2022/23 Matchday Thread

[Kenneth E End]

Always fun the first few weeks of the season to see what the refs are “focusing” only for it all to be forgotten come the first international break.

To be fair it’s a tough job and some of that advice is pretty contradictory “higher threshold for fouls” but also “penalising holding at set pieces more”.

Only be a game or so before each official has been chastised for not giving a foul in the build up to a goal or being accused of a soft penalty from a set piece

And this why being a referee is an impossible job sometimes. These new initiatives are very much open to interpretation. One referee will follow the letter of the law religiously whereas another will let something go - probably on the same match week.

To be honest, the standard of refereeing last season was probably some of the worst in living memory as a bunch of refs were promoted up to the Premier League and not particularly well replaced.

 

[Daz_3000]

Hard start on Sunday against Coventry, however it’ll give us a chance to see if some of the lads can make the step up. We definitely need additions before the end of the window imo.

Got my coupon on for Saturday and backed Luton, Blackpool, Hull & Norwich to start with wins. Safe travels to all this weekend.

 

[Super_horns]

And this why being a referee is an impossible job sometimes. These new initiatives are very much open to interpretation. One referee will follow the letter of the law religiously whereas another will let something go - probably on the same match week.

To be honest, the standard of refereeing last season was probably some of the worst in living memory as a bunch of refs were promoted up to the Premier League and not particularly well replaced.

That is where the issue of subjectivity and consistency comes in.

Bit like with VAR in the PL - every ref has their own opinion on something so as you say differ from week to week.

And because unlike in other sports we never hear from them we don;t know what was the reasoning is for a decision.

Obviously there are some real errors where they haven't enforced the laws rightly...

 

[Kenneth E End]

This is the team that will smash Birmingham on Saturday. I think despite the 5 sub rule, there is only 18 in the matchday squad again:

GK Ethan Horvath
RWB James Bree
LWB Alfie Doughty
LCB Sonny Bradley
CB Tom Lockyer
RCB Reece Burke
CM Allan Campbell
CM Jordan Clark
AM Cauley Woodrow
FW Carlton Morris
FW Elijah Adebayo

Subs: Matt Macey, Gabe Osho, Luke Berry*, Fred Onyedinma*, Luke Freeman, Harry Cornick, Cameron Jerome
Injured: Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Glen Rea, Louie Watson
Not Used: Carlos Mendes-Gomes, Dion Pereira, Harry Isted, Henri Lansbury, Admiral Muskwe, Elliot Thorpe, Amari Bell.

*if fit

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Going to be quite a job for NJ to find the balance this season I think as we have so many attacking players and options. I think Morris and Woodrow will start on the bench with Cornick and Adebayo up top.

For me our best midfield is Clark, Berry, Campbell just whether Berry is actually fit or not. For me I’m not sure the balance will be right with Woodrow as a 10 in that midfield, lot of work for Campbell, Clark to cover but I’m no tactical expert.

Also got a feeling he fancies Osho to make a big step this season and he might get in over Lockyer but that might be just me reading in too much of who has played significant minutes in pre season.

 

[D B Disco]

First up for us, away to Hull.

We had a decent end to last season and have had a solid pre-season. A couple of decent looking signings, and more importantly, haven't lost any key players (although Semenyo is out injured until around September time.)

Looks like Hull have made a few additions, that may need time to click.

Quite fancy us to take all 3 points from this one.

 

[jhe10]

First up for us, away to Hull.

We had a decent end to last season and have had a solid pre-season. A couple of decent looking signings, and more importantly, haven't lost any key players (although Semenyo is out injured until around September time.)

Looks like Hull have made a few additions, that may need time to click.

Quite fancy us to take all 3 points from this one.

Genuinely have no idea about this. It will take a few games to settle all the new players, but we have a tough start so could really do to win the first two. At least all the injuries make it easier to guess the team, or 10 of them anyway.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

All starts tonight then, Huddersfield Vs Burnley. Looking at the Burnley side a slightly different proposition to what they ended last season with. Signed a lot of younger players but a core of Barnes, Roberts, Brownhill, Cork who i think will be good at this level.

Slightly surprised to see Twine only on the bench thought he would be the one they would look to build the side around.

Huddersfield look similar to last season but O'brien and Toffollo look like big misses.

 

[Kenneth E End]

I didn’t realise how much of an overhaul Burnley have had. They’ve brought in £50M+ in transfer fees and spent about £6M. The experience levels have also gone through the floor.

Clearly have quality, but a bit of a gamble this strategy. Experience is so important at this level.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

I think they needed as the Dyche group were getting stale. They’ve got a decent experienced core still though, Taylor, Cork, Barnes through the spine of the side and Cullen has been a decent player for Charlton and an international. Brownhill pretty experienced too. Roberts/Maatsen been quality fullbacks at this level as well before with Swansea and Coventry. Might be a bit short at centre half though and perhaps missing a goal scorer.

Looking pretty sharp so far and deserve to lead

 

[SF_]

Good guy.

https://www.facebook.com/TheFootyCommunity/photos/a.915355615198577/5621268454607246

 

[D B Disco]

Good guy.

https://www.facebook.com/TheFootyCommunity/photos/a.915355615198577/5621268454607246

Yeah, fair play.

 

[Super_horns]

I think they needed as the Dyche group were getting stale. They’ve got a decent experienced core still though, Taylor, Cork, Barnes through the spine of the side and Cullen has been a decent player for Charlton and an international. Brownhill pretty experienced too. Roberts/Maatsen been quality fullbacks at this level as well before with Swansea and Coventry. Might be a bit short at centre half though and perhaps missing a goal scorer.

Looking pretty sharp so far and deserve to lead

Yes they played well and didn’t let Huddersfield get near them at times keeping the ball well.

Huddersfield improved after a few subs but Burnley were comfortable.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Good guy.

https://www.facebook.com/TheFootyCommunity/photos/a.915355615198577/5621268454607246

Yeah he really he is, I think last season we brought him for his experience and character toward the end of the season as much anything, obviously we don’t see too much but he seemed a really great guy. Doesn’t “need” to do anything there considering he doesn’t even play for us anymore but he’s gone out of his way. Jones called him a “champions league level character” and you can see why.

As for Mat Westwood, his family was invited to training yesterday and looked like they had a great time with the players and Mick looking after them. He seems to have a wonderful attitude and taking the best of the time he has left. Terribly sad but hoping they have a great day in particular

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Injury issues for us already seemingly as Burke, Doughty, Berry already missing through injury. Burke a big miss for me as his overlapping runs are pretty big for us especially in light of Naismiths cross field passes not being a factor any longer

Leaves us starting a few players who have barely played in pre season like Bell and especially Freeman whose fitness is and has been questionable for a few years now. Hmm

 

[BelizeHatter]

Shocker of a lineup.

 

[SF_]

Wigan away, seems a kind start but the opening day throws out loads of curve balls. We lost 4-2 to Hull at home last season. Sold out away end so should be a good atmosphere at least.

Guessing Lowe would want a full week with Fernandez before starting him, but we'll see.

Woodman
Storey, Lindsay, Hughes
Whiteman
Potts, Browne, Johnson, Brady
Riis, Parrott

Cornell, Bauer, Fernandez, McCann, Ledson, Woodburn, Evans​

Nailed the lineup and subs.

 

[SF_]

Crappy half really but should be winning. Their keeper saved two one on ones that should have been scored and we clipped the bar from the resulting corner in injury time.

We haven't really found any rhythm but managed to get in behind them a few times. Wigan mounted some pressure from corners and long throws but I've felt comfortable.

 

[SF_]

Really poor game. That's as bad as I've seen DJ play.

Soft red card for me after seeing the replay, Tilt made it look worse than it was.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

0-0 so an improvement on last years result in this fixture I guess!

Feel a little frustrated at that, think on the whole we had the better of the play but never looked sharp enough in the final third at all, which given that’s where all the recruitment has been focused a little disappointing. Promising debut for Freeman in particular though I felt looks like a left footed Jordan Clark with a touch more trickery about him.

Birmingham came into a little bit for 5 minute periods here and there but felt there gameplan was to get a point which they’ve done. Felt the game was there for the taking so a little sore we didn’t tbh

 

[Kenneth E End]

Not sure what to make of that one today to be honest.

Birmingham look a fairly gritty side - Eustace seems to have them pretty well drilled. They may well do better than some might think. They've got a pretty decent starting XI, but clearly lack some depth. Troy Deeney did absolutely nothing, but when you can bring on Lukas Jutkiewicz, that's not a bad option.

Thought we lacked something today - whilst they were hardworking, they looked pretty toothless up front. Perhaps a result of the warm weather (only 2 teams have scored 2 goals this weekend) and a shorter pre-season.

Thought Luke Freeman was a real positive. Jordan Clark continues to get better. James Bree has a great right foot and Gabe Osho really maturing as a defender now.

 

[Super_horns]

Sure Troy got a lot of stick !

And probably enjoyed that too .

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Not sure what to make of that one today to be honest.

Birmingham look a fairly gritty side - Eustace seems to have them pretty well drilled. They may well do better than some might think. They've got a pretty decent starting XI, but clearly lack some depth. Troy Deeney did absolutely nothing, but when you can bring on Lukas Jutkiewicz, that's not a bad option.

Thought we lacked something today - whilst they were hardworking, they looked pretty toothless up front. Perhaps a result of the warm weather (only 2 teams have scored 2 goals this weekend) and a shorter pre-season.

Thought Luke Freeman was a real positive. Jordan Clark continues to get better. James Bree has a great right foot and Gabe Osho really maturing as a defender now.

You picked out the same players that i thought stood out too. Pleasantly surprised by Freeman, did well given he hasnt played in pre-season and looked to do positive things with it. Hoping some cohesiveness will come in attack but my first thought when we brought in Woodrow and Morris was - can we get the balance right? I think it could be a season of trying to find it.

Sure Troy got a lot of stick !

And probably enjoyed that too .

He did but he barely touched the ball at all!

 

[Super_horns]

Tbh he is probably past it as a player .

Just gone back home for a last hurrah .

Still bound to score in a few weeks when we play at St Andrew’s.

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

Well, our season has probably been derailed before its even begun. O’Hare torn his hamstring in the last training session before the game, sounds like he’s going to be out for months.

Can’t see us getting anything at Sunderland tomorrow.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

That’s a real shame, O’hare is a great little player

 

[SMH]

Bad day for us, Jack Whatmough subbed off injured and the manager didn't sound optimistic about it post match. By far our best player in the 30 minutes he was on the pitch, looked like he'd been playing at this level all his career. If he's out for a considerable amount of time then we're in big trouble. Pretty sure he played every game last season as well, standard!

 

[Millerbri]

In spite of starting the season with key players missing, a more than satisfactory start against a good Swansea team.

Not much posession but 8 shots on target out of 9 always gave us a chance of getting something out of the game. In fact the Swans keeper was probably their MoM.

That's the way our season will be, not much possession so we will have to be good on the break and our rely on our well practised set pieces.

Some fisticuffs from idiots of both sets of supporters after the final whistle, why do they even go to matches if all they do is goad one another for 90+ minutes?

 

[Super_horns]

Early days but you probably won’t get a more fortunate penalty than the one Hull got .

Talk about a delayed fall..about 5 seconds after potentially being touched by the Bristol City defender .

https://www.skysports.com/amp/footb...-2-1-bristol-city-tigers-hit-back-for-victory

The likes of Kane and Salah would have been proud of it .

 

[Kenneth E End]

Watching back on the highlights this morning - we really should’ve taken one of those chances. But like everything in this division - fine margins.

Ruddy is an upgrade on Etheridge, so that is a shrewd signing; he actually had a very good game yesterday.