Amazing to be back at st Mary’s, was bittersweet though. First match without my dad which was painful. But I took my son for his first match and he loved it, shouted and chanted the whole time! I was actually really impressed, despite my misgivings. McCarthy made some saves. Sally sue put in a shift. Stephens was solid. Tino is a real talent! Despite my slagging off Djenepo I was impressed today, he was lively and I liked his defensive contribution. Broja looks exciting, I want to see more. Only disappointment for me was Redmond lacked ideas and Diallo didn’t seem to have the same bite as Romeu. One criticism would be the inability to place an early cross in. We often tried to walk it in and get into the box before crossing.
I feel a bit sorry for Armstrong, tbh. In so many of our pre-season games we played quick, long balls into the channels for players to run on to, with some success, albeit against lower league opposition. Now that we have a player who has the pace to go past most CBs in a chase for the ball, we have gone back to playing the short pass game, expecting Armstrong to play in the same way as Ings. Not saying that we should always go long, but there are times when we should be looking to play to his strengths and get him running in on goal, instead of asking him to drop deep into areas that aren’t his strength, before we suck the confidence out of him.
It’s not often I agree but maybe the KWP Tino experiment is worth doing. He certainly has the skill to bomb forward.
Glad you both enjoyed it. It was my boys first game and he was ready to go at half time. I talked him round and we enjoyed waving Antonio off at the end Then the wife picked us up to which Lukas chanted who are ya and you're going home in a ****ing ambulance!! .....just kidding.
Good point considering this was the sort of game we usually throw away. Excited by the prospect of Armstrong's pace and Brojas strength playing side by side. Felt Elyonussi was playing as an CAM for a lot of the game but lacks pace which causes problems when looking for someone to run into the box. Not a bash at him as i think he would work well when we are constantly in the opponents half but not when we are playing with a lone striker and hoofing it up. Loving Tinos runs but he needs to be taught how to give an attacking forward pass at the end of one. (Don't learn of Moussa) Too often he would run past 3 players, we have an overlap and he then tries to take on the 4th or stop and pass back.
Agree with most of the positive comments regarding our best performers. Thought Salisu, Stephens & Tino were excellent. McCarthy very good & special mention for Djenepo who certainly put in an extra shift for the whole game. KWP & Tino combo definitely deserves a try - can’t believe we’re not playing one of our best players from last year. Borja; couldn’t believe his pace & power - could be immense. Redmond was, well ….. Redmond.
That was a clean sheet to be proud of. Not a player out of position for the whole game against some of the best attacking players in the division. Our midfield provide that shield really well but we are struggling to find any forward avenues through JWP and romeu. I believe Ralph was looking to change that with Diallo and though it didn't cost us, it didn't really create too much either. I didn't expect too much from the Broja sub as it was another like for like but he knew what he wanted to do and was brilliant, showed Ogbonna up when he wasn't knocking him down. In the end a point was another good result though a 3-3 would have been a lot more exciting : )
we are really missing Armstrong moment. Those calling for KWP and Tino on the right could well be onto something.
I think so too. kwp is probably our best technical player in terms of getting on the ball. I love how direct Tino is, but for me I’d still play KWP out of the two, both of them if we can. I’d probs even be tempted to play KWP over Djenepo or Redmond, and see how he gets on. He’s such an intelligent and gifted player, just feel like we need either him or Stu Armstrong on the pitch
For me KWP is poor going forward, if we play both Livramento would have to be the more forward player
Sorry am I missing something. Lovely weather for folks to have a last weekend away, people still concerned about Covid, I have absolutely no idea where how your shall we say ill- logic works
Reading through this I think I must have watched a different game or we have too many entitled fans. First half we were solid and nullified what has been a very good team. After 70 Mon we seemed to really go for it and were unlucky. I thought it was a really good nil nil. First half we were solid and then became more adventurous in the second half. With s slice of luck or a more competent ref we win the game. Jack and Salusu outstanding. The win will come soon followed by lots more
What is your issue? I see a club finallu moving on the right direction. I do not understand the negative attitude
Yep, I’d play tino in front of KWP and see how it goes, drop redmond back to the bench. He always seems to be better as an impact player than as a starter. If he hasn’t got the confidence to take people on 1v1, Tino, certainly does.
The KWP Livvy and Adams Broja combos worth a try. Good point against one of the better teams we'll see at St Marys. Stevens and Saliso excellent, Macca commanded the box Antonio didn't get a sniff.
I still think the club's an embarrassment personally. The season ticket fiasco, the unnecessary 2/300 quid price hike without consultation forcing people out of seats they've occupied 20 years. I don't like the sponsor personally either and isn't something I'd associate with a family club. The club has absolutely **** on its fans for years now beyond a few box ticking exercises. So I'm in agreement that they deserve some **** attendances. I'm also disappointed that I didn't receive a response to my report of racism I heard at Newport, but that that's a personal thing rather than some of the above. Point is, people have a right to be unhappy with aspects of how the club is run. And it's by no means negative to suggest it's piss poor that some are still waiting for season tickets four weeks into the season (for example).
It’s to do with the poor running of the commercial side (ticket problems, pricing, match day experience) not the football, I agree there seems to be some positive signs in that regard. Basically, what Libby said.
Haha thought you were being serious there! I plied him with sweets and fizzy drinks so he became hyper. The first half was a bit stodgy.
Don't forget the piss poor away allocations we take, letting home fans in our away end and broadcasting it on club channels (Liverpool away before the lockdown spring to mind), the shocking way they've handled the kits in recent years, though granted it hasn't seemed as bad this year. The club have no respect for the fans, and the contempt they hold us in they fully deserve some **** attendances. Might give them a rocket up the arse,but I doubt they care either way.
I felt that we put in a thoroughly professional performance in yesterday. It was almost as pragmatic as what was produced by Puel with the difference that we now have a much better squad and I feel Ralph is far more flexible with his tactics. West Ham had scored ten goals in three matches and they ended up being shut out throughout the match. The only players I felt under-whelmed yesterday were Romeu and JWP. The former was on a yellow and making some errors and I think it was the right decision to take him off. Broja looks a real talent. I agree with the comments about Salisu as he is starting to make that position his own. The comparisons with VVD are not unreasonable. Getting through August and September was always going to be difficult this season given the difficult fixtures. I am really confident about this year and the performance like yesterday's shows that the confidence is building.
