Why I agree with you in principle, the reason isn't luck or bucket loads of good fortune. It's because we want it more and our mentally tougher. Not something we have said a lot the last few years!!! We are going to be in the play off mix for the rest of the season IMO
XG is highly subjective. Based on my objective “eye test” we should have won 6-2 today which shows how limited xG can be.
I agree, our mentality has ensured we get more lucky breaks, or rather we’re making our own luck. But it’s such a fine line between success and failure and I feel we’re walking the tightrope in vertically every game, which why I don’t trust it. The slice will fall butter side down occasionally.
Is the glass half full or half empty!! In moments like this you have to enjoy it and think positive, it could be a whole lot worse!
I enjoy the wins immensely, but I think it’s fair to critique a performance in honest and balanced way, which is what I always do. I’m not fooled by a win, but I’m not deflated by a defeat if we have played well. I want to see a side that controls a game, with a veneer of quality, knowing that if we play well we’ll win all being equal. I see a hard working side, but largely full of crap players. They are trying but are not very good. We need an influx of better quality players, who will work under Ismael’s hard working ethics. We did have them in the past, so it’s not impossible to have them again. But under an ownership who steadfast refuses to invest, we are being strangled. Some fans are fully on board because we have a team that appears to give a damn, but that should be a given in any team, not a novelty.
I thought we fought hard, away to a battling team that are improving, and we lacked a few regulars. My key takeaways: *overall a decent performance, we look dangerous on every counter attack. *we are going to struggle across centre midfield against a lot of teams that have a more tough workman like players. (can't rely totally on Livermore). *Val needs to sort out some of our defending methodology, some of our worst periods of play came from our defenders not having many options when trying to play out from the back. (morris/Andrews especially). *at last I feel we are well in the games and always looking to attack. So for this window I'd just like another mature FB option plus a dynamic centre mid (Joe Allen type).
I enjoyed Mattie celebrating getting a goal kick at the end. He’s slow but he hasn’t actually done anything wrong in the appearances he’s made this season has he? Very likeable chap, I’d be keeping him around even if this Tictac bloke comes in.
He's obviously been given a brief of get on there, don't try anything fancy and head everything. And he's done it very well for the most part. Dealt with one dangerous cross very well today and also played a lovely long ball into the channel for Rajovic to relieve the pressure.
Could not be happier for Livermore, seems a fantastic lad, changed the whole ethos around the playing squad IMO and to top it off, he scores a pair of worldies! Wish he was 28. Hamer some brilliant reaction saves, his calmness is great. We should’ve been two behind, he done well to keep us in it. Chakvetadze’s best game IMO. Ran his heart out. Rajovic looks like he learned a little bit, some better hold-up play. I really like Healey. Thought the subs were weird but we won so who cares!
Healey always seems to get the ball stuck under his feet when near the penalty box and personally wasn't overly impressed with him today. I still think if all of Bayo, Rajovic and Healey were fit and in form that Healey would be the most balanced option but he's currently going through what Lewis did which is trust his body and instincts again which will take games and games to get towards. Agree Chakvetadze worked hard. Made some important tackles didn't think he had in him during last 15 mins but still think he has more to do in final third. If we could buy him for £2-3m I'd take it.
Come late to the eye v xg debate, Based on pretty much every match thread posters see a game completely differently to each other, so professional stats that the clubs use are useful and currently all indicators point to a mid table side with a possibility of improving to a top 6 finish but will come up short against the current top 4. Also, anyone thinking Armstrong would be useful for us, yes he had a good game but he hasn't scored for months now.
He dribbles a bit weird and there was a moment Asprilla played him in and I reckon a fit, confident Healey finishes that. Still, I think he allows us to create different type of chances to Bayo & Rajo and he keeps his defenders busy, he won some free-kicks and probably should have won some more and actually held the ball fairly well. There’s a player in there somewhere I’m sure of that, we just haven’t seen it all. I’d say he’s convinced Val though.
We had one or two opportunities to use his long throw but didn't. Not that I like the tactic but if you have the ability, use it. Better than a corner frankly.
Healey seems to lack a bit of speed and strength when he is through on goal or has a half chance. I was really hopeful but not so much now, still hope he comes good as there have been good moments. What I did notice in the first half was he pressed better than the Raj. I thought we might get something from the press in the first half but we didn't always press as a unit. I was also a bit sad not to see his long throws in action, but I guess as a lone striker he supposed to be in the box on the end of throws.
Slander! Only Connect is a weekly delight, meanwhile Giles is the biggest fuccking asshole going; a giant pricck.
