Didn't think we played that well at weekend, but got the points, but couldnt repeat the feat tonight.
Possession doesn't equal winning a match and passing it around a lot without any end product is pointless.
So few clearcut chances for us despite this huge attacking prowess, but Rutter was anonymous, Piroe pretty much too and Summerville and James had little impact whilst Sunderland looked to have much more of a cutting edge.
We were up against a good side with some bounce back effect after manager exiting, but we looked limited and ineffective.
If it weren't for Meslier, the score could have been more emphatic.
I can live with a result like this, but, with top two raking in the points like nobody's business, this is an awful result and a poor defensive performance.....the way Bellingham was completely free in coming in for the goal was Sunday league stuff.
We've now a got a tricky couple of matches that could literally decide if we're able to challenge or not.
Cannot afford to drop any points in our next 2 matches now.
Thoughts from today
posted on 13/12/23
The changes were too late and i fear our first 11 are becoming tired especially in midfield. I don't think Ampadu or Kamara have been decent for a few games now. Surely we will need to rotate a bit more over the Christmas period but who would play in midfield other than what we have. Gruev doesn't seem fancied at the moment
posted on 13/12/23
We actually need a good January window if we're to push on and get 2nd imo. We can't expect Amps and Kamara to play the next 25 games + cups without tiring. Gruev aint getting any minutes so clearly isn't up to it, so we need a CM imo, probably on loan. Rutter looked well off it again last night and for a 3rd game running, he was holding his side/rib. We don't have an out and out CF chomping at the bit behind him apart from Badform so perhaps we need to improve there in January too. Piroe pops up with the odd goal but yet another invisible display last night, so perhaps an attacking mid is needed also. Defensively we didn't look too bad apart from having a right back at left back (par for the course) and Gray still first choice at right back despite breaking in as a CM.
Sky commentators hinted at a quiet Jan is to be expected for DF ...... well we'll quietly finish 3rd 20 pts ahead of WBA in 6th then.
P.S If we continue looking this mediocre away from home, we'll be adding to FA Cup humiliation scrapbook when we make 9 changes to face Peterborough in Jan.
posted on 13/12/23
I'd commented after weekend that this team will need a rebuild if we get promoted.
I stand by that, we might be top 6 Champ team, but we're a cobbled together outfit that Farke getting good points from, but a way to go to be a Prem team.
Would really like to see Piroe up top instead of so deep but there feels like an obligation to play him due to price tag and this gets in the way of Piroe.
posted on 13/12/23
comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
I'd commented after weekend that this team will need a rebuild if we get promoted.
I stand by that, we might be top 6 Champ team, but we're a cobbled together outfit that Farke getting good points from, but a way to go to be a Prem team.
Would really like to see Piroe up top instead of so deep but there feels like an obligation to play him due to price tag and this gets in the way of Piroe.
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Agree with both points. We're a good side in a poor league. We are better than we were last season though.
posted on 13/12/23
Talk before kick off about flu in the camp?
Certainly looked well below par
posted on 13/12/23
comment by Shaun M - supercalifragilisticOrtaisatrocious (U9955)
posted 48 minutes ago
comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
I'd commented after weekend that this team will need a rebuild if we get promoted.
I stand by that, we might be top 6 Champ team, but we're a cobbled together outfit that Farke getting good points from, but a way to go to be a Prem team.
Would really like to see Piroe up top instead of so deep but there feels like an obligation to play him due to price tag and this gets in the way of Piroe.
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Agree with both points. We're a good side in a poor league. We are better than we were last season though.
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Agree that this team is better than last season, don’t think we would go down.
posted on 13/12/23
Rodon > Koch
Byram > Firpo/square pegs
Kam/Amps > Roca/McKennie
Rutter under DF > Rutter last season
Summerville > Anyone else we had last season
Farke > All of last season's managers
posted on 13/12/23
Think we started well, and they could barely get out of their own box.
But there a whiff of arrogance, at the club, which I dont like (Yes I know it ironic, with me saying we should get 100 points, but hear me out)
Its like, were better than everyone else, so we’ll just play how we want.
Subs were far too late.
Gray should have been either subbed or move to the other sides. All over shop and played them onside for a really bad goal.
Spence plays like he looks, too causal and all over shop . One bit he was virtually left wing, and Kamara was then covering, leaving midfield completely open.
Kamara, Rutter and summerville constantly holding onto the ball, just lay it off, there was no space. Sunderland arent a good side, but we’d lose ball carelessly and they then have tonnes of space. They didnt even have a proper striker.
Farke got schooled by a caretaker manager 🤦 No change in tactics.
It was like sunday league football at end, just chunk on a load of strikers, without a thought on how your going to supply them with good ball.
Poor management all round last night
posted on 13/12/23
comment by Shaun M - supercalifragilisticOrtaisatrocious (U9955)
posted 1 hour, 16 minutes ago
Rodon > Koch
Byram > Firpo/square pegs
Kam/Amps > Roca/McKennie
Rutter under DF > Rutter last season
Summerville > Anyone else we had last season
Farke > All of last season's managers
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Meslier > Meslier
Struijk > Struijk
I feel like we are missing Sinisterra at times, seemed to be able to cut in and hit the target at a high percentage.
posted on 13/12/23
Yep, possession stats mean nowt if we can’t put the ball in the onion bag. Sure, disappointed with last night’s result but maintains our realistic position in the play-offs (which I think we’ll win). Autos still for Leicester and Ipswich to lose.