20/21 Matchday Thread

[Craig]

Yes Luton!

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Yes Luton!

Barnsley continue to be shite I see. Getting a bit dangerous now, might accidentally get promoted!

 

[Kenneth E End]

Yes Luton!

And dare I say bravo Barnsley. Think yesterday proved that the margins are wafer thin in this division. If we were a little more adventurous in games we’d be a lot closer in our mini league.

It sounds paradoxical, considering our collective suicide pact at HT yesterday but that result means it’s now very unlikely that we’ll get relegated now. Even Jeff Stelling yesterday said we were in a secure position.

As for Sheffield Wednesday, the best plan for them now would be to go into administration in the next 3 weeks which ensures the deduction occurs this season. I have been more than vocal about certain teams and how they seem to completely ignore the rules and spend freely. Get rid of Chansiri, take the porridge and come back with a clean slate next season - unless things change, they could be fighting at the bottom end of League One next season like Wigan.

 

[Atavistic]

Good to see Gibson make his return to the starting XI today, and having Hernandez start in place of the injured Cantwell will be very good for the former's match fitness to make him a more threatening option for the next run of games.

Decent start so far, but Wycombe defending deep and in numbers as expected to try and limit the space in the attacking third.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Surprised to hear that we only had 1 more point that Wycombe did at the same stage this season. I remember us being bad, but maybe not that bad! Shows that Wycombe certainly arent dead and buried yet - seem to be giving Norwich a game so far too.

 

[Atavistic]

Frustating for us so far as expected. Wycombe were never going to make it easy for us and they're definitely giving it a good go, but I think we have enough nous about ourselves to eventually find a way to break through.

At the very least, I think this is one which we have to continue to be patient in for the time being, though I'd like to see Hugill come on if it's still goalless with 15-20 minutes to go so we can take a more direct approach; our current patient approach play is giving Wycombe plenty of time to get all ten men behind the ball.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Yep you need to up the tempo a bit here, Wycombe have got that low block and doesnt feel like you are hurting them from general play. In a way its a simpler game for Wycombe, stay in that block and pump the ball forward for Ikpeazu to win the flick on.

 

[thewwfc]

we're parking the bus pretty well but as they've said on the commentary, it'll be exhausting to defend like we have been for 90 mins. Chances are of course Norwich will get the points but we've had a couple of half shots.

 

[SF_]

Norwich must be top of the late goals table? surely, seem to score loads after 80 minutes.

 

[SF_]

Love our third goal yesterday, ten seconds from our six yard box to theirs.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1365955662522556417

Impressed with Van Den Berg at right back, glad we've got an option to bring him back.

Can't see Gordon going out on loan again but we should definitely look to re-loan VDB and Iversen, extend Evans & Cunningham and sign Lindsay.

Looking like a settled team again after January's upheaval.

 

[Atavistic]

There's the breakthrough at last, great strength from Buendia to get the cross in and then Pukki doing as he always does (though the defender really should be able to block that shot rather than letting it slip through his legs). Two very poor misses from Hernandez either side of that goal, a real shame coming off of some excellent play from Aarons and then from Vrancic.

We've really turned on the style now, and could very easily be 4-0 up now if our finishing was better. The Wycombe left back seems a definite weak link that we've targeted this half, as a lot of our play is moving down that right side now.

That stat that just popped up on the Sky Sports coverage though, that we've only twice dropped points this season from the 20 times we've taken the lead in matches is so impressive.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Surprised to hear that we only had 1 more point that Wycombe did at the same stage this season. I remember us being bad, but maybe not that bad! Shows that Wycombe certainly arent dead and buried yet - seem to be giving Norwich a game so far too.

I just can't see it happening. At this point of last season, we actually started playing well and picked off decent results v Derby and Brentford etc. And then we had the pandemic break which allowed us to regroup. 11 points behind with 16 games to go isn't impossible by any means, but as soon as you go over that 1ppg threshold, it is a really tough ask.

 

[Atavistic]

It was starting to get a little nervy late on with Wycome throwing caution to the wind in search of an equaliser, but that scrappy second goal will do the job. Stockdale really should do better, but credit for Idah to get himself in for that tap-in while a defender is trying to bear hug him to stop his movement. Nice little flick from McLean to get the ball more central and create the chance in the first place too.

Brentford next, for what will probably be the toughest match in our run-in besides the home match against Watford.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Brentford next, for what will probably be the toughest match in our run-in besides the home match against Watford.

Ahem. We've got the opportunity of the treble next Saturday.

 

[Atavistic]

Ahem. We've got the opportunity of the treble next Saturday.

God, don't remind me. I still fully expect us to find a way to somehow lose to you again regardless of the two sides' respective forms.

 

[thewwfc]

I just can't see it happening. At this point of last season, we actually started playing well and picked off decent results v Derby and Brentford etc. And then we had the pandemic break which allowed us to regroup. 11 points behind with 16 games to go isn't impossible by any means, but as soon as you go over that 1ppg threshold, it is a really tough ask.

Definitely. It's not losing games like today that will have been our downfall, it's the failure to get anything from several games against the other crappier teams in this league that's the disappointment.

I actually liked our negativity today, I wish we'd parked the bus more this season - as dull as it is to watch. Whilst I imagine we'd still be in the relegation zone, I don't think we'd be as far adrift. But whatever, we can only look forwards now.

Our run-in isn't terrible though, in April and May we face quite a few teams who I expect to be on the beach by then, Blackburn, Luton, Bristol City, Boro.

As far as today, Norwich have technically way better players than we do, and could have beaten us by more, I don't have any complaints in that kind of game, we gave it everything and it is what it is.

 

[Kenneth E End]

If we are on the beach by the time we play Wycombe I will be delighted.

But it’s Wycombe and there is no way we’re going to let Ainsworth get one over us.

 

[oakroader]

The phrase “on the beach” is a misnomer in my opinion...
Teams with nothing to play for don’t exist
Squad players on the fringes of the first team often excell when finally given a game when seniors are rested and often raise a few eyebrows with their performances...as we know too well!!

 

[Kenneth E End]

The phrase “on the beach” is a misnomer in my opinion...
Teams with nothing to play for don’t exist
Squad players on the fringes of the first team often excell when finally given a game when seniors are rested and often raise a few eyebrows with their performances...as we know too well!!

Didnt seem to apply to Brum last season...

 

[oakroader]

Birmingham slipped down quicker than a whore’s drawers

 

[BelizeHatter]

Birmingham slipped down quicker than a whore’s drawers

Ahhhh......but they didnt drop all the way ;-)

 

[oakroader]

Maybe not...but definitely got Rogerd
more times than a police radio...

 

[SF_]

Millwall away tomorrow, don't see any reason to change the team unless there are fitness issues.

If Lindsay is fit then i'd probably play him ahead of Hughes at CB but changing a defence which has kept successive clean sheets might not be wise.

Iversen
Van Den Berg, Storey, Hughes, Cunningham
Browne, Whiteman
Sinclair, Potts, Gordon
Evans​

 

[Atavistic]

Cantwell will also miss tomorrow night's game against Brentford with injury, but should hopefully be back soon afterwards. Stiepermann is finally back in the first team training picture after being out for quite some time, so might make his return on the bench. Beyond that, no changes on the injury front so I'd fully expect to see the same starting XI as we went with on Sunday.

While this is an important one for both teams, Brentford have to come at us and try and win to keep themselves ahead of Swansea and Watford in the chase for automatic promotion, while we can realistically accept a draw to stop them gaining ground. While Brentford are excellent going forward, they are shaky at the back and if they have to come at us, it could very well play into our hands.

A win would be fantastic and I think we can do it, but as long as we don't lose I'll be satisfied.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Luton playing at Nottingham Forest tonight - in the reverse fixture, we should've smashed 'em. But like in many games this season - the second half Luton just sleepwalked and ended up drawing 1-1. Forest are definitely improving - they are only 1 point behind us now and took 15 points from 8 February matches. A point I'd take if offered now.

Forest are still without Grabban which is a bonus for us.

 

[SF_]

What a fucking signing Ched Evans has been, bar the Cardiff shambles he's been a 8/9 every game, superb strike tonight. Exactly what we've been missing.

Unfortunately their equaliser was a belter too although given way too much space, Sinclair caught up the pitch and Molumby not getting across quick enough.

This pitch is absolutely horrific, worse than Blackburn's.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

0-0 half time for us. Probably slightly fortunately so as Forest have clearly had the better of the play and definitely shaded it. We have had some decent spells without really creating anything of note, got into advanced areas at times but either dawdled on it, or Cornick has put his cross into the stand. That sort of thing.

Even with that Adebayo continues to impress and almost created something for himself in the last seconds of the half. Clark has also been very impressive i feel. Becoming increasingly obvious that Dewsbury-Hall needs a rest though.

 

[SF_]

That backline showed they can't cope with height and power, something which QPR and Huddersfield lacked.

Couldn't change it after 2 clean sheets but badly missed Lindsay or Huntington at times. Couldn't clear our lines at all and it kept coming back.

Fullbacks were also very poor tonight.

Millwall are a settled and experienced side, dominated the second half and deserved the 3pts.

 

[Super_horns]

Luton took their chance which Forest have failed to do.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Great 3 points for us there. First half I think Forest certainly shaded it, second half felt we looked a bit more solid in defence and didnt concede as many chances as a result and took the one that came our way. Actually created 3 very presentable chances in the end which is good going for us! Adebayo and Clark were superb I thought, great shift from the former who looks totally at home at this level. Exactly what we needed, big enough to be able to hold the ball up and capable enough with his feet to bring others into the game. Clark might be firt choice right back on that showing!

Once we scored thought we saw it out very comfortably which is good after last weeks issue with how we managed the final stages of the Millwall game.

2 more wins takes us to 50 and a job very well done.