are usually very crap. The total attendance sums up the feeling towards yesterdays match and who we were playing. If the fans struggle to go and watch us in the FA cup at home then I can bet my last £ that the players will struggle to get up for a game in a soulless, 1/4 full stadium against a village team.
I don't see yesterdays game as a set back, a sign of a bad run coming or anything else untoward. It was 2 teams playing a game football that more than likely neither particularly wanted to play when the draw was made.
Didn’t Baptiste’s injury coincide with our upturn in results? Not blaming him of course, but a signal I’d suggest that we shouldn’t be relying on a first-year pro to be our engine room.
Equally, Saturday aside - and I agree that we rarely looked like scoring - our recent scoring record is decent from memory, no?
You must be sitting in the same seats as us!No problemo - I put it down to auto-correct and my own wine induced pedantry. The problem I have with third hand information is that I can hear that Robbo hates "X" from one reliable source and then Robbo really rates him from another - and of course both statements could actually be true!
It's a bit like the guy to my left who is constantly yelling for the ball to be lumped forward and the guy in front of me urging the players to run with the ball - neither is necessarily right or wrong with their inveterate views, but the situation really needs to be looked at as a whole before it can be judged as a good or bad thing.
And yes, I'm rambling............
Quite right re: relying on Baptiste, however we don't have any creativity in midfield aside from Brannagan. Behind the striker its all looks pretty promising, however the issue is getting the ball to them.
Re: scoring, I can't remember when we scored a clear cut chance. It *seems* we are relying on some 20 yard banger each match...which doesnt seem particularly sustainable.
I guess my point, while I have whittled on is that there is next to no nuance around the box....for me, thats because we dont have anyone with the quality on the ball to consistently work opening in the box.