I know I'm not the first to raise this question but the evidence is becoming starker around the on field leadership, I just don't see Max rallying the side and keeping them switched on in those moments when leaders are required. We really needed that at 2-1, instead we meandered through added time half arssed, waiting for the whistle.

The problem is taking the armband away from a player without affecting his confidence. We probably missed Dawson's experience at the end there but is he the long term answer? Lemina is a leader for sure but again is he the loud communicator that we need?

No doubt that Kilman isn’t someone that visibly shouts and motivates on the pitch if that’s what you think all captains need to do.

But all the players talk about how well united the players are and a friend of mine had a conversation with Matt Doherty recently who told him he has never been part of a dressing room where team spirit is so good. I’m sure the captain has to take some credit for that and it’s not as though having Kilman as that man has lead to us having a poor season

comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted 14 minutes ago
No doubt that Kilman isn’t someone that visibly shouts and motivates on the pitch if that’s what you think all captains need to do.

But all the players talk about how well united the players are and a friend of mine had a conversation with Matt Doherty recently who told him he has never been part of a dressing room where team spirit is so good. I’m sure the captain has to take some credit for that and it’s not as though having Kilman as that man has lead to us having a poor season
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That said, I don't think Kilman has been very good of late, yesterday he did not get on the end of many crosses he was poor in the air. Dawson is the man who commands the area and without him there we look vulnerable.
The back post was open all the time and two were scored there and they had several other chances there as well.

If I was critical of the way we set up yesterday I could not understand why we played Lemina wide on the left. He certainly wasn’t as effective there and and we weren’t protecting the edge of our area as well without him in front of the defence. Coventry were regularly playing through us and Sa was forced to make a succession of saves from shots from the edge of the area. Doyle is good on the ball and passes well but he isn’t as strong on the defensive part of his game as Lemina or Gomes. I think because of our shortage of forward players GON has asked Lemina, Ait Nouri and Semedo further forward to compensate and it means it is easier for teams to get in behind us

comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 4 hours, 1 minute ago
The rules are you can't score off an arm. It blatantly came off his arm. I don't know why they ruled it inconclusive.

We didn't deserve to win anyway, but it's another decision we have been on the wrong end of.
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Comma seemed to suggest that it can off his shoulder (lower part rather than the top of his shoulder) and therefore acceptable 🤷🏻‍♂️

On a slightly more positive note I thought Chiwome looked OK for his debut. A different sort of player to Fraser, less back to goal, more direct. Perhaps more useful from the bench when we're behind.

comment by Howling Wolf (U17434)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by Tamwolf (U17286)
posted 4 hours, 1 minute ago
The rules are you can't score off an arm. It blatantly came off his arm. I don't know why they ruled it inconclusive.

We didn't deserve to win anyway, but it's another decision we have been on the wrong end of.
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Comma seemed to suggest that it can off his shoulder (lower part rather than the top of his shoulder) and therefore acceptable 🤷🏻‍♂️
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Hit him on his lower bicep, so should have been unacceptable. You could see it from the first video they played. They've over complicated it as usual though, so they had to spend 5 minutes establishing whether they could see a badge on his sleeve to judge if it hit below rather than just judging if it was an arm or not.

From the FA: “ For the purposes of determining handball offences, the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit. Not every touch of a player’s hand/arm with the ball is an offence.”


I thought it hit lower. Guessing VAR concluded not an obvious error (does that apply to goals though?) or insufficient footage.

Either way, 4 mins to decide was far too long. VAR out!

Reading some fans' comments on E&S made me think. Yesterday's result was hugely disappointing even though the game itself was quite exciting.

I don't think I would have enjoyed a day so much after a trip to Wembley (which is carp anyway), losing to Man City or Liverpool in a routine 2-0. Then having to travel back from London (which is also carp).

I thought the Cov first goal should have been disallowed, hit lower down the arm than the armpit for sure.

Thought there was a bit of Deja vu yesterday with the recent Man Utd home game. In that one we got back to 3-3 late on then seemed to think the job was done and they got the very late winner. When we got to 2-1 ahead yesterday we again switched off a jot and paid for it. There were signs of heads going down when Cov made it 2-2, almost as though we were reluctantly preparing for another 30 minutes

Thought Fraser was disappointing yesterday. On a couple of occasions he held the ball up and laid it off but generally he made little impact. And I think his lack of pace will be a barrier to him becoming a top level player. Chiwome looked all together more lively and mobile when he came on and may well turn out to be the better prospect

Just bread this:

"It is possible - though highly unlikely - England could have 11 teams in European competition next season. They would be the usual seven spots, plus an extra Champions League place and the winners of all three European competitions (if they finished outside a European position).

But just by taking a European performance spot, the battle for fifth - and eighth - would have renewed meaning."

Not sure what that says about the PL if more than half could end up in Europe.

no bread just read

Highly unlikely that a team finishing lower than 8th in the league would win the champions league. As things stand that would mean Man City or Arsenal finishing lower than 8th in the Prem. Similarly in the Europa league it would mean Liverpool finishing lower than 8th, and in the Conference, Villa finishing lower than 8th.
Only real possibility of England getting more than 8 teams in Europe is if West Ham win the Europa League and slip lower than 8th. Wolves might help them achieve that. We play them in our next home game which looks like a European 6 pointer

comment by Spangles (U17289)
posted 6 hours, 41 minutes ago
No doubt that Kilman isn’t someone that visibly shouts and motivates on the pitch if that’s what you think all captains need to do.

But all the players talk about how well united the players are and a friend of mine had a conversation with Matt Doherty recently who told him he has never been part of a dressing room where team spirit is so good. I’m sure the captain has to take some credit for that and it’s not as though having Kilman as that man has lead to us having a poor season
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I've no doubt that Max contributes to the atmosphere in the changing room but I do think O'Neil is the most responsible for that.

Agree with Boston that he didn't have a good game yesterday but I thought he was excellent against Fulham last week. What I think we lack is that presence on the field that gets everyone organised and brings some clarity in those critical moments. There's been too many times since we lost Coady that we've looked half asleep at the back, the Man U game in particular.

he just isn't a captain. And regarding shouting and balling, sometimes in critical moments that does need to be what a captain does, get the group together after the equaliser, before a corner, just that little something. Max barely acknowledges a team mate most games.

He's not a born leader, that’s for sure.

Wouldn't say I was either but doesn't stop me hollering "f@#king wake up you bunch of dozy cants" at the top of my voice from my seat on regular occasion. Not that they hear me from up there in NU3.

Get yer boots out then Goldi.

We play the 2 teams that drew today in the League. Next up is Villa then 7 days later we get West Ham at Home, with Burley in between.

No doubt the table will change before then but as things stand a 2 goal win against West Ham would take us above them.

Still something to play for in this strange season.

Burnley

Actually any win would do it.

comment by Wulfrunnut (U17298)
posted 2 minutes ago
Burnley

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Wish it were Burley in the New Forest, we woulda on that. Though it is known for its witchcraft, so take nothing for granted.

We have a game in hand over West Ham who are at Newcastle next and between us and them are Brighton who are at Anfield next.

The game against Villa suddenly looks quite important

Honestly wouldn't get to into Wulfrun, i suspect it will be a pretty dull end to the season, too many big teams to play, far too many players missing up front. We have conceded goals all season as defensively we are not very good. that won't change now, what will change is the goals for column. Probably limp to around 50-52 points perhaps.