Where was Naby? We surrendered possession for most of the match, and it was the complete opposite of the first forty five minutes v. Forest.
Yes, bodies were put on the line, and it was a valiant defensive performance, but we were very lucky to get anything from the game. The heat definitely didn’t help, and we generally looked a little lethargic. I’m assuming Otzumer wasn’t ready to play again, but a player like that who’s great in tight areas, would have been useful. Brentford's back four were superb.
In a backs to the wall type of last 20 minutes, Pearce is excellent. But the overall lack of quality in build up is why I believe Sarr fits better with how Bowyer wants to play, and would have helped us play more on the front foot. Pearce isn't good on the ball, and he tends to play very deep. Was excellent today, but I think Nabs deserves a shot in a back four.
Pearce was my MOTM by the way.
But Pearce is the leader.
And plays by example.
All the while the new players are settling in and buying into Bow's ethos, the team finding it's feet in the Championship and the players building self-belief ..... then we need the organisation and leadership of Pearce.
I believe many would agree with you that Sarr fits in better with how Bowyer ideally wants to play - the Nabster played an integral part in our exhibition passing game against Forest; he'll step in when Pearce is rested and to suit a certain game plan.
If team building was a case of selecting your 11 most talented players it would be simple. But a team like that might well be without the grit, tenacity, graft and leadership that is needed.
It's always a question of balance. As Lawrie McMenemy once said, "in every team you need 9 virtuoso and 2 roadsweepers".
And Curbs: "I expect my team to perform greater than its sum of parts".
Bowyer seems to have the same philosophy.
All great points. And what I should have added in my comment, and which I usually do when discussing Pearce, is something to the effect of "he is the captain and clearly a leader and how that impacts a team is hard for me to gauge from a distance."
And obviously, it's a good problem to have. Love him though I do, Naby wouldn't necessarily be in the team every week for me, I just think he'd be in the team more than he has been. Against Barnsley, for example, where we struggled in the first 60 minutes of so because they pressed us the same way they pressed us last season, and Conor Chaplain pressed us the same way he did for Coventry last season, and they really kept us from playing. For me, that's where Naby's ability on the ball is better suited (and Naby was suspended last year for the game away to Coventry in what was arguably our worst showing). Today, even though we were at home, it's clear Brentford like to have a lot of the ball, and I think to an extent Bows and Jacko were happy to let them have it--probably not to the extent that they did, but still. And when that's the case, if you're going to put men behind the ball and defend deep, that's where Pearce can be a real asset.
Again, I don't want it going unremarked, Pearce was excellent today.
You did finish your original post, saying: "Pearce was my MOTM by the way".
It wasn't unnoticed, SD. I just wanted to discuss your argument why Sarr should be in the team instead of Pearce. Bowyer will pick Sarr when he wants to change the game plan (perhaps depending on how opponents set up) or just to rest Pearce to allow him extra recovery - as he also did with Pratley in mid-week v Forest. Got to look after the old-timers!
Last season wasn't Sarr first choice for much of it, with Pearce brought in for away battles? Pearce is great, but if we want to control possession, as we did against Forest, Sarr's the man for me.
Miracle results always more than welcome .
This squad are performing beyond my wildest dreams .
4th bottom and finishing above the scum will be a brilliant season . I fear the reaction of some of our fans when the inevitable bad run comes along.
I’m sure we’ll go 5 games without a win at some point but you just know this mob will give everything and that’s all you can ask for.
Where was Naby? We surrendered possession for most of the match, and it was the complete opposite of the first forty five minutes v. Forest.
Yes, bodies were put on the line, and it was a valiant defensive performance, but we were very lucky to get anything from the game. The heat definitely didn’t help, and we generally looked a little lethargic. I’m assuming Otzumer wasn’t ready to play again, but a player like that who’s great in tight areas, would have been useful. Brentford's back four were superb.
In a backs to the wall type of last 20 minutes, Pearce is excellent. But the overall lack of quality in build up is why I believe Sarr fits better with how Bowyer wants to play, and would have helped us play more on the front foot. Pearce isn't good on the ball, and he tends to play very deep. Was excellent today, but I think Nabs deserves a shot in a back four.
Pearce was my MOTM by the way.
But Pearce is the leader.
And plays by example.
All the while the new players are settling in and buying into Bow's ethos, the team finding it's feet in the Championship and the players building self-belief ..... then we need the organisation and leadership of Pearce.
I believe many would agree with you that Sarr fits in better with how Bowyer ideally wants to play - the Nabster played an integral part in our exhibition passing game against Forest; he'll step in when Pearce is rested and to suit a certain game plan.
If team building was a case of selecting your 11 most talented players it would be simple. But a team like that might well be without the grit, tenacity, graft and leadership that is needed.
It's always a question of balance. As Lawrie McMenemy once said, "in every team you need 9 virtuoso and 2 roadsweepers".
And Curbs: "I expect my team to perform greater than its sum of parts".
Bowyer seems to have the same philosophy.
All great points. And what I should have added in my comment, and which I usually do when discussing Pearce, is something to the effect of "he is the captain and clearly a leader and how that impacts a team is hard for me to gauge from a distance."
And obviously, it's a good problem to have. Love him though I do, Naby wouldn't necessarily be in the team every week for me, I just think he'd be in the team more than he has been. Against Barnsley, for example, where we struggled in the first 60 minutes of so because they pressed us the same way they pressed us last season, and Conor Chaplain pressed us the same way he did for Coventry last season, and they really kept us from playing. For me, that's where Naby's ability on the ball is better suited (and Naby was suspended last year for the game away to Coventry in what was arguably our worst showing). Today, even though we were at home, it's clear Brentford like to have a lot of the ball, and I think to an extent Bows and Jacko were happy to let them have it--probably not to the extent that they did, but still. And when that's the case, if you're going to put men behind the ball and defend deep, that's where Pearce can be a real asset.
Again, I don't want it going unremarked, Pearce was excellent today.
You did finish your original post, saying: "Pearce was my MOTM by the way".
It wasn't unnoticed, SD. I just wanted to discuss your argument why Sarr should be in the team instead of Pearce. Bowyer will pick Sarr when he wants to change the game plan (perhaps depending on how opponents set up) or just to rest Pearce to allow him extra recovery - as he also did with Pratley in mid-week v Forest. Got to look after the old-timers!
Last season wasn't Sarr first choice for much of it, with Pearce brought in for away battles? Pearce is great, but if we want to control possession, as we did against Forest, Sarr's the man for me.
There was a problem in the left hand corner in the first 25 minutes on Saturday with none of Pratley, Pearce and Purrington very good on the ball. I expect Field to start more games after the international break, which will help. As I said the other day, Bowyer clearly trusts Pearce more in games against the stronger sides.
i know Purrington is a bit of a favourite on here, and rightly so after Wembley and some solid displays last year, but we are crying out for a left back that is a little better on the ball. I’m not asking for a Jay Dasilva but the left footed version of Deji would be good enough .
I thought Purrington did ok but a fit Page might be a better option in terms of possession etc. Otzumer is another good option if you want to hang on to the ball. I think he'll start on Saturday.
Page will be good for going forward and keeping possession, hopefully he can come back after the break fit and ready to go as we can't rely on Purrington the whole season with no cover
Are people forgetting Page's injury record? Good left back when fit, but most often he's left back in the medical room.
Mainly been injured because he's had to play when carrying a knock - His best spell for us was when Bowyer first came in and was able to rotate him and Dasilva
Phillips: distribution way dodgey as was some of his comms with backline, made the saves he had to make tho Oshilaja: disappointing he broke down but unsurprising after his trojan effort on Wednesday night, he'll be an able deputy for Solly Lockyer: another crucial challenge, lots of good stuff but still the odd blip of indecision, looks better each game Pearce: solidly Pearce Purrington: his name must be in the first few on the teamsheet every match, dependable with skills Pratley: looking really valuable so far this season, tellingly the leading average on Statbank Cullen: he's happier at the base of the diamond but hugely valuable wherever he lines up Gallagher: he's terrific, robust, tireless, fearless and cool as can be when through on goal, here's hoping we get to keep him beyond January Williams: another splendid showing Leko: never got into the game, always off the pace and rightly subbed, fatigue? at his age? shouldn't be Taylor: quietly effective, selfless and industrious, roly is gonna cost himself millions by sticking to his moronic treatment of LT Lapslie: not in million years is he a wing back but he was great on Saturday, just the burst of energy the team needed. Hemed: decent enough cameo, in what was a baptism of fire
Field: not as far off the pace Saturday as last Wednesday but never quite up to speed,
Must admit, will always be a Purr'ton fan simply for what he did at Wembley, but i find him always passing sideways and mostly,backwards. Oshilaja, however, (ok, its only a coupld of games) has almost been playing as a right winger in the 2 games, and been looking to get forward and get crosses in at every opportunity.
Must admit, will always be a Purr'ton fan simply for what he did at Wembley, but i find him always passing sideways and mostly,backwards. Oshilaja, however, (ok, its only a coupld of games) has almost been playing as a right winger in the 2 games, and been looking to get forward and get crosses in at every opportunity.
Its really noticeable when you look for it.
Purrington made two very good forward runs on Saturday in a performance where we only managed one shot on target. One in the first half where he beat a couple of players and put it into the box, and another in the second half where he hit a wonderful first time ball in which Taylor must have been inches from getting a touch on.
Must admit, will always be a Purr'ton fan simply for what he did at Wembley, but i find him always passing sideways and mostly,backwards. Oshilaja, however, (ok, its only a coupld of games) has almost been playing as a right winger in the 2 games, and been looking to get forward and get crosses in at every opportunity.
Its really noticeable when you look for it.
I agree, he put in our best cross of the game when Taylor just missed it at the start of the second.
For those, especially of Brentford, who say we were lucky.
Saturday's game could be likened to a chess match in the early '60s between Tigran Petrosian and Mikhail Tal. Petrosian could soak up all the attacks of Tal (and indeed the great Bobby Fischer on occasion) and gain the point with an incisive counterpunch at the right moment. He didn't win by luck, he'd win by defensive skill.
For those, especially of Brentford, who say we were lucky.
Saturday's game could be likened to a chess match in the early '60s between Tigran Petrosian and Mikhail Tal. Petrosian could soak up all the attacks of Tal (and indeed the great Bobby Fischer on occasion) and gain the point with an incisive counterpunch at the right moment. He didn't win by luck, he'd win by defensive skill.
When I log onto Charlton Life every day, I do not expect to see a championship game liken to a chess match from the 1960s. What an incredibly niche comparison
For those, especially of Brentford, who say we were lucky.
Saturday's game could be likened to a chess match in the early '60s between Tigran Petrosian and Mikhail Tal. Petrosian could soak up all the attacks of Tal (and indeed the great Bobby Fischer on occasion) and gain the point with an incisive counterpunch at the right moment. He didn't win by luck, he'd win by defensive skill.
When I log onto Charlton Life every day, I do not expect to see a championship game liken to a chess match from the 1960s. What an incredibly niche comparison
Quite! please keep all comparisons to house buying and the rail network.
Comments
This squad are performing beyond my wildest dreams .
4th bottom and finishing above the scum will be a brilliant season .
I fear the reaction of some of our fans when the inevitable bad run comes along. I’m sure we’ll go 5 games without a win at some point but you just know this mob will give everything and that’s all you can ask for.
i know Purrington is a bit of a favourite on here, and rightly so after Wembley and some solid displays last year, but we are crying out for a left back that is a little better on the ball. I’m not asking for a Jay Dasilva but the left footed version of Deji would be good enough .
Otzumer is another good option if you want to hang on to the ball. I think he'll start on Saturday.
But Lapslie worked so hard despite being out of natural position, put in some great tackles and made some real confident runs going forward.
Solly must've thought he had that RB spot nailed down once Dijksteel left, he's now got two players to compete with haha
Think of it like he comes from Oz.
Oztumer.
Oshilaja: disappointing he broke down but unsurprising after his trojan effort on Wednesday night, he'll be an able deputy for Solly
Lockyer: another crucial challenge, lots of good stuff but still the odd blip of indecision, looks better each game
Pearce: solidly Pearce
Purrington: his name must be in the first few on the teamsheet every match, dependable with skills
Pratley: looking really valuable so far this season, tellingly the leading average on Statbank
Cullen: he's happier at the base of the diamond but hugely valuable wherever he lines up
Gallagher: he's terrific, robust, tireless, fearless and cool as can be when through on goal, here's hoping we get to keep him beyond January
Williams: another splendid showing
Leko: never got into the game, always off the pace and rightly subbed, fatigue? at his age? shouldn't be
Taylor: quietly effective, selfless and industrious, roly is gonna cost himself millions by sticking to his moronic treatment of LT
Lapslie: not in million years is he a wing back but he was great on Saturday, just the burst of energy the team needed.
Hemed: decent enough cameo, in what was a baptism of fire
Field: not as far off the pace Saturday as last Wednesday but never quite up to speed,
Must admit, will always be a Purr'ton fan simply for what he did at Wembley, but i find him always passing sideways and mostly,backwards. Oshilaja, however, (ok, its only a coupld of games) has almost been playing as a right winger in the 2 games, and been looking to get forward and get crosses in at every opportunity.
Its really noticeable when you look for it.
Saturday's game could be likened to a chess match in the early '60s between Tigran Petrosian and Mikhail Tal. Petrosian could soak up all the attacks of Tal (and indeed the great Bobby Fischer on occasion) and gain the point with an incisive counterpunch at the right moment. He didn't win by luck, he'd win by defensive skill.