Had a last minute call up today so went and mate some mates and watched the match. Good day with good lads. I thought the match was a bit of an odd one from both teams, it was as if both were respecting each other too much. A couple of observations from me. I dont think our 3 behind Gelhardt are at the same level as they were 4 or 5 games ago. Physically I dont think they are running as much and it is making it easier for the opposition to get some control. They also havent adjusted to Gelhardt. He moves well and gets betwee defenders but they seem slow to play it in. I wasnt massively won over by out full backs today. I am not sure they are providing that extra body enough, that again they were doing. Maybe they are wary of not getting the cover from the wide lads. Baath didnt look as cool as normal today either. Michut and Neil are without doubt the answer for us in my opinion. The way they receive on the half turn and look to play forward is great, at times they have no ball on. They can get caught out with a player running beyond them, something to work on. The quality we have, technically, is out of this world. I know what TM means about physicality, but I dont think that is terminal. There are ways to play without needing someone to go head to head with centre halves. Lets get back to the 2 10s and have Roberts and Clarke driving inside, with Amad and Pritchard going outside. If we get movement across that front 4 it will turn again really quickly, in my opinion anyway.
Really disappointing today. We got bullied and never really looked like threatening their goal. Think next week will tell us what's in store for us for the rest of the season - if we can get back on track and beat Stoke, then we still have a chance of top 6 but if this mini slump turns into a Johnson streak then top half is going to be the only aim
Point I am making Prehab is that the moment has gone , we are all frustrated but there is nothing we can do about it as much as we are all frustrated all that is left is accept the situation and move on . Learn from it but make the most of what we have left carry on and support the team . Frustrated as we are we would have been happy on how we have competed in the division but we have seen what could have BEEN but we have missed the opportunity but we have to reluctantly move on .
An interesting analysis with genuine suggestions for alternative ways to move forward, very refreshing after all the old drum banging that’s dominated this thread. Love to see debate about what can happen going forward. Thanks FellTop, and I hope Scout continues with his input, much more interesting than some others I won’t mention.
Mate I love the lads and football but haway man. We have 79% possession and losing games. It's clear there the issue is
mowbray has said a number of times that Gelgardt needs to learn how the team plays. I disagree. I think the team should play it to strengths of Gelhardt. He makes countless runs that never get rewarded. We should be looking to get the ball to him quicker and into the channels where he makes his runs. We hold onto the ball far too long too often to make the most of his talents and it’s hurting us
The point I am making is that it is too late to do anything about it ! As angry as it makes us it’s too late to do anything about it !
No one is doubting that but that's in the past now and we have to find another way to play against teams and that includes playing Gelhardt
I'll follow and support the lads till the end. I and others on this forum have said we weren't too happy about not signing another striker, some said they wanted 2 in before the window but for one reason or another they didn't get other than Gelhardt in but Prehab you keep repeating the same argument an the time after a defeat. We're all frustrated at the way things are at the moment but you've made your point. Out of interest, where would you have been happy finishing at the start of the season?
Let's not do that. Opportunities don't come along often. We have passed it up. Let's not be silly about it. We have. After Gelhardt we didn't try for another striker. Speakman said we would find a way. Same a s the Dajaju vibes. We signed too many wingers and no strikers.
