Rush to get home to watch the recording about 30 mins behind.
Not surprised top change up front, indeed I did ask earlier this week how much longer you would start with Joseph.
I thought Sunderland looked good to start and attacked well and grabbed a goal after really poor defending, especially from Rodon who was not reacting at all to the possibility of Meslier saving the shot allowing free hit on goal and one nil down.
I thought we looked so much more effective with Tanaka and Rothwell in midfield.
Rothwell always looking to get forwards, Tanaka always making himself available exactly opposite to how Gruev would kind of position himself weirdly to not make himself available. Tanaka full of running and Rothwell really has an eye for a through ball.
Soon after lovely cross and Piroe text book heads downward away from keeper. Literally one chance and scores, completely vindicates selection. Doesnt do a lot else all match but really didnt have teh service despite Largie and Gnonto having a lot of the ball.
Largie I thought did ok, but gnonton was outstanding.
So much effort, running, discipline and selfless in creating goals, I think this was one of his most complete performances for us.
In complete contrast Aaronson. Just gives the ball away a lot, just doesnt seem to quite understand what's going on, Firpo was furious when he nicked his chance of a shot.
Rodon grew into the game after that early lapse of doing anything, but was a very lucky boy not to pick up a red card, but other than that very solid defensively not least with a vital interception on a shot.
I thought Struijk looked a bit shaky tonight, couple of wierd lapses of concentration, but fortunately nothing too costly.
Lovely swift move, from the Bielsa days sees unselfish Gnonto tee up cool as you like Firpo. I was never. a fan of Firpo in early years, but he is far better player now than when he joined us, one of first on team sheet every week.
Bogle good going forwards, gets exposed a lot at the back though.
Fans leaving, you just know something might happen when commentators commenting on that and then the error.
To be honest I thought Meslier was looking a bit wierd all night, pulling faces and these short goal kick routines that I really dont understand what they're all about but the error at the end.....looked to me like ball was spinning and Meslier, whom I like, positioned himself completely incorrectly and all I could say was offing idiot.
They say all the players went too console him but they didn't, they weren't happy at all and I hope he gets his confidence back because goalies are confidence players.
I would have settled for a point before games, disappointed with point after game as I thought our performance was really good, maybe best of season.
We need to find a way to upgrade Aaronson, compare him to Pablo you see how much we are missing.
How long until Dan James is back?
Thoughts from tonight
posted 14 hours ago
Morning all🌞.
To add my thoughts, just watched Mes’ inexplicable howler again. Together with him inexplicably diving over the ball for the Norwich penalty that’s 4 points gone begging. Btw, it’s incompetence rather than anything else imho.
posted 12 hours, 15 minutes ago
As well as Piroe played 2nd half showed the difficulty in playing him up top. They would press us high meaning we would have to go long and he wouldn't challenge and the ball would just come straight back.
When Joseph came on he was making it so much harder for their CBs. He won a few free kicks and all small things like even when the sunderland defender they was unable to head the ball to a midfielder and instead flick it back to their keeper meaning they found it more difficult to pin us in.
posted 11 hours, 58 minutes ago
True Enfield - but looking at it another way, we’ve got two completely different ways to approach our forward play. I like that👍.
posted 11 hours, 53 minutes ago
comment by The Light Brigade (U22847)
posted 2 hours, 4 minutes ago
Morning all🌞.
To add my thoughts, just watched Mes’ inexplicable howler again. Together with him inexplicably diving over the ball for the Norwich penalty that’s 4 points gone begging. Btw, it’s incompetence rather than anything else imho.
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* actually ‘incompetence’ was the wrong word to use … I’m just making the point that it’s not nefarious as was suggested by someone on the MDT.
posted 9 hours, 54 minutes ago
I think the nature of this result highlights one problem we didn’t address in the window: the need for a new keeper.
Meslier has undoubtedly had good spells where he has looked to be improving, to the extent where he was being hailed as the next French no 1 keeper. But over the last two or more years, progress has stalled in many areas, such as his confidence, distribution, positioning and ball-handling skills (ironically, last night he was actually catching crossed balls rather than punching them).
His confidence will surely be affected after this — do we rest him or put him ‘back on the horse’? Either way, I think this is one area we need to prioritise in the next window.
posted 9 hours, 53 minutes ago
Aaronson was really poor last night. Running around chasing shadows. I dont rate Bogle either. Hes always too far forward leaving us wide open at the back.
I guess Tanaka has been asked to play as a more defensive player than Rothwell but I thought both were great.
What can you say about Meslier that hasn't already been said. Just hope he kicks on and puts it behind him. Glad we have a bit of a break. Do think we need better when promoted.
Thought Gnonto, Firpo were excellent. Would have been a huge win as they were a lot better than i thought they'd be. I still think we are the better side though.
posted 9 hours, 26 minutes ago
comment by Lorralorimer (U18994)
posted 15 minutes ago
I think the nature of this result highlights one problem we didn’t address in the window: the need for a new keeper.
Meslier has undoubtedly had good spells where he has looked to be improving, to the extent where he was being hailed as the next French no 1 keeper. But over the last two or more years, progress has stalled in many areas, such as his confidence, distribution, positioning and ball-handling skills (ironically, last night he was actually catching crossed balls rather than punching them).
His confidence will surely be affected after this — do we rest him or put him ‘back on the horse’? Either way, I think this is one area we need to prioritise in the next window.
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Just re looked at the goal and it was the result of three of his failings that I mentioned above: his ‘lack of confidence’ in his ‘ball handling skills’ meant that instead of doing the logical thing and going forward to catch the ball before it bounced he backed off — that ‘poor positioning’ cost us dearly.
posted 8 hours, 2 minutes ago
Sunderland were the best side we've played all season and they look nailed on top 6. Miles better than Norwich
posted 4 hours, 58 minutes ago
comment by Shaun M - supercalifragilisticOrtaisatrocious (U9955)
posted 3 hours, 2 minutes ago
Sunderland were the best side we've played all season and they look nailed on top 6. Miles better than Norwich
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....and we were miles better than them both with a weakened team
posted 39 minutes ago
Watford are a funny one to work out atm as they started the season well then lost a couple and now seem to be back on form again so we play them the Tuesday night after Shef Utd on the Friday night so 2 hard fought wins against them which they very much will be would certainly put last night's disappointment at the death out of our minds and set us up hopefully to go on a long undefeated run.