Do I hear it right! Town playing really well...good formation 4-2-3-1 and early goal! Can we sustain this...avoid calamitous injury time defeat and stop the rot today? I have to say that I dont share all this doom and gloom on this board. Maybe I am just being too optimistic. Martin playing a blinder... COYB!
I would like to think PJ has tactically chosen this formation to stop goals going in and give us a solid defensive base. However, it's more likely that he has stumbled upon this formation due to the injuries and personnel available. If it is successful though I hope that when others come back from injury that they don't walk straight back into the team. We have an average age of 24 on the pitch, with 6 players 22 or under and if they get a result today then the team should stay unchanged for the next match. Unfortunately I very much doubt that will happen and changes will be made regardless, just to accomodate our perennial underachievers. Come on Ipswich, I really want this team to get a result so it shows PJ that the others suck big fat donkey dick.
The commentators are certainly praising the formation and the general performance, but I suspect San Diego is right about why they’re playing it. Good to see Smith, Hyam and Carson all playing in a functioning and (at the moment at any rate) winning side. And is Martin turning into a good player a mere two-and-half years into his everlasting contract??
2-0 Come on!!!!!!!!! Jonah, Martin just needed a run in the side and to know that someone believes in him I think.
2-2. Big surprise. Priskin a waste of space as ever having replaced Scotland who seemed to be having a great game. McCarthy just saved us going 3-2 down having been blamed for abysmal positioning for Blackpool's second.
Well, 2-2 Pool could have won it, and so could we last 10 secs. End of, we have stopped the rot, and played for most of game really well it seems. We now need to pick up points next 3 games...and the formation clearly worked. Look forward to hearing reports from those who made it to the park. Hyam seems to have played well. And, a young team. Dont make changes except the sub, Priskin...why did Scotland go off?
If there is one over thirty I would want to see at PR it would be K Phillips. A game of two halves, we went from 65% possession in the first half to finishing overall behind at 46%. Blackpools subs made a huge positive difference, ours did not. Mr try-too-hard Bullard didn't do much and Priskin did what he always does, stand offside. I would have preferred it if Ainsley had come on at right back or even as part of a central three to close the game out. We lost our threat as soon as Scotland went off.
Happy with a point from this match, didn't concede in the last few minutes either... with Bristol City, Millwall, and Forest losing I'm Taking this as a point gained rather than a point lost! Agree with Jonah, good to see Smith, Hyam, and Carson having a decent game too, but there's a way to go before we can say that the rot has been stopped! COYB
Good game to watch, but we threw it away, bossed it for an hour, but the Blackpool substitutions proved crucial, as ours proved negative, combined with our poor defending. Two goalkeeping errors for me, what ALB has done wrong I do not know. On the plus side we played with greater determination, good performances from Hyam, Martin, Jet, and Carson.
I would say your write, probably the youth in this side was not a decision by Jewell but more due to injuries. Lets hope particularly Leadbitter doesn't come straight back into the team. It would be very dissapointing if many of the youngsters were dropped for the next game. Interestingly who captained the side today?? The formation however I think was perhaps good tactics from Jewell. As for the subs, were'nt they down to injury to scotland and carson?? As for Lee Martin, he really has surprised me, sometimes he does lack end product but his workrate has improved no end and his determination to force something is great. I really though he was a terrible signing. I know some moaned about when he got completely dropped but I think Jewell managed the situation well there.
PTC, will try to give you a very brief summary; Sonko was skipper. First hour we bossed the game, we had a short spell just after we scored our first when we lost our way but that soon passed, were well worth our 2nd goal. The personnel & formation changes worked very well; Martin, JET, Carson, Hyam & Scotland were excellent. Smith, Drury, Edwards & Cressy were playing well also. I do think though that this formation was forced upon Jewell, if Leadboots had been fit he would have played him, along with Murphy if he had not been "tired"....ffs. So not an inspired tactical switch for me. This all changed though as we approached the hour mark, yes we went 2-0 up at this time but Holloway made 3 attacking tactical changes that Jewell failed to react to until it was too late, he failed to change our formation to counter them overloading their attacking options, this left us very exposed to the long ball forward, we had countered their normal short passing game well up to this point but once they went more direct we were a shambles. Holloways changes worked a treat for Pool, ours were in all honesty useless, Priskin was pants could have closed down the ball forward for their 2nd, Bullard looked totally of the pace, why on earth was he deemed fit enough to be in the squad.? I have not mentioned Mcarthey, I just do not see why he is in ahead of ALB, some may argue he could have done a little better for both their goals, his distribution at times today was poor, he did make good save just after pool got their 1st. Sonko has this nasty habit of going for high balls that other players are dealing with, this resulted in a few times; us not winning the header cleanly, giving a free kick away or Sonko out of position, that needs sorting out! BUT for an hour that was just as good I have seen us play for a long time, so encouraging signs form that point. Whoever is in charge for our next game I hope they give this eleven another chance, they have earnt it, just sort out our options from the bench please.
The best town performance in recent times. JET proved me wrong and played for 90 minutes - fair play to the bloke. The midfield duo of Hyam & Drury was the best Ive seen at PR for years! covered each other well and always made the right choice We were once again let down by the appalling defensive ideas of Edwards - The guy genuinely scares me One moan - did anyone think the keeper was better than ALB. I wasnt convinced and getting beat at your near post (2nd goal) is fairly pathetic. Especially when our defence cant keep up with Phillips at his age
That Reading keeper is just pants! Why make the effort of signing him on loan and ruining ALB's confidence into the bargain. His mistakes have cost us 2 goals over the last 2 games. His kicking is shocking and he is no way better than ALB! Another great decision by Jewell