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Post by Qatar Gas on Sept 8, 2024 4:52:00 GMT
Too much towards the extremes as usual. It’s only 5 league games into the season - patterns are possibly emerging but nothing looks that clear to me yet except I feel that we have a lot more potential good players. Somebody mentioned early on that we would miss Kamil sitting in front of the defence line as he does so much off the ball blocking the channels and I completely agree. Having him back will massively help the defence but I don’t think he is very creative? He does a great job destroying the oppositions options and when he gets the ball he rarely loses it but it’s nearly always a simple offload. It rarely goes elsewhere though, somebody said his pass completion rate is nearly 90%?! A few more like that would help a lot. I agree that the problem is in midfield. We aren’t competing effectively yet. Ward hasn’t looked right since Norwich away - he was running that game till the injury struck. We need an effective replacement for him, at least as cover but I am worried that he may never get fit again. I haven’t seen enough of Lindsay to have an opinion yet but others seem to think he’s decent enough. Fingers crossed. Hutchinson? Not sure, first time I saw him was Bath City preseason and some raved about him but I felt he was wasteful against lower class opposition and was more impressed by Kofi Shaw. Hutchinson lacks physicality imo, reminds me of Westbrooke too much. Only the result ultimately matters in any game and we lost again away today. However, it was only by one goal and we had chances to equalise plus sustained pressure in added time. We hung on through a dreadful opening 20 minutes or so but came back into the game. I’m really pleased by the spirit and resolve this squad is showing. A bit disappointed we aren’t a bit more adventurous with substitutions but I’m not the manager. I don’t see why what seems to be verging on hatred is shown to MT by some. Why? The recruitment looks good but maybe the midfield struggles show that a few injuries here or Conteh on international duty means we don’t quite have the cover we hoped. It’s ok having a moan on here but please don’t take anything but positive support to the grounds. Sorry for the chap with his 5 year old and a berk behind them. However I do feel the best thing to do is speak up immediately - if not direct then to a steward. Talking to a mate sometimes works but often doesn’t as, sadly, they are used to it. Let’s just get behind the team (and manager) and give them nothing but wholehearted support. UTG. I agree we really did miss Conteh yesterday. I do think Ward had a better game yesterday, but still someway from the player we had last season. Would have been happy to take a point, especially as we easily could have been 3/4 down by half time. Last season we probably would have been which to me shows there are a lot of improvements this season and I believe there is a lot more to come. We had some good moments in the second half but ended with a poor decision in the final third or a terrible attempt of a cross. Then they go up the other end and put in a perfect cross to go 2-1 up. I am also not sure why our on loan striker was back there with his non existent attempt of trying to mark the goal scorer. |
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Post by eric on Sept 8, 2024 5:25:02 GMT
i dont like to pick on rovers player but what did thomas do i can understand bartons frustration with him he seems to be able to turn it on against weaker teams but not like today when its needed is it a confidence thing I don’t think we’ll see the best of a technical, gifted, 5ft6 winger by making him play in defence. It can work better at home v weaker teams where as a wingback he’ll at least be more advanced as the team will naturally be higher up the pitch |
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Post by Henbury Gas on Sept 8, 2024 7:15:49 GMT
Enjoyed the game for what it was, two good teams trying to play football on the ground, not long ball
my biggest concern is if we loose Conteh to internationals/injuly/suspension , the whole midfield fell apart
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Post by Topper Gas on Sept 8, 2024 7:19:46 GMT
Missed Conteh massively, hate to say it but McCormick isn't fit to lace his boots. McCormick didn't replace Conteh that was left to Garrett, who is supposed to be a Champship DCM but seems to have gone missing in every away game. Although Conteh played at both Rotherham and Stockport and we still let the away sides totally dominate midfield. I'm not really sure what we're gaining by playing 5 at the back away from home, perhaps somebody could explain the benefits? |
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Post by northridinggas on Sept 8, 2024 7:21:01 GMT
That was my first game yesterday and despite the result I enjoyed it. Barnsley deserved the win but I don't think we were as far off them as some have suggested.
I think we have some real talent in the team but it's quite raw and will need a little time to knock the rough edges off.
Lack of movement off the ball is a big problem, no running into space to receive the ball so we end up passing it back or throwing hopeful long balls forward (including to LT who was about two foot shorter than their defender!) Hopefully again that will get better as players get to know each other.
LT and Bilongo are skilful, creative players going forward but Luke in particular is clearly not comfortable with the defensive aspects. There needs a rethink on these positions.
Finally I hope the last few minutes of the game where we really threatened them encourages MT to be a bit more adventurous earlier in the game.
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Post by warehamgas on Sept 8, 2024 8:35:32 GMT
i dont like to pick on rovers player but what did thomas do i can understand bartons frustration with him he seems to be able to turn it on against weaker teams but not like today when its needed is it a confidence thing I don’t think we’ll see the best of a technical, gifted, 5ft6 winger by making him play in defence. It can work better at home v weaker teams where as a wingback he’ll at least be more advanced as the team will naturally be higher up the pitch At the moment that’s MTs dilemma. I think he wants him in the team because he’s one of our best players but yesterday he gave possession away so cheaply. The system simply doesn’t suit him at the moment. On at least two occasions we were breaking and moving up field, he gave a careless pass and gave possession away and Barnsley counter attacked with little cover available. A decision will need to be made about where, if at all, to play him in away matches. Get that problem sorted and we will be far more dangerous as a team. UTG! |
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Post by blueblood1883 on Sept 8, 2024 9:08:24 GMT
That was my first game yesterday and despite the result I enjoyed it. Barnsley deserved the win but I don't think we were as far off them as some have suggested. I think we have some real talent in the team but it's quite raw and will need a little time to knock the rough edges off. Lack of movement off the ball is a big problem, no running into space to receive the ball so we end up passing it back or throwing hopeful long balls forward (including to LT who was about two foot shorter than their defender!) Hopefully again that will get better as players get to know each other. LT and Bilongo are skilful, creative players going forward but Luke in particular is clearly not comfortable with the defensive aspects. There needs a rethink on these positions. Finally I hope the last few minutes of the game where we really threatened them encourages MT to be a bit more adventurous earlier in the game. Good post, but in regard to MT and being more adventurous, there's a Grand Canyon sized gap between setting a team up to win, and setting a team up not to lose .... |
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Post by socrates on Sept 8, 2024 9:19:05 GMT
Enjoyed the game for what it was, two good teams trying to play football on the ground, not long ball my biggest concern is if we loose Conteh to internationals/injuly/suspension , the whole midfield fell apart In hindsight perhaps the thing to do would have put Mola in Contehs position and bring Taylor in to the back 3. Mola is class and I think he’d do a great job as a holding defensive midfielder. |
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Post by igotgas on Sept 8, 2024 9:38:36 GMT
All this talk of missing Conteh is nonsense.
Yeah any decent player will be a miss but it’s ridiculous to attribute yesterday’s performance defensively to him as anything other than marginal.
Northampton - Shots / OT / inside box/ blocked - 13 / 5 / 7 / 4
Rotherham - 20 / 5 / 13 / 4
Stockport - 19 / 9 / 12 / 5
Cambridge - 12 / 3 / 9 / 5
Barnsley - 16 / 8 / 10 / 5
Tackles won - 10 / 11 / 9 / 15 / 14
There’s nothing there to say we were any more defensively sound with Conteh than without him.
Just like the data said we were no better with the ball with Garett or without him.
Possession has been - 52 / 48 / 39 / 35 / 43
Passes - 360 / 316 / 313 / 309 / 319
Clear cut chances - 3 / 4 / 1 / 1 / 1
Our performances have been very very similar in each of the games.
As is normal, often perception is swayed by result
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Post by nickchippenhamgas on Sept 8, 2024 9:53:34 GMT
I watched most of the game yesterday was really impressed by promise holds the ball up well and gets through an awful lot of work up top.
I think like some other posters on here have said we are overplaying Conte’s absence probably based on the result, had Scott Sinclair put away a easy chance it’s 2-2 with a few minutes to hang on, if Conte played yesterday we might have looked a bit better in midfield but I think we’d have still lost
The most encouraging thing is we look like we’re playing for the shirt and eachother , for large parts of last season the players minds seemed to be on getting away from the Mem
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Post by stevek192 on Sept 8, 2024 9:58:42 GMT
Have supporters not heard of the fact that most home teams come out to attack the away team from the off and it is getting through that period that is the big test of the team. Whether it is through your goalkeeper playing well or strong defending by getting bodies in the way or a mixture of the two it happens to most teams. Ask Crawley who were even hammered at home by Barnsley last week.
Forget rubbish like Barnsley hadnt won at home since Februaru-this is a new season with a different team and different Manager. the main difference was Barnsley still had the basis of the team that got to the Play offs last year. The positive was we got through that spell but to say we should have been three or four down is complete tosh. Most of the shots they had would only have gone in if we had a clown in goal instead of a very good keeper which we do have this season but most of his saves yesterday were routine ones from any distance and angle which I am sure Griffiths would have been disappointed with himself had he let them in. The fact is we lost 2-1 to a good side who scored two very good goals but we could very easily have won that game if we had put away two very easy chances.
To criticise Taylor after signing 16 players after five games is ridiculous. We lost three of our best players in Evans, Collins and Rossiter ( with whom I am sure we would have won yesterdays game). People have very short memories but it took far more than 5 games for Collins and Evans to become the players they became.
So far we have beaten two teams at home and even the three away games we have been in the game and played some good football in spells in every game. The problem at the moment is that many of the good moves are falling down with one bad pass and chances that should have been created havent been. This unfortunately is what often happens when a side is gelling. My only criticism would be that we shouldnt use five substitutes every game just because they are available and a better plan is to persevere with players if you really believe they are your first choice.
For me i do see signs that we have some real talent on our hands and that the tide will turn in the long term as players get used to how their team mates play. Those bad passes that are letting them down at the moment will become passes that create a clear chance, Even taking out this I believe in the games this season we have created 12 chances that were clearer to score than the opposition- there were four alone in the game against Tottenham and three really good chances yesterday that should have been scored.
As somebody else pointed out Patience with both the Manager and the players will reap reward.
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Post by madgas on Sept 8, 2024 10:01:29 GMT
Tough fixtures away from home to start.
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Post by GasAttacK on Sept 8, 2024 10:59:38 GMT
Barnsley have been in the Premier League since we were last in the second tier, and they've spent 13 of the last 17 seasons in the Champsionship, while we've spent 9 of the last 20 seasons in L2 or below.
Yes, their home form had been poor since February, but they're a team that expect to be promoted or at least make the play off's, which they have done for the past 2 seasons.
They have a new manager, have signed some very good players for this level, and I have little doubt they'll be challenging for the top 6 again come May. They were also coming into this game on the back of 2 impressive wins, 1-0 against Sheffield United and 0-3 at Crawley.
We started poorly and could have been 2 or 3 behind after 20 minutes, but their was only one chance they missed where I felt they should have scored. We grew into the game after that, and Promise might have done better when he got goal side of their defender but failed to get a touch to take it past the on rushing keeper. We then took advantage if a defensive mix up to equalise and I felt we started the second half the better team. Promise should have put us in front and at that stage we looked the more likely. Unfortunately, a great cross and close range header saw Barnsley retake the lead. However, we didn't throw in the towel and Sinclair will probably feel he should have equalised near the end.
Personally, I don't expect us to go to places like Barnsley and get anything. If we do it's a bonus. Certainly things we need to work on and improve, but at this stage of the season, with 16 new players still settling in, I try to take the postives.
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Post by gasify on Sept 8, 2024 11:20:05 GMT
Games are won and lost mainly in midfield and ours went missing for most of the game. POersonally felt today that Griffiths made two excellent saves but the rest were saves you would expect your keeper to save. If fans would stop saying it could be four or five. At this level players miss chances. If we had taken a couple of excellent chances it coul;d have been a different result.In truth our midfield lacked a Conteh today as he was away on International duty and the injured Lindsay is the only other defensive midfielder We are still gelling against a team who basically lost in the Play offs last year. MT is not sure of his best side yet and is that hardly surprising- we are five games in . Some on here talk like we are twenty five games in . We are going to have to get used to mixed results especially until we have a settled balanced midfield., The results away from home aren't mixed we basically go away, play poorly and loose, apart from the odd turn around at Stevenage in the second half we've basically been doing the same for months. if we lose at Peterborough we'll probably do likewise at Huddersfield and that would leave just Burton as the only away game we've any chance of picking up points in the first two months of the season. Away we have played: Rotherham Stockport Barnsley To play: Peterborough Burton Huddersfield Reading At the beginning of the season, how many wins did you think we would get against these teams away? How many points? The teams that were in league one last season: Peterborough - Lost 2-0 Burton - Lost 4-1 Barnsley - Lost 2-1 Reading - Drew 1-1 So we got a point from those four games. Wigan - Lost 2-0 Blackpool - Lost 3-1 Reading drew 1-1 We're the teams relegated from the Championship. Orient - Won 1-0 Stevenage - Won 3-2 Northampton - Lost 3-1 Were the automatic promotions Carlisle - Won 1-0 So the teams coming down, we got 1 point away last season. We already have 1 point this season. The teams that came up, we did better and got 9 points out of 12. So far we have got 0 out of 3. I do get the sense that the teams that came up last season are stronger than the teams that came up tge previous season. Stockport and Wrexham are riding at the top of the table at the moment. In conclusion, it's quite difficult to say that Barnsly/Stockport away have been terrible results. Both teams I would expect to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season. |
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kovy
Youth Team
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Post by kovy on Sept 8, 2024 12:12:35 GMT
For me this season so far it's been pretty simple. If we press, we look pretty good. When we don't, we struggle to get out of our own half. I have no idea why yesterday we decided to not press at all to start the match? I thought with Conteh out we would have a chance to play faster but we actually played slower in possession.
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Post by rovers5charlton5 on Sept 8, 2024 13:20:34 GMT
Gutted as the Barnsley player who took the throw in which led to their winning goal had his foot over the line and should have been a foul throw Griffiths often handballs outside the area when he kicks, so we can't complain about a toe being over the line at throw ins |
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Post by eric on Sept 8, 2024 13:40:11 GMT
Gutted as the Barnsley player who took the throw in which led to their winning goal had his foot over the line and should have been a foul throw Griffiths often handballs outside the area when he kicks, so we can't complain about a toe being over the line at throw ins Never understood how referees can be so pedantic about some things and not others, keepers often hold on to the ball when drop kicking out like you say but try and take a freekick from an inch out of place and they are all over it !!! |
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Post by Topper Gas on Sept 8, 2024 14:00:26 GMT
The results away from home aren't mixed we basically go away, play poorly and loose, apart from the odd turn around at Stevenage in the second half we've basically been doing the same for months. if we lose at Peterborough we'll probably do likewise at Huddersfield and that would leave just Burton as the only away game we've any chance of picking up points in the first two months of the season. Away we have played: Rotherham Stockport Barnsley To play: Peterborough Burton Huddersfield Reading At the beginning of the season, how many wins did you think we would get against these teams away? How many points? The teams that were in league one last season: Peterborough - Lost 2-0 Burton - Lost 4-1 Barnsley - Lost 2-1 Reading - Drew 1-1 So we got a point from those four games. Wigan - Lost 2-0 Blackpool - Lost 3-1 Reading drew 1-1 We're the teams relegated from the Championship. Orient - Won 1-0 Stevenage - Won 3-2 Northampton - Lost 3-1 Were the automatic promotions Carlisle - Won 1-0 So the teams coming down, we got 1 point away last season. We already have 1 point this season. The teams that came up, we did better and got 9 points out of 12. So far we have got 0 out of 3. I do get the sense that the teams that came up last season are stronger than the teams that came up tge previous season. Stockport and Wrexham are riding at the top of the table at the moment. In conclusion, it's quite difficult to say that Barnsly/Stockport away have been terrible results. Both teams I would expect to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season. Not sure anybody has said they are terrible results it's the performances which are the concern, Rotherham and Barnsley both battered us and we were saved by JG being MotM but he couldn't save us v Stockport, it was similar v Cardiff in the cup. The whole league looks tougher this season but £1m+ has been spent on the squad so we should have also improved anyway on last season. Just a pity it's not Burton away next so we can see if we are making any improvement as Posh will be another tough away game. |
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Post by mftc on Sept 8, 2024 14:14:18 GMT
It's a good job gas chat didn't exist in the days at Twerton.
Bringing in Gerry after his one season in management ended in Exeter getting relegated would have put him on the back foot straight away. In March 88 we were around 18th. He would have got slated on here that "his" new team were so low in the table and played "whoosh long ball stuff".
There were signs in April and May the new side were gelling, the next season we reached the play offs and the next season promotion.
This side has seen younger players signed on 2-3 year contracts. There will be ups and downs as they learn each other's game.
Let's just enjoy the ride.
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Post by olskooltoteender on Sept 8, 2024 16:34:27 GMT
Games are won and lost mainly in midfield and ours went missing for most of the game. POersonally felt today that Griffiths made two excellent saves but the rest were saves you would expect your keeper to save. If fans would stop saying it could be four or five. At this level players miss chances. If we had taken a couple of excellent chances it coul;d have been a different result.In truth our midfield lacked a Conteh today as he was away on International duty and the injured Lindsay is the only other defensive midfielder We are still gelling against a team who basically lost in the Play offs last year. MT is not sure of his best side yet and is that hardly surprising- we are five games in . Some on here talk like we are twenty five games in . We are going to have to get used to mixed results especially until we have a settled balanced midfield., I think the other fairly massive thing that a lot of people aren’t quite getting is that the owners have publicly stated time and again that the plan is to get to the Championship over the next 3-5 years, not this season (or even the season after). To me, that implies that what we have here is the nucleus of a side that will be challenging at the top end of the division over the next few years - a relatively slow, patient, build-up. I think we’re better off trying to do it that way rather than go all-out now, scrape a lucky last-minute promotion via the play-offs and then come crashing down again the very next season cos we can’t sustain it. I’ve been very critical of the ‘new’ owners so far, but I have to admit that as things are starting to fall into place, they do seem to be going about things very methodically and in a manner that is manageable and sustainable. So, unless we have a completely shockingly bad campaign and finish lower than last season, I can’t see MT going anywhere for the foreseeable future. |
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