A huge win for Walter. Had that first half performance been replicated in the second, then the calls that this style is never going to work would be even louder making next weeks game make or break for his job. I question some of Walter’s selection choices though. I don’t think Omur and Mehlem can’t both be in the starting 11 and Omur can’t be kept been played out in the wing. Why bring Fin Burns on as a replacement midfielder when he clearly looks ineffective in that position. Same with the Simons decision. How unfit is Alzate? You have to assume Kamara and Giles arent impressing Walter in training despite their expense. McLoughlan is too slow to get back when we make mistakes and lose possession so the quicker Hughes recovery, the better.
I still think the lack of midfield is a madness and I’d like to see Alvarte playing but can’t ever hide when you stick your neck out and balls up. Slater was decent too if he’s playing like that he makes a difference it’s just a lot of the time he’s a complete ghost.
This. The defending has to improve, before anything else, and from my perspective it’s only got worse with each passing game. Allowing the enemy free will to attack so much space so many times just isn’t sustainable, sometimes we will get lucky as we did last night, most times we will get punished, painfully, at this level. I maintain, playing this way will see us relegated, have no doubt about it.
Well, we've played four bang average sides plus two half decent (parachute) ones and haven't been stuffed by any of them, and only lost to the parachute clubs. So are we just lucky or is there something more to it? You tell me as I haven't a clue. Just trying to make a case for Tim and his style not getting us relegated
Pandur is a decent keeper too enjoying his development not sure what’s happening with Rushworth now though seemingly he came to play week in week out
Stoke had two better class very mobile midfielders in their team last night than most teams in this division so when they countered they would be a threat - but they did not create a direct goal - only the corner leading to it - ball watching from us . I don’t agree with the ‘ most teams would have murdered us by half time ‘ bit - they didn’t , it’s football .
Mehlem was quiet last night but in other games he's stood out as one of the only players who gets on the end of things in the box, and he's scored a goal, hit the bar and won a penalty as a result. And even if you do drop him, you also have to leave out one of Palmer or Slater as well to leave room for Ömür. Which to me seems harsh when they're scoring goals.
I watched the game on my phone and only caught up on here after, so found a few of the posts amusing, with hindsight.
I don’t think he came across great in the BTS video where they guessed their fifa rating. Was quite disrespectful to Mehlem. Although confidence is never a bad thing
Nah not having this. Slater and Millar both changed that game. Energy was needed in midfield and he brought it in spades. No coincidence that after he came off against Leeds we conceded. He’s David Meyler 2.0. Does a lot that goes unnoticed but he’s not flashy but you put him in an advanced position and he’s good.
I can’t agree with this, better decision making on Stoke’s part would have seen them score 3 or 4, we didn’t stop them from doing anything in the first half, they had free reign, they just didn’t have the quality to execute.
