Some very silly marks for Oshilaja emerging in the marks thread.
He was there to do a job in the face of a serious head wind and gave us great physicality there, just what we needed with the ball bouncing all over the place and in the air.
He was playing out of position. He's not played many games this season. He's just back from injury. A lot of mitigating factors, but he was bloody awful and "gave them their second goal", which was incorrectly ruled out.
As soon as he was hooked and Lapslie came on the the game turned very quickly in our favour.
The game changed as we took off a player in one position, brought on another in another position with a different remit a d changed our shape with it. Lapslie was brilliant with what he come on and did.
Not saying Oshilaja was man of the match or anything but he did a job in very difficult wind conditions and I find marks of 3/10 completely OTT and unfair.
I clearly saw a different game to most others.
I was begging Bowyer to sub him and thankfully he did about a minute later. The game immediately changed from looking like we would lose to win. I agree 3 was harsh, I gave him 4 :-)
Just watched the highlights. It makes you realise what a beast Lyle was yesterday. He took the first one brilliantly and the way he celebrated was a sight to see. What a 'ballerina'. A showman. And done for the Luton fans. Lovely. Then the penalty. He was having some banter with the Luton captain as he was standing waiting to take the kick. A wry smile on his face as he strolled up and buried it and his reaction to that was to continue the slow stroll. Brilliant. That was aimed at the Charlton fans. Casual nonchalance. Brilliant. What a player. I don't understand why he has languished in the lower levels. Is this just another example of Bows getting the best out of players? Don't know, but he's got his mojo going for us.
I saw them preparing Lapslie on the touchline. They weren't just getting him ready, they were rushing him on. It was getting to the stage where Oshilaja was making so many errors a second yellow was a likelihood, not a possibility
Bit of an exageration... Ball went out for a throw in about two times whilst Lapslie was standing on the sidelines - If they'd been rushing him on he'd have been on during one of those breaks in play
We were defending when the ball was out. Sensible not to substitute whilst defending.
I saw them preparing Lapslie on the touchline. They weren't just getting him ready, they were rushing him on. It was getting to the stage where Oshilaja was making so many errors a second yellow was a likelihood, not a possibility
Agreed, it was the quickest sub we've made for years. Lapslie was being rushed to get his kit on (he did wait to come on when we weren't in a dangerous position). I thought it was so he didn't give them another goal as he had done a minute earlier (incorrectly disallowed). He nearly gave them another shortly before that.
As for the atmosphere. I was in the NW quad and thought the atmosphere was pretty good. The covered end brilliant sung 'theres only one Ethan Matthew's', but when I've seen a video of it filmed from middle of the west stand its barely audible. To those that sit at the Jimmy Seed end of the east and west does the covered end come across loud?
I think many of us, myself included, sometimes don't appreciate the tension/fear in the players in these kind games. Barnsley and now Luton were pretty much nailed on "must win" games and we have won both.
Taylor is huge plus. Getting Cullen, Bonne and others back is also really positive as they get back to full match fitness/sharpness.
Laplsie made a real impact and that can only be good.
There will be tough moments ahead, like the disappointment of last weeks games but overall we have forward momentum again.
Good assist by Davis for the first goal, he's slowly warming up.
That was probably the worst pass Lyle Taylor has ever received from a range of less than five yards in his professional career. It was behind him too hard and bouncing at neck height. God knows how he got it under control and buried it but yes, technically an assist.
Watch it again, the ball although a looping delivery reached Lyle at shin/knee height.
Not convinced at all that we should have got a penalty. Lapslie smashed it at Collins and he looked just to be instinctively defending himself.
Both hands and arms were fully stretched above his head. How can that be defending yourself?
No way could it be deemed that. Hit his arm undoubtably and his arm was in an unnatural position as defined by the new interpretation of the law. Stonewall penalty
I was in the valley gold box for yesterday’s game, my word I’m glad I sit in the covered end normally, the atmosphere is as dead as a dodo in the East Stand
I was in the valley gold box for yesterday’s game, my word I’m glad I sit in the covered end normally, the atmosphere is as dead as a dodo in the East Stand
But at least we get a great view of the game from the middle of the East Stand!
I was in the valley gold box for yesterday’s game, my word I’m glad I sit in the covered end normally, the atmosphere is as dead as a dodo in the East Stand
But does the covered end come across well from the east?
Not convinced at all that we should have got a penalty. Lapslie smashed it at Collins and he looked just to be instinctively defending himself.
Both hands and arms were fully stretched above his head. How can that be defending yourself?
No way could it be deemed that. Hit his arm undoubtably and his arm was in an unnatural position as defined by the new interpretation of the law. Stonewall penalty
He could have just headed it and that is what should be natural reaction from a footballer. Putting both hands isn’t.
Not convinced at all that we should have got a penalty. Lapslie smashed it at Collins and he looked just to be instinctively defending himself.
I think you might be on your own there. Arms were stretched out in front of him at shoulder height. Wasn’t a ‘natural position’ at all and even the reaction of himself and his teammates said “what have you just done you Wally” rather than being in disagreement with the ref’s decision.
Deji had a okayish first half, he won quite a lot in air although he didn’t seem to have much control over where the ball was ending up - a few (not just from him) went straight up in the air and caused further chaos in our defensive third.
He definitely unbalanced the midfield, although it wasn’t so much him individually as having both him and Davis in the team. One of them should really have come off at half time but Bows has become a bit more cautious with his subs these days. Once Deji had a bit of a calamitous start to the half it was clear it was him who needed to come off. The game changed because partly because Lapslie played much better than Deji but also because having a midfielder with more attacking instincts gave us the balance we’d been missing.
i personally think Davis is being underrated a bit. He had a so-so debut, again being asked to play in an overly defensive midfield, but was excellent at Forest, one of our better players vs Blackburn and was good again yesterday, when played in his proper position in the second half. I think he’s actually been better as a screen in front of the back four than Pratley as he has a bit more pace and can keep up with the play a little better but Pratley has a bit all round ability. He’s clearly not one we can ask to fill in further up the pitch, and Bowyer has a lesson to learn there that he needs to get back to picking the best available players for each position rather than playing who he thinks are his best players but putting them out of position.
Taylor easily the MoM but a great sub appearance by Lapslie, the best he's played for a long time, as last season a lot of the time there was effort, but little end product.
I think it says it all that 2 of our deadline day signings didn't start or even come off the bench.
We needed the “bodies” but it’s obvious that Lapslie is ahead of Smith in Bowyer’s mind and Morgan should be too. I’d argue that Oztumer and Williams are better than McGeady. Davis has been ok - good against Forest but average since. Overall, the window shopping was poor, IMO. I don’t blame Bowyer and Gallen for that .
To be fair to the loanees ........ none of them had been playing for their clubs, which is the reason why they were available for us to sign. Lacking regular every week football and match fitness, it'll take them a while to show consistently what they can do.
And while I like to see our own 'favorites' take preference (especially the home grown lads), there's good reason why Morgan has not taken his chance to establish himself in the 1st team .... and if you listen to what Bowyer says about him, you'll know why.
Davis and McGeady have years of good experience in their positions. We're going to need players like that in the run in. And anyway, it's healthy for the newly fit Lapslie to have competition with Smith. And that's what Bows wants to see.
Watching Lapslie's goal again from the angle at the beginning of the video ...... from wide covering Matthews who was taking the throw, to making the run into space and the box to collect Taylor's lay off, reminds me of Gallagher's goal at home to Stoke.
It's a similar move all round, evidently a training ground routine.
I was in the valley gold box for yesterday’s game, my word I’m glad I sit in the covered end normally, the atmosphere is as dead as a dodo in the East Stand
But does the covered end come across well from the east?
You can tell it’s noisy but the acoustics aren’t as good as the Jimmy Seed, probably because of the corrugated metal sides and much lower roof. The Luton fans were loud in fairness
Bonne done more in last two cameos than Hemed done all season.
Sorry, he didn't do bad against forest but other than that a huge let down for me.
The great thing about Bonne's cross for the goal is that many strikers would have tried a shit from there.....would would have invariably been blocked or gone wide/into the side netting. He had the nous to take a touch which gave him half a yard, which was enough to get a cross into a dangerous area.
Bonne done more in last two cameos than Hemed done all season.
Sorry, he didn't do bad against forest but other than that a huge let down for me.
The great thing about Bonne's cross for the goal is that many strikers would have tried a shit from there.....would would have invariably been blocked or gone wide/into the side netting. He had the nous to take a touch which gave him half a yard, which was enough to get a cross into a dangerous area.
Thank god Bonne is not like many strikers - wouldn't be a pretty sight! Unfair on bloke who has to clean the netting afterwards too!
Comments
The game immediately changed from looking like we would lose to win.
I agree 3 was harsh, I gave him 4 :-)
Then the penalty. He was having some banter with the Luton captain as he was standing waiting to take the kick. A wry smile on his face as he strolled up and buried it and his reaction to that was to continue the slow stroll. Brilliant. That was aimed at the Charlton fans. Casual nonchalance. Brilliant.
What a player. I don't understand why he has languished in the lower levels. Is this just another example of Bows getting the best out of players? Don't know, but he's got his mojo going for us.
Lapslie was being rushed to get his kit on (he did wait to come on when we weren't in a dangerous position).
I thought it was so he didn't give them another goal as he had done a minute earlier (incorrectly disallowed).
He nearly gave them another shortly before that.
Taylor is huge plus. Getting Cullen, Bonne and others back is also really positive as they get back to full match fitness/sharpness.
Laplsie made a real impact and that can only be good.
There will be tough moments ahead, like the disappointment of last weeks games but overall we have forward momentum again.
Sorry, he didn't do bad against forest but other than that a huge let down for me.
How can that be defending yourself?
i personally think Davis is being underrated a bit. He had a so-so debut, again being asked to play in an overly defensive midfield, but was excellent at Forest, one of our better players vs Blackburn and was good again yesterday, when played in his proper position in the second half. I think he’s actually been better as a screen in front of the back four than Pratley as he has a bit more pace and can keep up with the play a little better but Pratley has a bit all round ability. He’s clearly not one we can ask to fill in further up the pitch, and Bowyer has a lesson to learn there that he needs to get back to picking the best available players for each position rather than playing who he thinks are his best players but putting them out of position.
Lacking regular every week football and match fitness, it'll take them a while to show consistently what they can do.
And while I like to see our own 'favorites' take preference (especially the home grown lads), there's good reason why Morgan has not taken his chance to establish himself in the 1st team .... and if you listen to what Bowyer says about him, you'll know why.
Davis and McGeady have years of good experience in their positions. We're going to need players like that in the run in.
And anyway, it's healthy for the newly fit Lapslie to have competition with Smith. And that's what Bows wants to see.
And sorry, can't resist, you've already convinced me you're mad!
It's a similar move all round, evidently a training ground routine.