20/21 Matchday Thread

[Millerbri]

We made 5 changes today, out went Smith, Crookes, Olosunde, Wiles and Wood and we rather got away with it.
Not complaining because we have lost a lot of deserved points this season so it's nice to get a break.
Back to back wins and our second double up in 4 days saw us out of the bottom 3.
We use up one of our games in hand on Tuesday night versus Cardiff who also had an unexpected away win.
Hope we can keep up the good form but just watch Vaulks and Moore come back and haunt us.

 

[Kenneth E End]

7th season in a row and only 1 season in the last 10 James Collins hasn't got to double figures in a season.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Hes not the most stylistically pleasing player but its always been the same, very simple equation, with him. You get half decent balls into the penalty area he will score goals.

The common theme with all his bad games is bad final balls leading to him not getting the ball in and around the area. Not a surprise that we got a few extra people up there with him in the area, the delivery was noticeably better from Pelly, Cornick et al and hes scored a goal. When those things arent there he starts hunting for involvement in the game by dropping deep or going wide to pick up the ball which only highlights his relative technical deficiencies.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Seems to be a lot of red cards being overturned this season - I expect Harry Toffolo's to be added to the list. I actually thought Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's tackle was worse at the start of the game, however one of those situations where red cards aren't allowed to be shown early in the game...

I actually really liked Toffolo yesterday, I thought he was a real threat and longer term could be a good replacement for Potts.

 

[chicowintry]

We’re going to have to magic up a win against one of Cardiff, Norwich, Brentford, Swansea or Blackburn else we’ll be in the shitter.

Good time to play Norwich. They look completely incapable of scoring. Also, yesterday aside, Cardiff haven't been in great form either. Brentford and Swansea could get ugly for you though - I can't see anyone stopping them now from making the automatic places their own.

 

[beaufighter]

Some fuss in our game about Evans challenge on our keeper leading to the goal. I thought that was fair and Johansson needed to be stronger. Earlier in the game Evans should have got a straight red for a dreadful late “follow up” challenge on the keeper he had no right to make. Barkuisen was actually ahead of Evans and entitled to go for it and he managed to challenge fairly. Fortunately they picked Johansson’s eye up off the pitch and sewed it back in and he carried on.

 

[SF_]

One of those days for us, own goal after 16 seconds or something, then the Whiteman freekick that rolled across the line. Just had to laugh really.

Evans actually played really well, pleasantly surprised. Didn't see much wrong with his goal, ball in the air to be won.

 

[Millerbri]

One of those days for us, own goal after 16 seconds or something, then the Whiteman freekick that rolled across the line. Just had to laugh really.

Evans actually played really well, pleasantly surprised. Didn't see much wrong with his goal, ball in the air to be won.

Yes I agree, I think it was a cross Johansson should have been punching.
Preferably catching Evans' head on the way past to make up for him putting studs in his head.

No doubt lady luck smiled on us though.

 

[beaufighter]

When that free kick hit the post, deflected off our keeper and still didn’t go in was the moment I knew we were winning that game however much PNE battered us. i too had to laugh, in disbelief, after I’d wiped my arse. I agree there was nothing wrong with Evans challenge for the goal. It’s actually annoying how often refs penalise forwards for challenging keepers. Cleanly of course.

 

[Atavistic]

Now that Brentford have gone top, I'd have to say I expect to see them stay there for the rest of the season and completely run away with the title. It's now probably between us and Swansea for second place and, given our goal difference is drastically worse than both Swansea and Brentford we need some good results to pick ourselves back up.

A slightly more generous run of fixtures (on paper) is coming up for the rest of this month, so we need to be aiming to pick up at least 11 points from the next five before the big match against Brentford at the start of March. Buendia's return from suspension should give us a helping hand, but now that teams know you can nullify us entirely by setting up as Warnock's Boro did, our job becomes a lot harder.

At the very least, it's important to at least get a goal on the board and hopefully get back to winning ways against Stoke on Saturday.

 

[SF_]

Blackburn away on Friday night, some promising signs against Rotherham but ultimately we lost, missed chances and conceded two soft goals so hard to be optimistic. This season is just about picking up wins here and there and festering in mid-table you would think.

Mass changes from the games in November and Davies & Pearson didn't even start in that one so it shows the turnover.

Hard to guess at a team but i'll go for:

Iversen
Browne, Van Der Berg, Lindsay, Cunningham
Whiteman, Molumby
Sinclair, Johnson, Gordon
Evans
​

A rare draw would be fine.

 

[SF_]

Anthony Gordon supposedly out, actually brought some much needed creativity on his debut.

Not sure if i'll bother watching this, arm chair football is wank.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Anthony Gordon supposedly out, actually brought some much needed creativity on his debut.

Not sure if i'll bother watching this, arm chair football is wank.

Really is isn’t it. Just isn’t the same, definitely don’t feel like I’m as invested at the moment.

 

[BelizeHatter]

I only had it via tv for 20 yrs now. But even with that history its not close to the same experience without fans in the grounds

 

[SF_]

Confusing team, pretty sure Storey will cost us a goal.

Iversen
Storey, Lindsay, Hughes
Browne, Whiteman, Ledson, Cunningham
Johnson
Barkhuizen, Evans​

That's my best guess at a formation.

 

[Super_horns]

Good win for Preston at Blackburn.

Hopefully won't be that good on Tuesday!

 

[SF_]

Comfortable that I thought.

Game plan was spot on first half, completely stopped them playing out and deservedly grabbed a 2-0 lead. Was never a penalty, weak as fuck officiating.

Second half Blackburn had good possession on the edge of our area but created little. We had the better opportunities though, on the break. Riis should have gone down when Branthwaite dived in, completely put him out of his stride so he fucked up his shot.

Evans, DJ & Barkhuizen did good work up top, Cunningham impressive, Ledson is a fucking idiot but played well, Whiteman solid but my man of the match was probably Lindsay, dealt with everything.

Friday night games are great when you win, Saturday is just for betting.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Despite my comment above it is a pretty big game for us today I think up at Birmingham.

Not a 6 pointer or a “must win” but our gradual slide down the table does begin to feel a bit like it’s gaining some momentum, if we don’t come away with something. Therefore it could some way to setting the tone for the remainder of the season - relative mid table serenity or relegation battle.

Got a run of these sorts of games against teams at the lower/mid part of the table so could really do with a positive result to get off on the right foot.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Despite my comment above it is a pretty big game for us today I think up at Birmingham.

Not a 6 pointer or a “must win” but our gradual slide down the table does begin to feel a bit like it’s gaining some momentum, if we don’t come away with something. Therefore it could some way to setting the tone for the remainder of the season - relative mid table serenity or relegation battle.

Got a run of these sorts of games against teams at the lower/mid part of the table so could really do with a positive result to get off on the right foot.

We've gone down to 15th from 12th - it's not really a slide just yet, with some very winnable fixtures this month. January included Brentford, Blackburn and Bournemouth away all consecutively, with a cup away fixture at Chelsea thrown in. Suppose it says a lot about our increased expectations this season.

We really have to go for it today and add to our seven away goals all season. Need to get Tom Ince in from the off; we can't afford to have him 'find match fitness' sitting on the bench.

I do hope that Brum stay where they are for the rest of the season - they appear to be a mess both on and off the pitch and surviving despite being quite a dross side.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

We've gone down to 15th from 12th - it's not really a slide just yet, with some very winnable fixtures this month. January included Brentford, Blackburn and Bournemouth away all consecutively, with a cup away fixture at Chelsea thrown in. Suppose it says a lot about our increased expectations this season.

We really have to go for it today and add to our seven away goals all season. Need to get Tom Ince in from the off; we can't afford to have him 'find match fitness' sitting on the bench.

I do hope that Brum stay where they are for the rest of the season - they appear to be a mess both on and off the pitch and surviving despite being quite a dross side.

Sure if you look at it in terms of position its basically the same, I was more talking about the gap between us and the lower part of the table in terms of points, things have bunched up of late to the point where the side in 23rd are within 3 points of us with a win today. We have gradually slid back toward that area to a point where we are almost within striking distance of those sides.

Agree on Ince and I do not understand Jones comments about it this week in terms of his play time. He is here on a 6 month loan and todays an important game - get him in the side and impacting rather than drip feeding him in. He plays a position we desperately need more output from as well. Not sure the point of getting what is likely a pretty expensive loan by our standards in and have him sit on the bench for the first quarter of it. His comment about him not playing since December was weird too - CCV hadnt played since November when he came in last season - sub appearance his first game and then a full 90 in the next.

 

[oakroader]

Best we’ve started a game for ages...

 

[Kenneth E End]

I said this exactly one week ago about Huddersfield, but Birmingham are absolutely terrible.

We cannot go sleepwalking again in the second half like last week, but I really am struggling to see Brum staying up based on that.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Something about us and St Andrews this season but our second terrible game we have been involved in here. Got the goal, which typified the game in a sense, long throw in cause chaos and Potts nods in from a yard.

No flow to the game with the ref ruining any chance of that calling every minor thing as a foul with no advantages being played and 2 teams who clearly struggle to be creative. Having said that I think we’ve edged it with the goal and a few other half chances, but yeah - not one for the neutral.

 

[Atavistic]

Lovely goal from Cantwell to break our goal drought, and a much scrappier one from Pukki to break his goal drought and double our lead (honestly thought his was offside, but no complaints). Looks like we've responded well to the Swansea result, but still a long way to go.

Big scoreline over at Watford as well, so far. Bristol City really don't seem to fare very well against the top sides at all.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Another Gavin Ward masterclass.

I'm not for criticising referees for every single mistake, but some of the officials at this level need to be set out to pasture.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Another Gavin Ward masterclass.

I'm not for criticising referees for every single mistake, but some of the officials at this level need to be set out to pasture.

Him and Woolmer are both terrible. Both got serious cases of little man syndrome

 

[Super_horns]

Lovely goal from Cantwell to break our goal drought, and a much scrappier one from Pukki to break his goal drought and double our lead (honestly thought his was offside, but no complaints). Looks like we've responded well to the Swansea result, but still a long way to go.

Big scoreline over at Watford as well, so far. Bristol City really don't seem to fare very well against the top sides at all.

We have played well but some of the defending has been shocking from them!

 

[Atavistic]

Giannoulis went from zero to hero in a matter of minutes here, gifting Stoke a goal with a moronic pass across his own box under zero pressure, only to then work hard and get a clever assist for our third.

It's a been more open from us at both ends of the pitch in general and just generally being played much quicker across the park. Makes us look a fair bit shakier defensively, but after drawing four consecutive blanks we needed to sacrifice a little defensive solidity for a more threatening attack (though, if not for the Giannoulis blunder, we'd still have a clean sheet as it stands).

And Pukki with a penalty for his second and our fourth. A nice boost to the goal difference if we can keep hold of this now.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

One of the worst games of football to are ever likely to see but 3 points so who cares really.

Despite there being no real major decisions to make mistakes on, genuinely one of the worst refereeing performances you are likely to see. Just dreadful.

 

[SF_]

Huddersfield contenders for the bottom three?