I agree, much more effort and commitment and a willingness to work hard for the manager and the team. Although to be honest, a step up in quality from last season's shirkers wasn't going to be too difficult.
Porteous was superb as was Bachmann. very good even game until the rain made it virtually unplayable Our first team looks a decent mid table team that may flirt with the play offs but still think our weak squad will prove problematic big question is why would anybody continue to get soaked by sitting in the first few rows of the SEJ stand when there are thousand of available seats further back?
A game in which our wingers did their jobs, but our full-backs didn't do theirs. Ngakia doesn't really seem to have improved much, particularly on the ball. He was abysmal today - and their free-kick which they scored from came from him making three sloppy mistakes in a row. Morris was also crap today and very negative, and their other goal came from him losing possession too easily. Lewis has to start vs Leeds. Ince showed the finishing touch I hoped he would when he got his chance, and Martins has discovered his shooting boots after his errant efforts at the start of the season. Excellent save from Bachmann at the end. And his passing and sweeping hasn't been as shaky as earlier in the season and still hasn't cost us a goal yet. Criticism of him going in to the season was a bit over the top I think. Probably a fair point overall. Similar to the Coventry game when teams go toe-to-toe to us a bit more we seem to just end up with score draws, instead of 0-0 draws. Having said that, Leeds will be a different animal and I'd be worried how many we'd concede if we have to start Pollock at CB. Not the worst point really, shame we couldn't nick it.
Genuine question, is our squad depth any worse than 87.5% of the division which hasn't just been relegated? Yes, there is a clear gap in most positions between our first choices and our bench and reserve options, more so than in recent Championship seasons, but I'd have thought most clubs would say the same
He was playing deep, pretty much most of the game when they had the ball as CCB due to how WBA had set up and the windy and rainy conditions. Pollock came on and played LCB
we’ve seen in previous years that, to be in contention of the play offs, you need to have a strong squad in this division. I would guess that ours is probably on par with the lower half
Think our forward options aren't bad, a £5m () man to come off the bench is not bad, Healey might prove good too, and we have good depth in wide areas, in midfield we have, in theory at least, Asprilla or Chak for Louza (not that he's turned up since about Plymouth) and Kone and TDB battling it out, but defensively we certainly have much less depth
I tend to agree with that. Hope we gradually improve/evolve from here but looking at us defensively we are going to be on a right roller coaster ride this season.... Mix of tonight's game and Saturdays - each game can go either way at any time..... (you can tell our defenders actually want to lump the ball forward by nature and they look very uncomfortable on the ball most of the time if they're pressed..
The defence is like the Zolacoaster Seson and the attack has the same spirit. We just don't have an Abdi to help orchestrate midfield which was too absent at times.
A very similar game to last season, where we won 3-2 with 5 of the softest goals you’ll ever witness. This time the quality of the goals was not in question, as all four were either good moves or excellent finishes, but it was open as a basketball match. We were dominant in the first half and should have been leading. Only Kone knows how he missed the chance he did. Second half was a different story though. We’re making far too many unforced errors. Giving the ball away cheaply, holding on too long whilst being pressed and turning back when in good positions to cross or shoot. It’s frustrating as hell. With the chances West Brom were given we should have lost. We can thank Bachmann for a couple of very good saves, but the one he made around the 80th minute was remarkable. A truly brilliant reaction save. Hoet was very poor tonight, and we saw how vulnerable we are once Porteous went off. Pollock is just not good enough. He shouldn’t be anywhere near a Championship first team. Rajovic had done well for his goals, but he’s really struggling out there. He’s being dominated by defenders and is very basic with his passing. I think he’s a little too raw for the Championship and needs a lot of coaching to become a real force. His goals will buy him time and patience with the fans, but I think he’s way off it as an effective player. The weather did have an impact. Watford never play well in the rain, but they did keep going. Ngakia did extremely well with his interceptions and pulled off a couple of neat tricks in advanced positions, but sadly his final ball is non-existent. I thought Louza was well below par but Kone was excellent, apart from his dreadful first half miss. He was very unlucky to see his header in the second half not to go in, producing a brilliant save onto the bar. Martins had a great first half, but usually fades as the game goes on. Both he and Ince took their goals very well. Disappointing result, but we could have lost. I think it’s clear we are a bottom half side and will struggle once the injuries kick in. We’ve played 5 of our 7 matches at home, only winning 2 and 14th place. 9 points from 7 games, with two very tough looking away games to follow, probably won’t improve our position a great deal. It’s not looking too good is it.
Seen it back now. He didn’t trust the wall, gambled and made himself look a right ***. Redeemed himself with his overall performance but that was an awful goal to concede and has to go down as his error.
It was entertaining yet again and again plenty of effort on show which is all most of us want. Worst conditions at VR that I can remember for years! Matheus continues to grow, really exciting. Not sure why he’s a guaranteed sub off when he was looking our best and most dangerous player. Full back is an issue, one is young and inexperienced and one is just not good enough, consistently enough. Lewis please hurry up and get fit, Morris is so limited it’s painful, second goal all his fault. Bachmann’s great saves cancel out the mistake from the free-kick. Think Rajovic & Bayo will share minutes, could really do with Healey somehow turning things round as we need a different type of goal scorer desperately. An interesting season unfolding, if we can stay in touch of the play-offs come January and manage to make TWO quality additions (loan or permanent) we could have a fantastic second half of the season.
This. Early goal and confidence was up, we were moving the ball well and really controlling the game. Then he cut inside and had his clearance blocked, got back into position but miscontrolled it, then overcompensated and went steaming into a challenge he didn't need to make. Hard to think of a worse ten seconds as a professional footballer. Yes, can question Bachmann's positioning but Ngakia was the major factor in their equaliser.
It’s such a difficult job isn’t it making a true reflection of the season so far. Several positives for sure. We are now on a mini unbeaten run (3 matches) and after a barren spell we’ve scored seven times in three games, with a good spread of those goals too among the squad. For better or worse, the smallish squad gives the impression of unity and opportunity for many. And quite importantly, as it’s supposed to be entertainment, several of our matches have been great fun to watch. If we aren’t to have any real ambition past mid table, at least it’s better than us grinding out 0-0 draws. I’m really enjoying match-day experiences of late. And there seem promising signs that some players are improving under Ismael’s stewardship. So lots to remain cheerful about for now. But, being very objective it is only two wins now, and that with a 5-2 home v away fixture allocation. We were still taking down our Christmas decorations the last time we won away. We all know the squad has limitations in depth, and Porteous limping off last night could be the first sign that our gamble will backfire. I can’t see Ismael being under any sort of trouble job wise as he’s impressed so far despite the lack of wins, but we all know the man who these days never seems to put his money where his mouth is (or isn’t, as he hardly deigns to speak to us) isn’t known for his patience or lack of panic. I’m no expert in fitness or training, but it is frustrating that we can sign players during the summer who still aren’t ready to start matches or even to make the squad. So everything in the garden certainly isn’t rosey. Could be better, could be worse. But it’s all quite fun at the moment, and that’s got to worth something after the last couple of years. And I still think it’s too early to make many predictions about the rest of the season. We are getting more of an idea match by match, but it’s still very early days. The fun will be finding out.
Last night we saw the vulnerabilities of the team when an opponent wanted to press us high. Morris, Ngakia, Pollock and Hoet all panic when under pressure and give the ball away virtually every time. These misplaced passes put us under extreme pressure in dangerous areas. It's all very well Ismael saying we must play this way and mistakes will be accepted, but how long will that be tolerated if we continue to give away cheap goals\chances? I read his post-match comments and it appears even he is getting frustrated by it. But what do you expect when you force players to play that way, who are not technically gifted or composed? It's odd to expect we can do it in the first place. It's not passed me by that Bachmann has saved us with two amazing saves in the 80th minute against both Brum and West Brom. They were saves over and above what you would expect him to make, and had those chances gone in we'd have lost both matches I'm sure. So zero points from two home games instead of 4. That's ifs and buts of course, but it's a very fine line. We can't rely on Bachmann wonder saves in every match to keep us in games. I think players have to realise we have to go long at times when they are being pressed. Playing it around in tight areas will lead to disaster, it's obvious. Teams know it's our weakness and will play on it. We've only won 2 from 7 games, 5 of them at home. Probably should have won more but our weaknesses/limitations have denied us. Once again we've passed up a good opportunity to win back-to-back. These are signs of an erratic team who is not able to win often. From what I've seen so far this season, with the squad limitations and the lack of cover, I just cannot see beyond a bottom 6 finish. If we have a run of bad injuries we'll be in a relegation scrap for sure. Sema and now Porto look like casualties going into Saturday. Healey, god knows about him. You see an already paper thin squad is already struggling. Chickens coming home to roost if we're going to play the woeful Pollock or equally woeful Livermore against Leeds.
Both WBA goals were down to errors by our FB's one each, but things could have been so much worse if it was not for Bachmann, who made 3/4 great saves. Having said that we still should have won the game had we taken more of the chances we continue to create. All in all it is so frustrating that we have not won more games because we should be scoring more, and letting in less
Two good goals were the only positive for me. The defenders’ passing is really not good enough to play the way they are asked to, especially when pressed. In general I just wish we would show more urgency in trying to attack teams. It only comes in fits and starts and we seem obsessed with keeping possession of the ball above all else. So many times we look for a backwards pass by default. Kone man of the match by a mile.
Been five very enjoyable games at VR so far this season. Think the weather made the second half a bit unpredictable, but I've not gone home after any game so far thinking I've not had my money's worth, which is in total contrast to the total dross we were served up last season. The players look like they've actually been on the receiving end of some proper coaching and ideas on how to play. Will we be involved at the business end of the season or not ? Who knows, we're all aware what a weird division this is. Rattle off four or five straight wins and anything can happen. But it's been entertaining to watch so far, and that's the first and most important thing I enjoy football for.
There is nothing wrong with playing out from the back but it appears to be a religion now and to be done at all costs. If our players don't have good "vision" then they are unlikely to be able to make that forward pass safely that breaks the press. In this instance I would prefer the safer sideways or backwards option . Admittedly Hoedt can ping a great diagonal tho . The analysis on MOTD regarding Brighton and how they play out was intriguing. Manure pushed players onto the Brighton CHs to stop them playing out so Brighton simply pushed the FBs high and wide and the GK pinged it over the top of the press to the FBs. Simply put ....they had a plan b
A game we could/should have won and could/should have lost! Helter-skelter stuff first half in particular with the dreadful conditions. A few random thoughts. The aspect that worried me most was our reliance on Sierralta in such a key defensive/organisational role. In my view, we're asking to perform a role beyond his capability. Good and willing footballer (and in the lazy football speak, 'honest') as he is, he is increasingly out of his depth adapting to the role. When the opposition breaks quickly our defence appears open, full backs out of position and midfield not ready to protect so a lot of chasing back to make up ground. I certainly don't blame Sierralta, but just wonder if the coaching discipline needed for the role is just beyond him (currently). Contrast our attacking breaks last night, WBA defence were quickly back in shape. That said we played some slick moves around and through them in the first half. They are no more talented than our lot in truth but they defended positionally far better than us. Our lack of organisation allied with an insistence to try and pass out of trouble every time, I think leads to the sheer number of gifts we are offering up to the opposition with Ngakia and Morris especially unable to assess when to take that risk and when not. Last night's conditions meant even short passes had to be carefully made by our defence. Our lot seem so tightly drilled into a style of play that consider those conditions irrelevant to the overall game plan. Their 2 goals resulted. Rayovic was a passenger last night, left isolated and no discernible service provided. Easy to write him off as below standard, his control of the ball was pretty woeful last night but we need to play to his strengths and support him better so I remain hopeful that he can develop beyond a penalty box only player. Healy's lack of involvement on the bench as an option (replace or add to Rayovic depending on the circs) remains puzzling unless there's something more fundamental that is being hidden from us. I'm still generally encouraged by the team, with Kone just beginning to get to grips with things plus Martins allying his dribbling to end product, not just that brilliant strike. I like Ismael's decisiveness with subs to influence games but like most others am worried that the squad depth could de-rail things. So there's still lots to like but please VI, some added organisation in our defence could work wonders!
Louza keeps the ball moving, It's a little unfortunate sometimes that those around him don't read what he does but you can see a synergy say with someone like Martins which is a fruitful axis and he did lay off a delightful ball to Ince for the first goal. People slate him but he is one of the few in the squad who could play with comfort at a higher level the others being Martins and Kone in time. Shame Kone didn't chip his first effort.
Didn't realise at the time how poor Bachmann was for the first goal, as I was at the other end of the ground. He has to be covering the area the ball went, but he set himself to cover the area where the wall was, putting his weight and balance over there, leaving a gaping wide area unprotected. Easy goal for Swift if he hits his shot correctly, which he did. Bachmann has to trust his wall to do it's job and protect the other side. If the ball goes up and down over the wall and in, then you say fair play to the freekick taker. But in the lead up to the freekick shows where our problems lie. Ngakia is boxed in by players all around him and he panics. He tries a pass that was never on which is blocked and loops up to their striker where Bachmann makes a great tackling save. From the rebound, Ngakia compounds his initial mistake by lunging in and giving away the freekick. This was punished, but the goal was so avoidable. Two big mistakes from Ngakia and a fundamental goalkeeping error from Bachmann. The second goal, again down to rushing a pass under pressure. Porteous scuffs his pass to Morris, but it should have been comfortably dealt with. Morris takes a heavy touch and the ball bounces away from him. He tries to retain and shield the ball, but leaves an opening where Furlong pinches the ball which goes straight to Asante. Sierralta should sense the danger but does nothing to close down the cross and Wallace does well to get in front of Porteous and on the stretch to steer it past Bachmann. The finish was excellent, but the play from us leading up to it was so sloppy, casual and loose. This cost us two goals, and you tend to analyse that more, but we're doing this a lot at the back and mainly have been getting away with it. The chance for Asante in the 80th minute was totally down to Hoet flubbing the ball, under no pressure, straight back to West Brom which left us exposed. We don't have composed players at the back in order to play the way Ismael wants. We're not clinical enough up the other end either, so is going to be a recipe for poor results, which we are seeing constantly. I don't think we're likely to improve either. I think Ismael is getting the most out of a limited bunch. Recruitment in the summer has let us down. We've got far too many limitations and lack of viable cover. It's no one's fault but Gino Pozzo. He's the man who has to invest, but he's not doing so, which is going to stifle or even derail the rebuild.
Credit due to Scott Tingley and his team, and our pitch. Possible the worst conditions I've ever seen last night and the surface stayed perfect throughout
Not sure if it's been mentioned (and you can't see it in the highlights) but Bachmann and Hoedt had a disagreement about the positioning of the wall prior to the free kick for the first goal. Hoedt told Bachmann where to stand and organised the wall, Bachmann ultimately did what he was told but clearly didn't trust the wall judging by his movement for the free kick. Really poor and avoidable mistake and shows a lack of trust and communication between the defence and a lack of authority from Bachmann.
Completely agree with the breakdown of the goals. "Cheating" on a free kick is understandable but it's very risky as it can lead to exactly the type of goal Swift scored if it's just a competent strike, not even a good one and although I think Ngakia has shown more promise this year with finding his feet, the naivety of youth was very clear in what happened so if he learns from that string of errors then so be it. That said, I thought he stabilised reasonably well afterwards and did help with attacks at times but Andrews is clearly the more rounded fullback currently. The same cannot be said of Morris was dreadful. He does not offer much going forward but also had a nightmare in every department last night. I understand why we have him and that he is a very cost effective backup but when Sema and Lewis aren't fit it severely hurts us and is easily one of the weakest players in the squad. I like his personality and he seems a good egg but he is currently struggling in this division. VI I agree is getting frustrated with these errors every game that's not even borne of a strong opposition press / movement but from quite literally passing it to them at times.
True, but that's a statement you can also apply to the other 45 fanbases in this division. I agree with @hornetboy1 that we are paper thin although we did know that going into the season. We cannot afford to lose any more first team players, because the reserves we have are really not going to cut it. That said, Ngakia should be a sub at best, and Morris does try bless him but he is also error prone. Although young has a lot of time to improve his game. Andrews and Lewis came on later and we looked a lot more stable at full back. Because of the limitations of the squad, we are going to get games where we play well and lose, or play badly and some how win. I think it's also vital that we try to stay as injury free as possible between now and January. But that is a massive ask for any side, let alone a club with a squad as small as ours. Yes Gino buggered up the Window in the sense of squad balance but is that really a surprise? Our attack is getting better slowly, we are scoring goals now. So there are positives to take from each game.
