Whenever I've seen Skuse he has looked quite assured on the ball and good at breaking play up ......but as soon as any shooting opportunity arises he poops himself.....
I knew we were up against it today as soon as I saw Frank was starting.....He is not good enough at this level (yet) play him from the bench, that is when he has been most effective. Now over 1,200 mins of league football without a goal.! Bad day at the office by MM & some of his players, it could have been a different outcome if Luke's header had gone in at 1-1 but that's football I guess. The miss seemed to stir the Hornets into action, for once our back 4 got out muscled by Deeney & McGugan, that was the difference really, they had a threat up top, we did not. We are as it were before the weekend, now the difficult part, we need to win 3 on the bounce IMO to get 6th spot, unfortunately we have only done that once all season.!
Great assessment Hoppers and I was really surprised when I heard that Frank was starting! I just hope that Mick doesn't make the same mistake on Monday!
It wasn't so much the starting as making three subs and leaving him out there that baffled me the most. He was at the end of our every attack... and every attack resulted in Frank feebly losing the ball.
Agree with you on that Hampy, once Watford went back in front Frank hid up (IMO) I also would have took him off.......BUT as has been said maybe MM took of a couple of others in favour of resting them for Monday, thus leaving Frank on who will probably be back on the bench for Monday...MM probably thought & possibly correctly that once they went 3-1 up the game was gone.!
I think if we'd brought Hunt and Marriot on in place of Woody and Nouble we might've got a goal back. Even with 10 minutes left at 3-2 you've got a decent chance to get that last goal back.
I certainly think the Skuse debate is a worthwhile one. As I've said before Skuse is the epitomy of Mick as a manager. He's a very talented footballer but is just too cautious which makes it all the more frustrating, often in games he's content to start the move but then sit back a watch the play infront of him, I mean I don't think he should be up there necessarily being gungho but at least get up there and offer support to the attack as an option and perhaps up the tempo and make some purposeful passes. I also think because of this whoever he plays alongside has to shoulder the responsibility to the rest of our attacking play which means we look really unbalanced in there. I thought when we played Hyam and Wordsworth in the middle as a midfield 2 we looked far more balanced in midfield and Hyam looked far more accomplished because he was doing the things he was comfortable with. I like Wordsworth and I honestly think he should be played in that role behind the striker as I could really see him getting a few goals, he makes some really clever runs into the box and seems to be pretty decent in the air, reminds me a bit of how Tommy Miller used to make those late runs into the box. I think I'd rather see him centrally and Williams on the wing. I hope him and Hyam get more of a chance in the centre together
Well, if anyone thinks that those who listen. watch games from afar are not involved, passionate and know a thing or two about footie, voici un rant from la Belle France! We failed to capitalise on an ideal big occasion match - from what I saw/listened, part MM's cras subs/tactics, partly a mind thing, partly the Hornet Sting in the tail! Ouch! Bad day at office. Clearly Nouble operates best as sub who comes on and makes an impact in his muscley way Clearly, Skuse & Hyam partnership does not flourish - too defensive a combo - we needed more attack, more flair to bring the game back to us Woody & Hyam seem to work really well together - is that not blindingly obvious?> Would dearly like to see Taylor ( still in favour?) and Marriot given a good run Monday We are still in with a shout, and aren't we all loving it! Need all 3 pts and convincing win Monday - dont count on it, those Cherries are not ripe for plucking, and have had best run of all teams last 2 months. Finally, I love your essays, ptc, keep them coming, and hope your Easter week-end is improving Warky! At least you have a family with you...I am on me tod, working out here. But it's good to yell and shout at the radio all alone!!
I think that Warkys post about armchair experts has been a little misunderstood I don't think it was a dig at those of us that cannot get to many games if any, but more that it's easy to pick a winning team after the game has been played and it's easy to criticise with hindsight..........I could be wrong but that's how I understood it. Back to the football I still think that there is plenty of twists and turns in the 'Battle for Sixth' and think that whoever starts the final day in sixth will finish the day outside the play offs so IMO we are still ok. Whatever our loss was down to if it was wrong tactics/players not performing/****ty pants/just getting beat as happens in football or some strange voodoo hoodoo it is done.
Thanks gaffer, I'm pleased someone reads them haha. I think that it's important to remember this website is a discussion forum to debate things and assess the matches and even if you're critical of a manager doesn't mean that you don't back him. I remember under Burely when we finished 5th in the PL, there was still plenty of things to discuss and debate about but clearly you wouldn't have wanted him at the time to be sacked. Still a long way to go and we're still right in there for play off contention. As Weighty says if we got in there now I think it would be harder for us to keep our place so we want to get in there as late as possible. I still do think it's a bit to early for us to go up, we'd have to make some major changes to the team if we were promoted and I don't want to see us overhaul a squad, I want to see us build a squad but you take what you can get.
N Lmao, righto!! I think and know differently but thats gone now, move on!! Its Brightons to lose and i dont think they will, just hope MM strengthens in the right positions, i am not confident he will bring in any flair players, think he will go for more steady Eddies!! Hope i am wrong!!
I won't bother asking how you think you 'KNOW' what someone else was thinking when they wrote a post. As for who we bring if we don't get promoted I think he will be looking for someone like Jonny Williams ie. a flare player that is prepared to get involved and keep busy all game.
