We need a new midfielder, a new centre back and a fullback. But reality is we are way off it and Acun just loves buying 10s, not even real wingers that we so desperately need, Lokilo as I said before should be scrubbing the kitchen floors.
I thought we played pretty well tonight. Some good passing, nice build up, created some chances and we were unlucky not to score more. I was particularly impressed at how quickly we got the ball back after losing possession. And yet. I feel like I’ve been saying that a lot recently. At some point, we’re going to have to turn some of these good performances into victories. We’ve been very unlucky, losing 2 of our more crucial players in Jaden and Delap, then suffering a further problem with Connolly tonight. But we’ve got to learn to stop conceding first & in the first half. Too often we’re chasing the game, which means opposition teams can sit back, rather than allow us to run into more space.
Considering the players were missing, and the loss of Connolly, and a new pairing up front, we didn’t do that badly. Especially against the Scotland no 1 keeper - like being up against Greegsy in his prime. yes we’re not ruthless enough, and we need to toughen up a bit. We need a Bannan type player to teach how to wind up the other team but still stay out of the refs book. Maybe Sharp can do it but he won’t be on the pitch enough. We’re also not a big physical team and players like Vaughn are going to keep getting bullied off the ball. without sounding too much like Rosie, there’s a lot to be positive about to balance the gloom. But I’d be quite happy to never see lokilo on the team sheet again, he just wafts about the pitch in an ineffectual manner. Everyone else got stuck in to a greater or lesser effect. The ref was utterly ****e, easily the worst we’ve seen this season and that’s a low bar to start with. trouble with Friday night football is that it spoils the weekend before it starts if the result doesn’t go your way…
Top 10 side. Outside chance of top 6. That's where we are. Wndow might yet change things, but that's where we're budgeted and that's where we'll most likely end up. But if we lost today, playing decent stuff and there's continuous progress over the next 2 or3 years, then we'll be where we need to be.
Unpopular opinion....Vaughan ain't fast enough for a winger....or have enough tricks to compensate for his lack of pace. Or heavy enough. I don't get the hype!
It might get re laid but it is played on before it has chance to bed down properly. The pitch is in use all year round. We did not get this trouble at Boothferry Park because the pitch had all summer to recover. But more importantly, tonight. Shocking, and I mean shocking referee. He dominated the first half completley, don't know what it looked like on the telly and what the pundits could pick put of it but I thought he lost control in the first 10 minutes and that incident when the keeper came rushing out and clobbered Connelly was bordering on GBH, yet we didn't even get a free kick! After Sharp came on in the first half for Connelly we had nothing left on the bench to change the game. Pre game the atmosphere/light show was good, also it was good to see so many kids at the game. But typical City, big crowd, live on SKY and we don't deliver the goods. Thought we deserved a draw. Hate to admit it but Norwich were more street wise then us.
with Philo/Fabio/Delap/Morton who could all leave I will never believe acun wants top 10 this year. It’s the playoffs he wants.
Maybe after the window, yeah, but all we've done so far for the immediate games is to replace Delap with Sharp and Carvalho for Philogene. Neither had started a game for us before today. A lot depends on getting injured players back. Otherwise we're just treading water.
Vaughan needs to switch wings. He'd be better on the right...He hasn't got a left foot, comes inside all the time and gets easily snuffed out. IMHO He would be more effective using his trickery and speed to get around the back on the right.
He's 19. He runs around a lot. In non critical areas of the pitch with no real end product but has ability and tries hard. But he needs to work on his strength,reliability and end product in L1 for me. Oh,.. And he's a no 10 not a winger. Go on loan sunna. Come back an adult.
Drainage was ****ed up at the circle. BP had a slope either side down the middle and had wells below pitch level to drain into. It also didn't have the same shade profile as the circle, cutting out the low sun to what BP pitch had to contend with. But it could still become a cabbage patch after persistent **** weather. Unless. You're running lights 7/24 That's the practicalities of football.
Norwich did a bit of a job on us tonight IMO, slowed the first half down by persistent fouls, arguably could have had 2 red cards, then they sat back 2nd half and frustrated us. The ref had a piss poor game, and how he could give a free kick to them, when Gunn took Aaron out is beyond me. We clearly miss the width without Philogene, and to have missing him, Seri, Delap in particular, all have been a big loss. No complaint about our effort, played some nice football at times, but poor in both boxes, though Gunn did make some good saves in fairness, and it did feel like one of those games whereby the ball didn't fall kindly, and it was going to be one of those night, ably supported by a poor referee. Carvalho is clearly rusty and will need a game or two to get up to speed. I thought Twine had a good game, and was puzzled when being replaced by Lokilo who showed very little. Jacob had a very competent game, and didn't look out of place, and taking him off contributed to them getting the 2nd goal IMO. We certainly need a good wide player on the right, another LB and midfielder and probably a striker if there is one available. We have been hit hard by injuries, and hopefully Jaden getting back and Carvalho getting up to speed will help things. Hopefully this dip is coming at the right time, and we are to start to push on for the run in.
