I have no doubt 433 was the plan for today because Munoz mentioned it a couple of days ago. But I also have no doubt that Troy was the striker he intended to play but it turned out he wouldn't be fit, therefore it was Pedro's turn to play so he got the job.
Sometimes you get lucky as a manager and stumble across the winning formula. Was it Dyche with Murray coming in against Spurs in the cup and we went from tragic football to lovely stuff. Doucoure was due to leave, something went wrong with the transfer, injuries and he gets his chance and turned out to be one of our best players for the next couple of seasons. Troy injured today.....now does Xisco learn from a 6-0 win or not?
Look back on my post game comments earlier. I’ve given him credit. But I stand by the point that the changes he made were partially enforced and I have no doubt it would have been 4-4-2 if Deeney were available.
I mostly agree with you, but in the first half there was the near own goal when a Millwall defender headed against the post from Cleverley's free kick and then the ball somehow stayed out when on most occasions one of our players would've sneaked it in, and then in the second half there were a couple of good saves in quick succession from Chalobah's long-range shot and Deeney's rebound. Not saying it was a great performance, just that we were unlucky not to score whereas Millwall apart from Cooper's chance that hit the woodwork in first half injury time offered virtually nothing, let alone anything that came that close.
Sure, that's fair, I agree about Millwall and the limit of their ambition - I do feel that performance-wise, though, Millwall basically did what they were there to do, so it's as much about success for them, whereas with us against Cov it was just us being terrible and not managing to do at all whatever it was we would have claimed to have been there to do, with luck and a lack of Coventry finishers therefore being far more involved in the result by comparison.
So it only took 29 game weeks before Gino/Dux or whoever really choses the team realised Deeney and Gray are shyte. Great performance, great result. Anyone seen the captain of HMS PTL?
That’s more like it and the answer I thought you would say! Let’s hope next Tuesday is something like today!
All of the fans can see the difference in movement up front today compared with recent games was amazing! Let’s just hope the Manager or Gino or Duxberry whoever is responsible for picking the team can see the same, Deeney has been an fantastic servant, now is the time for him to sit down and be waited on!
Are the top two positions beyond us? I think we're hanging on by our finger tips. This win was so convincing that it makes you wonder, is this really the turning point, where it all begins to click? If it is then top two is a possibility, but it means we've got to be near perfect and can ill afford anymore slip ups. Looking at the three teams ahead of us, assuming they win their games in hand, they will all be averaging at least 2 points per game. For us to get to that average, we've got to win 14 of our remaining 17 games!! That will give us 93 points, and that may not even be enough. Three other teams are all pushing hard. I think the top two are going to end up on around at least 90 points. If that's the case then I think it's too late for Bournemouth and Reading. We're only in the equation because of the possibility of a strong revival based on today's game. Obviously I'm hoping at least two of Norwich, Swansea or Brentford hit a bad patch which will take pressure of us a little, but I think you have to accept over 90 points will be the likely total to gain one of the automatic promotion places this season. 14 wins.......or 13 and 3 draws. There's very little wiggle room for us now. We have to go on an impressive winning run. Will that be beyond us? Well there is some hope, but it's a very tall order for sure.
I'm hopeful too, in the purest sense of the word, but I imagine all these questions will be answered fairly firmly on Tuesday evening when Deeney's over his knock and JP and Sema need resting for the next few weeks to recover from their exertions.
It is too early to tell because all the teams have games against each other. We seem to have the worst run-in but every win against a top six side is obviously a loss to our rivals.
Norwich hit their bad patch, so did we. Had we beaten Millwall, QPR and Coventry like we should have, we would be top on GD. Those games all season, Wycombe, Barnsley, Huddersfield, QPR again, Sheff Weds, just stupid dropped points. Xisco cannot afford to revert back to 442, play Deeney or Gray, and go defensive. I hate the fact that we should have/of walked this league, but we’re not. That’s on Gino. If Gino has any sense, as the owner, you tell Xisco, what started today, will start every game, if you don’t, I will fire you.
Collectively Brentford and WBA chocked last season, WBA were just lucky that Brentford choked more than they did. Conversely when we went up we were behind Bournemouth all season and vying with teams like boro but they fell away and we hit strong form and got promoted first. The season before last Leeds choked at the last minute and handed the automatics to Sheffield Utd With essentially four teams in the mix for two spots we can’t all win our games against each and at least one team is likely to choke, they always do. Let’s hope it’s not us!
If the 14 wins included wins over Brentford, Swansea and Norwich it would probably be enough. If those were the 3 defeats out of the 17 though it'd be game over. It's that tight.
If we play to our strengths like yesterday we have every chance of auto. If we go back to the Cult of Deeney we have none at all. I would point out to people who like to hold a beer in one hand put the other arm up in the air and shout 'Deeney Deeney Deeney' with a group of other like minded men (to avoid being accused of prejudice I'd like to point out I mean all people who identify as men and of any sexual orientation) it is possible to achieve the same level of enjoyment shouting 'Sarr Sarr Sarr' or 'Joao P Joao P Joao P'* or 'Zinky Zinky Zinky' or 'King King Ken' or 'Hughsie Hughsie Hughsie' if u feel a bit weird chanting the name of an immobile lump of lard who never scores from open play!! * pronounced 'jaow pay'
Excellent shape and system yesterday that suited the players and looks incredibly promising going forward. Obviously all that remains is to find a way to insert Deeney into the formation. Maybe experiment with him in Hughes or Sierralta's role. Maybe even Bachmann's? Dunno, it's a tough one. Maybe it would be easier just to go back to 442?
Superb win with some lovely goals and a tad bit of fortune. Sarr looked the player we thought he was going to be and Pedro played like a true striker up top. Hughes and Cleverley were silky and hardworking. The football in general was some of the best we have played in a long while and Bristol could barely lay a glove on us. Chalobah was unfortunate to be booked for a good challenge, maybe slightly studs up? The big question is whether the PE teacher with his 50m swimming badge has the cojones to drop Deeney when he is 'fit'? If we want to go up, 433 is the way to go.
