20/21 Matchday Thread

[BelizeHatter]

Wycombe at home on Saturday

We're a much, much better side with Pearo & Davies in it, particularly from a possession point of view so that gives me some hope.

Bauer's season ending injury is a big blow but I have faith in Huntington, really hope Neil doesn't put his faith in Storey, Akinfenwa will shag him.

With Wycombe's height and size, I can see Stockley starting this one.

Rudd
Browne, Huntington, Davies, Rafferty
Pearson, Ledson
Sinclair, Johnson, Barkhuizen
Stockley​

We havent been in the Championship long but in that short time Ben Pearson is consistently the best player ive seen. If he was bigger physically and fast hed without doubt have been a top Premier player. He ooozes class and tbh honest im surpised - with respect - a bigger Champ or smaller Prem team havent nicked him

 

[SF_]

We havent been in the Championship long but in that short time Ben Pearson is consistently the best player ive seen. If he was bigger physically and fast hed without doubt have been a top Premier player. He ooozes class and tbh honest im surpised - with respect - a bigger Champ or smaller Prem team havent nicked him

So am I, he is without doubt the best midfielder i've seen for PNE and that includes players like Gregan, Appleton, Etuhu & O'Neil who all played in the top flight. Plus players like Paul McKenna & Paul Gallagher who were top performers at this level for years.

I think you under-estimate his pace a bit, he is rapid, his height holds him back a little but i've never seen him out-muscled. I don't think he'd struggle in that aspect but defensive midfielders under 6ft in the Prem seem rare, so maybe it has gone against him.

His awful disciplinary held him back but his booking on Tuesday was his first since before the first lockdown.

6 months left on his deal, unlikely to extend, i'd be very disappointed if he goes to another Championship club as he's worth a try in the league above. Stoke tried to sign him about 18 months ago and we quoted them £20m.

Will be gutted when he goes, especially on a free.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Apparently Norwich have put in a complaint to the EFL after Luke Berry jumped onto the referee after he gave a penalty to Luton last night.
To be honest I think he ran into him and the momentum and joy of getting the pen took over - the referee didn’t seem to take it literally and seemed to pass off.

Norwich do seem to be whining a lot about losing to a #teamlikeluton

 

[SF_]

Jason Tindall said we didn't deserve any of our goals because...

The first one was a bad free kick by them (counter attack from the edge of our own area)
The second their defence was out of position (40 yard lob into the top corner)
The third was a set piece that they didn't deal with...

Their first goal was a direct free kick haha and the second was the result of them getting away with a blatant handball on the halfway line.

Do these managers even listen to themselves?

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

I can only assume people are reading his comments and taking them literally with no nuance or context because he's really not that type. I mean, you're definitely misinterpreting his description of Moncur's goal. He obviously doesn't literally mean it's a "once in a career" strike or that Moncur isn't capable of scoring goals like it. It's a figure of speech. Also the comment about "11 fans in the corner" is clearly flippant too. He felt a lot of 50/50s went against us - find me a manager who doesn't. I must have missed the pitch/sheep comment (he talks pretty fast!) so don't know what to make of that - but it wouldn't be the first time he's tried to be humorous and got delivery wrong (people underappreciate how easy it is for things to get lost in translation between brain and mouth). Like I say, I've never really known him to be "salty" so I'd give him the benefit of the doubt.

He said Luton deserved the win, that we didn't defend well enough and that Luton were the better side. This just smacks of being offended for the sake of being offended. A little ironic given your closing statement.

He said what he said so you can only take the comments at face value which dont shed a great light on him especially as the formal complaint about Berry has now come out too which just seems petty in the extreme.

Fair point on things being lost in translation though, I’d read rather listened to the comments which always lends a different context to them. We used to have the same issues with NJ getting a bit like that after games too so I get the other perspective.

 

[Atavistic]

Not much looking likely to change for tomorrow, with only Pukki of the injured set to return. On the bright side, Cantwell and Hugill will be back training on Sunday so with any luck could be back for Forest in midweek, though probably more realistic to see them return for Blackburn next weekend.

Hopefully, as we saw on Wednesday night, the return of fans gives us a boost to help the players fight through tired legs and get back on track with a win, but a draw or loss is probably more realistic against a Pulis side in our current position.

 

[chicowintry]

Yeah, think we’re in for a rough Christmas period. Currently top but the Championship is so ridiculously close that by Saturday evening we could be 8th!! Bournemouth, Watford, Reading & Bristol City only need a point; Brentford, Swansea & Stoke need a win. Nothing unrealistic there. Though in unlikely event we scrape a point, Stoke will have to wait until Tuesday.

 

[Kenneth E End]

So Luton Welsh take another trip back to the homeland tomorrow after, this time to Abertawe. Hopefully a better result than the last time they took a trip to Gods Country last weekend.

I'd, if at all possible, go with the same team that smashed Norwich convincingly on Wednesday, although I guess we have to get used to better floodlights and a better pitch...

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Think we surely will have to rotate a little bit, we pressed pretty high on Wednesday especially second half, that must have taken a bit of a toll. Could see Cornick and Pelly coming back into the starting line up for that reason, Bree might have to come in if Cranie has got an injury as well.

Just hope we dont inexplicably start Tunnicliffe like last week

 

[Atavistic]

A few changes for us today. With Pukki returning up front, Stiepermann slots back in behind him, Buendia shifts to the right wing, Martin drops to the bench and Vrancic takes Tettey's place alongside Skipp in the CDM position. Nothing too surprising really, but I'd have preferred to give Placheta a rest than Martin, to keep his pace as a weapon late on against tiring legs.

Hoping to see a big response after the midweek no-show, but it's going to be difficult for tiring legs even with the psychological boost from fans returning.

 

[SF_]

Huntington coming in for Bauer is the only change, Maguire deserves another start up top, he was class on Tuesday.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Swansea have made 5 changes from there team in midweek so should be pretty fresh all things considered. Got a feeling this is going to be a tough one today, definitely take a point if offered I think

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

As if to ram home the above point, Swansea take the lead 2 minutes in! Another early goal conceded on a trip to Wales. Poor goal as well, too easy for Ayew to break on our left handside. Not sure Potts is ready for that quality straight back from injury.

 

[Atavistic]

Definite improvement from Wednesday night so far, looking much more up for it and having a lot more energy all over the pitch. Still, we're struggling to really break Wednesday down and create good chances, but that's what you'd expect from a side managed by Tony Pulis. They've had a couple of chances on the counter-attack, but for the most part they're happy to sit back and let us play.

I think we should eventually be able to break through, but we need to be wary of the threat on the counter and to be prepared for the wave of substitutions to come; in a game like this, it could very well come down to who tires first.

Hearing the fans back in the ground again is fantastic too.

 

[Kenneth E End]

As if to ram home the above point, Swansea take the lead 2 minutes in! Another early goal conceded on a trip to Wales. Poor goal as well, too easy for Ayew to break on our left handside. Not sure Potts is ready for that quality straight back from injury.

What this doesn’t say is that it took a huge deflection.

 

[SF_]

Pearson gone off, ankle just went, wouldn't be surprised if that's a a long one. Awful, awful season.

Lucky to be winning. Wycombe are awkward and effective, constantly put balls in the air and into the box, if they had an adequate striker then they'd do ok this season.

Big improvement needed if we're to get 3pts here

 

[Kenneth E End]

Also don’t show Farke the pitch at Swansea - it’s like being at the Vetch again. I know they play rugby on it, but it’s appalling already.

 

[Atavistic]

We're getting worse and worse as the minutes tick on and there's the inevitable goal for Sheffield Wednesday, so looks like another loss. No doubt Wednesday will pack 11 men behind the ball now and we'll have no answer.

EDIT: Well, we did have an answer, and that sort of move was exactly what we've been looking for all game. Would be absolutely in favour of resting Stiepermann next game in favour of starting Martin.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

What this doesn’t say is that it took a huge deflection.

True but that kind of stuff happens if you let players advance that easily. Was unfortunate in the end though granted.

Its eneded up being quite an even game, should have got an eqauliser through Berry who has missed a sitter and we really do deserve to get something here.

Pearson has been unfortunate to get sent off trying an overhead kick (words I didn’t think I would type!) which might put the mockers on that but we’ve still quite good after it.

 

[Atavistic]

I should wait until 90 minutes to comment apparently, as we've gone from a goal down and looking dead and buried to 2-1 up in little more than a minute. Absolute class from Vrancic for both goals, and excellent from Aarons to get past the winger and full back for the second.

Having fans has definitely helped, as the boost provided by those cheers is clear to see on the pitch since the equaliser.

 

[oakroader]

Sheep shaggers reaction was well over the top...ref buckled under pressure...was never a 2nd yellow..

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Yeah it looked harsh, only had eyes for the ball but I guess the ref think it’s reckless play to go for it in the first place. He caught the player with it which is what did for him, if he doesn’t I think hes probably fine. Has to be said I don’t think I’ve seen someone penalised for it before so feels extremely harsh.

2-0 now. Disappointing result but we’ve played pretty well I think and matched a decent side. With 11 I think we eventually get a goal back but the red card put a stop to that really.

 

[Atavistic]

And... breathe. Fantastic show of character to make that late comeback once again, and what an important one it could be too, propelling us from potentially being as low as 8th to remaining top of the pile for a while longer. The decision to bring Martin on for Stiepermann turned the game in our favour and immediately provided us with so much more attacking impetus to break through the 11-man defence with. And getting the second goal so quickly after the first - giving Wednesday little time to react and regain control of the situation - was so important to secure the result.

Nice little cameo from Omotoye at the end there, too; certainly showed a lot of passion and desire while also showing the maturity required in the situation to hold on. Slight concerns for Placheta and Vrancic being forced off, but hopefully it's just cramp from playing so often in such a short space of time.

Straight into another potential banana skin against Hughton's Forest in midweek. They're at the wrong end of the table currently, but they'll probably set up to contain and defend too which will provide another big test of patience.

 

[SF_]

Dog shit, didn't deserve the point.

 

[Super_horns]

Feel for those fans who went today !

Another game with very little shots or attacking threat View attachment 13489

 

[BelizeHatter]

I think that was an excellent away display from us. Unlucky all day long. They will def know they had a tough game there. We win that more often than not, as felt we were the better side despite their moments of quality. Hit the post, two off the line, ball comes slightly high and fast for Berry to get over for his 'open goal' miss... .... In it til the death when their only bit of quality in and around the box seals it.

Second yellow in these namby pamby times always coming for that. Hate how football is edging. But thats another convo and prob me showing my age ;-) They clamoured for the card, dogged the ref and you cant blame them. The foot is high, his head ducks downward too tho. Meh. Theyre always getting a card these ridiculous over protected days.

 

[Kenneth E End]

I wouldn’t say today was excellent by any means - we didn’t create anything again in the final third which is disappointing. In the end it was a very scrappy game on a dog shit pitch; neither side could really get in any rhythm.

I though the two full backs were pretty poor; neither had any affect on the game. Pearson was unlucky but I really couldn’t justify not to have a yellow card for that one.

I say it again - Collins needs to play in a two.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

I wouldn’t say today was excellent by any means - we didn’t create anything again in the final third which is disappointing. In the end it was a very scrappy game on a dog shit pitch; neither side could really get in any rhythm.

I though the two full backs were pretty poor; neither had any affect on the game. Pearson was unlucky but I really couldn’t justify not to have a yellow card for that one.

I say it again - Collins needs to play in a two.

Agree with your last point, it’s just giving up a man in midfield might leave us exposed so it’s a balancing act. Certainly need to find a way of getting players closer to him

 

[thewwfc]

Dog shit, didn't deserve the point.

Well I suppose if we will insist on giving you an assist and an OG then we’re never going to make it easy on ourselves.

Thank fuck you had two top chances fall to Riis though, major letoffs there.

 

[oakroader]

I think that was an excellent away display from us. Unlucky all day long. They will def know they had a tough game there. We win that more often than not, as felt we were the better side despite their moments of quality. Hit the post, two off the line, ball comes slightly high and fast for Berry to get over for his 'open goal' miss... .... In it til the death when their only bit of quality in and around the box seals it.

Second yellow in these namby pamby times always coming for that. Hate how football is edging. But thats another convo and prob me showing my age ;-) They clamoured for the card, dogged the ref and you cant blame them. The foot is high, his head ducks downward too tho. Meh. Theyre always getting a card these ridiculous over protected days.

Remember when men were men ??