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Hull Reflection
at 23:58 1 Oct 2024

I dont think I agree with that, we conceded to two short corner set piece routines the first being a bit of a lucky ricochet and a break where Smyth and Saito had got out opposition and Smyth should really have cut off the lose ball in midfield which led to their break.

I dont think you can really go by the last 20 minutes game was lost then. It was our failure to capitalise on our chances that cost us. Another day Saito scores 2. Also the failure (other than Anderson) to try and get ahead of the striker

Frey was well off the pace from the start (perhaps ill)

Field had a pretty poor game as well. I thought Madsen played well as the 8 it was definitely 4-2-3-1 with Field as the Anchor and Madsen dictating play Anderson often being the only one running beyond the centre forward (certainly first half) First half Paal did not play inverted certainly not like he did against Millwall

Santos got roasted down the right and whilst Dembele did not provide the greatest of cover time and time again he got turned or made the wrong decision. If Cifuentes made one bad call it was not hooking him at half time. Smyth was shocking when he came on
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I know we're only just into October, but . . .
at 23:41 1 Oct 2024

I think the OP is a tad over the top. First 20 minutes we should have scored, their keeper made a couple of saves, they got luck with how the first goal fell and Frey was slow to come out and block (he looked off the pace from the start assuming might be ill) Hull has a boorish start drawing with Plymouth and Millwall losing to Sheff Utd and Leeds but smashed Stoke and Cardiff in their last two games so tales would be up. We've looked susceptible at short corners in the last two games. Fantastic pen gets us back in the game and 2nd half again on top for a while.

Santos got absolutely mauled throughout the game was surprised to see him come out 2nd half. Smyth absolutely terrible when he came on. Fell apart a bit at the end.

I thought Field, Dunne and Paal had particularly poor games, I really dont like Dunne at LCB.

I have to be honest I am less than convinced with Nardi he's good one on one but I think he is a big part of the problem with the defence because he does not command the 6 yard box so the whole team is 3 or 4 yards deeper.

I dont think we are getting the rub of the green at the moment another day Saito scores twice and its game over. Every ricochet fell to them, when they fell over they somehow recovered the ball. Ref blew up for head injury when we were about to score. Dont think Nardi made a save until after they had scored the 3rd.

Ultimately I think we have too many "green" players in the team at the moment and I would be looking to get Fox back in Dunne back out to RB and Chair to at least start on Saturday. We need some experienced heads and to probably grind one out against Derby
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Fans Forum 30/09/24
at 21:40 30 Sep 2024

Gotta say, and some people will take a completely opposite view but thoroughly impressed with the professionalism and Nourry from that. Maybe it helped I started watching 60 minutes in then watched the first 60 afterwards. But he certainly seems to be over the detail, clearly has a plan and treated everyone with respect (rather than his predecessors disdain). I think a number of the ideas are quite decent (I might look to book my teams next away day there). And great announcements, also confirming there will be more of these including ones with more of the footballing staff.
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Nardi's shot stopping
at 20:54 29 Sep 2024

Second goal was his ball though. A great shot stopper but I think he's a liability from crosses and it forces our defence to be ever deeper
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Never a straight Red Card
at 20:52 29 Sep 2024

30 yards further up the pitch with the attacker driving at the defence its a yellow. We've had refs this year who would not have shown a card at all. But to Clives point its needless and Varane needs to be coached out of going to ground as much as he does
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What we know so far....
at 21:32 28 Sep 2024

Because I dont agree with that Madsen has had more goal contribution in terms of goal / assist / pass leading to assist than Dozzell in a whole season, where he is struggling is with the physicality / pace but he's had five appearances, and been here less than a month. It's going to take time Really reminds me of Richard Langley at the moment and some people are never going to like that type of player. What I have seen from him, is crisp passes , a few defence splitters and a couple of crosses and in my view he is most definitely a playmaker 8 (not a box to box 8) and a massive upgrade on Dozzell needs to be given time to adjust and needs to work on finding the space. 2nd goal was 100% on Nardi for me keepers ball every time.
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What we know so far....
at 20:44 28 Sep 2024

Its 7 league games, a lot of new players who have never played in the league we've played 3 of the top 6 and a relegated team (our only win) and lost twice to the teams currently top and 3rd. We've played 3 12:30's one Friday 7:30

Let's try and keep a bit of perspective, no we've not dominated a team, we are a bit leaky at the back at the moment. But it's not surprising we have not hit a rhythm, We've had some injury issues too. Its going to take time for the signings to adjust, People thought Frey was a terrible signing in January and its taken 6 months to show he's not.

Celar is the oldest outfield player we have signed this summer at 25, Madsen is 24, Varane 23, Santos 23, Saito 23, Ashby 22, Dembele 21 Morrison 21, Bennie 18

It's not about the first few weeks of the season. Turning on the players or the manager. There is plenty of growth in this team. Saito had a good first half today and should have another assist if Smyth could finish. Santos looks fine at this level, and I thought Varane was playing ok until the card.

Dembele has gone of the ball the last couple of games as teams have closely marked him, Chair returning will help there.

Yes Cantwell is a good player with 90 games in the championship 40+ in the premier league and Scottish league and some Europe experience as well but well used to the pace of the league. Comparing with Madsen who has 354 minutes of Championship experience is a tad unfair. Madsen himself knows he has to adapt and has not shown his best self. But they also need to learn. to play together and where each other is going to be and where they are supposed to be without having to think about it (which slows them down)

Celar is really struggling I think we can all see that, I dont think he is suited to our system but when you are paying 1-2m for striker you aint signing a cert 20 goals a year striker
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Anderson
at 20:40 22 Sep 2024

Probably worth pointing out it was his pass that got Dembele free to drive and slide in Frey for the goal
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The midfield hole
at 11:06 22 Sep 2024

No an 8 can be different things you've described the Box to box midfielder role which is one form of the 8 e.g Luke Amos, another form is the Playmaker they can sit deep, or be further forward or roam around but they are always looking for the killer pass to create etc. That is what Madsen is. Whether he is doing it well is another thing, but the stats suggest he is doing better than the eye test

4-2-3-1 you typically have a shield or anchor 6 and an 8 that dictates play think of Derry / Faurlin as a perfectly balanced midfield 2. Faurlin was never box to box. Bannon at Wednesday another playmaker not B2B, Wilkins back in the day etc.
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The midfield hole
at 19:51 21 Sep 2024

Actually I disagree, re Madsen, we've been crying out for an 8 for some time, Marti has him in a hybrid role and its going to take time to get up to the physicality of the league. If you check his sofa score or equivalent ratings he has been one of the highest rated in the games he's played so far because for all the current flaws he does play some key passes the cross for Smyth against Palace being a really good example
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Any trouble ?
at 18:12 21 Sep 2024

Passive and tepid like the game even the old bill could not be bothered with the usual roadblocks and enforcing people to walk the long way round. In truth there was probably more police than Millwall fans
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The midfield hole
at 18:09 21 Sep 2024

It looked like the plan was for Anderson to push to the right and try to overload with Dembele and Madsen to do the opposite on the left with Saito and Paal stepping into midfield, however because we always went short and never over the top to stretch them and because these four all want to cut inside Millwall just crowded us out then hit a direct ball at turnover and we were constantly getting outnumbered.

Its worth pointing out the subs and the switch to be more orthodox 4--2-3-1 with Smyth and Lloyd wide and Varane on actually made us less effective.

What we are not very good at at them moment is making the unselfish run to create space for someone else. far far too often we had 5 or 6 with back to goal
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Anderson
at 17:59 21 Sep 2024

looks low in confidence and crowd started getting on his back but you also had 4 players on the field all wanting to operate in the same space. Never hides though. Goal goes in first half might have been a different story
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The spine is there, the rest is not working
at 17:53 21 Sep 2024

I thought today was a classic 12:30 on Saturday performance. We lacked intensity, the crowd lack intensity. We can't high press against a team that goes long all the time either.

I thought the inversion of Paal into Centre Midfield 1st half to give us an extra attacker worked against us, the ball stuck in the middle of the park going between the defence and the defensive midfield with 5 fairly static players in front of them with no space to work made it difficult Millwall on the other hand whilst direct were pulling our defence all over the place (especially on transition) and ultimately our goal came from the one time we broke from deep with space for Dembele to run into.

I would also say with Madsen, Anderson, Dembele and Saito you had 4 quite passive players all technicians in a game where we need to win the right to play, and none of those really looking to get in behind always coming deep so we became predictable.

2nd half the subs actually made us worse, neither Smyth or Lloyd got into the game at all. Neither managed to stretch them and both Varane and Field were then too deep.

tbh we did well to come away with a draw at half time I thought this was a game we would lose.

We need to play to our strengths and that has to be working out ways to get Dembele and Saito/Chair/Smyth into space to run ahead of them. We are at our best as well when we mix it up a bit more, far too predictable today.

Having said all that Anderson, Dunne and Smyth had particularly poor performances.

Frey MOTM by a country mile, great goal well taken
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Dixon-Bonner
at 10:45 20 Sep 2024

He looks heavier and slower to me this season and by that I dont mean fat. But agree with others he has to kick on now or he never will do
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Sheffield Wednesday Reflection
at 22:57 14 Sep 2024

Did not see the game as driving child 1 to uni but heard bits when the audio feed was working. I love Marti but what on earth was he thinking with Madsen and Anderson as 10s and Dembele wide. Absolutely no shock the performance with the set up. Team can only have 1 of those two and they need pace around them.
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Palace game
at 19:34 6 Sep 2024

As an FYI the season tickets are still reserved as Just managed to book mine and it was not on general sale
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We have one hell of a manager (n/t)
at 13:46 3 Sep 2024

I think we need to pray that Southampton get some points on the board because I can very much see them picking up the phone when Martin gets the push
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Madsen
at 13:44 3 Sep 2024

I thought of Richard Langley and he'll get exactly the same lazy accusations shown at him. I also think the physicality of Luton and this league might be a shock to him initially but I think that is why he has come here, that is where he can grow as a player. Has shown some real touches of class already that pass for Dembele against Plymouth when Dembele hit the bar was top level class
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Defending crosses
at 10:53 1 Sep 2024

I think it's the Keeper to be honest. Nardi rarely comes for anything and is very much an on the line shop stopper, which means more coverage is needed deeper in the 6 yard box so no surprise they are being pulled narrow. If the team are confident that the keeper has a certain area and height covered they will position differently. We looked more secure from crosses on Tuesday with Walsh as he will come catch and punch more.

Nardi is cleary an excellent shop stopper and fantastic in one on ones, Walsh seems to be better in terms of handling and crosses
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