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Thread | Field and Stef roles
at 21:23 23 Jul 2022
Am I the only one who feels a bit concerned by what looks like a switch of roles between Field and Stef, as in field moving further forward and Stef moving further back? Ok the season hasn't started yet, but for me field is vital to protecting the defence. Especially when this year we have lost the experience of Wallace, moses and barbet. Johansen seems more creative and was wasted too deep last year. You can't tell too much from pre season but so far u could argue that the defence looks the weakest position and to have field further forward for me makes no sense. Hope its a genius move, but it worries me as things stand [Post edited 23 Jul 2022 21:44]
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Thread | Joel Lynch
at 15:51 7 Jul 2022
Just noticed, Joel Lynch plays for Crawley if im not wrong? Will be interesting coming up against him Saturday! Look forward to witnessing the hopeful hoofs and clumsy challenges outside the box
Will probably get a hat trick now |
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Thread | Goal from Gray - on side?
at 15:16 4 Nov 2021
Sorry if I've missed this, but after the ball hit the net last night, I was certain the lino was going to flag for offside. The pass just seemed too good to be true and Gray was in acres of space. I've not really seen or heard anything debating this, or seen an angle to check it out for myself. But did anyone else think it was dubious, or was it just the angle?
Either way, we are due the luck! |
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Thread | Saveloy and chips
at 11:33 28 Dec 2020
In the 2011/2012 season we were doomed to be relegated with some daunting fixtures to round off the season. Think we had spurs, Liverpool, Arsenal, man City, Stoke etc. At the beginning off this run I had saveloy and chips from Billy's Ocean which resulted in a win in the first game. It became a lucky omen and decided to eat it before each game and we miraculously stayed up!
What are your lucky omens? We need them all right now! |
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Thread | Obsession with subbing Adomah
at 17:05 7 Nov 2020
Whats all that about? 60 mins maximum each game, then subbed despite being arguably one of our better players and our only threat at times. Really getting on my nerves. Surely cant be about fitness, hes hardly an old man! |
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Thread | Wallace or Manning?
at 12:52 13 Jan 2020
Felt really gutted when I saw the lineup against Brentford, that Wallace was dropped. As much as I think Manning has been superb, his good performances have arguably been more about his offensive work rather than his defensive.
Wallace came in and has looked solid, scored a wonder goal - come off 2 great results, yet we drop him for Manning who has been part of a defence that has leaked goals for fun this year? I really cant understand it, and was obvious Brentford would exploit these positions.
I could understand playing manning if our attack was weak, but our attack is one of the best in the league and we score goals anyway. Why is it so important to add Manning to that? We already have Eze, Samuel, Chair etc for those roles.
Given the fact Leistner was also missing, it made no sense to me to drop Wallace - a natural defender and leader.
Wallace for me needs to be a starter going forward |
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Thread | Kabongo Tshimanga
at 15:52 25 Nov 2019
Not based on much, but does anyone remember seeing this guy play against us for Borehamwood pre season? He looked very dangerous, and has so far scored 11 goals this season in the national league . At aged 22, I wonder if could be a decent player to look at on the cheap - although I know strikers aren't our priority at the moment
Like I say, barely seen anything of him, but he really stood out and seems to be backing it up so far with a good goal scoring tally |
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Thread | Just back - will save you some time
at 15:16 10 Apr 2019
Shocking performance.
Started the game with Lumley pumping the ball long to Pav on the wing time and time again. We then started to play the ball backwards and sideways along the back 4, until we would lose the ball under pressure or watch us lob it into the stands.
Lynch repeatedly continued to give away needless freekicks in dangerous positions, and we were finally punished when Morrison rose above our defence who were half asleep as usual - and headed home. How Lynch started ahead of Leistner, I will never know.
We continued to play Eze too deep and nobody would drive or pass the ball forward which meant the lazy Hemed was completely starved of the ball.
Matt Smith finally came on, and BOS (who again was benched) had a great impact on the game, but it was too late as usual. What has he got to do, to get a start?
The ref blew the whistle and to hear Rotherham had beaten Villa just added to the misery. Was happy however, that Eustace found positives in the second half, which im sure we will take into next game - like we always do
[Post edited 10 Apr 2019 15:28]
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Thread | McClaren's willingness to correct the wrong
at 17:01 22 Oct 2018
One thing I have found very refreshing so far this season, is having a manager in charge who although makes some mistakes - is quick to put them right.
It has felt in the past, that many managers we've had have been extremely stubborn with their tactics and team selections etc and just stick at it to try and prove others wrong, or maybe they simply don't know any other way. Examples such as picking favorites every week despite poor performances etc
- Passing at the back, from the keeper. This clearly killed the confidence of our defence at the time (incl Ingram) and was not suited to the side. Finally abandoned this, after pretty much admitting this wasnt suited to us yet
- Change of keeper. Was clear to most of us that Lumley should be given a go, but not sure all managers would have had the bottle to do so. A great move
- Going from leaking goals for fun, to making it more "boring" but solid against Birmingham for example.
- Taking those "boring" wins, and now slowly getting us to protect the lead but play better football in the process.
- Going back to 4-5-1 - realising that one of the front 2 need to be sacrificed to get the best out the side.
- Bringing Pav/width into the side. Ok, its only the Ipswich game this has really happened so far but lets hope this is also the start of a more adventurous attacking lineup.
- Overall, so glad the wrongs have been put right. Ok its disappointing that Smyth, Manning, Samuel etc have not had as many chances as we would like, but lets hope they might be the next ones on the list of improvements that McClaren is slowly bringing to the side
Feeling positive! |
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Thread | QPR vs AFC Wimbledon
at 19:56 14 Jul 2018
Just back from what was a shocking game!
All about fitness so not reading anything into it but considering we had a full strength line-up, I did think we would play better than we did. Was difficult to see who was the league 1 side.
Most concerning thing for me is that we may be relying on the same players who are already known to most of us as the weaker players. Washington again the usual, trying hard but missing a 1 on 1. Lynch, the usual clumsiness and long goods to nobody. Lack of quality at the back really looks apparent to me.
Thought the new signing looked decent, not the fastest but solid. Bidwell probably our best player. Ingram made some excellent saves but unsure on his distribution and claiming crosses.
Thought we looked better once smyth and pav came on, finally started to look more positive going forward.
Understand it's all about fitness but without smithies and bed, possibly Luongo if he leaves, I do feel we are quite a lot weaker than last year and can see us struggling, mainly because of the defence. Hoping one or 2 signings will come in to ease the concerns |
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Thread | Groundhog day
at 16:57 27 Jan 2018
Too narrow, create barely anything, no wingers, hope Smith brings us back into the game when things are too late. Bidwell unable to attack, Pav left out, team cant score.
I wanted Ollie to succeed here but he seems to do the same thing every week and think we will get a different result. What makes him think this way of playing will suddenly bring results? Letting in 2 goals after they have a man sent off, and barely coming close to scoring is not acceptable
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Thread | On way home - my take
at 17:18 6 Jan 2018
Really frustrating
Cousins at wing back again?! What exactly does a central player offer in that position ? Waste of time expecting him to perform any differently there
Bidwell - solid but again he is not a wing back. Slows down our attacks. Really wish we would scrap this system.
First half we were slow, backwards sideways passing then hoof to Smith. It's awful to watch.
Upped our game second half when pav came on to give us some width (surprise surprise) but conceded a goal due to a scowen error which put their bloke through and took one of their only chances well.
We put on pressure but it felt like as soon as the ball got in the box we would never score. Smyth was one of the only players who looked lively but unfortunately typical rangers style we starved him of the ball and he had to feed on scraps.
The ref was shocking too, I lost count of the times Matt Smith was fouled. MK Dons were poor and it's worrying we couldn't at least equalise.
Time to get some pace and width into the side imo [Post edited 6 Jan 2018 17:24]
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Thread | Too narrow!
at 12:56 11 Dec 2017
As some others are saying, its driving me crazy that week after week we are playing so narrow. Our strikers are average at best, so need as much service as possible. Why are we therefore playing without wingers?
Pavel was one of our best signings last years, yet hes been pushed back to wing back or right back. When will we see him back on the wing? Wheeler was signed as a a goalscoring winger, yet plays wingback or not at all. Samuel - once again same story.
I understand that we are trying to accommodate the trio in the middle, but the whole team is suffering as a result of it, and its not working anymore. Surely you can play 2 wingers, Scowen and Luongo in the middle, and freeman just behind the striker?
We are so predictable at the moment, and it feel more of a shock to score a goal, let alone expecting a win. |
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Thread | Players we have signed, improving their former teams..
at 15:54 7 Dec 2017
I have noticed a few times in recent years, where we have signed certain clubs "better players", or captains etc only for those teams to actually improve instead of weakening.
- Charlie Austin - signed from Burnley, yet they still went up automatically.
- Freeman - Bristol City now 3rd in the league
- Lynch - Think was captain for Huddersfield if not wrong, then we sign him and they get promoted.
- Smithies (see above)
- Bidwell - Brentford not setting the league alight but finished above us last time round, and ahead of us again this year
Think it shows how important a team work together, rather than just individual talent alone.
Any coincidence and any other examples?
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Thread | That Blackburn "goal" that never stood
at 11:43 21 Apr 2017
Most seems relatively confident here of survival this season, but how crucial now could that "goal" be that was not given away to Blackburn. Shows how important these decisions can be. Not that we should be in this position to start with. Could potentially keep Blackburn up, but send us the other way (although unlikely) |
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Thread | Wasting a decent team
at 11:12 1 Nov 2016
What has really frustrated me all season, is that I genuinely think we have a decent team out there. We are wasting what could be a good season for us, by tinkering about with the side unnecessarily
- We have Sylla up front who thrives on crosses, yet we don't play wingers to supply him anything.
- If and when wingers do play, they tend to be on the wrong side so they cut in and cannot cross the ball
- Cousins - excellent player for Charlton, and one we were all excited by - plays most games on the wing where anyone and everyone can see he is not comfortable at all
- Chery - working our whole team around a player, who is not in the same mould as Adel and is on very poor form. Clearly isn't working, why are we continuing bulding around him?
- Washington - a regular goalscorer for Peterborough. Plays on the wing where he cuts in, or up front alone. When are we going to try him alongside Polter or Sylla?
- Long ball - heard many times from JFH that we want to play quick exciting football. When has long ball been exciting? Not seen any evidence of what he says
- Setting up our side, to deal with the opponents. Why cant we set up ours in a positive way, so opponents have to adjust to ours? Especially at home
- No settled team. The lineup is different every week. Injuries aside, it is barely ever recognisable
- Giving players a run/time to settle. - Pavel, Shodipo are both players who have been excellent in most games. Why drop them, and see performances and results get worse? yet players e.g Henry who have held us back week in week out, have not been dropped until recently
If these madness decisions above were getting results, I could understand it and live with it to an extent, but clearly we have been awful. 2 wins at home, and even away games we have won you could count as extremely fortunate. Lets not forget that many games we won early in the season were down to winning penalties.
Can anyone explain to me how any of the above points can make any sense to JFH? I want to give managers time, but clearly he is not learning at all.
I think we have some very good players, and some players who could make the game exciting. Pace and crosses from Shodipo and Pavel, crunching tackles from Ariel, quality on the ball from Luongo, passion from Polter, class and confidence from Chery, top saves from a top keeper. Why not use the tools we have to their potential? |
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Thread | Destroyed, but not unexpected
at 09:58 14 Sep 2016
Terrible result and performance last night, and outclassed by a team far superior to us - there is no doubt. But when the lineup was announced, for me this was always going to happen. OK, Newcastle have a much better squad than us, but we are the home side and we turned up with a lineup that looked scared and hoping for a draw. Hasselbaink said before the game he wanted to try and win the game, play quick passing etc - yet we start with 5 defenders, 2 defensive midfielders, one winger AGAIN on the wrong wing and without Shodipo who was clearly man of the match in the last game. None of it makes any sense whatsoever to me.
If we had injuries, fair enough - but we had plenty of options available. Why do we continue to play Yeni on the left hand side who clearly looks uncomfortable in that position and offers nothing. Give him a go on the right wing, isn't that where he is suppose to play? Henry has played well this season to be fair, but clearly him and Cousins does not work as a pairing, far too slow. Perch on the right wing, when we have several other options? I cant explain that one at all.
In this division, anyone can beat anyone especially when at home. At least go into the game a bit more positively and give ourselves some options if we do manage to get the ball in attacking areas. We have some good players on paper imo who could cause teams problems yet we either don't use them, or we play them in the wrong position.
Why set out defensively and invite a team full of quality onto us unnecessarily? We have decent enough options available to ask some questions of them. Have a bit more faith in our side jfh.
I was a fan of Jimmy, but these over cautious tactics are not bringing anywhere near the best out of our team, and it's holding us back. At least if we put the best team out possible, we could come away and say we were simply outclassed. But we never gave ourselves a chance from the beginning, that it what frustrates me most |
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Thread | Ngbakoto
at 07:27 22 Aug 2016
Isn't he suppose to be a right sided midfielder/winger? Why are we playing him on the left? First time I'd seen him play but he looked very uncomfortable on that side. Can we go back to playing people in their correct positions? |
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Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 125 | | Comment Votes: | 2 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 127 |
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