Posting on the train back from Watford. I have been unable to read any other posts due to chronic WiFI. We were very good for the first hour. To a man we closed, harried and chased, and restricted Watford to nothing. The penalty was a clear one, right in front of our end, missed by the ref but given by the Lino. The turning point of the game was Yann going off, the guy was immense today, but got clobbered by an increasingly dirty Watford side. After the third cruncher he was more than hobbling, and angrily gestured to Powell to take him off. God knows what CP was thinking in delaying. After that we visibly tired, particularly in midfield, and dropped too deep. The fans were screaming to push up, again no apparent gesture from CP. A goal or worse then became a matter of time. Our central three were running on empty, and were crying out for reinforcements. Powell brought on Cousins in injury time. The first 60 min today were excellent and every player played well. Once again I am left frustrated by Powell's apparent inability to use subs , he just stands there like a bloody statue while managers like Zola react. Today was winnable. Our support today was absolutely excellent, both in numbers( 2000 plus) and noise. Viva the Red Division. Just arrived at Euston
I cannot really argue with the result. Non-event of a first half we only really got going once Anya came on so fair play. We didn't really test your goalie enough and looked lightweight at times. Least we didn't lose this time..
Have to agree with Vol-au-vent. I had hoped SIR Chris had got over his paralysis with subs after better use of them in some recent games. If Evina, Cousins, Gower, and Pigott have been good enough to start in recent games (in which they all played well) why should CP be paralysed with fear about bringing them on as subs? The trigger should be once we start defending too deep. This is not a deliberate tactical choice by the players, it is a reflection of tiredness in the midfield. Bringing on a defensive midfielder to replace a striker just makes things worse as it means the ball keeps coming back into our half. He should have brought Cousins on for Stephens to stiffen the defence, and Sordell or Stewart for Church if the latter was knackered. Third moan is the tremendous amount of time it took to get Pigott on for Kermit. The commentators were complaining about the time it took for him to get ready once summoned. I think it is worse than that. Players should start preparing to come on as soon as the player they are "shadowing" gets hurt, even if nine times out of ten a change proves unnecessary. I realise this would take them away from their important texting and twittering for a minute or two, but they get paid enough to compensate. But after all my moans I have to say it was a good point. We have complained about SIR Chris' tactical naivety but he picked the right team and formation and outwitted Zola who had home advantage and probably more talented players at his disposal. Things are going well. Give the Good Doctor a ten-year contract now!
Easy to criticise after the game is over. We'd all be wailing and gnashing teeth now if he'd juggled wrong and Watford had gone on to win it. You have to admit it's a tough place to get a result and we got one. Having said all that, there's no doubt we do go too deep at times and invite pressure, when you sort of feel we should be taking advantage of a team throwing everything forward and maybe hitting them on the break and putting the game out of reach. You have to suit your tactics to what's happening, and CP has a tendancy to go ultra deep and hand the ball, the territory and the initiative to the opposition. But we're creeping away from the bottom. Yesterday was a good draw, and anything else is really just quibbling.
@ Ken Not criticising the players, who were all excellent yesterday. But when you play a 3-5-2 away with a high pressing game, the players need help off the bench and touchline. We visibly wilted after Yann limped off because we stopped holding the ball up, it was just coming straight back. JJ is 31, not 21. What was the point of bringing on Cousins in injury time ? Powell has got to get better at influencing games and using subs IMO.
That's nothing new, he's never really used subs well since he became our manager. He has a plan A and a plan A, no B, but I don't really mind, least he has a plan, and he also knows how to get seemingly the best out of his players too, well, league 1 players anyway. Still needs to make Stephens consistent but if he does that and we have that key play maker I'm going to be very very happy.
On this occasion I agree with you Vol, I was crying out for Cousins to be brought on for any one of Jackson, Stephens or Pritchard. When he did come on, for Church, it was too late to really do anything, and we thus gave up the one man who would hassle their defenders and goalkeeper. Still, Powell deserves some credit for matching a decent Watford side.
He's used subs well plenty of times. There were games last season in which he sometimes just didn't have the options on the bench to bring. In the end we got a point which many of us would have been happy with before the game. He could use subs better at times but it's always a gamble, I don't think his subs are as poor as made out. As we've seen there's not set formula as to whenyoushould bring on a sub, or a situation in which a certain type of player should always come on.
If Powell gets the blame for the last 30 minutes, does Sir Chris get the credit for the first 60 minutes?
Good point, FHB. We are all bar-stool managers, and we all think we can do better than the present incumbent, but I doubt I could get all the decisions right all of the time - especially in such high-pressure situations. Hindsight is a wonder gift and would certainly ensure more points on the table, but mere mortals such as CP have to make do with experience and ad-hoc judgement. In my opinion, he is the right man for the job.
Love reading anti Powell posts, what results do the people slating him expect us to be getting? We get a draw with one of the best teams in the division last season and are moaning? Look at our squad, we should be in a relegation battle this year so if that is where we end up, please, blame those responsible
If there is an anti Cautious Chris agenda, please count me in. Why does it *once again* take until we are 2-0 down before CC remembers what subs are ? This has now happened at least 20 times during his time as manager. One other thought from last night. This club was literally built in recent years on honest grafters like Garry Nelson, John Robinson, Keith Jones etc, who put a shift in every week. If the witless playboy and shtick wannabe gangster Sordell doesn't want to be here, to use his own parlance, he can " hit the street innit". Start putting a shift in, or do one.
Honest grafters- like Pritchard you mean? When The Doctor signed Church and Sordell it was because we were left with no alternative but to sign players nobody else wanted. We just weren't able to compete against any club which was able to sign a decent striker. Can anyone name a good striker who was available who we could have signed but didn't? It's not as though we've spent the sort of money we spent on players like Marcus Bent, McCloud or Andy Gray. Strikers like Haynes and Fuller were offered contracts but turned them down.
Time for sordell to move on. Does this throw more and more pressure/anxiety on the result come this weekend. It is to early to say our defining moment, but many will demand a win.
Not only a win, a performance. Last season at our place we rolled over, and had our tummies tickled. Imperative that Yann is back on Saturday.
As I stated on the match thread... Stewart and Harriott were waiting to come on when Huddersfield scored their wonder goal (not sure if you know this but subs cant be made until the ball goes out of play) As for them being on the pitch when that goal went in I dont know what anyone could have done to stop it (the bloke could probably try again and it would hit my granny sitting in row Z), they're certainly not defensive minded players so wouldnt have put a tackle in etc... Seems as though when they did come on we dominated the match thereafter and could have nicked a point so fraid for me it was good use of subs last night from Powell P.S. Completely agree about Sordell... Was really pleased when we signed him but even after Middlesbrough I wanted to send him back
After reading that I checked and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is still available on a free, I am shocked. He has been absolutely class every time we saw him down the Valley and he has a decent record. Not sure whats happened with him must be injured or too greedy to still be without a club.
He's still injured, but apparently has a top flight move lined up (think it was Hull), if he can prove his fitness once available to train.
