2022/23 Matchday Thread

[BelizeHatter]

Change in shape allowed us to not make up for Rea but the loss of KDH. We lost the creative spark, couldnt replace it so changed things. a
Added a defender and width from wingbacks, added graft and hustle with ability to press and ball retention from the mid with Campbell and Pelly with backups and the idea of getting it forward faster. We're probably better off as an effective team than when we had KDH. We have options and have used Osho and Lansbury deeper and lost one of the attackers but with a hard working two in mid it allows a better more attack mindset fronted by the excellent Eli and weve scored a ton more

 

[SMH]

Last season Rea didn’t have a great season but this i personally felt was playing quite well before losing his place in the team when he picked up a knock. Came back against Bristol City shortly before going on loan and didn’t have the best game ill admit but was his first game since November so a touch unfair to write him off on that.

Not sure shape has much to do with it because he’s played in the midfield when we’ve played a back 3 this season quite a few times and Osho going there has shown there’s a place for a DM in the shape. He played in some good performances this season, noteably the 5-0 demolition of Coventry where he was very good and key to the tactics of that game in holding position in midfield and allowing Clark, Berry and those ahead of him to wreak havoc with the press. As a centre half and probably overall promise as a player Osho is clearly better but as an option at DM he’d be welcomed right now, indeed we’d be able to replicate the midfield of probably our best performance of the season if he was around right now.

Anyway somewhat moot as he’s not around and seemingly not settled at Wigan either. I guess we will be hoping Pelly is fit for the Coventry game so at least we can have maybe him, berry, Clark to choose from if Campbell and Osho can’t go. Has to be said I don’t think any player we have there right now is 100% fit as the schedule has just been brutal.

Rea hasn't struggled to settle, he just couldn't get in the team because we're winning near enough every week. Finally got a chance to start Saturday and hyper extended his knee after about 10 minutes. Left the ground on crutches and is probably done for the season.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Thats not good to hear. Hes been a star performer for us over the years and one of the reasons we stepped thru the Leagues giving safety in front if the CBs while we attacked with abandon with everyone else.

Wish him well as im thinking hes out if contract in the summer and this was his shop window for the next contract somewhere?

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

I’d say not having an impact and not playing is roughly analogous with not settling but I guess doesn’t matter if he’s crocked himself now.

He’s not out of contract in the summer I don’t think, he signed a long term deal at the end in 2020. I think he’s got 2 more years on it

 

[BelizeHatter]

Expecting quite a few changes tonight after that injury ridden loss at Boro. Hoping for a better mentality from us as its crunch time. Be nice to play well for longer periods too. Cov will be looking to put right an appalling display earlier in the season.

While we seem quite strong mentally we can occassionally buckle and just give up sometimes, when its tough. Might be unfair but felt we didnt quite believe at times v Boro. COYRRH

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

Expecting another battering at the hands of Luton tonight. We were atrocious on Saturday and our season is really fizzling out.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

We aren’t really sure what sort of side we are going to put because injuries have really started racking up. Could be missing some big players and even those important ones who are available, some are clearly struggling with knocks and not being 100%. Central midfield in particular is looking weak and even those available its not at all clear if under normal circumstances theyd be playing. Could become a bit attritional tonight.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Decent side. First choice strikforce, hardworking with skill in CM with Berry and Pelly and Clark in front of them i guess. Not too shabby. IF they are on their game. Cov look attack minded with a dangerous looking front three. Bring it on

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

Not there tonight but sounds like every other game we’ve played for the past 4 months. Miss early chances, let the opposition score with their first decent chance and then proceed to gift them an easy win. Doubt Luton will have to do much to secure the three points from here on out.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Been a really poor game overall, both teams struggled to keep it on the pitch at times especially us but Coventry not a great deal better in that respect. We want to get the ball forward quickly but often when we win the second it’s too frenetic at times and we lose it quickly. Makes for a tough watch at times.

Coventry had a couple of shots but not anything you wouldn’t expect your keeper to deal with, then the centre half misjudged a straight punt up to Adebayo leaving him one v one which he tucked away nicely. Poor poor goal from the Coventry point of view as not much guile to it. We were starting to do a few things with Clark becoming more influential but…yeah pretty low quality all around.

Definitely a few more mistakes in this

 

[BelizeHatter]

Need to get a better grip of midfield. Cov had a lot of the ball but we've restricted chances on the whole. Stiffen the mid, keep and pass the ball better catch them on the break. Eli got the beating of his defender and just need Harry to wake up. Pelly and Luke sluggish.

 

[Super_horns]

Not there tonight but sounds like every other game we’ve played for the past 4 months. Miss early chances, let the opposition score with their first decent chance and then proceed to gift them an easy win. Doubt Luton will have to do much to secure the three points from here on out.

It’s not been that bad really ?

Still very much mid table which is decent .

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

It’s not been that bad really ?

Still very much mid table which is decent .

The quality of performance has been very poor since New Year, and aside from some good results against the very worst teams in the division we’ve barely won. Good start is masking what’s been a poor 20 or so games now.

But anyway, FT 1-0. Luton won’t have picked up an easier 6 points all season. Thank Christ we’ve already got 51 points else we’d be nervously looking over our shoulders right now.

 

[kieran_vale]

Stoke fans are going to be fuming right now. That equaliser has just saved O’Neills job.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Luton win again. Blip over. That top 2 is in sight.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Solid restricted Cov to pot shots and alike while off colour. Eli looks flat out exhausted. Surpised he stayed on.

Really dislike the game Management we are starting to overdo. We just need to be calm and pass and keep the ball not overdo the time wasting and going down. Hate that part of modern game and weve started to employ it last few weeks

 

[Super_horns]

Stoke fans are going to be fuming right now. That equaliser has just saved O’Neills job.

Probably be annoyed it took them 95th minute to get a goal to save a point .

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Second half was a bit of a non event, we had a decent chance through Adebayo and Palmer made a decent save from O’hare but little else to speak of and saw it out relatively comfortably. Quality was low all around from both sides, think the players are just knackered right now, we can’t press anymore like we did early season and it’s really apparent that the schedule is affecting the quality of our games I think. But still we keep on grinding, fair play to this group we have don’t think we’ve had a harder working bunch really.

Odd thing at the final whistle, Adebayo was absolutely furious about something and almost stormed off. Had to be coaxed back by Snodgrass and Clark to clap the away support but was not happy about something at all. Maybe wanted to come off as he took some huge whacks and in general looked totally shattered

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Solid restricted Cov to pot shots and alike while off colour. Eli looks flat out exhausted. Surpised he stayed on.

Really dislike the game Management we are starting to overdo. We just need to be calm and pass and keep the ball not overdo the time wasting and going down. Hate that part of modern game and weve started to employ it last few weeks

Thought your man Bell was outstanding defensively today I have to say Belize. What do you think? Decent defensively but he’s not great going forward is he

 

[kieran_vale]

Probably be annoyed it took them 95th minute to get a goal to save a point .

That too but just judging by a few of the ones I know the moment it hit 90 they were begging for the whistle just in hope they release the statement after the game. They’ve been hamstrung a bit by FFP but I think they’re a fair bit better than they’ve shown this season.

 

[BelizeHatter]

I agree Bell was immense tonight. Has been for a few weeks. I'll eat some humble pie there ;-) he even went on a couple of mazy runs and didnt lose the ball - altho he tried to Guess Jones trusts him tho as he was still last/only man back on corners etc versus speedsters when on a yellow from the one time he did get caught.

His defending was never my main gripe altho he had a couple of mares but he gets no natural support in front of him as we dont have a lefty mid.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Eli is just wiped out. Hes run himself ragged all season and getting knocked about. I listened to the Cov commentary tonight and they were scathing of his gamesmanship, which if i didnt see him week in week out would have understood and agreed. Hes just soooo knackered and in pain he cant get up towards the end. Should have swapped him out soon after Cameron came on.

We cant really afford to be without him for games but we are done if he misses the rest of the season with a full injury

 

[Super_horns]

That too but just judging by a few of the ones I know the moment it hit 90 they were begging for the whistle just in hope they release the statement after the game. They’ve been hamstrung a bit by FFP but I think they’re a fair bit better than they’ve shown this season.

Had a good start didn't they which raised expectations and hope.

Seem to just be very inconsistent and not score goals despite having lots of attacking players.

I am not sure if the fans wanted Pulis out or a change in the style of football but maybe another example of be careful what you wish for?

I know I cannot exactly talk about management changes but they are another team who have been through a few.

Probably gulp at the thought of teams with less money and size in terms of club finishing higher than them with ex failed managers too!

 

[SF_]

Cardiff away on Saturday, they've been a real bogey side for us lately, won their last 5 against us, including a full-on dicking last season.

I love Ched Evans, the guy is just a warrior and his all-round play is top class but he just doesn't score and we're leaving a genuine goalscorer on the bench in Riis. I'd be using him as a last 30 minute player personally but I can see why Lowe wants him in there, he's one of the few leaders we have, plus Riis offers pretty much nothing other than goals.

Ali McCann had a good cameo at LWB and I think everyone is just fucking sick of Josh Earl now, including Lowe, so i'd give McCann a full 90 there.

Unchanged other than that, give Bambo a proper run.

Iversen
Van Den Berg, Diaby, Hughes
Whiteman
Potts, Browne, Johnson, McCann
Riis, Archer​

Saw a stat that Riis and Archer both have a record of scoring a goal for every 5 shots, up there with the best in the division in terms of conversion, we just don't have the required service with our makeshift wingbacks who don't have that natural instinct to get to the byline.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

We have QPR on Sunday lunchtime on sky. 6th Vs 7th so a really important one in the playoff race. They e not been in so great form having lost the last 2 and we are in decent form overall but I don’t think I’ve ever seen us beat QPR. A real bogey team of ours in the classic sense only beaten them once in 34 years so I read on Twitter the other day.

Hoping exertions if midweek don’t prove costly, we looked pretty knackered at the final whistle especially Adebayo who has taken a battering al season.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Lets finally do these Hoops and get one over on our distant second rivals.......for me anyway. Been to a ton of games v them and like tfch doubt i seen a win...... Lots of last minute heartache, Kiwomya, a Peter Crouch show seems to stick in the throat with no details other than controversy and the edginess of trouble esp with gamea at Loftus Road as both sets if fans always poured into the same tight streets

 

[Super_horns]

Good night for Bournemouth.

West Brom will have mixed feelings .

Good comeback but really need to win whilst Huddersfield will be thinking they were hard done by.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Not normally one to have a go at referees but the standard this season has been appalling. Last night the game turned on a pretty dodgy penalty award for West Brom and then on the early kick off Barnsley are 1 up from a very poor penalty decision that arguably should have been a foul the other way from when the Barnsley player initially “won” the ball.

Really noticeable that officials this season have let a lot of things go in the middle third of the pitch but then tighten up in the boxes on what they consider a foul. A hard job but the standard this season has not been good enough

 

[Super_horns]

Watching Quest definitely did seem to be some real inconsistencies!

Almost as if they are trying to even things up.

 

[SF_]

Fuck me, we love a draw