Having got back from watching an away draw that keeps us one point off the playoffs, I was surprised that so many had instead watched a different game that is forecast to lead to the sacking of Rosenior and the fall of the Holy Roman Empire. Hope the transport options worked better at that match than the one I went to.
The same old problem of not capitalising on our spell in control and killing the opposition off. But having said that, we scored two and that should usually be enough to win a game. It seems that with disproportionate regularity we concede precisely the right amount of goals to draw a game. Against Coventry, Plymouth and Bristol City we made sure to concede a token goal for the 1-1 draw despite the opposition barely creating anything in all three games. Today we score two, and this is also the week we end up conceding two. Against Leeds we didn't score, and of course that's the week we keep a rare clean sheet, despite them looking more like scoring than the three teams who each scored one against us did. It's odd that we rarely look like conceding but always find a way to concede just enough; Millwall had something like 0.8 xG today, Ipswich's also wasn't very high, they really didn't actually create a lot but put three past us somehow. Set pieces seem to be becoming a bit of an issue again too. Whichever way you look at it, we really need to be a lot more efficient at both ends of the pitch. We shouldn't be conceding 1/2 goals every game without ever actually being opened up, and we should be scoring more to punish teams when we're on top like other teams do to us. Rosenior acknowledged the attacking side of this in his interview and said it's something to work on, so hopefully we see that improve soon.
Just as an aside, the behaviour of some of of our fans on the train back to Hull was utterly shameful. Animalistic, neanderthal, criminal. Racial abuse,assault....just appalling.
Wasn’t there but unfortunately, the younger core (not all) but enough to be an issue, are more interested in watching the opposition fans then the game and in turn have adopted a life style that they think makes them seem “hard”.
I think it is fair to say Liam got it right in the first half, and Rowett in the 2nd. However, I think the main problem was the mindset we came out with after the break. We nominated the most of the 1st half, got the crowd on the backs of their players, and instead of trying to pick up from where we left off after HT, we decided to see out the first 10-15 minutes then start to dominate again. Goals change games, and 9 minutes in they score, and we never wrestled back the initiative. Fair play to Rowett who change things at HT, Norton - Cuffy came on and limited Jaden's threat and was a threat himself. Liam will learn from this, he is still a young coach learning his trade. First half after conceding a sloppy goal we played some lovely football. Those that say it was 2 long balls that got is the goals instead of playing out from the back seem to forget that is because teams expect us to do that, and the element of surprise has now worked a number of times to get us goals. Philogene for both goals was excellent, his turn and ball back to Traore was a joy to watch, and his run, pace and finish for the first goal was top class. It was really noticeable how much we miss Slater and Coyle particularly 2nd half IMO, Slater just brings that energy and work rate to the midfield, and we miss Coyle's defensive qualities, Christie is at his best further up not defensively. It has been a tough week, 2 difficult away games, Ipswich showed again yesterday that they are blowing most team away, so no shame in losing to them at present. To at least come away with a point yesterday was important, just to avoid back to back losses. The break has come at a good time, get a few bodies back from injury and recharge the batteries.
It's that sort of thing that makes me glad I get to disappear to elsewhere in the country and not have to witness what an element of our fans get up to in public. I had Blunts acting up instead on my train, although why they didn't just get a direct train to Sheffield/Derbyshire from St Pancras next door I don't know
I'm not wetting the bed just yet, we are moving forward as a club. But the clean sheets, just not happening anymore. Think it's just the 2 this season.
Hopefully Tufan can reproduce his form when he comes back in. He really helped to knit things together through the middle.
Why, if that's his observation? There's an element of solidity that's being sacrificed for a slightly better scoring record - but given that we're still drawing too many, you have to consider where we might be points wise if we'd won half and lost half of those draws - and that's the challenge for Rosey if we want to do better than mid table. I see a lot of good in the progress we've made, but we do need to be a little braver, and quicker at times... Honestly think we just need a couple of wins out of the draws and the confidence it brings with it probably does the rest...
After now reading through the thread, watching the highlights and listening to Rosenior’s post-match interview, I don’t think a point is a disaster - away at Millwall. I am pleased to hear that Rosenior is just as frustrated as us fans with not having as many points as we should have. He clearly recognises there’s work to be done. What I’d like to see moving forward, is us trying to put the game to bed. When we go ahead, go for the kill. We are, too often, letting teams back into the game. Are we being too casual? This is not referencing this game by the way - as I haven’t seen where it went wrong. But from what I’ve read and heard, mindset could be the main issue.
Well, that can definitely be filed under games of two halves, we won the first, their Manager’s change in 2nd half won that, and we couldn’t cope/didn’t know how to counter act their changes. Now, I’m no expert, just a layman/woman, but when Cuffy came on to run the show & stifle Philogene, why didn’t Liam initially try moving Philogene to other side to try and run at them, & bring a winger, Lokilo, Sinik, or Aly to give Cuffy something to think about? Top & bottom of it, Liam could/should have done something more quickly to counter their change. For me, we had them on the ropes first half, 2 points lost, being greedy I know, as I put us down for a draw. On a positive, the international break now allows for Liam to reflect, players rest, and hopefully recover from injuries. UTT. Many congrats to Matt Ingram & wife on birth of their baby boy.
5 draws into 3W + 2L = 21 pts ---> 3rd place. 5 draws into 2W + 3L = 18 pts ---> 5th, 6th or 7th place based on goal difference. Not very significant points-wise, who knows confidence-wise?
Thats the thing i dont understand Millwall changed things as they were getting dominated We didnt react at all and made no changes for 30 min+
Don't take offence PLT, but that's all a bit like stating the obvious! Like pretty much every team, we could do with being "more efficient at both ends of the pitch". That's no insight. And more importantly it doesn't say anything about us being **** for half the game (against what I'd say was a bang average side). -> "It seems that with disproportionate regularity we concede precisely the right amount of goals to draw a game" Yep, that's what tends to happen when you draw games! Funny that. As you say, we could do with being "more efficient at both ends of the pitch". . ->"Rosenior acknowledged the attacking side of this in his interview and said it's something to work on" About time, as I have seen little to no evidence that he has so far (this season or last)! Don't hold your breath. -> (From John) "Those that say it was 2 long balls that got is the goals instead of playing out from the back seem to forget that is because teams expect us to do that, and the element of surprise has now worked a number of times to get us goals". I don't think that's true John. I don't think it would be any surprise to an oppo manager that every now & then we will look to go direct, nor to the players on the pitch when a CB is stood there eyeing up options for a long ball directly up front. It got us goals coz it works when well exectued. Our forwards, particularly Connolly when he's on, are looking to make those runs all the time, but more often than not we choose to go sideways & backwards.
