I’m the same as you, we wouldn’t have stood up to that last season, that’s a massive sign of progress for me, dead on their feet against a physical horrible side and we’ve come through, really satisfying 3 points for me
He’s 19 though. How many players are consistent that age? Rooney was, but he had 3 years of experience, but not sure of another
Thats actually a very good point and one not many would have given a thought to ..including me .. Madness to stand 2 hours with next to no protection .
Everyone I've seen post, who attended the game, were saying they were togged up like Captain Scott but still freezing ... ... anyone in sport would tell you how muscles react to severe cold and the keepers were in shorts
Well I saw something I’ve not seen before at a match all the years I’ve been going, after the 2nd crazy offside decision by the Lino running the east side line he took a note book out and was writing in it - had the ref given him lines to do ? Didn’t know the linesmen carried note books
Enjoyed the game for what it was over the moon with 3 points some good individual performances over the 90 minutes, never thought we’d be up there challenging at the start of the season, love watching this young team and can’t wait for the next game to come around. Hopefully the 1st team get a rest and we get to see a good few of the fringe players against stoke
I was in jeans, t-shirt and jumper with a 3 quarter length padded jacket with hat and gloves and still couldnt get warm, Patto was stood in that icy wind with the sleet lashing into his face in shorts and thin shirt with very little to do at times, it must be bloody hard to maintain body heat and concentration levels.
Thanks for that its just a thing I’ve never noticed during a game in all the years I’ve watched football
That's another very good point. Portsmouth were very defensive and Patterson only had to make one save in the entire game ... ... they only had three corners, as well, so he was a virtual spectator most of the time. I'm pretty sure I saw him in the queue for Bovril and a pie at half time.
The Christmas schedule is always tough and can often be season defining. We played 8 games in the space of 30 days, won 5, drew 2 and lost 1. Only Leeds picked up more points than we did over that time period. We're right in amongst it.
. Absoloutely and the game we lost was against Stoke City away , a game earlier we would have beaten them easily , Oh how good would those extra 3 points in the bag have looked now , .
I remember when Kevin Phillips arrived from Watford. One of the first games early on in that season was away to Reading at the old Elm Park (stinking place). Phillips played a stinker, missed a sitter, and was largely invisible. The consensus by a lot of our fans was that he was rubbish and we should send him back to where he came from. Give the lad a chance - he is 19 and has played not very many football matches.
Watching the 2 minute clip backs up what I thought at the game, Aouchiche had more significant moments than anyone else. Even when Isidor is pulled back he's right next to him. And, at the moment he's being played as an outright winger whereas he's really a midfield player ... ... that's the equivalent of the situation whereby Dan Neil had to play a different position and learn on the job. Rigg, Neil, Jobe are all good but I don't think any are more of an attacking threat that Aouchiche can become. Two wingers, a striker and Aouchiche as a 10 would be hard for anyone to handle. Alos, while I'm here, I wish the crowd would stop shouting 'SHOOT' whenever we're approaching the box ... iirc, only one player managed to test the keeper which isn't unusual.
