Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on January 23, 2021, 07:39:37 pm
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Back to the main aim of the season doing well and trying to get promotion from Division 1 now the cup run is ended.
Standing in our way is on Tuesday night are Wimbledon led by who I think is one of the division's top strikers in Joe Pigott, who always gives our back four a hard time of it.
The last few times we have lost a game we have hit straight back to go on a mini run of victories that have kept us in the hunt in the promotion race, it would be nice to start off another in this game on Tuesday, but will be far from easy.
Partnered by Longman and with wide players like Alexander they are a team that always seem to stretch us in defence and are physical with it.
They have recently had a run of games against the top sides in the division who mostly have taken the points, prior to the point at Crewe they have lost 4-0 and 3-0 to Portsmouth and Sunderland something we need to try and emulate so as not to lose ground, at least now it is the only thing we have to concentrate on.
Against Crewe they only had 39% possession but still had more shots at goal than Crewe 14 to 12 so when they attack they are direct and dangerous.
Our big question is will we have any new reinforcements in the form of new signings, or players returning from injury? the former exciting and probably more likely.
Can we return to winning ways once again quickly which has been a feature of our season so far?
If we do have some incoming new blood, what positions would you prefer them to be in?
Are you Happy we have made a few bob from the cup exploits this season, but can now concentrate on the main job in hand? I am.
What team would you pick for this game?
Again lots to discuss, lots of excitement and games to watch to the end of the season if it is allowed to continue, and despite our disappointment this afternoon lots to look forward to, please have your say.
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Wimbledon are bottom of the 10 game form table, which when it comes to drfc usually means one thing... We are masters of reversing the fortunes of struggling teams..
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I wonder if we’ll have any new faces for Tuesday or at least know who they are !!
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Balcombe in goal.
Maybe give Butts a rest and play Joe Wright at centre back with Anderson.
Halliday at right back. John at left back.
Midfield 3 of Smith, James and TJ with TJ in the advanced position.
Front 3 of Jon Taylor, Simoes and Fej.
Subs,
Jones, Butler, Horton, Amos, Greaves, Williams and Lokilo
Could make a case for starting Greaves as his physicality in the midfield could be very useful against a physical team. Just a bit concerned he could get himself sent off with some of the refs we are getting.
Today though i thought the ref was excellent, not one yellow card.
That team Assuming Copps and Gomes are not fit yet.
We desperately need 2 new bodies ASAP with Sims and JJ out injured.
Think DM knows best and he will pick the team for the job allowing for injuries.
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Wimbledon are bottom of the 10 game form table, which when it comes to drfc usually means one thing... We are masters of reversing the fortunes of struggling teams..
Sshh please.
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I would not be surprised if there is a couple of new faces in the squad Tuesday and if things repeat themselves with the manager and his recruitment team could have been training with us for a couple of weeks, which is something I know nothing about just going on how the first game of the season the team contained players who nobody knew anything about but had been here prior to the game.
Other than that I see no need to panic, especially with the defence which at our level has been outstanding and will not come up against the quality they have today.
The three wide men all offer something again at our level as does Fey, Smith and Taylor Richards have played well in league games, and Greaves deserves to be in the squad so any additions, if they are even better will be good players, and with the likes of Gomes and Coppinger nearing return and a little later JJ I think we have enough with a couple to stage a decent challenge.
Even the likes of Hull and Lincoln are way off the standard of team we came up against today.
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Moore liked to try and nullify the opposition with our selection so I wouldn’t be suprised if we have the same back 4 again.
I’d like to have James and Halliday back at full back it’ll help us no end going forward. Then bring in Greaves and TR In midfield who should both have plenty in the tank. Toss up between Lokilo and Simones for the left winger role
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Moore liked to try and nullify the opposition with our selection so I wouldn’t be suprised if we have the same back 4 again.
I’d like to have James and Halliday back at full back it’ll help us no end going forward. Then bring in Greaves and TR In midfield who should both have plenty in the tank. Toss up between Lokilo and Simones for the left winger role
Think Simoes is in a different class to Lokilo. Just my opinion.
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Worry with him is working back but we should be looking to attack so I’d agree he’s the better choice tbf
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Moore liked to try and nullify the opposition with our selection so I wouldn’t be suprised if we have the same back 4 again.
I’d like to have James and Halliday back at full back it’ll help us no end going forward. Then bring in Greaves and TR In midfield who should both have plenty in the tank. Toss up between Lokilo and Simones for the left winger role
Think Simoes is in a different class to Lokilo. Just my opinion.
Lokilo is bang average for me. Offers very little going forward and very lightweight in possession. Apart from that 20 minute cameo when he came on for his debut last season, I’ve not seen him have any impact on a game
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Back to business. Hope they learned from WHU about movement and working off the ball. Personnel aside, we weren't on the ball today with some poor touches in possession. Only when Richards came on did we show anything like our normal selves.
We've got to dust ourselves down, take the smelling salts and work our socks off.
Reinforcements will be welcome however, there's no reason we can't do well with the players DM has available now, it's just about getting a more balanced team than today.
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I thought Lokilo came off concussed today.
If so, he will not be considered for Tuesday.
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Moore liked to try and nullify the opposition with our selection so I wouldn’t be suprised if we have the same back 4 again.
I’d like to have James and Halliday back at full back it’ll help us no end going forward. Then bring in Greaves and TR In midfield who should both have plenty in the tank. Toss up between Lokilo and Simones for the left winger role
Think Simoes is in a different class to Lokilo. Just my opinion.
Lokilo is bang average for me. Offers very little going forward and very lightweight in possession. Apart from that 20 minute cameo when he came on for his debut last season, I’ve not seen him have any impact on a game
I have not been his greatest fan but TBF I have complemented him on his last two appearances for us and suggested that he seemed to have a new found confidence.
He seemed to have lost it again today but TBF he was up against a better team than we usually play against.
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If we have two players in time for Tuesday and they have been training with us will DM start them if not they will be on the bench.
Balcombe in goal
Halliday Wright Anderson John ( give Andy a rest but the defence has been better with him in so I’m not sure)
Three of Smith James Richards. (There is a shout for Greaves.)
Three of Taylor Okenabirhie Simoes
Jones Butler Amos Greaves Another Williams Another ( Lokilo will be out if concussed if not he will be there. The Another’s could be the two new players.) It was said Friday that Copps and Gomes won’t be available till end of the month.
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It just baffles me that fans feel Butler should be dropped on todays showing. It is literally just on todays showing as well. The guy hasnt put a foot wrong before today. Benrahma blasted it in his nuts and nearly folded him in half (I think it was 3-0 at the time) and he still made sure he was back in position for the 2nd and 3rd phase of play. Hes a starter for me until he starts to underperform in the league where it matters. If you want poor performers over the whole season and somehow keep their shirts i give you Jon Taylor and Jason Lokilo. Cameron John is still to convince me he can play in League One also.
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Yesterday was a one-off game and a bit of perspective is required. Why on Earth drop Butler, when he has been the catalyst for a rock of a defence. The difference yesterday was in midfield, where we were absolutely exposed, for our lack of know-how and movement. Smith looked totally out of his depth yesterday, but he was one of many, against that level of opposition. Don’t let’s go grabbing at this, that and the other and making changes for the sake of it (I’m sure the manager will not).
The underlying problem with us is the lack of any depth and the desperate need for reinforcements (which I have banged on about for weeks, now). We simply have to get these 2 new lads in ASAP, as we did look to be playing on a ploughed field yesterday. We’re getting very close to the whole team suffering ‘burn out’ and it needs correcting. Also, what a difference, in the final third, would Simms have made, yesterday and going forward. It’s that level of quality that makes the difference in tight games and when backs are against the wall.
The only trouble with Tuesday’s game is it comes too quickly for any recovery, so we have to roll our sleeves up and get back to it.
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I don’t get this panic, we lost to the form team in the Prem.
Butler has been immense for us and should continue
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I don’t get this panic, we lost to the form team in the Prem.
Butler has been immense for us and should continue
Point of order - a few people have mentioned that West Ham are “the form team” in the Premier League. Over the last 6 games, they’ve won 3, drawn 2 and lost 1; Man City have won all 6, Everton have won 5, Leicester, Man Utd & Arsenal have all won 4. West Ham have had a few good results but they’re not “the” form team.
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It's not the result that bothers most people, it's the way we shat the bed in slow motion.
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Butler made an uncharacteristic poor pass that cost us a goal yesterday and people want to drop him, but I trust him in possession much more than Cameron John who is prone to be untidy in possession and miss places passes nearly every game.
John has other attributes that give us something in games pace and strength being two things he gives us, but is learning the game on the hoof compared with positional and experience compared with Butler.
John and Butler have been brilliant as a unit with the other defenders, and will have learnt a lot about defending at the top level as a unit yesterday, how anyone can be critical of the team and doubt their ability to play at our level well just because of the difference in class shown yesterday shocks me, we needed at least four or five of the West Ham side to be off their game to have a chance, as it was they had 9 or 10 outfield players on their game looking for a first team start, and wanted a good result from the first minute.
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Any pressure was off West Ham as soon as they scored. They could knock it about as they wished leaving us to chase. 1-0 at HT and we have a bit of a chance to change things but we just had too much to do.
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I think the way the BBC reported the west ham game doesn't help either. They seem to have expected us to compete in a game where really we didn't stand a chance and so that's where people take their views from.
I'm hoping that game was the blip in our current run to help us refocus and start a new run. Teams around us are making it difficult to keep up. We need to be ruthless on Tuesday so that we don't become that win that Wimbledon are probably due
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I hope the defeat last night was the blip in the current run of form.
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Wimbledon are bottom of the 10 game form table, which when it comes to drfc usually means one thing... We are masters of reversing the fortunes of struggling teams..
Sshh please.
I'll let you into a little Secret.. Words on a Web forum have no baring on events in the real world.. If they did, we would all try some sort of reverse psychology...
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Wimbledon are bottom of the 10 game form table, which when it comes to drfc usually means one thing... We are masters of reversing the fortunes of struggling teams..
Sshh please.
I'll let you into a little Secret.. Words on a Web forum have no baring on events in the real world.. If they did, we would all try some sort of reverse psychology...
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AFC Wimbledon are on an absolutely appalling run of form. Last ten games in league have delivered 7 defeats, 2 draws and a single win (this was ten games ago, amusingly against Peterborough). Their last five away games in the league have seen 3 defeats and 2 draws.
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Just noticed that Peter Wright is the ref on Tuesday, from what I remember he is another of the inconsistent officials
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Just noticed that Peter Wright is the ref on Tuesday, from what I remember he is another of the inconsistent officials
You mean Peter Wright is sometimes Pete Tong?
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I don’t get this panic, we lost to the form team in the Prem.
Butler has been immense for us and should continue
forget the results on the last 2 league games, overall the performance has been really poor in midfield and attack, we have been woefully lacking options. And needed the solid defence to secure the points.
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Just noticed that Peter Wright is the ref on Tuesday, from what I remember he is another of the inconsistent officials
You mean Peter Wright is sometimes Pete Tong?
Nice one idler
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Just noticed that Peter Wright is the ref on Tuesday, from what I remember he is another of the inconsistent officials
You mean Peter Wright is sometimes Pete Tong?
Nice one idler
I'm here all week.
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Big Fey, the defence is part of the team you know, and as Mr Clough used to say it only takes a moment to win a game of football.
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Cloughie actually said it only takes a second to score a goal Brian.
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Big Fey, the defence is part of the team you know, and as Mr Clough used to say it only takes a moment to win a game of football.
so you are happy with the Team performance of the last few games. If we are being honest, since BW left, all 4 games have been lacking in creative options.. Just because we won with the only shot on goal only masks the issue. As soon as we come up against a better League 1 side, let's say Lincoln for example, we will not get away with it.
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Big Fey, the defence is part of the team you know, and as Mr Clough used to say it only takes a moment to win a game of football.
so you are happy with the Team performance of the last few games. If we are being honest, since BW left, all 4 games have been lacking in creative options.. Just because we won with the only shot on goal only masks the issue. As soon as we come up against a better League 1 side, let's say Lincoln for example, we will not get away with it.
We’re still in transition after selling Whiteman. We’re hopefully getting a couple of new players in and the ones we have will need to work on a new team plan without Whiteman. I wouldn’t have expected us to hit the ground running in the immediate aftermath of his departure, which has left a big hole, but hopefully over the next few weeks or so we don’t drop too many points whilst getting used to playing without him.
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Big Fey, the defence is part of the team you know, and as Mr Clough used to say it only takes a moment to win a game of football.
so you are happy with the Team performance of the last few games. If we are being honest, since BW left, all 4 games have been lacking in creative options.. Just because we won with the only shot on goal only masks the issue. As soon as we come up against a better League 1 side, let's say Lincoln for example, we will not get away with it.
We%u2019re still in transition after selling Whiteman. We%u2019re hopefully getting a couple of new players in and the ones we have will need to work on a new team plan without Whiteman. I wouldn%u2019t have expected us to hit the ground running in the immediate aftermath of his departure, which has left a big hole, but hopefully over the next few weeks or so we don%u2019t drop too many points whilst getting used to playing without him.
Agreed imo. DM is adapting the team to play a slightly different way now Whiteman is gone.
Yes he was a very good player but we were never a one man team and we will be fine without him.
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There may be a couple of games off this week with the weather situation in the different parts of the country.
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We’ve got to hope that the two new players will make a difference and help out a depleted squad. They might be available but must be signed by noon today will be difficult.
Also checking on Lokilo to see if he will be available for the squad.
Greaves back in contention for midfield place or at least on the bench.
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Could we have them already signed and registered, but not announced?
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We’ve got to hope that the two new players will make a difference and help out a depleted squad. They might be available but must be signed by noon today will be difficult.
Also checking on Lokilo to see if he will be available for the squad.
Greaves back in contention for midfield place or at least on the bench.
I thought they had to be registered by 12noon on day of match.We signed Shackell on the Saturday morning and he played that day i think.
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Didn’t Shackel come on loan, initially.
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Loan yes permanent by noon today
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Could we have them already signed and registered, but not announced?
Well yes but only a selected few will know until the announcement
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This is a very important game to win. We are about to enter a very tough sequence of games where priority should be not losing, given how close the teams are bunching at the top and how many of them we are playing in next sequence of games. Getting 3 more points under our belt before we go into this very tough run is going to be crucial.
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Could we have them already signed and registered, but not announced?
Yes, the club will generally sign a player and do the whole shirt photo op and interview several hours before announcing the signing publicly.
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Big Fey, scoring more goals whether with one shot or more doesn't mask anything, but scoring more than the opposition wins three points for the game, the whole point of the exorcise.
Ask the many Manchester United fans you will know if they think they are playing as attractive football as a number of other teams in the Premiership, and if they are bothered at the moment.
Clubs have been the Champions of Europe and the World basing their whole game plan on stopping the other teams in the competitions playing attractive football.
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Big Fey, the defence is part of the team you know, and as Mr Clough used to say it only takes a moment to win a game of football.
so you are happy with the Team performance of the last few games. If we are being honest, since BW left, all 4 games have been lacking in creative options.. Just because we won with the only shot on goal only masks the issue. As soon as we come up against a better League 1 side, let's say Lincoln for example, we will not get away with it.
I assume you mean the Rochdale game so if that is the case why do you say we only had one shot on goal.
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I notice Wimbledon have signed Sunderland’s Dobson (midfield) and Leicester’s Darnell Fisher (CB) in time to play us, tomorrow night.
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Wimbledon are bottom of the 10 game form table, which when it comes to drfc usually means one thing... We are masters of reversing the fortunes of struggling teams..
Sshh please.
I'll let you into a little Secret.. Words on a Web forum have no baring on events in the real world.. If they did, we would all try some sort of reverse psychology...
I will let you into a little secret. That sshh was tongue in cheek.
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After the defeat at West Ham and going so defensive minded, the team selection tonight will be interesting with the same players available, it will probably show how we approached taht game at West Ham and if we had any realistic ambition.
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The team as printed by the BBC looks a lot more attack minded.
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No surprises in the line up.
Joe Wright back on the bench ( he is unlucky after Saturday )
Halliday goes to RB
Taylor-Richards and Simoes both start.
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Hull now 2 down. Come on boys!!
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I follow crap tonight...blurry picture
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Perfect for me Besty.
On Firefox.
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I follow crap tonight...blurry picture
Try dropping the picture quality down on the cog in the right hand lower corner to 504 that’s what I do never lags or breaks up
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Two great goals.
Good to see Smith playing as well as he is tonight. Some great passes.
Ben Whiteman. Not missing him one iota. :)
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Get the 3rd. Kill the game.
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Hull have lost.
Memories of 2003/04 season. Pip them to the title again. That would be good.
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Campsall,
I thought that too, might be a lttle optimistic.
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Campsall,
I retract my 'optimistic' comment. Looking at the league table, it's on
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Cracking team performance and, except for the first 15 mins of the second half, pretty dominant too! I enjoyed that, now let’s stuff Lincoln on Saturday! :clapping: :rtid:
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Matt Smith was superb tonight. If we can accomodate him, Bostock and Richards in midfield at the same time, we are going to do exceptionally well this season.
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Very, very happy with that. What's not to like! Everyone who took to the pitch was on it.
Fair play to Wimbledon for making us work hard, so we had to earn it.
Sometimes, we let our enthusiasm get the better of us when slowing it down would be the better option but let's not criticise being positive.
Matt Smith much much better tonight as way Fej and Taylor. Simoes played well too. A really good team performance.
Nice little cameos from AJ and Wright... Another midfielder in the making? Some nice touches.
Great to hear some of the insight from Copps which gives you confidence the squad is together!
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Agree on Fej. That was one of his best games as the lone striker. Halliday also very good.
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So only us and Lincoln at 2 pts per game but it’s all close. Momentum, players in, players back we are looking good.
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Campsall,
I retract my 'optimistic' comment. Looking at the league table, it's on
It definitely is.
Massive game at Lincoln on Saturday. Would take a point. But why can’t we go there and win.
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The run we have got ahead of us is absolutely disgusting. We will draw a few, we will lose a few, but we are in a good position now to weather this and come out the other end competitive for an easier run in.
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Disagree on Fej personally. Worked hard but time and time again he likes to go up against centre halves in a battle of strength when he is a much better footballer than his opponent. The team would score many more goals if he kept it simple and came to the ball and touched it off with one or two touches rather than backing in and being outmuscled. Copps mentioned it in commentary also you could tell he was getting annoyed with him. Not saying he was poor but I just feel he could be a bit more savvy in his play. Took his goal really well. Still desperate for a striker for me. Matt Smith MOTM by a mile. Saturday is now massive.
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What a difference a week makes. I restarted my router before the game and my iFollow was brilliant.
A great performance from the lads as well, especially Matt Smith.
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Forgot to mention Halliday who I've said needed to shoot more and he's done just that. Having that in your locker is a great bonus. What a player he has become.
Would like to see Cam do the same occasionally as we know he can strike a ball.
James was all over the place too. Always there for a pass and unlucky not to get another goal late on too.
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A solid performance by everyone. Thought Reece James was a little subdued tonight. Not quite at it. Played a lot of games and looked a little fatigued to me.
Matt Smith showed tonight what a good player he is.
With Bostock and Taylor-Richards that will be an awesome midfield trio.
Get Sims back and we are going to take some stopping.
Yes we need another striker with JJ injured but hey Fej is scoring regularly and if he stays fit will have 20+ this season.
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Disagree on Fej personally. Worked hard but time and time again he likes to go up against centre halves in a battle of strength when he is a much better footballer than his opponent. The team would score many more goals if he kept it simple and came to the ball and touched it off with one or two touches rather than backing in and being outmuscled. Copps mentioned it in commentary also you could tell he was getting annoyed with him. Not saying he was poor but I just feel he could be a bit more savvy in his play. Took his goal really well. Still desperate for a striker for me. Matt Smith MOTM by a mile. Saturday is now massive.
For me he’s a player who likes have the ball and goal in front of him like his goal. He’s not a player who likes to have his back to goal. If we can get a striker who can play that role then he could play on the left where I believe he can play his best football. It was good like you say to hear Copps regarding our play and players.
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DBR strange how we all see things differently as i thought Reece looked tired tonight.
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DBR strange how we all see things differently as i thought Reece looked tired tonight.
I just thought while not a stand out performance, he covered a lot of ground and did the simple stuff very well. He did try a couple of killer passes that didn't come off but I think we'll forgive him for that.
DM has got some selection 'problems' coming up. Then again, it's good to know we've now got more depth and options.
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Great midfield we have now, best defence in the league and a quality keeper. Just need back up for Fej now and we’re sorted
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Disagree on Fej personally. Worked hard but time and time again he likes to go up against centre halves in a battle of strength when he is a much better footballer than his opponent. The team would score many more goals if he kept it simple and came to the ball and touched it off with one or two touches rather than backing in and being outmuscled. Copps mentioned it in commentary also you could tell he was getting annoyed with him. Not saying he was poor but I just feel he could be a bit more savvy in his play. Took his goal really well. Still desperate for a striker for me. Matt Smith MOTM by a mile. Saturday is now massive.
For me he’s a player who likes have the ball and goal in front of him like his goal. He’s not a player who likes to have his back to goal. If we can get a striker who can play that role then he could play on the left where I believe he can play his best football. It was good like you say to hear Copps regarding our play and players.
Agreed. I have said a couple of times before if we can, we need to not rely on Fej playing the lone striker. I dont think we will be where we want to be if we cant get this position sorted quickly. He is much better wider and even offers a bit defensively.
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it's good to see more and more shots being taken outside of the box when play opens up. In most years gone by it seems we've always tried to walk the ball in the net, or at least not shoot until we're inside the box. Darren obviously gives the players freedom to take that shot if it's there, and it's paying dividends this season.
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Shooooooooooooooooot
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it's good to see more and more shots being taken outside of the box when play opens up. In most years gone by it seems we've always tried to walk the ball in the net, or at least not shoot until we're inside the box. Darren obviously gives the players freedom to take that shot if it's there, and it's paying dividends this season.
Maybe a discussion for a thread on it's own but interesting to see how we evolve post Whiteman.
Tonight was much higher tempo game and perhaps we did rush things from time to time but on the other hand we were much more positive and pacy and tried to break the lines.
Sometimes we might get picked off by some teams but not many teams will cope with our incisive passing when it's on song.
Credit to DM and the players for taking the bull by the horns and showing we still mean business.
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Just maybe, they took on board what West Ham did to us and tried to replicate that. Just a thought.
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Copps alluded to that in the commentary Alan.
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Just maybe, they took on board what West Ham did to us and tried to replicate that. Just a thought.
I definitely think there was an element of that in our play tonight, good shout.
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Onwards and upwards, huge test this weekend.