I read somewhere we’ve gone some 6 hours at home without scoring. Will that be 7 and a half hours after Saturday?
Could well be Nin. BBC Wales report Rambo out for 4 to 6 weeks after his calf scan. I don't know how much he is being paid or who is paying him but he is becoming another Blobby Fowlup.
Suppose, looking for positives again this morning, prior to the game last night we were actually 8 points better off than at the same stage last season... I'd hazard a guess that this morning we are now 9 points better off than at the same stage, so progress of sorts!! I really feel for Rambo. Prior to joining us again he'd actually had a half decent season and played a decent number of games, which makes his current injury woes all the more frustrating. He clearly is a step above anyone else in our team and he obviously cares deeply about the club too. I see fans starting to slag him off on other forums/platforms which is a rather horrid indication of how people think nowadays... Do they honestly think he enjoys being out of the team? I have no doubt he'd much rather be playing and helping us up the table, being able to enjoy games like he did in our win against the Jacks as opposed to being helpless on the sidelines. I do think the failure to get a half decent striker in is costing us, and I'm not sure the blame for that lies with Erol. He definitely has his faults and really needs to start earning his corn now but he is still getting to grips with the league and learning on the job. Hopefully he can help provide a few more smiles before the season is out. Mid-table safety and a little progress in improving the squad will be an ok return now methinks...
Don't be heard saying that by some of our posters. I'm with you on that point though. With regard Erol, he is struggling. He's not imposed himself on the squad, and I don't think the team is playing to its potential. On paper (usual comment that we play on grass), we have a stronger squad than last year, even without Ramsey. It's just not functioning as a team. All that comes down to Erol and his backroom team. Our back 5 has/ had been quite solid. Put Siopis / Wintle / Ralls alongside Turnbull, with Colwill in front of that and you'd expect them to create for the wide men and striker. I'm just not seeing it. We are still missing a striker to link up play, hold the ball up and score a few of his own (so NOT Ugbo), but we should be doing better with what we've got.
All good points guys. Our issue is the speed, or lack of it, in transition. The ball simply isn't moved quickly enough to give the front guys time and space. In saying that Grant and Collins linked up well down the left in the first half and with a bit of luck we could and should have made more of that. One byeline cross (can't remember who from) went all the way across the 6 yard box without a touch from either side. I never thought I would say this but it was tailor made for someone like Ugbo. As for the front guys:- 1. Why did Grant play more down the middle second half? We lost our outlet down the left and made it easier for them to defend. Was he told to get closer to Etete? 2. Get Etete on a steak only diet and beef him up. He gets in the right places but is easily dispossessed and knocked over. He has ability in the air and a good turn of pace but lacks composure. I suppose you can't make a silkpurse from a sow's ear. Can't fault his effort though. In fairness, at a higher level, Solanke was similar in his first 2 years at Bournemouth but has come good this year. Perhaps we don't have the right coaches to develop Etete? 3. Diedhiou looks to be another waste of money. Not seen any evidence of pace, wins little in the air, doesn't hold the ball well and has anyone seen him do anything constructive anywhere near the opposition goal? At least Ugbo did the last bit occasionally. 4. While Bowler didn't create much he put in a good shift in terms of getting stuck in and making their defenders commit. He usually had 2 people on him. Was I dreaming or did I see him go on the outside once or twice? Finally, Colwill did well but so often takes one touch too many and gets dispossessed. Now if he could recognise the through ball a second earlier that could make a real difference in getting the front players in on goal. However, he was visibly knackered after an hour and should have been subbed 10 or 15 minutes earlier. Bulut has had a fair cracking of the whip but it is not working. He doesn't seem to recognise how the Championship works. Leaving the second 2 subs until 15 minutes from the end was way too late and they were both ineffective. His sub decisions have not been great for most of the season - with one or two exceptions. Eustace made his subs earlier and they took away any initiative we had. Regardless of results I expect Bulut to stay the rest of the season. Firstly it would cost Tan a lump of money to sack him before May/June and secondly who would want to come in for the tail end of the season and invigorate a group of players who look to have lost their enthusiasm. Better to arrive in the summer and build from there. Assuming Tan, Dalman and Choo can find someone suitable. Their track record is poor as we all know.
Those Zone 1 shots are gold. The central area of the six-yard box produces the highest expectation opportunities. Clearly, Premier League defenses are quite good at preventing attempts from these areas, and the average club only takes about one Zone 1 shot every two matches Nice piece from Shearer as well after he went 10 games without scoring, Bobby Robson told him to get in and around the six yard box, next game he scored 5. We had someone who scored in the six yard box and now we don`t so you get what you wanted.
But if you noticed Ugbo did sod all else. Very unfair comparison with Shearer who worked hard all across the front line and your comparison with Haaland last week was simply laughable.
Your points one to 4 are all valid. And all within the gift of the management and coaching staff to do something about.
