League table shows its early days and league positions are not sorted yet. Milwall are flattered as they have peaked already with their present position. Birmingham are the best team weve played so far and no way will they stay in bottom 3. How can Derby score 5 then slip up, Villa, Norwich all struggling so are Reading & Fulham and we are 6 points better than Midds ahaha.
One thing that keeps coming back to me from this Summer, was the interview Orta gave. He said something like; we have to find special players, special because they understand what it means to fans, special because they can play under extreme pressure from fans, many cannot do this at big clubs.mspecial mentality players ...... think we've all seen good players signed but could never recreate their paat glories at ER because they couldnt play with the pressure. I think Orta should take a bow
Just back from the game and having a couple of beers. Hope Marcos makes it home safe and sound as driving conditions were iffy at best on the M1. So to the match...after Saturday thought we were certainties for at worst the play offs. After tonight I would say that nothing is guaranteed and we are still a work in progress. We rode our luck at times and if I'm being honest if Birmingham had won there wouldn't have been grounds for complaint. Our passing and decision making were poor throughout and only the spirit and togetherness enabled us to secure the 3 points. That in itself is a massive positive as coaches always ask for it but it's ultimately the players who bring it onto the pitch. The problems stemmed from Birmingham employing a 4 man press on our keeper and backline and we never looked comfortable or able to build from the back as we would have wished. This is where not having a forward with real pace who is able to run the channels and provide a different option is an obvious weakness. Everyone was looking for it short, with no one looking to get in behind and stretch the opposition out to create pockets of space for our midfield. We've set a high standard this season and tonight we fell short of it but still secured the win which is fantastic. The crowd and atmosphere inside the ground was amazing which I'm sure helped to inspire the players to give that extra effort which undoubtably they all did. Special mention to Pontus Jansson...no goals conceded in any game he has played this season.
And there was me screaming at him to take it into the corner to kill the game! He killed it, all right!
I think that's a fair assessment, Jammy. There were many moments of concern. We never really got started in many areas. Worked hard, yes, but not a lot of creative spark or end product. However, let me strike an optimistic note - the last 2 teams to press like this at ER got a draw out of us. We looked one-dimensional tactically in those matches by trying to pass through crowded midfields. Tonight we mixed it up a little. There were a good few long diagonal balls from defence, and one absolutely outstanding throw-out from Weidwald through a crowd to the half way line. Impressive. We also had a few long balls & blind long clearances that also worked. And let's not forget the conditions too. Some players were skidding about - but not as much as the ball! I think my highlight was a couple of runs from Saiz. I knew he was fast, but blimey! These weren't carthorses that he was giving generous starts to - and still he overtook them.
Ok, just walked in so will keep it fairly brief! I'm sure any commentary or highlights made it look like we were outplayed. A glance at the table will show that we have played lots of the teams at the bottom of the table. We were and we have! However, we were outplayed in the 60% of the pitch between the penalty areas, we scored twice and conceivably could have had four. I would be amazed if Birmingham finish in the bottom half. They were very good and for an hour, Jota was the best player on the pitch, unplayable at times. Strange night, ER rocked for the first and last fifteen minutes but you got the sense that the players needed the crowd tonight and, even though the crowd knew it, we were all a bit too tired to give our all. Many flat performances but how can you complain when we have just gone top of the league? So, let's focus on the good. Keeper earned his corn and is brave without needing to be Nigel Martyn, tries to keep the tempo up all the time, nearly cost us with one bit of fannying around and not sure about the constant throws to right back(Ayling and then Anita). I wouldn't thank him for that with two players on me all the time. Cooper, hang your heads Matt and Wakey Donkey, excellent. Jansson, just Jansson. Ayling, just Ayling. Phillips, side before self every time. Whichever way you look at it, six consecutive clean sheets is not a fluke, this team really has something. Nothing tonight screamed Champions but I bet nobody fancies playing us! One very tired boy for school tomorrow trying to remember he went to the dentist won't forget the singing in the concourse on the way out Oh, and Lasogga was neither Viduka or the Frenchman tonight, he was Berbatov. I am sure he will kill some teams but, even on a night he didn't dominate anyone he still oozes International class in a strange way, got the X Factor that boy Night all
Oh and shirts must be flying. Got little mans tonight but he couldn't have Saiz, Alioski or Jansson because they had run out of A's, I's and O's (genuinely) and that was nearly two hours before kick off so he had to settle for Ben. Odd I know but I laughed my nads off when he said "I was quite relieved when I knew you couldn't get me OLOF"
