20/21 Matchday Thread

[Atavistic]

Absolute joke of a red card decision there. Both players going for the ball, no intent whatsoever. But of course, because Pearson has rolled around like he's been shot, the card is given. Absolute cheat of a player and an incompetent referee to so easily fall for it.

Completely ruins the game so early on as well.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Cheer up, you’ve just got promoted...

 

[Super_horns]

Bournemouth are good at getting players sent off!

 

[Atavistic]

At least this game doesn't matter for us now, I suppose, but I imagine we'll be appealing the sending off regardless. Also helps we took the lead first, as it forces the pressure entirely onto Bournemouth to get something out of this and go on the offensive. Chances to be taken on the counter here if we get it right.

 

[Super_horns]

Bournemouth win this one then they will be 8 points behind us like Brentford.

They might suddenly be in contention!

 

[oakroader]

Jones to be knighted care of her majesty’s birthday honours list...

 

[Atavistic]

I don't care who wins the play-offs, as long as it's not "plucky little" Bournemouth aided by their Russian billionaire.

 

[chicowintry]

Don’t understand why we’re not playing their game and not screaming every time they come near us. It’s all the ref and lino are reacting to. Is it a foul? No... oh wait... he screamed... must be a foul, should probably give a yellow too.

Advantage played. No advantage. Carry on. This is supposed to be a Prem ref. No wonder VAR is failing.

 

[chicowintry]

Offside. But let them carry on until they score, sure.

Good job we’re already up.

 

[Super_horns]

Offside. But let them carry on until they score, sure.

Good job we’re already up.

They got both the offside decisions wrong at first didn’t they ?

Not great .

 

[chicowintry]

They got both the offside decisions wrong at first didn’t they ?

Not great .

Aye. Tried to disallow the equaliser despite it not even being close to offside. Not sure what made him overrule the linesman but he was right to. But he undoes that by allowing them the third. It was the clearest offside of the night. Bizarre performance from the officials.

Not really sure how I feel about the red. Can see why it’s given but I’ve seen City players sent off for two-footed, out of control lunges even when winning the ball so Pearson probably should have also walked. If he doesn’t go in recklessly like that, Giannoulis doesn’t land on him. If he doesn’t scream and roll around like he does, Giannoulis probably only gets a yellow. He knew exactly was he was doing. After that he knew he had the ref in his pocket. How he wasn’t booked for one of the several times he threw himself to the ground I’ll never know.

Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Still frustrating because 11v11 we were streets ahead of them but we’re up and they have the play-offs to worry about. My order of preference: Barnsley > Brentford > Swansea > dissolution of English football > Bournemouth. Not bitter at all...

 

[Super_horns]

Bournemouth do seem to be good at getting players sent off but I think both could have gone.

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

Bournemouth are the biggest shithouses in the league. Horrible side.

 

[Atavistic]

Well, in any event, we can write last night off as one of those days at this point; happens to everyone at some point or other. A win on Tuesday night would be enough to secure the title, and even a draw would more or less guarantee it.

No surprise to see Sheffield United make their return to this league next season. Would be very surprised to see them do well next year with a thoroughly ordinary squad and no notable talents in the vein of Cantwell, Buendia, Pukki, Sarr or that Danjuma at Bournemouth.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

I guess that’s what people thought when they actually went up to be fair. Core of that squad is still there just whether it’s a bit over the hill and no Wilder factor to inspire it. Brewster has had a poor season it was excellent when down here with Swansea. O’Connell was a big player for them whose been out all season too, Pre injury there were genuine England shouts for him. A lot will depend on how they go about refreshing there squad but could easily see them going the way of Huddersfield rather than yourselves

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

Great defensive performance from us today. Robins got his tactics spot on against a good Barnsley side. I’d imagine that’s us as good as safe now.

 

[Atavistic]

Injury doubts over Hanley, Pukki and Cantwell ahead of tomorrow night's game, as well as questions of how much the celebrations on Saturday will have impacted our preparations going into this game.

Beating Watford would secure the title, but I'd be okay with a draw at this point. That would keep us 8 points clear with three more games to play, so that would more or less decide it anyway.

 

[Super_horns]

Well we'll have to be much better than on Saturday by about 100% !

 

[SF_]

It'd be nice if we can help send Derby down but we're more likely to give them their most valuable 3pts of the season tomorrow night. Bet that shit head Tom Lawrence scores, he loves playing us.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Injury doubts over Hanley, Pukki and Cantwell ahead of tomorrow night's game, as well as questions of how much the celebrations on Saturday will have impacted our preparations going into this game.

Beating Watford would secure the title, but I'd be okay with a draw at this point. That would keep us 8 points clear with three more games to play, so that would more or less decide it anyway.

Dont you dare settle for a draw...... a spanking please.

 

[Atavistic]

Our appeal against Giannoulis' red card has been rejected, so he'll miss all but the final league game of the season now. That should see Quintilla and/or Sorensen deputising there for the next three games.

 

[chicowintry]

Well we'll have to be much better than on Saturday by about 100% !

You don't have to be better, just lunge at one of our players and get them sent off...

But nah, being serious, I fully expect you to win tonight. Even if Hanley plays - which I imagine he'll want to - he'll not be close to his best and while Omobamidele has done well since coming in, he's still very inexperienced. Just target them and you should have no problem scoring. I'd also worry for us up the other end if Pukki doesn't pass a fitness test - we don't have a direct replacement for him and the other options (option? Hugill I guess, not sure there is anyone else?) aren't as effective. Had hoped we'd join the 100 point club but just can't see it happening now. First world problems, haha. None of this really matters. Apologies to those offended by my wanting more - just greedy I guess.

Our appeal against Giannoulis' red card has been rejected, so he'll miss all but the final league game of the season now. That should see Quintilla and/or Sorensen deputising there for the next three games.

I think we appealed the 3-match suspension rather than the red card itself but I guess it amounts to same thing. Absolutely ludicrous that Dimi has a three-match ban for not wanting a broken ankle and Pearson gets to continue doing whatever he pleases with no consequence. Football is a mess.

 

[Super_horns]

Our chances will probably depend on if Sarr fancies turning up or not.

An excellent player but away from home can easily be marked out of the game.

We have a few issues at full back with our best ones either banned or injured.

 

[Atavistic]

Only change in the end is the enforced one of Quintilla stepping in for Giannoulis. The big question will be what sort of condition everyone is in after partying hard on Saturday and after several suffered knocks. Both teams looking to bounce back after weekend losses.

Big test of how far we've truly come as we'll be needing to beat the teams like Watford more often next season to give ourselves a chance of staying up.

 

[chicowintry]

Second best all over the pitch so far.

edit - on reflection I’m being very generous there. Do we know there is a game on?

 

[Atavistic]

Watford absolutely dominant so far and should be at least two up already. Quintilla not handling Sarr well at all, and it's all coming down that Watford right wing so far.

Getting some real flashbacks to our final few games of our time in the Premier League last year. They're far more athletic than us all over the pitch.

 

[chicowintry]

Need to deal with Sarr. Very lucky to be nil still. Not sure this is a game for Quintilla. But would Sorensen do any better? Miss Dimi already.

 

[Atavistic]

Done very well to have gone in level at half-time here. We've had a decent spell here and there, but Watford have produced by far the best chances and really should have scored by now. That half perfectly shows why we went to get Giannoulis in rather than persist with Quintilla; he's good going forward (and is being given a hell of a lot of space to roam by Cathcart) but is not great defensively, as he's giving Sarr far too much room and space to work with.

We need to find an extra bit of energy in the tank in the second half to get through Watford, and to do what we can to stop them from constantly getting the ball to Sarr as that's where most of the danger is coming from.

 

[Super_horns]

Probably end up 1-0 to you !

 

[Atavistic]

That's been coming. We've been second best throughout and haven't really produced much. The title race is now about to get very interesting, as the way this has gone so far you can tell we're not going to come back from this and will be losing our second game in a row now.

Dowell offering nothing at all and really needs to come off to give us some more bite in the centre of the park.