Dykes isn't good enough Beth. Having now seen the Lowe missed chance I don't think it was a bad a miss as some are suggesting. I thought the keeper was out very quickly and Lowe didn't quite lift the ball high enough.
He’s better than nothing Col, which is what we will have if we sell him without a replacement. I haven’t seen the Lowe miss on replay yet, but in real time it felt like he had an age to pick his spot. My instant thought was ‘thank God it’s not Dykes’. Frustrating, the second goal would have definitely won that game, the Swans had even less threat than us. But as Nines said, there was a sense of inevitability about conceding.
He is not the best, but is certainly the best we have...or to put another way...the only one we have. 3 small lightweight no10s as our attack force do not give us an outlet when under pressure and with no one to knock it down or win the ball will limit their ability to score.... Especially when wing backs are also limited.
Yeh Dykes frustrates the hell out of me - but the thought of no ‘striker’ is horrible. He does at least run, defend and put himself about. Just wish he’d put some of those chances away (and maybe Ilias will cross a bit more often then). Let’s hope NC and the wise recruitment team and Sir Les have a master plan. Happy birthday Sb. Have a great day!
Having now seen the Lowe missed chance I don't think it was a bad a miss as some are suggesting. I thought the keeper was out very quickly and Lowe didn't quite lift the ball high enough.[/QUOTE] The keeper made a good save because he was allowed to, Lowes first two touches took it straight to him. Had Lowe's first touch taken the ball Lowe's right (or had he just shot first time), he'd have seen an open goal. Its frustrating, a debut hat-trick would have been nice.
Don't know if anyone read Clive's preview but is more about whether Dykes is any good or not. It's a decent read and unlike the comments from our reactionary knuckle-draggers on Twitter it gives some balance. For me Dykes is a keeper*, I think there's definite positive signs with him and Lowe together. *As in we should keep him. I guess we could try him in goal if Seny goes though.
I don't think we've ever given Dykes the right opportunity. Yesterday he played well when others were near him. He laid it off well for our goal, he also played his best when combined with Austin. Trying to play him as a lone striker with the next nearest player 40 yards away is pointless.
I've tried to be positive about yesterday but 'at least we didn't lose' is about the best I can manage. Some of the negative stuff... What has happened to Chair? Continually runs into blind alleys and hardly ever gets a cross or shot in. I'm amazed we didn't concede from a corner or set piece for once but we probably just got lucky given the number of times Swansea won the first headers. Roberts simply lacks the nous of a good player. He was continually the weak link in our otherwise decent press for example. Willock is not even half the player he was pre-injury and provided no threat at all when he came on. I still think he's waiting to leave but not sure anyone will have him on that showing. The injury to Laird (best player on the pitch until that point) could be a major blow. Kakay did OK as his replacement until going AWOL for the equaliser.
So Where's Armstrong ? Even to come on in such circumstances, surely he could do that job ! I know we are thinking of loaning him out again but it's just stupidity not to have him on the bench to come on and do just such a job.
Dykes is difficult to sum up. Plainly he doesn't get enough goals, but it was equally plain that we missed his presence when he went off yesterday. I thought he was having a decent game, linking play well at times and setting Lowe up for his goal. He's also valuable defending opposition set pieces. I'd like to see a few games with Lowe playing up alongside him as he did for much of the first half yesterday. Having said that, if we got a good offer for him (more than the £3m quoted), we'd probably have to take it.
The frustrating part will be collecting £3m, not investing a penny, and watching him bang the goals in somewhere else.
But Dykes rarely holds the ball up or wins much. He occasionally does this stuff and even more occasionally does it well. It's just so rare that I'm not sure he's worth bothering with.
The keeper made a good save because he was allowed to, Lowes first two touches took it straight to him. Had Lowe's first touch taken the ball Lowe's right (or had he just shot first time), he'd have seen an open goal. Its frustrating, a debut hat-trick would have been nice.[/QUOTE] I'm now beginning to wonder whether I haven't seen the chance you're all talking about.
I'm now beginning to wonder whether I haven't seen the chance you're all talking about.[/QUOTE] You'd have called it a shocking miss if it was Dykes.
You'd have called it a shocking miss if it was Dykes.[/QUOTE] I wasn't being sarcastic. I genuinely wonder whether it was shown on the highlights I saw. I didn't think he had that long to pick his spot before the keeper was on him. I agree it was a very good chance, but judging by Lowe's finish for his goal, I'm confident he'll score more of those than he'll miss. Dykes won't.
Doesn't matter as subs are not made until 90minute. Richards and Armstrong both try, Willock presently doesn't, Adomah is 70, Stef not fit otherwise would have come on, Dozzell brings nothing, Kakay come on for injured Laird, Jake should be playing instead of Dickie. That's the bench yesterday this is why I still have little faith in NC. Although have just purchased Hull and Huddersfield tickets for my sins
I wasn't being sarcastic. I genuinely wonder whether it was shown on the highlights I saw. I didn't think he had that long to pick his spot before the keeper was on him. I agree it was a very good chance, but judging by Lowe's finish for his goal, I'm confident he'll score more of those than he'll miss. Dykes won't.[/QUOTE] He scored a goal and other players (Dykes included) have missed easier chances so I am not looking to berate him too much. He did have three touches and covered 10 yards before "the keeper was on him" though, the first touch moved the ball to his left which he wasn't confident on, had he controlled it to his right the goal was open.
Agreed. Keeper was out and there was their player pretty much on the goal line. Had Lowe successfully chipped the keeper, I think it would have been cleared. He was unlucky with his previous shot too. We don't seem to get the luck atm that would take it a few inches closer to scoring. I'm afraid I've come to the sad conclusion that we're a championship club for many a year to come, hopefully without any relegation.
I’m with you Yorkshire … I don’t get these late subs from NC at all. Very predictable and pointless. There’s no impact for the team and no time for the player coming on to use their fresh legs to help the team and make a statement for a starting spot. Just makes no sense to me.
