Just left Euston - thankfully on the way home from that dross. In many ways just as bad as the Stoke game.
Taylor not at the races today, very poor. Maybe he would have been better with Bonne alongside him, but I doubt it.
Only Naby played with any degree of ability - the rest rubbish.
We are in the brown stuff.
Lyle didn't look right in the warm ups, in my opinion.
Was he waving goodbye?
I appreciate the joke. But to answer the question head on, he was shooting with a lack of energy in the warm ups. Maybe its bollocks, but he looked a bit down.
The general opinion seemed to be that last season and for the early part of this, Bowyer got his tactics right?
What’s the general consensus now about his tactics?
I don’t think I’ve ever heard him take the blame for a defeat and I’m not suggesting he should for this one but just curios to hear from those regular attendees?
Thought he got the set up wrong compounded by poor substitutions, Davis, Cullen and Smith all defensive mid fielders, zero creativity in midfield
Our midfield was awful today. Davis and McGeady were poor and Cullen is still off the pace since his return from injury. We desperately missed Williams and Pratley.
Just got home, and as others have said the team did not turn up today. No midfield and the forwards did little.
Hemed, Davies & McGeady look like blokes that have won a competition to play for a football club for a day. We are a League 1 team playing in The Championship and this team is weaker than the one that won at Wembley so we have gone backwards.
I fear our business in the January window could still bite us on the arse.
Missed Williams and Oshilaja for a game like that. Oztumer or Pratley may have worked or Blackburn may have astutely countered them like they effectively did for all our players out there today. No lack of effort. Credit to Blackburn.
Don't get the stick for Smith. Looks tidy and energetic for the minutes he got.
Poor performance against a good side. Downing has still got it. Blame Bowyer for the wrong set-up. Missed Pratley’s battling but maybe he needed a rest. Should have started Green not Hemed. Midfield no creativity, no engine - needed Oztumer. Think we missed the under rated Purrington too. McGeady ok but Davis not. Matt Smith looked good...must get it right next week...the curse of the £5 games continues...
Again, one poor bit of defending cost us a goal from a set piece and defending too deep another. They were good and coped with the conditions better. Overall the better team won, to an extent we just need to hold our hands up on that.
Thought we looked better with the diamond - feel that needs to be the way we try and play at home. The back 3 has its uses but we just don’t have the attacking fullbacks to make it work in games where we need to take the initiative.
We weren’t great but I think it’s being overstated how bad we were. We did okay defensively and competed in midfield, but our touch, decision making, and passing in the final third was very poor all match and subsequently we just couldn’t keep the ball to build pressure and momentum or take any advantage of the odd break away we had.
Dillon didn’t have that much to do and was blameless for he goals. Matthews did well defensively and probably played as well as anyone overall but again disappointed when ever he got the chance to deliver from wide. Doughty looked a bit out of his depth and, to be honest, blistering pace aside, I’m not sure he’s been quite as good as had been made out - he mostly did okay defensively but you can see he is still has a lot to learn there and his end product in attack is very erratic. I would say he makes the wrong decision more often than he gets it right, and when he makes the right decision the execution is often off - for me we should be using him as an impact sub.
Sarr and Lockyer were fine, Pearce went maximum carthorse a couple of times but, as always, he gave it everything he’s got. Sadly, it’s increasingly looking like that isn’t enough at this level. No one is perfect in that defence, but at home I think it needs to be Sarr and Lockyer first choice.
Cullen tidy, Davis busy and they both competed but they never quite managed to get on top of Blackburn’s midfield.
It was in front of that where it really fell apart though. McGeady had good ideas but didn’t look sharp or confident. He got on the ball but frequently failed to find the correct weight of pass. Taylor looked leggy and his first touch was very poor today. Hemed was pretty anonymous overall, but came as close as anyone to a goal from open play. No one held it up effectively or really linked well with their teammates.
None of the subs had much impact. Smith allowed us to play a better shape but I’d have liked a more positive switch with Ozzy instead. Green injected a bit of pace, Bonne rather took up where Hemed left off.
Not ideal today but when do we ever turn it on on football for a fiver day? Would rather they scrap it tbh. Still loads of points to play for. Still in our own hands. Still no need to panic.
Blackburn were tidy and well organised. In the first half they had the wind and I was happy enough until they scored as I thought 0-0 at half time would have been ok. Second goal was ridiculous. There was a clear foul by their player first. I think the refs assistant was to blame as he had to have seen that. Blackburn were taking advantage of the extra man they had in midfield.
The issue was bringing Smith on at half time. It didn't bring any flair into the middle when it was needed to break them down and we lost Sarr's flair as he had to play deeper. I think given that we were 2 down, Bowyer could have risked Oztumer for Pearce.
Not too down. Blackburn were well organised and you have to give them credit. Had Taylor headed down and the officials not cocked up for the second we could have got something from the game, but ultimately it was a fair result. I thought this was a game for Williams and it is frustrating he was out. Hope he is back soon.
Blackburn had players that were comfortable on the ball and looked the better side overall. We looked good for the first 10 to 15 minutes.
The first goal was coming. we allowed a spare player to be unmarked on the edge of our box a couple of times before finally a Blackburn player said thanks and stuck it away.
2nd goal killed it for us there was no way back Blackburn keeper made decent saves on the couple of occasions we did threaten, but overall they did a good job on us.
We need to put this behind us and move on with more conviction next week and stay in the game against Luton.
Just left Euston - thankfully on the way home from that dross. In many ways just as bad as the Stoke game.
Taylor not at the races today, very poor. Maybe he would have been better with Bonne alongside him, but I doubt it.
Only Naby played with any degree of ability - the rest rubbish.
We are in the brown stuff.
Lyle didn't look right in the warm ups, in my opinion.
Was he waving goodbye?
I appreciate the joke. But to answer the question head on, he was shooting with a lack of energy in the warm ups. Maybe its bollocks, but he looked a bit down.
that Davies dont look much to me, Doherty needs to be dropped for a few weeks, Pearce dont at this level, Hemed never looks like scoring, football for a fiver tourists around me were annoying, shit weather
Blackburn did a good job on him. I thought he needed somebody playing closer to him as he wasn't getting the joy he usually does but this happens in football.
I was pessimistic for some reason today, probably the fiver offer/full house, which usually acts as a curse on us. Anyhow, a cat crossed my path near the fish and chip shop in Floyd Road. Ah, I thought, maybe a lucky cat? But it was a fat tabby not a black cat so I was doubtful that it would break the curse and so it turned out. We started pretty well, as Lord Bowyer said. But we had no-one to pull the strings and really control the midfield. Our midfielders are either ball winners or chasers so we seemed pretty disjointed today, especially after Blackburn took the lead. Blackburn mainly bossed the game and were good value for their win. It is alarming that once again we lose a goal to a set piece. One other thought, the wind seemed to drop in the second half when it should have helped us. That happened the last time we played in a gusty gale. Methinks the footballing gods are taking the Mick!
that Davies dont look much to me, Doherty needs to be dropped for a few weeks, Pearce dont at this level, Hemed never looks like scoring, football for a fiver tourists around me were annoying, shit weather
I think we’re in the shit , the performances haven’t impressed me of late , except against that re jigged forest side , results have flattered to deceive and I can see us being dragged in to it as the other sides below slowly close in . We were comfortably schooled by Blackburn today and looked toothless and with a lack of ideas going forward . The plastic sheeting is being bolted back on to my bed having been removed after Forest , It’s not getting removed till we are mathematically safe, I’m in full on bed wetting mode . The league is so odd we could lose 5 on the spin or win 5 on the spin but I know what outcome is more likely . I think If the season started now as we are right here right now we’d end up bottom 3 , we have been generally pony for a good while , with rare bright spots .
Have the ESI signings really improved us? Davies looks worse than Pratley, Smith just a youngster (we have loads of them) Mcgeady finished. Can't believe we didnt address the problem of getting a proper lb and cb in
I think we will probably be ok. Blackburn were very well organised and we needed a flair player in midfield like Williams or Oztumer. Some teams will suit us more than others. Good to see Bonne back.
Thought we started reasonably well and looked to be participating evenly in a surprisingly skilful game in dire conditions. Then we totally lost the plot along with the referee but we can’t blame the ref for catastrophic defending. From the point of concession we were second best in every respect to a decent organised mid table championship side. Downing had the cigars out as he pinged the ball around and dominated the midfield without raising a sweat. Our loanees added little. Smith was out of his depth, albeit eager and Davis was a disappointment. An upgrade on Pratley in terms of skill he maybe but in terms of effort, speed and impact he can’t lace Dazza’s boots on this showing. Hemed added absolutely nothing. Lyle had a major off day and young Alfie, bless him couldn’t cross a road. McGeady impressed for 20 minutes before disappearing completely. Despite loads of people looking on here for tickets there were hundreds of empty seats scattered around the place and, quite literally, thousands with 10 minutes to go. The weather won big style and not many tourists will repeat the experience. I had an unexpected invite to a hospitality suite which was nice although I’m glad I wasn’t paying for the uninteresting food. Very few waited around for the MOM (Naby I believe) to come and have his photos taken. The only consolation was that I missed the traffic and the seat kickers. Footy for a fiver? Up yer bum.
that Davies dont look much to me, Doherty needs to be dropped for a few weeks, Pearce dont at this level, Hemed never looks like scoring, football for a fiver tourists around me were annoying, shit weather
Apart from that it was alright though!
Not sure what he adds although he may not have settled yet.
that Davies dont look much to me, Doherty needs to be dropped for a few weeks, Pearce dont at this level, Hemed never looks like scoring, football for a fiver tourists around me were annoying, shit weather
Good points. My mate is a Birmingham fan and wasn't surprised when we got Davis. He simply said: "his best days are past him".
As for Doughty, I think you are right. He needs a rest, both physically and mentally. The expectancy levels are maybe a bit too much for him at this stage, and he looks a little lost at times. Undoubted talent mind you, just needs to be nurtured and managed accordingly.
I thought Doughty was ok - better today than Matthews who didn't get forwards with any effect. At home, at the very least, the formation requires them to do so.
Comments
Hemed, Davies & McGeady look like blokes that have won a competition to play for a football club for a day. We are a League 1 team playing in The Championship and this team is weaker than the one that won at Wembley so we have gone backwards.
I fear our business in the January window could still bite us on the arse.
Don't get the stick for Smith. Looks tidy and energetic for the minutes he got.
Les Berry left years ago.
Thought we looked better with the diamond - feel that needs to be the way we try and play at home. The back 3 has its uses but we just don’t have the attacking fullbacks to make it work in games where we need to take the initiative.
We weren’t great but I think it’s being overstated how bad we were. We did okay defensively and competed in midfield, but our touch, decision making, and passing in the final third was very poor all match and subsequently we just couldn’t keep the ball to build pressure and momentum or take any advantage of the odd break away we had.
Cullen tidy, Davis busy and they both competed but they never quite managed to get on top of Blackburn’s midfield.
None of the subs had much impact. Smith allowed us to play a better shape but I’d have liked a more positive switch with Ozzy instead. Green injected a bit of pace, Bonne rather took up where Hemed left off.
The issue was bringing Smith on at half time. It didn't bring any flair into the middle when it was needed to break them down and we lost Sarr's flair as he had to play deeper. I think given that we were 2 down, Bowyer could have risked Oztumer for Pearce.
Not too down. Blackburn were well organised and you have to give them credit. Had Taylor headed down and the officials not cocked up for the second we could have got something from the game, but ultimately it was a fair result. I thought this was a game for Williams and it is frustrating he was out. Hope he is back soon.
The first goal was coming. we allowed a spare player to be unmarked on the edge of our box a couple of times before finally a Blackburn player said thanks and stuck it away.
2nd goal killed it for us there was no way back Blackburn keeper made decent saves on the couple of occasions we did threaten, but overall they did a good job on us.
We need to put this behind us and move on with more conviction next week and stay in the game against Luton.
Disappointing, Blackburn just looked like they wanted it more .
Luton up next is huge.
We started pretty well, as Lord Bowyer said. But we had no-one to pull the strings and really control the midfield. Our midfielders are either ball winners or chasers so we seemed pretty disjointed today, especially after Blackburn took the lead. Blackburn mainly bossed the game and were good value for their win. It is alarming that once again we lose a goal to a set piece.
One other thought, the wind seemed to drop in the second half when it should have helped us. That happened the last time we played in a gusty gale. Methinks the footballing gods are taking the Mick!
Knew what the result would be, but my 3 year old paid attention for about 60 minutes, despite the weather.
The Bad:
Pearce being replaced with Smith at half time. He's not ready.
The Ugly:
Pearce blocking off Sarr for the second. Pearce almost giving away a penalty, it'd have been harsh but we've seen em given.
We were comfortably schooled by Blackburn today and looked toothless and with a lack of ideas going forward .
The plastic sheeting is being bolted back on to my bed having been removed after Forest , It’s not getting removed till we are mathematically safe, I’m in full on bed wetting mode .
The league is so odd we could lose 5 on the spin or win 5 on the spin but I know what outcome is more likely .
I think If the season started now as we are right here right now we’d end up bottom 3 , we have been generally pony for a good while , with rare bright spots .
63% 13th-21st ......................... 37% Relegation
As for Doughty, I think you are right. He needs a rest, both physically and mentally. The expectancy levels are maybe a bit too much for him at this stage, and he looks a little lost at times. Undoubted talent mind you, just needs to be nurtured and managed accordingly.