2022/23 Matchday Thread

[BelizeHatter]

Stop whining about injuries. We have them too. Everybody does. Just get on with it. Its clear you have almost zero team spirit and nobody wants to fight for each other. Just the individual quality - that you scammed thru Itlay - on occassion plucks you out of danger.

When the crash comes to West Herts its gonna be loud and heavy

 

[Super_horns]

True but it is about 8 midfielders out now which isn’t ideal for anyone.

And yes we probably do need better team spirit etc - consistent team selection might help .

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Great win for us yesterday, played some decent stuff and I think deserved to win. Huddersfield weren’t great and we lacked a bit of energy that our style relies on, certainly had that “3rd game in a week” feel to it that we’ve often struggled with but we managed to tough it out and find a way to win. Second half was certainly a bit attritional at times. Definitely had the better chances and should have been ahead before the first goal with Adebayo missing a one v one. He was slotting those in last season but finishing seems to have deserted him this for some reason. Needs to look at Morris and how he finishes with conviction, too often his shots this season have just lacked any power.

The right side of the pitch is so strong for us especially when Doughty is there and combines with Bree. Got the winner down that side with Burke over lapping and creating an overload in that area and which he finished well. That’s been a more prominent feature under edwards and Burke is very well suited to doing it so very good to have him back. Hope we can keep him fit

 

[BelizeHatter]

I hope Burke back allows Bree to go back to rwb and allows Doughty to give us a threat on the left. That said i have no clue where hed be most effective - at the moment its wherever he plays!!!

Bell was very good yeserday and he gets up well when we attack from the right (the goals hes scored from memory are carbon copies) but when we attack from the left his vision and or distribution isnt good enough. I still see him as a lcb option. Otherwise what TFCH said.

 

[kieran_vale]

Nice one Preston. Extra points to you for doing it to them in the most painful way possible

 

[SF_]

Nice one Preston. Extra points to you for doing it to them in the most painful way possible

Kind of incredible that Stoke are as talentless as us considering the money spent.

Ched Evans is in the form of his life aged 34.

Bambo Diaby deserves a run in the side after today.

Shocking game.

 

[BelizeHatter]

I hope Burke back allows Bree to go back to rwb and allows Doughty to give us a threat on the left. That said i have no clue where hed be most effective - at the moment its wherever he plays!!!

Bell was very good yeserday and he gets up well when we attack from the right (the goals hes scored from memory are carbon copies) but when we attack from the left his vision and or distribution isnt good enough. I still see him as a lcb option. Otherwise what TFCH said.

The other thing Ive noted is Harry seems to have dropped heavily down the Edwards pecking order.

 

[kieran_vale]

Kind of incredible that Stoke are as talentless as us considering the money spent.

Ched Evans is in the form of his life aged 34.

Bambo Diaby deserves a run in the side after today.

Shocking game.

Watched it on the red button, not the greatest quality but I got what I wanted to see at the end. Stoke are an absolute rabble and are already deep into the cycle of going through another manager. At least Preston you can see are well drilled and I did like your keeper. You were never hanging on at any point but his command of the his area was really good.

 

[SF_]

Watched it on the red button, not the greatest quality but I got what I wanted to see at the end. Stoke are an absolute rabble and are already deep into the cycle of going through another manager. At least Preston you can see are well drilled and I did like your keeper. You were never hanging on at any point but his command of the his area was really good.

Woodman is our most consistent performer, very good business which is unlike us lately.

I thought we were abysmal in possession but Stoke were no better. The Stoke fans create a really shit environment for their players, moaning and booing at everything.

 

[Super_horns]

Middlesbrough and West Brom really flying.

Top 2 probably gone but anyones game for the top 6.

Excellent win for us today -Carrow Road does seem to be one of our favourite grounds.

 

[Kenneth E End]

The other thing Ive noted is Harry seems to have dropped heavily down the Edwards pecking order.

And for good reason. He’s been below average this season. For me, right now, he gets let go in June. He just hasn’t fulfilled the considerable potential he’s had, just when you think he’s turned a corner.

We did sign him in L2 remember.

 

[Kenneth E End]

True but it is about 8 midfielders out now which isn’t ideal for anyone.

And yes we probably do need better team spirit etc - consistent team selection might help .

More injuries yesterday. Including Dennis I think.

 

[Super_horns]

More injuries yesterday. Including Dennis I think.

Davis?

Yes there was .

Speaking of Dennis - he is being allowed out on loan by Forest so might be interested in a move back ?

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

And for good reason. He’s been below average this season. For me, right now, he gets let go in June. He just hasn’t fulfilled the considerable potential he’s had, just when you think he’s turned a corner.

We did sign him in L2 remember.

Think that’s a little harsh as he’s only made 6 starts all season not like he’s been giving that many opportunities to show much this season.

The rest of his appearances have been off the bench as Morris and Adebayo been preferred there’s no other room for him elsewhere. Last season he and Adebayo formed a very good partnership but he had an early season knock and missed 5 games toward the start of the season which allowed that Adebayo/Morris partnership to solidify. He hasn’t had any opportunity to build any rhythm or form so far. In certain games his high pressing from the front is really important to the set up. Don’t think he’s been amazing or anything but he does more for the team when he does play than the raw goal numbers might suggest

 

[BelizeHatter]

I love Harrys character and he always having a laugh and a joke but also seems one of your more intelligent footballers, from the small snippet fans get to see. He has been a great but frustrating player for us along the journey.

I think he adjusts slowly to each level jump, or slower than others have. Perhaps because he lacks raw talent (other than speed) but gets there as hes smarter. Ive always loved Pelly but others dont and Harry is my Pelly. He is smart and finds ways to be better and do better at rach level. But just about everyone who gets continually promoted eventually hits their level of incompetence. Sadly i suspect this is his as the one thing you cant learn is mental composure and control.

But i do love him

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Interesting perspective as I personally wouldn’t say he is a very intelligent footballer. Off the pitch he seems a good character and like you say he talks well for a footballer seems an intelligent guy. On it I wouldn’t say he is a thinking footballer, as noted by his annoying habits of being offside most of the time and he doesn’t often pick up good attacking positions. When give time to think he often chooses a bad option where as of it’s a bit more rushed he often goes off instinct and does better.

But you can never deny he is an extraordinary hard worker who runs himself into the ground and this added to his pace gives him good uses I think. Certainly in games where we want to press really high, he is perfectly suited for those sorts of games and hence I think his starts this season have come in games where we don’t really expect to have that much of the ball (QPR just last week, Burnley away, Norwich away etc)

 

[BelizeHatter]

Agree wholeheartedly with last part. He is exceptional here, and perhaps invaluable. I didnt mean in game intelligence, as he isnt a thinker hes very instinctual as you say. A one on one is a disaster for him if hes through from the halfway line, i dodnt think anyone expects him to score at more than 40%

However if hes got a split second chance he can be lethal with great instictual action. The more time he has the worse the result often is and thats a lack of composure. His intelligence is perhaps best shown in how he has adapated and stayed relevant if not important for a long time

 

[Kenneth E End]

I think his starts this season have come in games where we don’t really expect to have that much of the ball (QPR just last week, Burnley away, Norwich away etc)

I like Harry and he’s probably relatively cheap in comparison to other players, however we’ve gone above a stage now where we have a Drew Talbot who runs around but doesn’t produce that much at the end. These three games you’ve referred to resulted in 7 points this season, so other players have stepped up and produced when they not necessarily were expected to.

I just think we’re at a stage in his career where we may need to move on and evolve

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

That’s fair enough although I think drew talbot comparison is a touch harsh given how poor Drew Talbot was that later in his career he ended up as a right back ha! Don’t think that will be the the case for Harry

I think the fact those games yielded the points they did though is at least in part due to the work he does in the press and off the ball, which aides the team as a whole in those sorts of games. Think players that can do that sort of dirty work and score/produce end product consistently are likely to be out of our range still budget wise. But take the the point, his end product has fallen off precipitously this season even accounting for his game time.

 

[SF_]

I put this in the wrong thread.

Norwich at home on Saturday.

Brady came off the bench in the cup so is back in contention. Evans probably isn't available, so I'd throw Cannon and Delap straight into the eleven. No news on Parrott but he must be close.

My team would be:

Woodman
Diaby, Lindsay, Hughes
Whiteman
Browne, Brady, DJ, Fernandez
Cannon, Delap​

Although I think Lowe will probably play another defensive-minded midfielder like Ledson or McCann.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

West Brom at home for us today. Reverse fixture was one of the more boring 0-0 that you will see but that was when Bruce was in charge and they have had a significant up turn in fortune since then with Corberan. Don’t look to have conceded too much since his arrival and rocketing up the league. I really rate him as a manager as at Huddersfield he was was tactically very flexible as we saw in the playoff semi finals and both games we had with them. Think it will be a extremely challenging game and a point wouldn’t be a bad result for me as I expect them to now make the playoffs

As for us you’d expect Lockyer to come back in in defence. Interesting if we carry on with Watson in midfield who has impressed in his 2 starts, I think we might and swap Woodrow for Pelly to get a proper 3 man midfield rather than a 2 and a number 10. Wouldn’t even mind it if we brought Doughty in there, he’s in such good form and seems one of those players like Clark who does a good job everywhere you put him

 

[SF_]

Absolutely baffled by our lineup, I'm expecting a ten men behind the ball job

 

[BelizeHatter]

Great game. Be nice to nick another but very much on the back foot since our second versus a very dangerous side - who as usual for a Corberan side, adapted tactically very well to our great start. Need Edwards to tweak it somehow

 

[SF_]

Absolutely baffled by our lineup, I'm expecting a ten men behind the ball job

Wow, I wish it was ten men behind the ball.

Our pile of shite manager decided to play a high line against Pukki, Sargent, Dowell, and Hernandez. Lowe would be potted if it was up to me.

Two loanees looked very handy, everything else was disgraceful.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Right outcome unfortunately for us. Felt both of our goals were against the run of things and even in the very short period at 0-0 you could see this was a different beast to the Bruce side we played earlier this season. If they’d have started the season with Corberan then they would be up with Burnley probably. Always felt that a comeback was on the cards even at 2-0 so not surprised at the outcome really.

Frustrating as 2 of the goals they scored felt like our errors and could have been dealt with better but that’s bound to happen when you’re on the back foot like that for such a sustained period.

Small worry is that edwards didn’t seem to know how to turn the tide really not really any tactical changes until 2-2 and by then it was obvious who would win the game. West Brom we’re excellent though so maybe just one of those things

 

[BelizeHatter]

Class/Money told in the end. We are so very close, but dont quite have enough to compete with the very top teams.

Think we expend too much energy early and then run out of steam or perhaps mental strength with a drop of quality off the bench - the exception to that is Louie Watson who looks a great prospect. Not a complaint or slight on those that come on, just facts of life for our size and resources. We do amazing to compete.

However today that expended energy got us a decent lead and if Horvarth doesnt shit himself and chicken out the one on one, we may hold out. Then another error cost us and only one winner then. Hes been shakey a while under high balls for a Giant.

They had a lot of other chances so no real complaints just frustrating. Corberan showing his tactical.class again. Jed Wallace was outstanding. Their midfield over run early then reversed it and we struggled. Good game -but sick

 

[BelizeHatter]

Money starting to show. Only Blackburn to be replaced by Norwich any time now and its all the parachute boys in the Top 6

 

[Super_horns]

Although tbf it did take a young lad on his debut from the youth team to break the deadlock .

Other debutants did well too and actually Sarr was pretty decent which I accept helps .

 

[SF_]

Money starting to show. Only Blackburn to be replaced by Norwich any time now and its all the parachute boys in the Top 6

As bad as we were, Pukki was also on another level today. £10m Sargent looked good, and Hernandez wasn't too shabby.

I think your top 6 prediction is probably correct.

 

[Super_horns]

Final day of the season moved to Monday 8th May due to the Kings Coronation .

https://twitter.com/x/status/1616060228159655937