Biggest disappointment from an entertainment point of view was the Josh King incident. If Britos is not going to nut that **** then whom will he ever nut? Starting to worry that he wil not live up to his reputation and that we've signed another dud.
Agreed, poor decision making on his part. We knew he was a nutter when we signed him, but tbh he's played more like a top draw centre back. Sort it aaght Miguel!
We lack pace, that's been the problem all season. I would like to see both Ake and Holebas start with Holebas LM in front of Ake. At least he would get into the box a few times each game.
Regarding the subdued atmosphere,it doesn't help that the middle part of The Rookery and the 1881 are constantly out of time.It's like one of those 'rounds' you had to sing in a music lesson. It does reduce the effectiveness and am I the only person who thinks our chants/songs speed up as they progress? I must endorse the comments about Taylor.One of the clearest distinctions between the Championship and Premier has been the quality of the refs. He,alas, is the exception.Even more wretched than in his previous attempts, I thought.
OK - this will be unpopular. I didn't think the ref was too bad yesterday. Didn't get conned by the massive Muff appeal for a non-penalty and kept control well in a niggly game. We were as culpable as Bournemouth for a lot of little fouls that kept breaking up the game. There were a couple of occasions when he got the ironic cheer when he gave a free kick our way after giving three of four consecutively to them, but to be honest there weren't too many (if any) of the preceding free kicks he'd given that I'd seriously dispute. Should have got his card out earlier in the game for Smith (persistent fouling) and possibly Paredes for that straight kick on one of their player's shin. Lost it a little bit in the last 15 or 20 mins when he went card crazy. Cathcart's was completely undeserved and I think surprised everyone.
Was the cartoon in the program just top quality trolling of the precious Bournemouth fans or something that just got missed by the program editor?
Agree about that the 1881 and the rest of the rookery hardly seeming to be able to sing in time which affects the noise levels. Plus when there is clearly a loud song coming from the other side of the rookery the 1881 will plainly ignore it and carry on with their own song. 1881 desperately need to be in the middle of the stand think it will make a drastic improvement. Amrabat was our best outfield player yesterday, another weird quique change taking him off for Abdi completley killed the game for us.
I have an idea........clear the 24 seats in the middle of each row in the Rookery by moving everyone either 12 seats to the right or left - then insert the 1881 right in the middle top to bottom. I assume that there are enough non-ST seats in the Rookery so that the last 12 seats do not fall off the end - plus the space vacated by the 1881. Seriously I would have no problem with being moved 12 seats to the right as long as I was in the same row.
Why can't I give him 'a load of grief' without getting ' load of grief'? Yesterday wasn't a classic but it certainly wasn't 'garbage' - in fact I can't remember any home games at all this season that have been anything but totally gripping. We're 10th in the EPL, in the quarter finals of the FA Cup, have a magnificent stadium, a strong squad that is only going to get stronger, a superb manager, owners that 'get' the whole WFC ethos and yet people can't wait to start carping because they haven't seen hatricks, penalties, trapeze artists or whatever else they need to feel that they've been 'entertained'. What a bunch!
Think it was mentioned in one of QSF prematches that Oulare is still recovering from a minor injury alongside Jurado
I quite like the out of time singing. Reminds me a bit of the old 'Everywhere we go-oo, People wanna know-oo'.
I think it's a case of 'getting over the safety line' because of the financial rewards for being in the PL next season. Once that happens I would only be worried if QSF still set the team out as he did today which was not to Lose. Muff also guilty of the same yesterday. They showed none of this passing game they were known for. ' oh they'll play the same style of football Blah blah blah ' .Really?. Yesterday they were playing more long ball than I've ever seen from them.
If it's OK to accommodate the corporate non-fans, it should be OK to accommodate the heart and soul of the genuine fans! Especially as it would most likely improve the overall atmosphere in the stadium, and hence enhance the enjoyment of most people in the stadium! Not to mention it would probably give the team an extra boost, as QSF and the players are forever saying the fans are like a twelfth man for them
Couldn't hear the 1881 yesterday, atmosphere very flat. Drab performance all round on a cold grey day
The 1881 are the same every week. Great when we're doing well, but all it takes is 10 minutes of nothing happening for the nervous silence to set in. That makes them no different to anybody else in the stadium. Flags and banners are great, but the 1881 has little purpose if there isn't a concentrated effort to lift the crowd out of their weekly 80 minute misery.
It was cold and dull but I am in 1881 area and it was quiet. Not sure what has happened since beginning of season when it was electric. As much to blame as next man
The 1881 were audible all game except for a few minutes before the end when it was tense and everyone went quiet.
In what was an otherwise boring game, Paredes gave what was one of the best performances at RB I can remember. And his skill on Arter has forced me to question my understanding of the laws of physics. If only he played like that every week! I've also read more negative Abdi comments on this thread, based on a 7 minute cameo in which he didn't single-handedly win us the game. These fans need to accept that he will not score 10 a season in the PL, but is still one of our tidiest ball players, who can still be trusted more than any other midfielder at the club to maintain possession. He's also our third top scorer.
If we sold Ighalo it's important to remember how much the other players mainly Deeney have sacrificed their goal scoring attempts in order to give the ball to him.
The game wasn't great - I'll give you that. But I don't think it was dreadful. And Mr Anthony Taylor was as much to blame as the teams for the shortage of fun
Not sure how people know that Ighalo's not playing so well because "his head's been turned". Isn't it more likely that he's no longer an unknown quantity after his scoring exploits and is marked much more tightly? Ighalo and Deeney function much better when they're close together and recently Troy's been deeper leaving Ighalo with two centre backs marking him. No-one else ever tries to run through on goal and get past Ighalo meaning the central defence only ever have to worry about him. Even Deeney doesn't make the runs anymore as he's too far behind play having just flicked it on for the umpteenth time. It's pretty frustrating as he used to score a fair amount of goals from one on ones and is a really calm finisher. We're a solid and reasonably effective long ball team. I can barely remember any good passing moves or through balls all season, it's all bouncing balls over the top for Ighalo to try to make something from. I still find it entertaining/stressful to watch as we are almost always in games up until the very end but the quality of our attacking football is pretty rank. QSF is like a more fashion conscious, continental version of Tony Pulis. On a positive note, Britos is such a good player, the reading of the game to stop Gradel getting a clean shot away in the second half was exceptional. Amrabat never hid and was at least trying to run into the channels/wings. He looks like the kind of player who could really take off if something goes his way soon and he gets a little boost of confidence. Also thought that was Paredes' best performance since his debut.
There is nothing in Deeney to suggest he could reach double-figures from open play in the Premier League - most of the times he still finds himself in goalscoring positions he is simply not sharp enough to get his shot away. At this stage of his career he is not suddenly going to gain an extra yard of pace or greater agility.
