In his press conference today the Gaffer said the only doubt was Kalas. In his presser, Ollie was already making "3 games in a week" excuses. Fair play though, they've won the first two of those and few would have predicted the handsome thumping they gave Villa in mid-week. He also said that he had a different plan to counter our passing game. Well, Jamie Mackie is unlikely to play so that really only leaves Ryan Manning to kick lumps out of us, so not sure what he has in mind. Long balls to Matt Smith? For us, there's no doubting the ability to play the passing game but surely Ollie has noticed the options that Mitrovic now gives. Anyway, so far as team selection goes, Odoi had a cracking game against Preston so no big problem if Kalas doesn't make it. Indeed, it will be a mild surprise if we see any change in the starting line-up: .......................Bettinelli............. ..Fredericks..Odoi..Ream..Targett.. .....................McDonald... .............Cairney.......Johansen.. .....Ayite..........Mitrovic.....Sessegnon..
The Gaffer scores again: “I heard Ian Holloway say he wants his team to be ‘party breakers’, but this party doesn’t exist, because we’re not celebrating anything.”
The man looking after our early start is Chris Kavanagh. Kavanagh got promoted to the Premiership this season so we haven't seen anything of him until now. Nor did he ref any of our games at the Cottage last year, so the Mancunian is a bit of an unknown. Will have to take it on trust from reports elsewhere that he's a sound chap. There's no doubting the credentials of one of his helpers though, Sian Massey-Ellis. She has to be one of the most consistently good linos around and it's surprising Sian hasn't yet been given the main job. She's from the West midlands and, for what it's worth, the lino on the other side, Marc Perry, also comes from that neck of the woods. Back to Kavanagh and just for the record. His 23 games so far this season have seen him flourish 71 yellows and 3 reds.
Much more comfortable with Odoi at CB over Kalas against the likes of Smith. Cannot believe how much Kalas has regressed aerially this season.
Just back from a brilliant holiday and now catching up with the 606'ers, with the game on Sky today too, wonderful. The ref will play a significant part today and he would appear to be a good one. As Cottager suggests, an unchanged side for me too, we have many options off the bench too, to mix it up if necessary. As SJ says the last game is now history, so lets be looking at a nine match unbeaten run from here on in and not look at records being broken. I feel that Wolves are the team to get past now for the automatic spot, looking at current form. So fingers crossed COYW's!
Worst performance since Christmas?? Started off well but the whole team were a total no show in the 2nd half. Also didn't understand the subs the gaffer made by taking off Sess and Cairney, especially bringing on Ojo. Since Ojo came back from his injury he has offered very little, no different today. A day to forget.
Completely agree Fab. We were absolutely cruising for 47 minutes, dropped one seconds before halftime and then went completely missing for 49 minutes in the second half. The first sub I can fully understand - apart from his goal Piazon was poor and as for his first touch ... cringeworthy. But the other two, especially as a double sub, were simply baffling. Not much to choose between Fonte and Ojo - both powderpuff and shadow boxing when it came to 'tackles'. Very strange tactics from the Gaffer. Well, we can always remember it as continuing to be unbeaten in 2018 and now 16 consecutive games unbeaten - and that Club record.
Should have been cruising at 2 nil up but that goal just before half time changed it. 2nd half was as the worse I've seen us play in a very long time. I can't put my finger on why. We couldn't string passes together, seemed to be out of position all over the place, just total panic. Really baffling. I thought with the extra rest time it would help us but it certainly didn't. Well it was a point but I'm disappointed on the 2nd half performance.
Agree the first half was a stroll, yet we let them score at the end, if it had gone in 2-0 at HT but 2-1 gave them hope and we came out hopeless and kept giving them the ball in areas that could hurt us. I agree the last 2 subs were a mystery, Fonte & Ojo haven't been at the races recently and it wasn't a game to revive them. What was that all about watering the pitch before and at HT !!!! are they nuts it was -5C blowing into the Riverside and turning to snow.
We shouldn't lose hope of catching Cardiff after this result, Cardiff have a tough run of games coming up so we need to keep the pressure on. They play Sheff Utd, Villa and Wolves all in the next few weeks, plus will now need rearrange todays postponed match against Derby, all is not lost. Thats not saying we have easy games, as we know by now there are no easy games in this league. We are still one of the form teams in the league though and have to go into these final few weeks with confidence and belief.
The rescheduled Derby game for Cardiff will likely be a midweek game now too, so more pressure on Colin. My hopes of Wolves decline would appear not so good. Qualifying via the playoffs is still very hopeful and considering our position before Christmas, we have to be positive. One poor second half display does not define the season, and to be fair QPR made it happen with some high pressure and high energy work.
I thought they had undersoil heating. Anyway, apparently Derby have loads of injuries so chance to get some of them back.
It was a disappointing result but I didn't feel as bad as some around me in the stands. The group behind completely lost their nerve once Qpr got the first goal and spent most of the second half berating the players for not immediately hoofing the ball down the middle or losing possession. It was a strange atmosphere and I think that had an affect on the performance, along with Slavisa getting it wrong with his team selection and substitutes. Piazon and Fonte are both good players, but I'd prefer to have seen us go for more pace, power and directness. Although I would love us to get the automatic slot I think we're coming to the party too late and in some ways it would be better for our playoff place to be confirmed before the last game so that players can change their mindset and don't go in to the playoffs feeling disappointed / jaded having just missed out on 2nd place. It was a sad day for Odoi who went from looking both solid and skillful to a quivering wreck that collapsed to the ground at the first hint of any pressure.
Hi guys - nothing to do with the Derby pitch - it was pefect - nor the road/public access conditions. The Derbyshire police have already said it wasn't them that called the game off. It was Rowett and his football club that decided they didn't want to play today. They've got injuries (who hasn't) and would have been without Huddlestone on a one game ban. They can work that off and do without him for their next game against Sunderland and be on the pitch against us. Colin knows it and is not a happy man at all......... http://www.skysports.com/football/n...rnock-describes-derby-postponement-a-disgrace
