01 Henderson 26 Ben Haim 16 Wiggins 06 Bikey Amougou 20 Solly 04 Jackson 24 Cousins 17 Buyens 08 Bulot 07 Berg Gudmundsson 14 Vetokele Substitutes 02 Wilson 05 Morrison 10 Moussa 21 Fox 29 Tucudean 30 Pope 43 Ahearne-Grant If Vetokele is fully fit, 1-2. If not 0-2 17 year old Ahearne-Grant on the bench shows we are worse off for strikers than Arsenal and Man Utd are for central defenders. Maybe we could loan them Morrison in exchange for Sanogo or Will Keane?
Meh. It's a point from a game where I thought we would do well to draw from and we're still unbeaten. But I just can't help feel a bit... Uninspired? The foundations have been laid but we need another striker desperately, and we can't/shouldn't wait till January. I was impressed with Bulot who was unlucky not to score, but it shows the lack of depth where a silky winger is ahead in the pecking order of over 2 established strikers. It was nice to see us finish strongly for a change (the last 5 minutes were extremely exciting), but the first half had shadows of last season. We couldn't get out the blocks. JBG was struggling badly and I'd be very surprised if he made Tuesday. Still unbeaten and only a point off the play offs, but what could be if we had another championship standard striker?
Interesting seeming it was only Tuesday where big Sam was suggesting he was sending him out on loan. Happy for him though, some thought he wouldn't see any action when he signed, but he's already as highly thought of over there as he was here judging by their forums. It will also be worth keeping an eye on whether there are any appearance based bonuses for us.
We were poor, Boro were poor the ref was worse. Couldn't see the Bikey thing, yeah their red was a certain 2nd yellow if not a possible straight red. Sorry super but I disgree about Bulot, bloke was nowhere to be seen apart from his chance. Tucudean was a surprising but of fresh air when he came on. Igor isn't fit at the moment. Ben Haim is an accident waiting to happen, he's either out of position or if he wins a header it's hardly a commanding one, it goes about 2 foot infront of him. Too many times Solly was the one who won the header in our box. How long until Peeters realises that Solly & Wilson is our best Right side combo and that Cousins isn't a Right midfielder, let alone a Left mid.
When Bulot dropped off vetokele I thought he was better. He looks to drive forward and we need to get him back out wide where he can be dangerous. Agree about TBH. He was horribly static today. He was caught out last week and there were several times today where bamford had the beating of him too easily.
Ben Haim one of our best players today. We lack a cutting edge, but looked better in second half with Moussa wide left, Bulot wide right and Cousins in the middle. We desperately need a partner for Vetokele. Interesting to see Grant Holt has signed for Huddersfield on loan. He is just the sort of player we need. Bikey should also have been sent off for a definate elbow on Bamford. We look a tight unit defensively but we need more attacking options. I feel it is no good waiting till January as we need help now. I also hope Gudmonnsson is not badly injured.
I thought first half forgettable but thought we had a decent second half Bikey didn't put a foot wrong. Boro were nothing like a promotion team on today's showing . Still unbeaten Im enjoying the season so far we are way better than last season. Solly was as always solly ie outstanding.
That was so out of character I have to put it down to Boro's efforts at Anfield midweek together with their disappointing performance generally. Gifted us a point I did not expect. The point is, it doesn't have to be anyone particularly good. Just needs to be the right type to improve our balance so that Vetokele isn't being knocked around by two defenders all game. Grant Holt would have been ideal, but I suppose you have to have a real manager to sign someone like that. Away to Norwich on Tuesday. If we get anything out of that I promise to stop calling Bob lucky.
Grant Holt would have been ideal, but I suppose you have to have a real manager to sign someone like that. What the hell does that mean? Stupid comment. Bob Peeters will sign somebody when the owner opens the purse strings and allows him to. We have played some of the top teams in the division and we are unbeaten and that says a lot about the players and Bob Peeters. Everybody knows where we are lacking, but what we aren't lacking is fight togetherness and bloody mindedness.
There is no particular merit in that. If we swapped those six draws for three wins and three defeats (as could easily have happened on the balance of play in those games) we would have three more points and be third in the league. Looked like both teams were prepared to settle for a draw for most of the game, after Boro's initial assult petered out, and until the Addicks realised they had a chance to win it against 10 men.
We had a lucky escape not signing the French geezer who went to wigan he is turning out next to useless
Danny Graham is someone we should be pulling out the stops to get, we have tried but need to try harder.
I'd be happy with Graham. Always thought his movement was top drawer and still very able at this level. I just wonder if a loan would be right for him mentally - think he needs to secure a long term future, settle down and get back to his best.
I went with my youngest daughter today, and she managed to procure autographs from Bikey, Bulot, Cousins, Solly (for the third time), and Big Bob. Bikey came out clutching a well-deserved MOM bottle of champagne. I loved it when we out-cheered the Boro boos each time ABO touched the ball. And those were the highlights for today.
Agree with you dick, TBH was excellent and is a real leader on the pitch. I also thought Bikey was excellent and is turning into real cult hero. Try as I might, I really could find nothing about Bulot that impressed me. He just looks like yet another fairly lightweight player who shows flashes of skill but will never dominate a game (a bit like Buyens, JBG and Tucadean, come to think of it....) The team is crying out for an old fashioned brick **** house centre forward to help out Igor, hold and shield the ball, and link the midfield to the attack. Without being overly critical - this time last season we were watching Gower and Pritchard, after all - the recruitment policy is awry if we keep signing the same type of player. I will miss Norwich away this week due to work commitments, but fear that our good run of draws is about to come to an end.
Has there been a breakdown in the communication between owners and Peeters over this ? At the moment it is as if we are playing 4-4-1. Church nowhere to be seen (nobody is complaining...),Piggot out on loan, and if Tucadean manages 6 goals this season I will dance nude down Woolwich High St with a porcupine stuck up my backside. #No strikers
I totally agree we need a big centre forward who can hold the ball up and Danny Graham fits the bill.
Jacko's substitution was obviously done with Tuesday in mind, so expect the midfield to make up 3 of the regulars and Wilson on the right? Not the most attacking on midfields - so imagine Bulot or Moussa will play off vetokele who will live off scraps again. It's frustrating because a signing or two is all we need. But as Nick says, this time last year we had Gower, Pritchard and Hughes.
