Personally I'm getting a bit sick if the ongoing O'Nien saga. Think it started today with sarcastic 'must be O'Nien' fault or something like that. No need to derail what are absolute sublime match day threads.
So, the goal is O’Nien to blame as per, despite the striker wandering past Ballard? Guaranteed if it was the other way around, you’d say “O’Nien should be watching his man”. The pen was almost identical to ours, neither given and correctly so. It’s a contact sport
Just noticed we have stayed in the top 6 after all the games today. Quick improvement that Also see Stoke lost at home to a dismal sheff wed side. Think that might be it for Alex Neil. And ironically I can see Mowbray ending up there.
It is but as usual he always is a yard behind giving the referee a decision to make. He went a bit off piece in the build up to it too, turned, span and then did that. I did think both could have done better but again, it was 09 the one who would have been expected to deal with it. . You will probably think I am just picking on him but really , it it's that debatable, ever game. It's an issue mate. He is more of a defensive liability for me. I do appreciate his progressive runs and passing out the back though. Just off it, in this league defensively.
My thoughts on their goal was that Mayenda gave Huggins zero protection and he got doubled up on which allowed the cross to come in. If Roberts was still on that wouldn't have happened imo. Stop the cross, stop the goal. Could see Huggins and Pritch having a 'chat' about it leading up to the restart. I think Pritch was saying "well ****ing tell him then" to Huggins for him to get Mayenda into position to cover.
Personally don’t think anyone was to blame for there goal! They had one shot on target out of the blue and it went in. We move on after an all round great performance from the lads.
If their player had gone past our full back into the box 09 was close enough to stop him getting a shot on goal so no criticism from me.
Enjoyed that. Much improved performance star players have already been mentioned but it’s the increased pace we played at that was also so pleasing.
Nothing sarcastic, but O9's positioning was awful for their goal and it cost us. It's starting to cost us more often
Yup. After his tricky start they went on a decent run (including the 1-5) but he hasn't been able to sustain it. win 3, lose 5, win 1 lose 2. Stoke fans are all over him tonight. Can't see how he survives
Just home. Monsoon conditions to drive in. Had to reach straight for the malt to chill Good today mostly. First half I though we werent aggressive enough, but still carried the greater threat. Second half only one team in it. 1 or 2 players made a step on recent levels for me, and it made all the difference. Ekwah looked energetic again, mostly anyway. That extra ground covered makes a big difference. Hume was back to his solid best one v one I thought. Maybe less to think about as he stayed wider. Roberts was key though, he looked right at it to me. Everything had an urgency, as well as his talent. Makes a massive difference when he introduces some urgency into what he does. One little reverse pass was sublime. On that level the assists and goals will come again. Couple of downsides for me. The tackle from Ballard was horrendous. I hated it. Those need stamping out of the game altogether. And you could see Maja was done straight away. I think Clarke was pretty average. I know how good he is, but god he needs to learn when to pass the bloody thing. At least twice today he made decisions that were schoolboy like. Also, if I am honest, whilst Ekwahs energy levels improved he looks like a player with the weight of the world on his shoulders. He is receiving the ball incorrectly at times, seems panicky when in tight, and has lost that free running style he had. Bit of a troubling one that for me. Did canny from corners mind, taking Kipreh, fair play. Just finish with that ball from Pritch for the second goal. Perfect football. Then the finish is classy. Dan was absolutely buzzing with it. You just know, he knows, his finishing is dodgy, but that was cool. He can strike a ball, just gets tight when in, but not then, relaxed body. I always teach strikers you need to be loose. Good day all round. Had a cuppa with my auntie before, and some brandy snaps and squirty cream
Put himself in the shop window helping us get up. Cashed in as soon as he could, he'll get a nice pay off too.
