Talk about overreaction. Remember how the Zola season started with a 5-1 defeat to Derby and generally inconsistent performances? Give it time.
Sarr was decent in the first half, but absolutely diabolical in the second, the worst I've ever seen of him. JP tried hard I guess, but I hardly noticed he was on the pitch, and when I did, it was him dropping deep to pick up the ball in the middle of the park. Clearly the system didn't work today, although I wonder whether it was because of a few players missing rather than a genuine error from Ivic, against Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday we had a bit more width yet still didn't exactly have the opposition quivering in their boots, I'm not going to be too critical of him until we have a proper striker in the squad and Hughes is back
If we persist with playing it to Ngakia and Kiko to do the ****** floaty balls into the box, then the "Fox in the Box" better be a big guy.
Fair point Moog but what's the point of having an excellent international scouting system if half the players we find and sign up have a sulk about actually playing for us and we then meekly give in to them sell them on before they play a single game. I'm getting a little pissed off with how many players we sign that never end up playing for us, especially the better ones!
Bedwetters needed that after last week. Big performance from the lads. Happy Clappers and COGs will have to go again. Reflection required.
I thought it was an entertaining game, thought kiko particularly was looking dangerous gutted we lost and accept some players were not at the best (don’t remember JP / challobah doing much) but there was loads of skill on display , as stated above we are just missing that fox in the box , if we had somebody with a natural goal scoring instinct they would have had loads of opportunities today. don’t get me wrong we ain’t getting promoted if that’s us at out best, but think we will get a lot better within a short amount of time
Agreed. Just like last season when it was suggested we'd get relegated. Clueless bedwettery. We will be fine this season once we get players back and sign what's required like Barry Douglas.
It is really strange that he didn’t change shape. It seemed obvious that the system wasn’t right and yet he didn’t try to change it.
They had ability ? They were dogged and resolute but hardly possessed of much ability. The result is as much about us gelling as a team still, a lack of a genuine nine and not having Sema and Cleverly out there and maybe as much as playing this 5-3-2. Most of the sides in this division are cloggers with the odd talented young player. We need to bury teams like this. But we did not get the best out of Pedro or Sarr and miss a centre forward. We should have buried Wednesday late on when Perica came on. Keeping an experienced head like Clevs or Hughes to come back into the side will be crucial. Even Capoue if he stays because they can unlock defences. Chalobah seems to enjoy either losing the ball, over hitting it or playing it back and to the side. No drive at all forward. Garner and TDB when they had it showed a little drive and zip to go forward and make things happen. TDB appeared around the box several times as did Garner. Chalobah seems to be scared of venturing near it and when he does loses the ball. Not good enough.
Fair point. Even if we do 'come good' it makes a mockery of those saying relegation would mean lots of big, entertaining wins.
You just need to start believing in the team and the results will follow. You'll easily find negatives if you drill down into games as far as the result, scoreline or this mythical 'shots on target'. It's irrelevant as we have a better squad on paper then teams like Reading and Bristol City.
Wilmot blows more cold than hot. He did well at Swansea but he has too many rash challenges and his temper is short. Agree about Ekong though, should give us a better balance.
This is a concern. No point in keeping Sarr if we're going to persist with shoe-horning him into the team. Maybe he hasn't had enough time to familiarise the players with a different tactic? Was he inflexible at his previous club's?
Wilmot didn't even start for Swansea. Lots of wishful thinking expecting him to produce regularly at this level.
Disappointing performance . By no means terrible but we had no cutting edge and created very little in The way of chances. Great chance for Ngakia early on Then previous little else . Clearly we are not going to continue with a front 2 of Pedro and Sarr though. Sarr ended up very deep and had a poor second half and I don’t really see Pedro starting every week . On the positive side thought TDB was excellent , though Shane he had to go off. I am less worried about the midfield now , Though we are lacking a creative Abdi type player to unlock defenders sitting back . Think Hughes will be that player when he comes back in . Should have a more settled side after the break and hopefully Hughes and Gray to come back in with Sarr to stay abd I’ll still be positive about the season ahead.
This is the Ivic way. He sets his sides up not to concede. This is his main aim. In his eyes defence is the first line of defence. We will struggle if this is not changed real soon.
Very frustrating performance, started well but Reading grew into the game and got their noses ahead with a very scrappy goal Get the feeling that this season first goal will be very important, on the basis of games so far we wont concede many but wont be scoring many either Think we will improve once Perica, Deeney, Gray become available and possible reintroduction of the likes of Capoue, Delefeou if their transfers fall through This defeat may jolt Gino a little to make some signings
Lots of young players so they must be given time and as Smudger says losing TDB upset the balance. I know he's gone but Doucoure's energy and tempo were sorely missed against a team that celebrated a throw in and indulged in a petty little hoof into touch when we had put the ball out for their injured player. Wasted opportunity.
Lets hope Gray finally comes good, and from what I've seen of Perica he might just step up to the plate too.
That was pathetic. The rule needs to be changed. The point where the opposition player has been injured when the ball has been kicked out in good faith by the team in possession should be a non contested ball to that side.