Looked awful for 80 minutes yet could/should have grabbed a point at the end..... Nardi has to score with that header
Big chance for our left back. Our centre back pulls one back assisted by our right back and our other big chance fell to our goalkeeper. Nothing from our forward players.
Not one of our strikers has got to double figures yet, so we know what we need to look at for next season.
Problem is that a striker who gets into double figures is way out of price range..... hence why we have the one's we've got.....
If we are going to start with Frey, players have to be much closer to him and running past him for it to work. This set up that Marti insists on playing doesn't offer the necessary support in attacking areas. The amount of times we slow attacks down, to let our biggest goal threat join play (Dunne) is ridiculous. Play him up front if that's our tactic, otherwise you just let the opposition get back in shape. This squad seriously lacks the quality to compete consistently in the top 10. Our best player of late (Edwards) isn't even ours, we have Yang & Saito who will go back to their parent clubs, loads out of contract, players injured. I don't even think about Clarke Salter as an option. He will never complete more than half a season for the rest of his career. Unless we have a piggy bank stashed then it looks like we may offer the same players who struggle now, to keep on struggling for a few more seasons yet. Mid table medicorcy is like winning the champions league for us.
That change was Fox and Andersen coming on for Frey and Colback. Fox went to CB alongside Cook and Edwards stepped forward of those 2 in more of a defensive midfield role usually occupied by the injured Field or Varane. I thought he did well there and won't be surprised to see him start there for Leeds if Varane is still out. Not sure anyone really played up front after Frey went off.
I can’t stress enough for anyone who didn’t watch how bad the first 70 minutes or so was against as Championshippy a Championship team you could hope to find. We managed to have ten men behind the ball but also be nowhere near them throughout. Two abysmal goals to concede but the second was an all-timer. Their Championshippy as they come full-back walking through three ‘challenges’ and passing it in under no pressure on his weaker foot. Paal isn’t even hiding that he’s just waiting for the season to be over so he can **** off. Once the changes had been made it was better- not good by any stretch and still dreadfully slow with walking football Jesus and the ghost of Copenhagen in midfield but we caused problems with doing the basics vaguely well. Choosing to get it wide and cross the ball once Frey was off the pitch was a bold tactic. Nardi fluffed a sitter with the last kick (head). I’d still be there now if it had gone in.
Always a privilege. Remember this one? I hated that day, the ground packed with Tykes, the ****ing arrogance of their filthy team.