We lacked physical presence yesterday, and looked very lightweight in midfield. Cullen, Oztumer, McGeady and Lapslie isn't exactly a midfield which will impose itself physically
Thought Huddersfield looked a top of table side based on the way they bossed the play. They always seemed to find a man in SPACE whereas our passes were in the main to a player with no space (a town player 3 yards away) and possession was either lost or the ball played back to the back 5/4 and inevitably back to Dillon who was also put under pressure, which is how the first goal came about. Huddersfield were quality but let's.not get this out of proportion. They started the day on the same number of points 35 games into a season. To me that makes us about equal. As can be seen with many results involving teams around us, that if they turn up they can beat anyone including the top team ala West Brom v Wigan. We are in a very worrying position, there is no other way to view it. Our form is not that of the teams around us so the odds are against us staying up. I'm not a pessimist, just a realist. I hope that Bowyer can do something amazing over the next 10 games but fear he doesn't have the experience or squad to play to his plans.
Having watched at Hillsboro and again today, it's a tough week. I seriously hope the player's can pick themselves up to give the fans something to cheer about (because it's needed).
As an aside, it was slightly amusing that Karlan's song incorporates their amusement at having bought him from Charlton Athletic! Less amusing were his two well taken goals.
Tough times ahead, but it's what being a fan is all too often about. Onto the next episode.
If this was a tough week we're doomed for the rest of the season.
Whilst we are bottom of the table and all games are hard, this week I'd like to have got 3 points.
Did we get an over night points deduction ? How come we're now apparently bottom ?
We desperately need Sarr, Pratley, JFC, Purrington and Williams to start if they are all fit. Whats happened to Aneke and Morgan much better than Oztumer and McGeady. How about Aneke to start to give us some strength and put his self about. Alfie defo not a defender, much better Left midfield or left winger. Apart from Green, not impressed with the 3 loan signings!
Obviously we are not down and out yet . But it is the nature of our defeats this week that concerns me . There is no fight left in the team , no leadership on the pitch , a real lack of quality in certain positions. We can still stay up , but LB needs to get the team motivated for the run in .
We seemed to have gone from one extreme to the other in midfield yesterday - hopefully we pick a balanced team next week - we r still in this but have to stop the experimenting - next week is huge and I will be giving 100% support but esi really have to up their fame in the summer and LB needs to either be more forceful or wake up to the fact that we need new and better players not benchwarmers
I'm not going to comment on the game, my players' marks paint the picture! The only footballing positive was Williams giving us hope with his introduction second half. The best bits were spending time with son and grandchildren, having a pre match chat with @FannyFanackapan and chewing the cud second half with @Lincsaddick.
Ten games to go, all cup finals until we are certain of safety. If the penny hadn't dropped already, the management team and players need to get their act together immediately if all the hard work of promotion last May is not to be undone.
I'll be on my annual pilgrimage to the Valley next week and then Hull the week after. COYRs you owe it to all us fans especially those that have put the miles in up and down the country in greater numbers this year, to get behind you!
PWR. I saw the game on the tele. The score flattered Huddersfield, but not the result. The first three goals all seemed to stem from Oschilaja losing the ball, like he did against Luton last week? Or am I mistaken?
I'm not going to comment on the game, my players' marks paint the picture! The only footballing positive was Williams giving us hope with his introduction second half. The best bits were spending time with son and grandchildren, having a pre match chat with @FannyFanackapan and chewing the cud second half with @Lincsaddick.
Ten games to go, all cup finals until we are certain of safety. If the penny hadn't dropped already, the management team and players need to get their act together immediately if all the hard work of promotion last May is not to be undone.
I'll be on my annual pilgrimage to the Valley next week and then Hull the week after. COYRs you owe it to all us fans especially those that have put the miles in up and down the country in greater numbers this year, to get behind you!
Good to see you too, Red.
Just as well you didn't bump into me after the match....
PWR. I saw the game on the tele. The score flattered Huddersfield, but not the result. The first three goals all seemed to stem from Oschilaja losing the ball, like he did against Luton last week? Or am I mistaken?
The first was a hospital ball pass back from Lapslie to Oshilaja who was still favourite to clear it but tried a short possession pass which was intercepted by Grant 0-1. Not sure Deji was at fault for the second as it was a cracking og by Pearce! I was taking a comfort break for the third when the roar went up in readiness for the car journey so can't comment and was outside the ground when the fourth went in both last knockings.
The highlights though show him trying to block the assist for the third and he was our nearest player to Bacuna who scored from 25 yards. To be fair I thought he stuck at it after his lapse for the first although I only gave him 4.5 in the players marks he was by no means our worst performer.
Regarding the Luton game, it was Davis who made the weak clearance for their goal but Oshilaja got the hook immediately after gifting the ball for the disallowed goal second half.
The only position where to me Oshilaja looks comfortable to me is RB, as he's quite fast and runs surprisingly well with the ball, his best moment yesterday was his run to the touchline and pullback
In central positions he tends to lose the ball in dangerous areas, whether CB or midfield.
The only position where to me Oshilaja looks comfortable to me is RB, as he's quite fast and runs surprisingly well with the ball, his best moment yesterday was his run to the touchline and pullback
In central positions he tends to lose the ball in dangerous areas, whether CB or midfield.
I agree, I remember his performance against Forest at home at RB which was superb. He’s not a midfielder and a liability at CB it seems. I have to admit I was calling for him to get a chance at CB but it’s not worked. It has to be Lockyer and Sarr.
This is the pitiful truth. We can’t pass the ball accurately. We
can’t control the ball properly. And in possession, we are
dullards.
Watch closely, and
each pass is just slightly wrong for the runner: he has to check or
divert for the ball. Which he can’t control cleanly. Those two
touches are enough for our opponents to pounce, and seize possession.
Watch our player
with ball at feet, approaching the box. You can see him stuttering,
mentally frozen – what should I do? The ball is lost.
The greatest
pleasure this season is admiring the fluency of our opponents, the
way they pass and move from defence to attack. Brentford, Swansea,
Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, West Brom and others. Quick moves,
instinctive runs, carving space, shooting at goal.
That is beyond our
technical ability. We are ponderous, slow, cautious. Incapable.
Yet, fellow Lifers
will recall the first 30 minutes at home against Forest back in
August. We were on fire, rapid and incisive: cutting in attack.
That should be the benchmark, the way to play. Our best opponents do
all that naturally, smoothly, routinely, every single game.
Since then, we in
the Covered End have watched, aghast, many second halves with us not
making a single shot at goal. That is pathetic.
Our defence is a
shambles. Even with injuries cured, we have no effective midfield.
We are physically weak – Oztumer and Cullen are brushed off the
ball – simply unable to win a tackle and thread a pass from here to
there. No movement from the strikers; Taylor is muscling for
possession far out wide when he should be in the box, served by a
cross he’ll never receive.
We have an attacking
throw-in. You can see the mental cogs grinding: what should I do?
He throws it back to midfield – and back to our keeper. Who hoofs
it out of play.
Come on, for God’s
sake. Learn from our skilful, flowing, winning opponents. We are
dull, frozen men: a regiment of shadows. Those hopeless loans! I
have no interest in the platitudes of our new owners, no interest in
their homely Tweets, nor their prudent purse or vacuous five-year
plan.
It is stark and
simple. They should spend money on skilful players, tough and
intelligent men: players capable of bursting the net at the Covered
End.
Are you me ? I could have written that.
Even Luton last week passed it better than us. First half; midfielders running with the ball & passing it forwards to a man already on the run, the ball played in front of him so he doesnt have to break stride or stop. Us; passing it around tge back, sidways 5 yards to a player who then immeadiatly passes it back again. Just look at the first goal yesterday- that sums up our problem.
This is the pitiful truth. We can’t pass the ball accurately. We
can’t control the ball properly. And in possession, we are
dullards.
Watch closely, and
each pass is just slightly wrong for the runner: he has to check or
divert for the ball. Which he can’t control cleanly. Those two
touches are enough for our opponents to pounce, and seize possession.
Watch our player
with ball at feet, approaching the box. You can see him stuttering,
mentally frozen – what should I do? The ball is lost.
The greatest
pleasure this season is admiring the fluency of our opponents, the
way they pass and move from defence to attack. Brentford, Swansea,
Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, West Brom and others. Quick moves,
instinctive runs, carving space, shooting at goal.
That is beyond our
technical ability. We are ponderous, slow, cautious. Incapable.
Yet, fellow Lifers
will recall the first 30 minutes at home against Forest back in
August. We were on fire, rapid and incisive: cutting in attack.
That should be the benchmark, the way to play. Our best opponents do
all that naturally, smoothly, routinely, every single game.
Since then, we in
the Covered End have watched, aghast, many second halves with us not
making a single shot at goal. That is pathetic.
Our defence is a
shambles. Even with injuries cured, we have no effective midfield.
We are physically weak – Oztumer and Cullen are brushed off the
ball – simply unable to win a tackle and thread a pass from here to
there. No movement from the strikers; Taylor is muscling for
possession far out wide when he should be in the box, served by a
cross he’ll never receive.
We have an attacking
throw-in. You can see the mental cogs grinding: what should I do?
He throws it back to midfield – and back to our keeper. Who hoofs
it out of play.
Come on, for God’s
sake. Learn from our skilful, flowing, winning opponents. We are
dull, frozen men: a regiment of shadows. Those hopeless loans! I
have no interest in the platitudes of our new owners, no interest in
their homely Tweets, nor their prudent purse or vacuous five-year
plan.
It is stark and
simple. They should spend money on skilful players, tough and
intelligent men: players capable of bursting the net at the Covered
End.
I have been thinking about yesterday's shit shower. In the cold light of day the team selection, tactics (especially in the 1st half) and quite frankly shocking performances by 3 or 4 individuals isn't what really pissed me off.
It was the lack of positive intent and aggression. By that I don't mean chucking men forward and kicking people. I mean it in terms of passing and running. We tried to pass round the press, as far I could tell we only actually did it once, then ended up passing the ball back to Phillips anyway.
In all honesty I can accept that players are shit, players have bad games, managers get selections and tactics wrong. I can't accept the whole team being so passive, timid and negative.
If Bowyer sorts those out those things we will have a great chance of staying up and I couldn't complain if the worst happened.
Not using this as an excuse in any shape or form but the vast improvement of some of the teams that were (and still are), below us recently is surely almost unprecedented....they have all given themselves a chance now with vastly improved results.....whereas, at such a critical moment, we have unquestionably gone pear shaped. I realise I’m stating the bleeding obvious but it is most unusual that they should ALL be on the up.
Good to see you have calmed down from last night mate. You were very emotional.
It appears we have been sussed out using the 5-3-2 and the 4-4-2 diamond. Teams know we can't play out from the back, we also don't have the same strong energetic midfield.
7 players look consistently capable at this level when fit. Phillips, Matthews, Lockyer, Cullen, Pratley, Williams & Taylor
The rest can perform on good days but it's few and far between stuck from being decent league one players and making that step up to championship football.
The standards have dropped organisation, discipline, communication.
Wasteful at set pieces, give away many cheap fouls, movement non existent from dead ball situations (throw-ins and goal kicks), players not scanning shoulders before recieving making a pass, making a lot of poor decisions on the ball (playing it into a congested area) and not having any belief going forward.
It's back to doing the basics well on the training ground, having belief and we have to force errors from the opposition not the other way around being defensive has cost us this week.
Although probarbly too late for a change of system I wouldnt mind having wingers/inside forwards in a 4-2-3-1.
it’s gonna be a struggle as ever and will require a proper turnaround but first time this season I think the chances of staying up are less than going down .
I'm not going to comment on the game, my players' marks paint the picture! The only footballing positive was Williams giving us hope with his introduction second half. The best bits were spending time with son and grandchildren, having a pre match chat with @FannyFanackapan and chewing the cud second half with @Lincsaddick.
Ten games to go, all cup finals until we are certain of safety. If the penny hadn't dropped already, the management team and players need to get their act together immediately if all the hard work of promotion last May is not to be undone.
I'll be on my annual pilgrimage to the Valley next week and then Hull the week after. COYRs you owe it to all us fans especially those that have put the miles in up and down the country in greater numbers this year, to get behind you!
lovely to see you again after a while @RedChaser, you're such good company as ever ((:>) .. @Fanny Fanackapan .. I saw you after the game and you were quite distressed, I've seen you sad after a loss but not as bad as this .. it's understandable after two long trips to Yorkshire and being subjected to two substandard performances. What can I say ?. After all the trials and tribulations of last season,the Wembley euphoria and the good start to this season, we have all come back down to earth with a bump. However, we are still in there and our fate is in our own hands do a certain extent. Still, we need Forest to get result at 'Boro on Monday
The game? .. once more we started so slowly, disorganised and hesitantly, Bowyer DUMP THE DIAMOND !! .. second half with a 4 4 2 ish we looked much more with it and gave the Terriers a fright or two .. 4-0 does not really reflect the game, especially in the first half of the second half. We gifted them the opener and could never recover from that. Having said that, we were second best almost throughout.
The plain fact is that Huddersfield have better players than us. They have the money and have spent a lot of it to try and get out of their own mess. Thus .. Their keeper, a Dane on loan from Everton .. Simpson, the right back who was a member of Leicester's Premier winning side, Left back Toffolo, lots of money from Lincoln, a player we are reported as 'fancying' at one time .. Central defence, Stearman a vastly experienced Premier quality player and Schindler (not the 'list' man) their version of Paddy Bauer, both tall as well as very mobile and quick in the tackle .. midfield, two quality loanees from Chelsea and Arsenal, long term England youth regulars .. and we all know the abilities of Grant, though all too often our defenders looked loath to get stuck into him. You get what you pay for to a certain extent. We have paid out a pittance and that is reflected in our squad. That is a reflection on the owners and not the management. Where the management is culpable is in matters of selection and tactics, given the limitations imposed by injuries. Bowyer needs to stick to a pattern of play, (NOT the <>) hopefully a 4 4 2 and as far as possible a settled side. Yesterday, just as McGeady after a poor start was getting into his stride he was pulled. Hemed came on for the last ten minutes, far too late to make any impact, Oztumer (sorry to say again) is too lightweight despite his ability to occasionally make a killer pass. We still have a few injuries but sorry to say, Bowyer a t m is not making the best of the players he has available. He'll learn, but it needs to be soon soon and soon
I'm not going to comment on the game, my players' marks paint the picture! The only footballing positive was Williams giving us hope with his introduction second half. The best bits were spending time with son and grandchildren, having a pre match chat with @FannyFanackapan and chewing the cud second half with @Lincsaddick.
Ten games to go, all cup finals until we are certain of safety. If the penny hadn't dropped already, the management team and players need to get their act together immediately if all the hard work of promotion last May is not to be undone.
I'll be on my annual pilgrimage to the Valley next week and then Hull the week after. COYRs you owe it to all us fans especially those that have put the miles in up and down the country in greater numbers this year, to get behind you!
lovely to see you again after a while @RedChaser, you're such good company as ever ((:>) .. @Fanny Fanackapan .. I saw you after the game and you were quite distressed, I've seen you sad after a loss but not as bad as this .. it's understandable after two long trips to Yorkshire and being subjected to two substandard performances. What can I say ?. After all the trials and tribulations of last season,the Wembley euphoria and the good start to this season, we have all come back down to earth with a bump. However, we are still in there and our fate is in our own hands do a certain extent. Still, we need Forest to get result at 'Boro on Monday
The game? .. once more we started so slowly, disorganised and hesitantly, Bowyer DUMP THE DIAMOND !! .. second half with a 4 4 2 ish we looked much more with it and gave the Terriers a fright or two .. 4-0 does not really reflect the game, especially in the first half of the second half. We gifted them the opener and could never recover from that. Having said that, we were second best almost throughout.
The plain fact is that Huddersfield have better players than us. They have the money and have spent a lot of it to try and get out of their own mess. Thus .. Their keeper, a Dane on loan from Everton .. Simpson, the right back who was a member of Leicester's Premier winning side, Left back Toffolo, lots of money from Lincoln, a player we are reported as 'fancying' at one time .. Central defence, Stearman a vastly experienced Premier quality player and Schindler (not the 'list' man) their version of Paddy Bauer, both tall as well as very mobile and quick in the tackle .. midfield, two quality loanees from Chelsea and Arsenal, long term England youth regulars .. and we all know the abilities of Grant, though all too often our defenders looked loath to get stuck into him. You get what you pay for to a certain extent. We have paid out a pittance and that is reflected in our squad. That is a reflection on the owners and not the management. Where the management is culpable is in matters of selection and tactics, given the limitations imposed by injuries. Bowyer needs to stick to a pattern of play, (NOT the <>) hopefully a 4 4 2 and as far as possible a settled side. Yesterday, just as McGeady after a poor start was getting into his stride he was pulled. Hemed came on for the last ten minutes, far too late to make any impact, Oztumer (sorry to say again) is too lightweight despite his ability to occasionally make a killer pass. We still have a few injuries but sorry to say, Bowyer a t m is not making the best of the players he has available. He'll learn, but it needs to be soon soon and soon
A really good Post Lincs
You have to learn from these games, 4-0 didnt highlight the actual game? OK could have been 7-1 or 7-2 maybe.
They had quality all over the pitch dont get me wrong but we have coped with that in the past, Brom, Brentford, Leeds
We were shit yesterday and shit Wednesday and lets not paper over it. Bowyer needs to talk the talk now (Based on his post match interview).
Ive loved watching Doherty but he was dog shit all game yesterday and im pretty sure hed be the first to admit it, first touch, 10 yd pass, giving ball away, and dont get me started on the fckin Loans performances we have bought in.
Ive been going 40 years now and seen some absolute shit and some really good times and had season ticket through thick and thin but the players are not doing it. Ive talked up this Bows era for the last 18 months and loved every minute of it but Bows is making mistakes as well (Free kick to waste time in last 30 seconds on Wednesday to prove it as ref added on a minute and they done what we should have PUT THE BALL IN THE FUCKING BOX FOR FUCK SAKE, TRY AND WIN A GAME)
Im really pissed off as we tried harder with lesser players on the pitch when we were using the kids and everyone knew we had an excuse.
Wednesday and Yesterday for Bows, JJ, and AM there was no excuse.
Comments
I agree, pathetic !
EDIT: I couldn't believe someone hadn't already made this point, so I checked, and they had, whoops
How come we're now apparently bottom ?
So we're now bottom and we're down already.
Nurse, nurse !
Whats happened to Aneke and Morgan much better than Oztumer and McGeady.
How about Aneke to start to give us some strength and put his self about.
Alfie defo not a defender, much better Left midfield or left winger.
Apart from Green, not impressed with the 3 loan signings!
Ten games to go, all cup finals until we are certain of safety. If the penny hadn't dropped already, the management team and players need to get their act together immediately if all the hard work of promotion last May is not to be undone.
I'll be on my annual pilgrimage to the Valley next week and then Hull the week after. COYRs you owe it to all us fans especially those that have put the miles in up and down the country in greater numbers this year, to get behind you!
Just as well you didn't bump into me after the match....
http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/1021824574?-11197:833
The highlights though show him trying to block the assist for the third and he was our nearest player to Bacuna who scored from 25 yards. To be fair I thought he stuck at it after his lapse for the first although I only gave him 4.5 in the players marks he was by no means our worst performer.
Regarding the Luton game, it was Davis who made the weak clearance for their goal but Oshilaja got the hook immediately after gifting the ball for the disallowed goal second half.
In central positions he tends to lose the ball in dangerous areas, whether CB or midfield.
Even Luton last week passed it better than us. First half; midfielders running with the ball & passing it forwards to a man already on the run, the ball played in front of him so he doesnt have to break stride or stop. Us; passing it around tge back, sidways 5 yards to a player who then immeadiatly passes it back again. Just look at the first goal yesterday- that sums up our problem.
It was the lack of positive intent and aggression. By that I don't mean chucking men forward and kicking people. I mean it in terms of passing and running. We tried to pass round the press, as far I could tell we only actually did it once, then ended up passing the ball back to Phillips anyway.
In all honesty I can accept that players are shit, players have bad games, managers get selections and tactics wrong. I can't accept the whole team being so passive, timid and negative.
If Bowyer sorts those out those things we will have a great chance of staying up and I couldn't complain if the worst happened.
I thought that was cleared up when we realised Nimer bought us and not the Sheikh
7 players look consistently capable at this level when fit.
Phillips, Matthews, Lockyer, Cullen, Pratley, Williams & Taylor
The rest can perform on good days but it's few and far between stuck from being decent league one players and making that step up to championship football.
The standards have dropped organisation, discipline, communication.
Wasteful at set pieces, give away many cheap fouls, movement non existent from dead ball situations (throw-ins and goal kicks), players not scanning shoulders before recieving making a pass, making a lot of poor decisions on the ball (playing it into a congested area) and not having any belief going forward.
It's back to doing the basics well on the training ground, having belief and we have to force errors from the opposition not the other way around being defensive has cost us this week.
Although probarbly too late for a change of system I wouldnt mind having wingers/inside forwards in a 4-2-3-1.
Strongest XI? (Bonne if we need a target man)
Taylor
Green, Williams,. Mcgready
Pratley, Cullen
Purrington, Sarr, Lockyer, Matthews
Phillips
The game? .. once more we started so slowly, disorganised and hesitantly, Bowyer DUMP THE DIAMOND !! .. second half with a 4 4 2 ish we looked much more with it and gave the Terriers a fright or two .. 4-0 does not really reflect the game, especially in the first half of the second half. We gifted them the opener and could never recover from that. Having said that, we were second best almost throughout.
The plain fact is that Huddersfield have better players than us. They have the money and have spent a lot of it to try and get out of their own mess.
Thus .. Their keeper, a Dane on loan from Everton .. Simpson, the right back who was a member of Leicester's Premier winning side, Left back Toffolo, lots of money from Lincoln, a player we are reported as 'fancying' at one time .. Central defence, Stearman a vastly experienced Premier quality player and Schindler (not the 'list' man) their version of Paddy Bauer, both tall as well as very mobile and quick in the tackle .. midfield, two quality loanees from Chelsea and Arsenal, long term England youth regulars .. and we all know the abilities of Grant, though all too often our defenders looked loath to get stuck into him.
You get what you pay for to a certain extent. We have paid out a pittance and that is reflected in our squad. That is a reflection on the owners and not the management. Where the management is culpable is in matters of selection and tactics, given the limitations imposed by injuries. Bowyer needs to stick to a pattern of play, (NOT the <>) hopefully a 4 4 2 and as far as possible a settled side.
Yesterday, just as McGeady after a poor start was getting into his stride he was pulled. Hemed came on for the last ten minutes, far too late to make any impact, Oztumer (sorry to say again) is too lightweight despite his ability to occasionally make a killer pass. We still have a few injuries but sorry to say, Bowyer a t m is not making the best of the players he has available. He'll learn, but it needs to be soon soon and soon
You have to learn from these games, 4-0 didnt highlight the actual game? OK could have been 7-1 or 7-2 maybe.
They had quality all over the pitch dont get me wrong but we have coped with that in the past, Brom, Brentford, Leeds
We were shit yesterday and shit Wednesday and lets not paper over it. Bowyer needs to talk the talk now (Based on his post match interview).
Ive loved watching Doherty but he was dog shit all game yesterday and im pretty sure hed be the first to admit it, first touch, 10 yd pass, giving ball away, and dont get me started on the fckin Loans performances we have bought in.
Ive been going 40 years now and seen some absolute shit and some really good times and had season ticket through thick and thin but the players are not doing it. Ive talked up this Bows era for the last 18 months and loved every minute of it but Bows is making mistakes as well (Free kick to waste time in last 30 seconds on Wednesday to prove it as ref added on a minute and they done what we should have PUT THE BALL IN THE FUCKING BOX FOR FUCK SAKE, TRY AND WIN A GAME)
Im really pissed off as we tried harder with lesser players on the pitch when we were using the kids and everyone knew we had an excuse.
Wednesday and Yesterday for Bows, JJ, and AM there was no excuse.
Pull your fingers out.