This win was all about the mentality of the players on the pitch, it was chalk and cheese from previous games. Yet nine out of the eleven were the same players. Obviously I'm not sure what exactly happened over the build up to the game, but a combination of a more positive outlook emboldened by the lack of a useless front two to work with meant that we looked like a different team, but the first goal coming so early was a real helpful boost, and then we just rumbled (not "bumbled") on in the same vein throughout the first hour of the game. I'm not sure whether this comes from the video game world, but too much emphasis is on the formation, but whether it is 433, 442 or 451, doesn't really matter if we have our Captain and talisman saying (paraphrased and from memory) "We try too hard to play football, we need to cut that stuff out, knock it up to me and I'll do the rest". I may have the exact wording wrong, but that is what is what Deeney and his whole poisonous culture brings onto the pitch. That cannot be hidden behind the odd decent game he has, or the penalties he scores, he is clearly what holds us back. Gray has been so ineffective this season, that (along with useless Deeney) we have actually been playing 4 at the back, 4 in midfield and 0.5 up front, and no team can win when playing that formation. It is no surprise that Hughes said yesterday that he saw options everywhere, as he had an extra 2 players to pass to, and it is no surprise that Sarr chose to give the Zinc a tap in, rather than go for the more risky hat-trick. That is what happens when "options" are not so few, or chances are not so rare - it releases the mind and transforms the outlook. I don't care what the formation is. Football is a simple game. Our forwards create and score chances, our midfield break up play and create chances and our defenders stop goals against us, and any of the players can encroach in the other areas where necessary. It is simple, and in my day I was only ever in my "position" at kick-offs, the rest of the game we went where we were needed within our basic structure. In my view we should move our forward looking players about, with any fluid formation/combination (with subs) of Hughes, Cleverly, Zinc in FM, with Sarr, Sema, Pedro and Perica ahead of them. Behind them should be Chabs or Gosling or perhaps Wilmot (who I think would make a good DM). If we started with any of these combinations (with Femenia on the right) we would scare defences and keep them guessing and they would make mistakes, whilst staying tight at the back. Yes City were poor yesterday, but they are a mid-table Championship team and they were made to look particularly poor due to the pressure we put them under. So on Tuesday, I don't really care which of the above players start, nor in what formation, just so long as Deeney and Gray don't take part. I would not even want Deeney on the bench. Fat chance.
Maybe Sarr, Sema and Pedro should all interchange throughout the match, I've long thought Sema could do a job down the middle with his strength., pace and power.
The next couple of games will tell us what the balance was between us improved and Bristol City terrible on the day. Hopefully it’s the former, but our starting 11 have all been involved in poor performances this season. So nowhere near home and dry, not even vigorously towelling ourselves off.
Very happy with the win of course, but we were fairly fortunate for it to be such a whupping. 6 ugly goals - not one of them would make it into the top 10 goals of a normal season. The first was off two deflections and just fell perfect for Ken's Royal chest. How many times has the ball frustratingly NOT fell right for us. It seems like always that it drops to a defender, loops out of play or goes just over our player's head. We needed something like that to drop for us in one of those 0-0s. Such an early goal knocked what little bit of stuffing Brizzle might have had, clean out of 'em. They were awful. The second one was very, very shyte defending. I mean old Uncle Tom Clevs is hardly Usain Bolt, is he? Their defender, (Mary Tyler-Moore? Towlie off South Park?), ought to have been there a yard before Clevs or even their keeper should have swept up what was a miserably overhit through ball in all honesty. Then their defender failed miserably to make anything but a half-hearted effort to track back after Sarr who was left with a tap in. Third one was a fluke. Again, just the sort of fortune we've needed and have never had in other games. Huge deflection and also some pretty disgusting keeping from their goalie, whose kit looked like it had been sponsored by marshmallow flumps. A deflection, sure, but routine to tip it over the bar, no? He was furious about Sarr's goal though (can't remember which one it was) and he had good reason. I think that's the first time this season I can remember one of our players having a clear run on goal like that. Where were the defenders? When number 6 went in, Tommy Mooney involuntarily ejaculated. "Offside!" he said and he was probably right. It certainly looked like Rinkydinkernagel had messed it up and gone too early. I think Brizzle were too dispirited to kick up much of a fuss. Additionally, a big reason we won was because Sarr, perhaps hoping to reignite the Scouser's fire, elected to put in a performance for once. Why he doesn't play like that every week, only he can answer. So all in all, a freakishly lucky win against a diabolically awful and demoralised opposition made up mainly of greenhorn 18 year olds and journeymen, which is almost certainly a mere flash in the pan of a diabolical season. We'll see if these useless yellow jacklegs show up away from home before I start getting excited.
Sarr hasn't played like that every week because he's been stuck in right midfield in our rancid chuckle brothers 442
If we do start putting a winning run together and we get within touching distance of automatic promotion, I think we could actually do it. Our last four matches are: - Norwich; Millwall; Brentford and Swansea Providing we have put ourselves within touching distance by getting back to winning ways home and away. Then winning those last 4 games, 3 of which are against our most likely top rivals for automatic promotion, could clinch at least 2nd spot, as they are all classic 6 pointer games.
I was thinking about this the other day. When you consider how much time Andre Gray has spent in and around the penalty area/six yard box, and how often the ball has also been in the penalty area/six yard box you'd imagine that based on probability alone he'd score far more regularly. But you'd be wrong. Amazingly, a sizeable scratchcard win is actually statistically more likely. It's one of those mathematical mind-benders that puts kids off algebra.
You make some valid points and to score 6 from just 6 shots on target can be classed as lucky. The difference was that we were moving and getting forward in numbers to try and make things happen, and therefore created the luck. What a massive difference from the previous weeks. Players in their best positions and a team attitude to go forward was the difference. We could still lose playing this way, but it will be much more enjoyable to watch.
Anyone thinking of top two is deluding themselves. That ship has well and truly sailed. If we go on to play like this most of the rest of the season it still won't quite be enough. That makes it all the more frustrating that we've pissed away 2/3 of season on toxic player culture, turgid tactics and poor selection. It is academic anyway, because despite the massive turnaround yestersay, we will soon see a return to shyte performances and Trondre.
There was a report that the one of the things that was discussed at the 'clear the air' meeting of the players, was the need to stop criticising and remonstrating to each other on the field of play. Surely, this should have been sorted by the manager ages ago? It indicates poor teamwork and underlying tensions in the side. Of course we all know who the main culprit is and who has set the tone. Under the cloak of 'leadership' he and the senior group have blocked the progress of the team for a long while. I hope yesterday was a turning point but I am not yet convinced!
They basically did that - one of Sarr's goals came from him cutting inside from the left, Sema's two goals came from him being in pretty much a CF position between the posts, and JP generally drifted across the pitch.
True, the key to the match was Sarr and also Sema getting in behind full backs to the goaline. My only concern at this point is that we’ve seen Sarr fail to do this against merely bog standard Championship full backs. If he and Sema can carry on doing this the luck will stay with us.
Sarr gets a 10/10 for that performance yesterday. A performance we all know he's capable of. An absolute joy to watch when he's at his his best. That sixth goal was a thing of beauty. Just goes to show what can happen when you play the right players in the right positions.
Someone once said of tennis and it can equally apply to football,"if you can't run,play golf". Therefore playing Deeney is pointless unless we go full Marcus Gayle and change him to a centre back. Moreover no point running if you're no ****ing use when you get there. That eliminates Gray. All of us will await the team for Tuesday with some fear trepidation.
I wonder if anyone on Talksport breakfast will have the courage to say " what happened Troy?" or " what were the reasons behind Saturdays result?" Maybe Troy will counter with " just think how many we would have notched if Trondre, (c) wfcmoog, had started "
Correct . It WAS a thing of beauty. A proper team goal straight off the training ground . Just because someone hasn't dribbled past 6 defenders or smashed one from 30 yards doesn't mean it is not a great goal.
Blimey, and I thought you were one of the more positive posters! Get some perspective, performances admittedly have often been poor, but 4th in the Championship, winning every other game and the best start to a second tier season doesn’t constitute a “diabolical season”, however much you spin it. That applies much more to 2003/04, 2004/05, 2009/10 and most of the early-mid 90s seasons. Nor can the players who have collectively achieved this be described as “useless jacklegs” (apart from one or two and we all know who they are). And yesterday wasn’t the only decent performance Sarr has put in this season, we’d be mid table at best without his vital contributions.
I think Mooney alluded to this in his commentary , he said something along the lines of in previous games players (forwards) were not taking responsibility and passing the ball or waiting for something to happen, rather than being responsible for making something happen themselves. in all the joy one thing I haven’t really seen reference is the quality of the goals we scored from open play, the goal where Cleverly looks up , waits a second and then squares it was class.
Given Masina’s comments about how Troy lead the teamtalk etc before the game, I suspect he was there to ‘motivate/give instruction’ and act as some sort of interpreter and coach for Xisco. Quite why we are operating like this though is beyond me. Seems the club are absolutely terrified to try and do something without letting Troy have his fingerprints on it.
Careful, you’re dangerously close to ‘Everything’s fine because Gino saved us from Bas’ territory here. Put simply - we were good yesterday. And took advantage of Bristol City’s malaise. But I don’t think there’s a club in the football league or above who wouldn’t have beaten them yesterday. They were utter tripe. Yesterday was a baby-step and Xisco and the players will have much bigger hurdles to clear before anyone sensible is convinced. That’s perspective.
"why hasn't Sarr played like this all season ?" I'll field this one . It is because it is a strikers job to gain possession of the ball and to bring others into play so they can join them in an attack . In previous weeks we have had one half of Trondre chugging about very deep in some sort of no.10 quarterback role whilst the other half has been busy mis controlling and generally doing nothing. If an attacking player recieves the ball from a defender or centre mid then he will in all probability be recieving the ball very deep which allows the defence to recover, shut down space ,create overloads etc If an attacking player recieves the ball from the attacking focal point then he will be receiving the ball further up the pitch and will have a greater chance of running at a disorganized defence. And IMO Trondre is no longer fit for purpose as a striking option
Perhaps Deeney's role until the end of his contract can be player coach. I'm sure he has the respect of the players but can't do it in games anymore especially in the starting line-up. He could be a useful sub in certain circumstances but as a 90 minute player he is finished at this level.
