20/21 Matchday Thread

[Super_horns]

Not surprised - been a poor showing on our part.

Too slow and lightweight.

Take a 0-0 now !

 

[Kenneth E End]

As it stands, with it being 1-1, is that the first time Barnsley have been above us in over 2 years?

 

[Craig]

As it stands, with it being 1-1, is that the first time Barnsley have been above us in over 2 years?

It’s the small victories...

 

[SF_]

At least I got a prediction right.

We need a big rebuild, think we'll be ok this year but i'd fancy us for the drop next season.

 

[Craig]

Announce relegation

 

[Kenneth E End]

It’s the small victories...

Ah it’s a good little mini league we’ve got going...

 

[Super_horns]

Glad to be in the game after that 1st half when we should have been a few goal down!

But then they had 10 men and we looked more positive 2nd half with 2 up front.

Ref was poor for both and assistant had a shocker !

2 offside decisions to make - both wrong.

 

[Craig]

Moses Odubajo certified legend.

 

[thewwfc]

We can't afford to give away cheap reds against teams with much better players than us (which let's face it is most teams in the division).

So a narrow defeat, but still a defeat, and we're starting to get cut adrift.

Still amusing to see the AFCB players going for handbags with one another though.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1338964300610871298

 

[Kenneth E End]

So its now 6 weeks since we've scored away from home. 7 hours of football.

We've left another point out there today, but we should've had a 1-1 draw. Despite the referee or linesman not seeing it at the time, Collins' penalty was chalked off because he touched the ball twice! Total guesswork and so weak officiating based around Warnock and the Middlesbrough players surrounding them and overturning it.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Was weak, but def a double kick, you can see how unnatural the flight of ball was when struck. Ref was gonna give it tho if they didnt all go mad. I wasnt sure it was even a pen even with a replay, looked to hit his back but no real dispute so sure it was, but a very harsh red. Stupid new rules.

 

[BelizeHatter]

We just arent quite good enough to regularly penetrate teams at this level. Not smart enough with our passes or movement. Did see us try and replicate the Pelly to Collins goal, with Rea i think popping a similar ball. So maybe bit by bit we will get there. Not sure KDH is the only answer. What happened to those Harry channel runs and balls. .......Oh yeah, we let Shinnie go.

 

[Kenneth E End]

On another note, that Max Aarons dive is disgraceful.

 

[BelizeHatter]

I dont normally watch more football after us. But flipped on the 2nd half of Liverpool Spurs game. Like tip toeing through silk having previously trudged through horse manure.

 

[Super_horns]

So its now 6 weeks since we've scored away from home. 7 hours of football.

We've left another point out there today, but we should've had a 1-1 draw. Despite the referee or linesman not seeing it at the time, Collins' penalty was chalked off because he touched the ball twice! Total guesswork and so weak officiating based around Warnock and the Middlesbrough players surrounding them and overturning it.

I remember Boro had a penalty chalked off for that sort of thing v Norwich earlier in the season so no doubt Warnock keeps an eye out for that now!

I can just imaging him giving the 4th official grief even before it's taken!

 

[Kenneth E End]

I remember Boro had a penalty chalked off for that sort of thing v Norwich earlier in the season so no doubt Warnock keeps an eye out for that now!

I can just imaging him giving the 4th official grief even before it's taken!

Yes you’re right - Tavernier had it chalked off. It’s total guesswork without VAR.

 

[BelizeHatter]

That was clear. The ball just left his foot weird even if you dont see the actual double contact. No complaints. Shit technique putting too much weight on the standing foot too far in front of your body, slips. He does it quite a bit.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Hahaha.......just seen that Aaron's dive. Even goes for the mid air face contorting grimace, scream (no doubt) and shin grab. tut tut

 

[Atavistic]

Didn't watch the game tonight as I had other things to do, but it sounds like we were mostly in control once again as we picked up win number 4 in a row. Particularly important to pull that off against one of our rivals in the promotion race, especially as it now puts us 6 points clear of 3rd and 10 clear of 7th at roughly the halfway point of the season. Good to see Dowell get some minutes after three months out, too.

Cardiff at home this coming Saturday and then Watford away on Boxing Day look likely to be two more firm tests, but we should have enough to overcome them and keep the run going, especially with Krul and Rupp set to return this weekend.

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

I know staying in the league is the most important thing but god are we horrible to watch. Home against Huddersfield and we played for the 0-0 from minute one, 9 men behind the ball and offered nothing on the counter. We’ll probably stay up playing like this as we’ve been able to nick the odd win against poorer opposition but christ is it tedious.

 

[Kenneth E End]

I know staying in the league is the most important thing but god are we horrible to watch. Home against Huddersfield and we played for the 0-0 from minute one, 9 men behind the ball and offered nothing on the counter. We’ll probably stay up playing like this as we’ve been able to nick the odd win against poorer opposition but christ is it tedious.

We are very similar especially away from home - 4 goals away from Kenilworth Road and that’s it. We are setting up for 0-0s and looking for late winners which worked at the start of this and the back end of last season. We got burned being too expansive last year under Graeme Jones.

 

[Atavistic]

Just seen the highlights of our game and the suggestion that Aarons dived for the penalty is laughable when the defender makes clear contact with his trailing leg to take him out. He exaggerates the impact of the challenge afterwards for sure, but that's what most footballers in that position would do nowadays so I don't see much point complaining about it.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Haha. No chance....... if you care to be honest. Watched it again and on the highlights you get to also see the defenders instant reaction - which is ways telling via immediate body language. You cant act instant body language, only slightly afterwards can you.

Dont worry its just a lol not a slight against the lad. Like you say everyone does it these days. You should see Danny Hylton

 

[Atavistic]

I'll just leave this image. Clear contact on the trailing leg, though I'll readily admit Aarons milks it for all its worth as players often do nowadays. Not much contact, mind you, but that's a good thing as it could have been an ankle breaker if there was more contact.

 

[Atavistic]

Not much change for us on the injury front going into tomorrow's game against Cardiff. Rupp should finally be back in the squad after his injury, but won't be able to start. Quintilla returns to training on Tuesday so we might finally have a proper left back again for Watford on Boxing Day if all goes well. Krul hasn't fully recovered for tomorrow, so McGovern will remain between the sticks for at least one more game (though hopefully Krul will be back for Watford). Dowell will be involved again, but only from the bench as he was exhausted after his cameo on Wednesday night as he came on much earlier than planned. With any luck, Cantwell should be fully fit and ready to start after only being able to manage substitute appearances the last two games.

Very wary of the threat Cardiff will offer from set pieces, but I'm reasonably confident we'll have enough to at least pick up a point and hopefully all three.

 

[SF_]

Our form is irrelevant against Bristol City, we'll always turn over those mugs, unbeaten in 15 against them.

Thought we were good first half and defended well in the second despite a few of them looking out on their feet. Gallagher turned back the years and a top game, Huntington showing he's worth another year too.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Would take a point today but it could be a long afternoon for us. Bournemouth had an extra days rest and that was from a home game whereas we had a long old trip up to the north east. Think fatigue is becoming increasingly decisive in these games.

Bournemouth have got a lot of quality on us in players like Brooks and a few others who look impressive in attack, think they’ll just have a bit too much for us to deal with it. Think we will end up playing it like an away game looking to stay tight and compact and frustrate but with that think we’ll lose a lot of goal threat. A draw would be an excellent result imo.

Was supposed to be going today but alas not to be. Very frustrating

 

[Atavistic]

Cantwell replaces Martin in the starting XI, Vrancic replaces Stiepermann in the number 10 position and Rupp finally makes his return on the bench, with McLean and Skipp chosen as the two CDMs today. A very strong XI and a great bench to supplement it too.

No Kieffer Moore for Cardiff today, but I'm still very wary about their set piece threat when we have McGovern in goal, as while he's an excellent shot stopper he does not deal with crosses and set pieces well whatsoever.

 

[Atavistic]

Should be two or three up already here. The Cardiff defence absolutely cannot deal with Pukki's runs and Cantwell and Buendia are playing some excellent balls to break through the lines. Cardiff looking threatening from set pieces, but not offering much else now.

And Buendia with the opener after getting himself into a pocket of space. We're firmly in control of this one.

An hour gone and we really should have three or four now. Have had plenty of joy on the attack, but just not very clinical in front of goal today. Very worrying to waste this many chances against a team so good at set pieces, as all it takes is one of those to go right for Cardiff to equalise.

EDIT: And 2-0 at last, Cantwell with a rocket from range after being given space to play on the edge of the box. We're finally turning on the style now and are going to be incredibly hard for anyone to stop.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

We’ve gone with Hylton and Collins up top today which means we can wheel out the “not sure they can play together” takes from about 2017 which is nice. Not often they play together anymore!

The team we’ve put out doesn’t have a lot of pace though so not sure how it’s going to work out in reality. Bree and LuaLua still curiously missing.