Had a rare Wednesday at home, so looking forward to seeing how the team was gelling.
Seemed strange to drop Summerville after Saturday, but regardless of changes whole team seemed sluggish and Stoke by far the livelier.
Defence looked very shaky all round and we lived dangerously without Stoke having any really good chances.
I had to keep checking Gruev's number to check he was playing, seemed utterly anonymous.
Anthony seemed to be playing in teh middle at times and another player who had little effect and Gnonto was hustle and bustle and apart from 1 cut back didnt offer much.
Rutter is getting more in the swing of things but had a very quiet first half as did Piroe.
Second half wasn't much better, 3 substitutions nearly pay off straight away, but why oh why does Bamford take that penalty having not even touched the ball.
I fear that miss is nail in coffin for any sort of return to form for Bamford.
Rutter had some clever passes in him and Summerville also had a positive effect but by then Stoke had woken up their defence and stole a goal.
Also thought Gray was a bit of a bright light, just makes it look easy, wish he was more integral to things than being right back.
Could argue we deserved a point but performance itself was quite lacklustre and one has to hope that was a one off, because it felt like we wouldn't score if it had gone on for another hour.
Would rather have 3 wins and a loss that a win and 3 draws, so put this behind us and onto next one.
Thoughts from tonight
posted on 26/10/23
comment by A Little Bit of Dennis (U23086)
posted 38 minutes ago
Another couple of points on the penalty, firstly would we have got it with Piroe on the pitch, at least Bamford makes that difference, game after game you wonder where the hell the guy has gone, Farke might want him on the pitch to take the penalty but he needs a Bamford type player who poses a threat to win a penalty in the first place.
The second is, we were in the ascendency, why did the penalty miss suck all the life out of the team? Bamford might have missed the penalty but then Stoke tails were then up, I can understand that, but why were we so fragile? Bamford wasn't the only guy out there.
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Good points and I’ve got no immediate answers I’m afraid. It really baffles me how we can, seemingly out of the blue, put in such an abject performance as last night.
posted on 26/10/23
So either Bamford was the designated pen taker or the manager hasnt done his job properly.
^^^
Or, Bamford's just so full of himself, he seriously
thinks he's the best choice to take a penalty.
Someone within our set up needs to pull him aside
and remind him he's a shell of what he was. And
he was never that great to begin with.
posted on 26/10/23
comment by Batty (U4664)
posted 1 hour, 37 minutes ago
…. And he was never that great to begin with.
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and there’s the comment that shows a true ‘hater’.
posted on 26/10/23
A reminder of the Bamford we (and he) wants
https://x.com/lufc/status/1397225136600793089?s=46
posted on 27/10/23
^
Playing in empty stadiums. Two years + ago.
Whatever that behind-closed-doors-Bamford was,
it was many moons, missed penalties, scuffed
chances, hissy fits, and injuries ago.
posted on 27/10/23
comment by Batty (U4664)
posted 58 minutes ago
^
Playing in empty stadiums. Two years + ago.
Whatever that behind-closed-doors-Bamford was,
it was many moons, missed penalties, scuffed
chances, hissy fits, and injuries ago.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To use your words “whatever that Bamford was”…it was certainly NOT “He was never that great to begin with”, which I believe was the comment.
posted on 27/10/23
I would love to ask Farke if there was a designated penalty taker after Piroe had left the pitch. Because I am certain, if there was, his name wouldn't be Bamford.
Secondly, if there is conflict in the dressing room between new, younger players, and the Bielsa players, and I suspect there is, how will Farke resolve it? Rodon's body language spoke volumes for me. He was livid. Those two won't be exchanging Christmas cards this year. Farke has stepped in already in demoting Ayling and Cooper, in a diplomatic way. He has to do the same to Bamford, in my view.
posted on 27/10/23
comment by Batty (U4664)
posted 58 minutes ago
^
Playing in empty stadiums. Two years + ago.
Whatever that behind-closed-doors-Bamford was,
it was many moons, missed penalties, scuffed
chances, hissy fits, and injuries ago.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To use your words “whatever that Bamford was”…it was certainly NOT “He was never that great to begin with”, which I believe was the comment.
posted on 27/10/23
Bamford Stats - signed July 2018.
144 - 48 goals (1 in 3) , (33 scored between 19/20 & 20/21).
To my mind, good for 2 seasons.
The question to be answered is, on balance, has he been value for money over the 5 years?
Secondly based on recent injuries/form, he is now 30, and his contract extension runs to mid July 2026, are we likely to see a resurgent Paddy in the next 2 years?
Can only hope for the best, as his wages and injuey record probably restrict most other optuons.
posted on 28/10/23
Once again Bamford costs us at least a point.
For at least 5 seasons now I've been saying this guy is a workhorse, but he's not a striker or finisher. It appears the club will never learn. Terrible loss to Stoke, it'll be costly at the end of the season. The gap between us and the top 2 will be difficult to close IMO