What Mutts just said. Doncaster away where we should have been out of sight was a classic example of the gulf in class between us and them. However the old sit back routine, lack of intent up top and killer instinct turned, what should have been three points into one with a late equaliser. .
There was a rather stocky chap who came out for the pre match warm up with JJ who I didn't immediately recognise, doing keepy uppies etc. He then was working with the goalkeeping team putting some decent crosses in and finally with the the CBs on heading by sending high long balls into them................,And then the penny dropped, it was Grant Basey who rejoined the backroom staff at the end of February. Not sure if this was his first match day involvement for him or whether the departure of KR has meant a like for like space in the dugout. Good to see you Grant .
You mean Gareth Barry ? I wonder if that makes the top 10 of Pardew's most crass comments
What a performance, could have easily been 10. So many positives, looks like we have our Mojo back and players are playing with alot of confidence.
The team does have a good shape to it, but.... I still think we could be a bit suspect when we play a better team. Northampton were a load of tosh, they tried to kick us to stop us playing but didnt work, had no ounce of quality. Either they had a seriously off day and couldn't handle us or they are in trouble, hard to see them staying up on that evidence. What does concern me is we do look a bit exposed to the diagonal, alot of our play was on the left and Djiksteel on the right would have been more exposed more against a better team.
So many match winners in the side at the moment, even better the strength on the bench. Would have nice to see Ajose get a goal as he did seem to pass a couple of times where could have shot, Aribo is class but again he could have had about 6+ shots today but either because it wasn't on his left or he didn't fancy it. Reeves, i did say previously give him a chance, shows alot of quality and playing in a system which he can get involved.
Summary: Going forward, any team would struggle with us playing with this confidence, although i dont want to get too excited(ooooerrr) and still think we could be suspect to conceding a few goals to better teams.
Back in the race another 3 points Monday and eieieio....
Loving the football Bowyer's got us playing. Plenty of skill, energy, commitment and movement. Again we saw the right balance between keeping possession, going direct and playing with a good tempo. It's the complete opposite of those last few games under Robinson. Good football (at least at this level) doesn't need 100 passes at the back, a five man midfield to control the game or two holding midfielders to free up the attacking midfielders. Neither is 4-4-2 outdated.
Would never have thought a midfield of Reeves, JFC, Aribo and Fosu could be as good as they have been. On paper it looks very attacking and weak defensively.
What makes these two wins even more impressive is we've got these results with players that have barely played all season - Dijksteel, Page, Zyro and Ajose. The last two weren't even with the club in the first half of the season. Then you've got Reeves who has struggled for most of the season. That's half a team. Put that 11 out under Robinson and I wouldn't expect to be winning games.
Interesting to see Bowyer's talked about giving players freedom when attacking and how telling them too much can confuse them. Anyone could see Robinson only played one formation but it sounds like this was another of the reasons he failed to get more out of them.
Any new owner would be mad to change things at the moment. I get the point about planning for next season but we have a genuine chance of winning the play-offs. Can't wait until Monday now.
Aribo is simply blossoming, JFC is looking like the player we thought he was, We suddenly can have a striker with Magennis ability on the bench and we have a two unplayable players - not one but two! The squad will be needed, but everything is coming together at the eleventh hour. Better late than never!
What a performance, could have easily been 10. So many positives, looks like we have our Mojo back and players are playing with alot of confidence.
The team does have a good shape to it, but.... I still think we could be a bit suspect when we play a better team. Northampton were a load of tosh, they tried to kick us to stop us playing but didnt work, had no ounce of quality. Either they had a seriously off day and couldn't handle us or they are in trouble, hard to see them staying up on that evidence. What does concern me is we do look a bit exposed to the diagonal, alot of our play was on the left and Djiksteel on the right would have been more exposed more against a better team.
So many match winners in the side at the moment, even better the strength on the bench. Would have nice to see Ajose get a goal as he did seem to pass a couple of times where could have shot, Aribo is class but again he could have had about 6+ shots today but either because it wasn't on his left or he didn't fancy it. Reeves, i did say previously give him a chance, shows alot of quality and playing in a system which he can get involved.
Summary: Going forward, any team would struggle with us playing with this confidence, although i dont want to get too excited(ooooerrr) and still think we could be suspect to conceding a few goals to better teams.
Back in the race another 3 points Monday and eieieio....
this I have to say is the only thing that to me looks to be a problem. I noticed the same in the Plymouth match. especially in the first half. their full back had acers of space in front of Djiksteel. though Djiksteel dealt with most of it it was an issue if their full back was helped by another player making it 2 on 1. fortunately it wasn't exploited too much. another side with a decent winger might cause serious problems on that side.
What a performance, could have easily been 10. So many positives, looks like we have our Mojo back and players are playing with alot of confidence.
The team does have a good shape to it, but.... I still think we could be a bit suspect when we play a better team. Northampton were a load of tosh, they tried to kick us to stop us playing but didnt work, had no ounce of quality. Either they had a seriously off day and couldn't handle us or they are in trouble, hard to see them staying up on that evidence. What does concern me is we do look a bit exposed to the diagonal, alot of our play was on the left and Djiksteel on the right would have been more exposed more against a better team.
So many match winners in the side at the moment, even better the strength on the bench. Would have nice to see Ajose get a goal as he did seem to pass a couple of times where could have shot, Aribo is class but again he could have had about 6+ shots today but either because it wasn't on his left or he didn't fancy it. Reeves, i did say previously give him a chance, shows alot of quality and playing in a system which he can get involved.
Summary: Going forward, any team would struggle with us playing with this confidence, although i dont want to get too excited(ooooerrr) and still think we could be suspect to conceding a few goals to better teams.
Back in the race another 3 points Monday and eieieio....
this I have to say is the only thing that to me looks to be a problem. I noticed the same in the Plymouth match. especially in the first half. their full back had acers of space in front of Djiksteel. though Djiksteel dealt with most of it it was an issue if their full back was helped by another player making it 2 on 1. fortunately it wasn't exploited too much. another side with a decent winger might cause serious problems on that side.
Fair points but against better opposition I think Bowyer would play a flat 442 and play two wingers which would cancel that out! Yes, he didn’t do this against the in form Plymouth, for whatever reason I do not know but it paid off!
What a performance, could have easily been 10. So many positives, looks like we have our Mojo back and players are playing with alot of confidence.
The team does have a good shape to it, but.... I still think we could be a bit suspect when we play a better team. Northampton were a load of tosh, they tried to kick us to stop us playing but didnt work, had no ounce of quality. Either they had a seriously off day and couldn't handle us or they are in trouble, hard to see them staying up on that evidence. What does concern me is we do look a bit exposed to the diagonal, alot of our play was on the left and Djiksteel on the right would have been more exposed more against a better team.
So many match winners in the side at the moment, even better the strength on the bench. Would have nice to see Ajose get a goal as he did seem to pass a couple of times where could have shot, Aribo is class but again he could have had about 6+ shots today but either because it wasn't on his left or he didn't fancy it. Reeves, i did say previously give him a chance, shows alot of quality and playing in a system which he can get involved.
Summary: Going forward, any team would struggle with us playing with this confidence, although i dont want to get too excited(ooooerrr) and still think we could be suspect to conceding a few goals to better teams.
Back in the race another 3 points Monday and eieieio....
this I have to say is the only thing that to me looks to be a problem. I noticed the same in the Plymouth match. especially in the first half. their full back had acers of space in front of Djiksteel. though Djiksteel dealt with most of it it was an issue if their full back was helped by another player making it 2 on 1. fortunately it wasn't exploited too much. another side with a decent winger might cause serious problems on that side.
Fair points but against better opposition I think Bowyer would play a flat 442 and play two wingers which would cancel that out! Yes, he didn’t do this against the in form Plymouth, for whatever reason I do not know but it paid off!
yeah a little tinker with the set up of the midfield would easily solve the problem but I guess it might harm our attacking threat. small decision which I'm sure Bowyer is capable of making during a game.
May I make an impassioned plea to all boycotters to ,for the last few home games,forget RD,and help get us promoted,15000 plus crowds could well inspire the team to play even better than they are at the moment,and get us over the line.
Haha. You would have posted the same if we had lost the last two matches.
Not another penny to the club until Roland has gone.
As Tutt Tutt has commented in the past, football is a simple game.
Managing any organisation has its challenges but if you involve people, put them in the right environment and believe in them they will invariably respond.
Over two games we have had two "reserve" fullbacks, a "reserve" midfielder, another midfielder who has struggled to settle, fronted up by one forward who had barely kicked a ball in anger in two years and another forward rejected by us, rejected by his loan club and added to the squad as there was no one else.
Six players who have struggled to be allowed to make a contribution all season have taken up the challenge. The remaining "stalwarts" have responded
Empower players and they can rise to the challenge.
I remember commenting in December/ January I could not analyse the strength of the squad because I had never seen "the" squad perform. No matter the system it is management 101. The more barriers you put in the way of people playing the smalller your options become.
We have now seen what a squad culture is about.
All of a sudden you have a bench of Konsa, Marshall, Kaikai, Mavididi, Magennis, Sarr with potentially Kashi in the background, waiting for their chance to be part of the action.
Immense credit to Bowyer and Jackson in energising the players to perform. To create momentum from the position they inherited is very difficult. Great credit to those players who have risen to the challenge. There is now clear momentum. It can take you a long way.
There will be bigger challenges ahead but they are showing the appetite to take on those challenges.
It is such a relief to finally see some common sense return to SE7.
Rubbed my eyes in disbelief when I saw the score, and again when I watched the highlights: that dummy, and that foreheader from the diminutive Reeves - unbridled joy. I'm off to buy tickets for Monday for the lad and me with a spring in my step rather than the usual resigned trudge. Regardless of how it all ends, these are heady days for now...
What a performance, could have easily been 10. So many positives, looks like we have our Mojo back and players are playing with alot of confidence.
The team does have a good shape to it, but.... I still think we could be a bit suspect when we play a better team. Northampton were a load of tosh, they tried to kick us to stop us playing but didnt work, had no ounce of quality. Either they had a seriously off day and couldn't handle us or they are in trouble, hard to see them staying up on that evidence. What does concern me is we do look a bit exposed to the diagonal, alot of our play was on the left and Djiksteel on the right would have been more exposed more against a better team.
So many match winners in the side at the moment, even better the strength on the bench. Would have nice to see Ajose get a goal as he did seem to pass a couple of times where could have shot, Aribo is class but again he could have had about 6+ shots today but either because it wasn't on his left or he didn't fancy it. Reeves, i did say previously give him a chance, shows alot of quality and playing in a system which he can get involved.
Summary: Going forward, any team would struggle with us playing with this confidence, although i dont want to get too excited(ooooerrr) and still think we could be suspect to conceding a few goals to better teams.
Back in the race another 3 points Monday and eieieio....
this I have to say is the only thing that to me looks to be a problem. I noticed the same in the Plymouth match. especially in the first half. their full back had acers of space in front of Djiksteel. though Djiksteel dealt with most of it it was an issue if their full back was helped by another player making it 2 on 1. fortunately it wasn't exploited too much. another side with a decent winger might cause serious problems on that side.
Very true, although i do think Bauer is very good at covering that area too. Just looks wide open and the players need to be on their toes. Defo can see us getting exposed by better teams down that side, but hopefully we wont be so open against teams that could punish us.
Didn't do iFollow this week as I was enjoying Friday 'brunch' in the Crowne Plaza, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. All you can eat and drink, midday til 8pm, for 75 quid.
Gutted I missed it, but boy has that result helped with the hangover this morning.
Sounds like 'gutted' is the appropriate description! Not too many sheeps' eyes I hope!
What a performance, could have easily been 10. So many positives, looks like we have our Mojo back and players are playing with alot of confidence.
The team does have a good shape to it, but.... I still think we could be a bit suspect when we play a better team. Northampton were a load of tosh, they tried to kick us to stop us playing but didnt work, had no ounce of quality. Either they had a seriously off day and couldn't handle us or they are in trouble, hard to see them staying up on that evidence. What does concern me is we do look a bit exposed to the diagonal, alot of our play was on the left and Djiksteel on the right would have been more exposed more against a better team.
So many match winners in the side at the moment, even better the strength on the bench. Would have nice to see Ajose get a goal as he did seem to pass a couple of times where could have shot, Aribo is class but again he could have had about 6+ shots today but either because it wasn't on his left or he didn't fancy it. Reeves, i did say previously give him a chance, shows alot of quality and playing in a system which he can get involved.
Summary: Going forward, any team would struggle with us playing with this confidence, although i dont want to get too excited(ooooerrr) and still think we could be suspect to conceding a few goals to better teams.
Back in the race another 3 points Monday and eieieio....
this I have to say is the only thing that to me looks to be a problem. I noticed the same in the Plymouth match. especially in the first half. their full back had acers of space in front of Djiksteel. though Djiksteel dealt with most of it it was an issue if their full back was helped by another player making it 2 on 1. fortunately it wasn't exploited too much. another side with a decent winger might cause serious problems on that side.
Fair points but against better opposition I think Bowyer would play a flat 442 and play two wingers which would cancel that out! Yes, he didn’t do this against the in form Plymouth, for whatever reason I do not know but it paid off!
yeah a little tinker with the set up of the midfield would easily solve the problem but I guess it might harm our attacking threat. small decision which I'm sure Bowyer is capable of making during a game.
To be fair Bowyer even said last week that he went with the narrow shape to cancel out Plymouth’s style of play...that meant leaving the full backs exposed! Very impressive from Bowyer..as others have previously stated...chalk and cheese to Gobinson.
Different formations work, even one up front - but when they aren't working you need to change - whether that be in the same game or future games. In some ways I think our upsurge is more about Bowyer having the ablity to look at what isn't working and change it. We are getting the ball forwards more quickly and players are supporting each other. We were too risk averse under Robbo which meant we did too much playing in front of opponents without looking for the killer balls or runs!
Aribo is simply blossoming, JFC is looking like the player we thought he was, We suddenly can have a striker with Magennis ability on the bench and we have a two unplayable players - not one but two! The squad will be needed, but everything is coming together at the eleventh hour. Better late than never!
I have often stated (to those who will listen) that the final 10 or so games of the season are the most vital and if you can hit the right form teams - like us at the moment - can come from being also-ran's on the edge to genuine contenders. I don't want to curse us but this could be happening now. Massive game on Monday, 3 more points (or at least a draw) and who knows?
What Mutts just said. Doncaster away where we should have been out of sight was a classic example of the gulf in class between us and them. However the old sit back routine, lack of intent up top and killer instinct turned, what should have been three points into one with a late equaliser. .
@Ducktapeshoerepairs What Large says and... Your absence on monday will make not a jot of difference to the impending sale of the club. Your presence will make the atmosphere even better for the rest of us and the team.
Go and enjoy yourself.
After 2 fantastic results and a deserved feel good factor, I see why people want to go back. However, it’s a matter of principle and was not about performance on the pitch.
What a performance, could have easily been 10. So many positives, looks like we have our Mojo back and players are playing with alot of confidence.
The team does have a good shape to it, but.... I still think we could be a bit suspect when we play a better team. Northampton were a load of tosh, they tried to kick us to stop us playing but didnt work, had no ounce of quality. Either they had a seriously off day and couldn't handle us or they are in trouble, hard to see them staying up on that evidence. What does concern me is we do look a bit exposed to the diagonal, alot of our play was on the left and Djiksteel on the right would have been more exposed more against a better team.
So many match winners in the side at the moment, even better the strength on the bench. Would have nice to see Ajose get a goal as he did seem to pass a couple of times where could have shot, Aribo is class but again he could have had about 6+ shots today but either because it wasn't on his left or he didn't fancy it. Reeves, i did say previously give him a chance, shows alot of quality and playing in a system which he can get involved.
Summary: Going forward, any team would struggle with us playing with this confidence, although i dont want to get too excited(ooooerrr) and still think we could be suspect to conceding a few goals to better teams.
Back in the race another 3 points Monday and eieieio....
this I have to say is the only thing that to me looks to be a problem. I noticed the same in the Plymouth match. especially in the first half. their full back had acers of space in front of Djiksteel. though Djiksteel dealt with most of it it was an issue if their full back was helped by another player making it 2 on 1. fortunately it wasn't exploited too much. another side with a decent winger might cause serious problems on that side.
Comments
Guess that could have been the fact though that Northampton didnt really see much of the ball
Beat them while they're down. Finish them!!
Most upsetting thing about yesterday is that we didn't get 5
There's a real togetherness down there.
What a performance, could have easily been 10. So many positives, looks like we have our Mojo back and players are playing with alot of confidence.
The team does have a good shape to it, but.... I still think we could be a bit suspect when we play a better team. Northampton were a load of tosh, they tried to kick us to stop us playing but didnt work, had no ounce of quality. Either they had a seriously off day and couldn't handle us or they are in trouble, hard to see them staying up on that evidence. What does concern me is we do look a bit exposed to the diagonal, alot of our play was on the left and Djiksteel on the right would have been more exposed more against a better team.
So many match winners in the side at the moment, even better the strength on the bench. Would have nice to see Ajose get a goal as he did seem to pass a couple of times where could have shot, Aribo is class but again he could have had about 6+ shots today but either because it wasn't on his left or he didn't fancy it. Reeves, i did say previously give him a chance, shows alot of quality and playing in a system which he can get involved.
Summary: Going forward, any team would struggle with us playing with this confidence, although i dont want to get too excited(ooooerrr) and still think we could be suspect to conceding a few goals to better teams.
Back in the race another 3 points Monday and eieieio....
Would never have thought a midfield of Reeves, JFC, Aribo and Fosu could be as good as they have been. On paper it looks very attacking and weak defensively.
What makes these two wins even more impressive is we've got these results with players that have barely played all season - Dijksteel, Page, Zyro and Ajose. The last two weren't even with the club in the first half of the season. Then you've got Reeves who has struggled for most of the season. That's half a team. Put that 11 out under Robinson and I wouldn't expect to be winning games.
Interesting to see Bowyer's talked about giving players freedom when attacking and how telling them too much can confuse them. Anyone could see Robinson only played one formation but it sounds like this was another of the reasons he failed to get more out of them.
Any new owner would be mad to change things at the moment. I get the point about planning for next season but we have a genuine chance of winning the play-offs. Can't wait until Monday now.
Not another penny to the club until Roland has gone.
Managing any organisation has its challenges but if you involve people, put them in the right environment and believe in them they will invariably respond.
Over two games we have had two "reserve" fullbacks, a "reserve" midfielder, another midfielder who has struggled to settle, fronted up by one forward who had barely kicked a ball in anger in two years and another forward rejected by us, rejected by his loan club and added to the squad as there was no one else.
Six players who have struggled to be allowed to make a contribution all season have taken up the challenge. The remaining "stalwarts" have responded
Empower players and they can rise to the challenge.
I remember commenting in December/ January I could not analyse the strength of the squad because I had never seen "the" squad perform. No matter the system it is management 101. The more barriers you put in the way of people playing the smalller your options become.
We have now seen what a squad culture is about.
All of a sudden you have a bench of Konsa, Marshall, Kaikai, Mavididi, Magennis, Sarr with potentially Kashi in the background, waiting for their chance to be part of the action.
Immense credit to Bowyer and Jackson in energising the players to perform. To create momentum from the position they inherited is very difficult. Great credit to those players who have risen to the challenge. There is now clear momentum. It can take you a long way.
There will be bigger challenges ahead but they are showing the appetite to take on those challenges.
It is such a relief to finally see some common sense return to SE7.
I'm off to buy tickets for Monday for the lad and me with a spring in my step rather than the usual resigned trudge.
Regardless of how it all ends, these are heady days for now...
Not a moan about any individual at all but I think we looked a bit exposed down our right side on a couple of occasions yesterday.
Not awful or even a moan BUT against a better side we could be in a bit more danger than we was yesterday.
Hoping a minimal tactical change would eliminate that against a decent side.
Agree though
@Ducktapeshoerepairs
What Large says and...
Your absence on monday will make not a jot of difference to the impending sale of the club.
Your presence will make the atmosphere even better for the rest of us and the team.
Go and enjoy yourself.
After 2 fantastic results and a deserved feel good factor, I see why people want to go back. However, it’s a matter of principle and was not about performance on the pitch.