General Matchday Thread

[oakroader]

It’s only Fulham next....
Ho ho fucking ho...

 

[Kenneth E End]

10 defeats in 13 games. Not looking good I must say.

And here comes another Mitrovic dry bumming.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Tough loss today and to me it’s becoming increasingly apparent that we do not have the quality for this level. We’ve tried to keep it tight and hit them on the break and have done in the last few. We looked quite solid (for us!) defensively but going forward we simply don’t have the quality to make the few openings we make count. Again we cocked up a 1v1 against the keeper whereas teams punish us in those situations.

Its not really helped playing the diamond with 2 fullbacks who are clearly not comfortable or learning the position. Bolton did ok today but was clear Swansea wanted to pick on him, Bree reasonable defensively but a total non entity in attack and very reluctant to get forward.

Think Jones has done well in recent weeks in trying to make the most of what we have but Subs were a bit odd today. I didn’t see the need for Tunnicliffe as Butterfield/Berry we’re doing ok. We lost shape with him after that I felt. His corner at the end there sums him up as a player for me.

Yesterday was a bit of a strange game I thought.

I don't think either team really did a lot in the first half. Swansea I thought were there for the taking, but to be fair to them, did a very good job of stifling most attacks.

The second half the away side upped the pace considerably. Seems to be a bit of a pattern this season - teams cagey in the first half at Kenilworth Road and then changing in the second. Probably realising that we are not that good and that they don't need to show us any respect, a la Brentford.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Yesterday was a bit of a strange game I thought.

I don't think either team really did a lot in the first half. Swansea I thought were there for the taking, but to be fair to them, did a very good job of stifling most attacks.

The second half the away side upped the pace considerably. Seems to be a bit of a pattern this season - teams cagey in the first half at Kenilworth Road and then changing in the second. Probably realising that we are not that good and that they don't need to show us any respect, a la Brentford.

Think the tactic that leads to that is that previously was teams quite like to let us have the ball as they can wait for the inevitable mistake in possession. Prime example of this was the Notts Forrest game.

We’ve realised I think we aren’t good enough to play that sort of game at this level and have tried to become a counter attacking side in the last few games with mixed results. With a few ifs and buts we could have conceivably nicked a couple of results in the last 2 but lacked the quality to take the chance.

Unfortunately I don’t think we are that great at that either, as we are reliant on Cornick to lead those counters whose a confidence player who finishing is....well terrible (how didn’t we score when he rounded the keeper I’ll never know, screams of a player with no confidence and he’s back to his old ways in front of goal).

We also got little width yesterday as the fullbacks are also...well terrible. Bree especially is an average at best attacking fullback and gets still worse in an attacking sense when asked to play on the left, so no width at all while trying to play a diamond which just isn’t going to work.

I keep going back to it but our recruiting over the summer was an absolutely awful and it’s left us with a very poor collection of players in key positions to how we play (fullbacks are awful, no defensive midfield player to speak of). I think Jones has done well tactically in the last few in trying to cover our issues but ultimately he’s messed up big time in bringing the right players in in the first place.

 

[Kenneth E End]

I know he was highly rated by Barnsley fans, but James Bree was one of the worst signings this season; in fact probably only second to Galloway. He is nowhere near good enough for this level.

I’m not going to have a pop at Luke Bolton as he is not a RB by trade and we’re just being used as guinea pigs for Man City to have him playing there.

 

[BelizeHatter]

I agree with all of that. Im of a mind we need to tighten up and start using two DMs like we did at Preston esp against the better sides and at home as well as away

IF we can get our confidence back we have enough about us to pick up enough points versus mid and lower table teams to stay where we are now and be better than three others. Just. Maybe.

 

[BelizeHatter]

I see even Jones has started to see Tunnicliffe doesn't offer too much and dropped him. Clearly less effective than Pelly Shinnie or Berry as attacking threats, but all three are susecptible to giving it away in dangerous spots that Tunnicliffe does less so. Weve all seen how ruthlessly Championship sides punish mistakes just in front if our slow turning centre halves. Who have both improved a ton in recent weeks.

 

[Craig]

Bree should never have signed for Villa. Had he stayed here he would have played regularly rather than left to rot in the reserves or on the bench. It’s a damn shame to hear he’s not up to the job for Luton at this level because I can attest that he was very much good enough at this level when he played at it with us.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

I see even Jones has started to see Tunnicliffe doesn't offer too much and dropped him. Clearly less effective than Pelly Shinnie or Berry as attacking threats, but all three are susecptible to giving it away in dangerous spots that Tunnicliffe does less so. Weve all seen how ruthlessly Championship sides punish mistakes just in front if our slow turning centre halves. Who have both improved a ton in recent weeks.

His corner right at the very end annoyed me so much yesterday. Genuinely think he’s a terrible player, he offers nothing going forward, he can’t track midfield runners to save his life and offers no screen to the back 4. Butterfield isn’t brilliant but he’s much better than what he offers and we noticeably lost whatever small foothold we had in the midfield when he went off. Awful player and to me sums up our poor transfers over the summer where “championship experience” was prized above all else ignoring actual you know..ability.

I’m a huge Berry fan but I don’t think he has the guile to play the 10 role at this level, should be in one of the box to box positions which I think he is best at although he does a job everywhere.

 

[djs]

Fulham's tactics for Thursday.

Same as every other team.

Put a wide player on either side of the pitch and give them the ball at every opportunity, as it is a given that whoever plays at either right or left fullback for us will be nowhere near them. It happens every bloody game, but our wide players are tightly marked every bloody game.
The Swansea manager referred to this post match, as have other managers, but our dozen or so coaches and manager don't seem to notice.

I do have some sympathy for Bolton as he is not a fullback, no matter what Pep thinks, but he is still a slow learner.

 

[NIGHTMARE]

I can’t wait for January 31st so we can get in a centre half, holding midfielder, and reight back, just wish transfer window was only a week long instead of a month. But still if we can bring in the right ones I’ve no doubt we’ll stay up easily in the end.

 

[Super_horns]

Nasty looking injury for Bradley Dack.

Not good news for Blackburn.

 

[Jockney]

That was a shit game, lit up by a beauty of a free-kick from Jed Wallace.

I reckon both sides wish it was May already. Season effectively over for us.

 

[M Dogg]

Gotta feel for Luton

 

[blademan89]

Gotta feel for Sheffield Wednesday , hillarious

 

[M Dogg]

Gotta feel for Sheffield Wednesday , hillarious

Oh aye really gutted for them

 

[Railway Blue]

Oh aye really gutted for them

It not 5 minutes ago that they couldn't get out of the Conference.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Went from hating football, to loving football and back to hating football again in the space of 10 minutes!

Got to be pleased with a point against a side assembled for more than the whole club is worth multiple times over I guess but...ugh.

We did really well, battled and worked so hard but we are so bad at stopping crosses and balls in our box and it cost again.

 

[blademan89]

It not 5 minutes ago that they couldn't get out of the Conference.

Didnt realise Wednesday had been in the conference.

 

[Gerry Gow]

Well that second half sums up Lee Johnson’s tenure here. First half, complete shite and trail at half time. We come out second half and make a double change. The substitutions made an immediate impact by giving us the lead, looking comfortable in possession and a threat going forward. Only for us then to give away two goals in the space of a few minutes.

Lose the game 3-2, against a Charlton reserve side who haven’t won in 12 games. I’m done with Johnson now, the bloke has been here long enough and we just seem to be going round in circles. Just get the feeling it’s a little stale now and a fresh change is needed.

He’s done well to make us an established club in this division but you never get the feeling he can take us to that next level.

 

[AnkleBiter]

That was a shit game, lit up by a beauty of a free-kick from Jed Wallace.

I reckon both sides wish it was May already. Season effectively over for us.

Why? You're in the top half, what were you expecting?

 

[Ciderup]

Well that second half sums up Lee Johnson’s tenure here. First half, complete shite and trail at half time. We come out second half and make a double change. The substitutions made an immediate impact by giving us the lead, looking comfortable in possession and a threat going forward. Only for us then to give away two goals in the space of a few minutes.

Lose the game 3-2, against a Charlton reserve side who haven’t won in 12 games. I’m done with Johnson now, the bloke has been here long enough and we just seem to be going round in circles. Just get the feeling it’s a little stale now and a fresh change is needed.

He’s done well to make us an established club in this division but you never get the feeling he can take us to that next level.

Also a lesson in how to turn an absolutley superb £8M defender into a blancmange. The defending for Charlton's 2nd and 3rd was comically bad.
Absolute garbage Johnson. His after match interview blames everyone but himself, even the weather was at fault as our players don't like the cold, according to Johnson. Bloody Muppet.

JOHNSON OUT! Not going to happen though.

We are sooo shit.

 

[blademan89]

3rd in the league, 4 results later they all want the manager sacked. Bizarre

 

[Ciderup]

3rd in the league, 4 results later they all want the manager sacked. Bizarre

Point taken BM but the performances have been dreadful, even when we were in a good place in the league it wasn't good. Our Manager also has a track record of going on losing streaks. Time for a change.

 

[Gerry Gow]

3rd in the league, 4 results later they all want the manager sacked. Bizarre

We were extremely lucky to be up there in the first place. The football is nothing like what it was us under Johnson a couple years ago.

It’s so poor. We’re only 3 points from 14th and that’s somewhere like our rightful position from what we’ve seen so far.

We’ve certainly gone backwards in the last 18 months. Here’s hoping things might change after a few recruits in January but I just want to see a decent performance! It’s proper pish.

 

[Ciderup]

We were extremely lucky to be up there in the first place. The football is nothing like what it was us under Johnson a couple years ago.


It’s so poor. We’re only 3 points from 14th and that’s somewhere like our rightful position from what we’ve seen so far.

We’ve certainly gone backwards in the last 18 months. Here’s hoping things might change after a few recruits in January but I just want to see a decent performance! It’s proper pish.

Spent some serious dollar in that time too GG, albeit money we've covered in sales.
As you say, it's been utter rubbish for some time now and we're facing yet another 'streaky' losing run!
Not good enough!

 

[blademan89]

Fair enough lads. Top 2 seem well clear so far, only feel fulham could catch them.

 

[Jockney]

Why? You're in the top half, what were you expecting?

Because rowett’s getting the most out of a limited squad, and fundamentally it isn’t his team. We’re not going up or down, so I’d like to see what he can do given after a full summer.

 

[Railway Blue]

Didnt realise Wednesday had been in the conference.

Luton . Are you thick or something

 

[blademan89]

Luton . Are you thick or something

No you obviously are look back and you'll see.