The swapping Pring for King confused me. Should of brought Semenyo on to give them something to think about rather than building from the back all the time.
I didn't think Wells took his opportunity to prove his worth tonight, didn't do enough for me to warrant a first team place...which means we are desperate for a striker.. I might be concerned come January, I see, as we are currently.... HNM is too good for us and could well get snapped up by better clubs
He carries on the way he is, improving game on game. I would agree but hopefully it will take a big bid in January window. However with finances as they are we could end up selling for less to be able to post some profit.
I'll always believe you pick your best players and then sort a system. Not the other way round. 4 CHs is daft because you're immediately weak down the sides. The constant long throw is also daft. Not only is it rarely successful but it just kills any momentum in the team and crowd we built. Bloody hell, we were lucky against Preston and even luckier tonight. The players give their all, poor management and set up imo has been the problem these last 2 home games. Ah well, back to Grandad duties for a good few weeks.
The curry was great but our guest fell in the parking lot and seriously injured himself before his wife took him to hospital. To rub salt in to the wound when I returned home to see a score of 1-0 but when I refreshed the page I saw what I expected which was a last minute screw up to finish off a piss poor day. Bah humbug. On another note I can't see what the fuss is about on Massengo because in my books he will one day disappear up some back alley because he runs around with very little end product.
I agree with all of that...Really didn't think we gelled at all tonight, Luton looked much more dangerous going forward and was concerned for our defence when they did...We should have been jumping for joy at HT it being 0-0...I wouldn't have complained had it been 0-3. I thought Scott (must have had his eyes shut) missed a sitter for us from a fabulous delivery from Pring, who is improving game on game IMO. Pearson got it wrong tonight with his selection and tactics....our pressing, creativity and attempts on goal were very disappointing, not sure we worked their keeper all night!!
Something in our thinking is wrong and, whether that is line-up, selection or players, I think it must be time to move on and ring the changes. Things are starting to look like they will never change, and the results are proving the point, so why not change the square pegs from the round holes to at least make it seem as if we are attempting some kind of effort to move us upwards? Despite changes at the top level we are still not a competitive squad and to be blunt I don't see the players that we are putting out there every week will ever be up to the task of improving our record. We can place the blame wherever we want but a little more actual progress would stop the comparisons in their tracks and allow NP to make the necessary changes within what is clearly a limited budget. Waiting for the January transfer window will not solve a single thing and so it's solely down to NP, right now or sooner, to make some hay before winter comes calling.
Bentley bottled it IMHO, I think he should have smothered the ball, but was frightened of taking a head shot, whatever the problem was he was not positive and it cost us dear again, maybe he could even have let the ball go out. I agree with your lists of positives and I would add Kalas and Baker to that list. Our decision making is poor at crucial times and at times we try to be to clever with little flicks (great when they come off, costly when they don't) and yet again far too many high crosses and absolutely no hard low driven crosses and how about trying to dribble/pass the ball into the box, Luton and Preston managed it. Vyner was rightly taken off at half time, he did a lot of good things, but boy oh boy he is so easy to beat/turn on a one on one especially in the box, my wife's pug could beat him, I suspect he'll be getting some much needed bench time, he really needs to learn to get closer and not be so easy to turn, I suspect that Pearson might have finally seen enough. Frustrating again, a draw was the least that Luton deserved but I am sure we would all have taken the 1-0 win that was on offer.
Totally agree about Bentley bottling it, he’s not consistent enough for me, that said we have more pressing problems than goalkeeper, we need a RB. Vyner isn’t good enough, league 1 is probably his level, he’s a decent squad player, but not good enough in any one position. I’ve also never got the love in with Dasiiva, decent on the ball, but too small. As soon as he’s on the diagonal ball over his head is always a get out ball. We also need a goal scorer, Wells isn’t the answer, the problem is he’s getting on and will be in high wages which especially in the present climate means he’s almost impossible to move on.
And another 2 points squandered in added time at home. But from the highlights I saw, we could have been several goals down by half time were it not for Bentley and the frame of the goal, so I suppose a point is better than nothing, but it's hugely disappointing again.
I'm surprised it didn't work out for him there. I would have been happy with him at AG before Pearson was signed. Strange.
Bentley was definitely at fault for their goal, but we have to remember that he has saved us far more often than let us down. He's a confidence player for me and I'm worried he'll take it to heart. Nice touch the fans chanting his name at the end of the game - hopefully he will be boosted by that. He needs to sort out his free kicks though - it was shocking how often they went straight into touch.
When you’re next in the country I suggest you go and watch him live. Nige even said he wishes he had another 10 HNM. He might not score or get the assist, but he does lead to those points in games. His back heal to Semenyo against Cardiff was fantastic bit of skill to create our second goal. You’ve only got to listen to both games, where the fans are always singing his name to understand how they feel about him. Always getting MOM on OTIB from the posters there. One of the highest fouled players in the championship last season, tells you players against have to foul him to break up moves. Only just turned 20 as well. He’s got a good future ahead of him. It just a shame it won’t be with us though.
Not a captain for me, I’d prefer he concentrates on his own game. Yes he’s in credit, but still makes too many bloomers.
