I agree if he had of scored or if the defence was awake none of these comments would be said but I don’t think it was a SHOULD score moment imo. Keeper did really well
Thanks once again RTB for your MDT tough game coming up, and facing an ex striker on form is not ideal, but no game is easy in this league. I still believe we have enough to win this one, but its a fine line. We need goals and I go along with your team. This is a huge game for us after recent results but it could have been worse and a win will get us right back on track. I thought Ballard was like Rigg out on his feet at the end against Millwalll, hence I would leave him on the bench in this one although Mephan has not looked too clever recently after a brilliant start, so we need the Ballard option in the next two games if we are to play inform players, and spread the load . We also need to see more of Alecsic and Connolly used to by our coaches who need to show a bit of nous. Late goals are the norm in this league and its time we were joining the party, not playing sitting ducks. O a U.
Would go with; Patterson Hume-Mepham-O'Nien-Alese Rigg-Neil-Jobe Roberts-Isidor-Mayenda Cirkin in for Alese if he's fit but i'm fine with Alese playing, just have to watch his fitness levels. Either one is in for a tough match against Tom Fellows who I think is an excellent talent. Throwback of a winger who is keen to get to the byline and cross to the back post. Loved the directness of Mayenda on Saturday but I think I want Roberts up against Styles, should be able to tie him in knots. Would like to see Mayenda on the left though, his speed in transition is frightening and I think he could do some damage from the left getting to the byline. Jobe back in is huge. Our best player and allows Rigg to move forward into his best position. Rigg was poor on Saturday, lost possession 24 times and looked completely shot in the last 20 minutes but he's our best option in the advanced midfield role and I expect him to get back to his best. Jobe will give us defensive security out of possession and ball retention while we have the ball, both have been missing recently while he's been out. I am looking for more control and more chance creation tomorrow. In the last 4 games we've not created close to enough good chances, our open play xG numbers have been 0.27 vs QPR, 0.55 vs Preston, 0.66 vs Coventry and 0.58 vs Millwall. That's not good enough. Luckily we are by far the most clinical team in the league and don't need too many chances in a game to score, however if that stops we could be in trouble. Our finishing has been excellent this season so our forwards deserve more chances to go at. 1-1. Rigg.
Exactly and you don't build players confidence by ignoring them , we had plenty of fresh legs against Millwall , but few fresh ideas if any on the side lines.,
I don't think they're being ignored,I think they're being schooled,which takes time. I should add,all opinions expressed originate from no inside knowledge whatsoever,and should be treated as such!
Roberts back in for me. Watson is a 60 minute sub, at the moment, in my opinion. And I'm not too interested in 'resting players' or whatever because we have a game on Friday ... ... a convincing win tomorrow, and the confidence that brings, is worth more on Friday that players having a rest imo. There's a week's rest after Friday and we've seen what 'resting' has done for us after the last few games. Strongest side tomorrow and Friday please. Hamstrings and muscles don't always benefit from losing a touch of match fitness then returning for an intense game. We can't become too concerned with resting players after a third of the season. Injuries and suspensions will give most players a rest as the season ploughs on.
Likelihood on Friday aswell is 45 minutes of high press and 45 of counter. Which means they won’t need to be full pelt so I wouldn’t be resting players tomorrow for it. Completely agree with you
Agreed. Does my head in. The game is much more draining now than it ever was. My dad is 70 and he goes on about it all the time!!
Tough fixture this, but I expect the return of Jobe to give everyone a lift. WBA don't concede too many, but they also rely heavily on Maja to score the goals. I expect Mepham to deal with Maja, so I think it's all about us creating and more importantly converting chances. A win would give us a massive boost going into the Sheffield Utd game. Their away form is decent (averaging a point a game), but who have they played? Not one of the sides above them. 2-0 Sunderland with better game management and we'll all go home happy.
We’ve played better teams at home then they’ve had challenges away. They’ve one 1 away game in 5 or something early season form has them higher. maja is a machine but is a poacher. Won’t do anything else and I expect us to deal with him
Maja is not just a poacher, he combines well with movement outside the box as well as in where he is deadly, I hope he has a stinker against us and I do not wish him well after the way he let us down big time, but that also had history, when our then manager preferred a loanee lump from Boro to him , a decision which cost us promotion and a lot of money (on Grigg) that season imo.
RLB: Cirkin will probably not be available for tomorrow, no problems with the operation. Hjelde and Rusyn are available We were dominant in the first half but the forced break did not help us In the second half we lost 10 or 15 balls that we could have managed better Against Plymouth it was different but we got a point at Millwall Mayenda did well on the right wing, we need a strong core with important subs 4 draws in a row, we could have won 2 of those but it is a long season We need competition in every position and the coaching staff need to select the correct team for each game Maja is a good striker and a good finisher We enjoy playing at home, against a smart team - interesting It's a new experience, the players are focused on the next game We have to win more games, it is unpredictable (suspensions & injuries) we have to achieve the goal Every game is very important, great challenges, we have to play our game and win one or two of these games Bad periods are good to understand how to manage games, we need to focus on our identity and our strengths At the minute we are still finding out about players in different positions we should have 3 or 4 players back in December (may not need reinforcements) I hope we will learn very quickly from that experience
Very happy that he mentioned how much we cleared the ball against milwall instead of managing it better. Kept giving them it back that to me means we should improve on that. Positive stuff
