Good to see some progress and get some goals. That defensive situation needs fixing before the play-offs (in the slightly more likely scenario we end up there), it is not good enough for promotion at the moment. Start by putting players in their proper positions, Bree had a positive impact, unsurprisingly.
Good first half. Poor second. Did just enough but the number of balls played into the middle where our player was facing goal and had it pinched leaving our defence exposed was too frequent.
It's too easy to just blame the defence for everything. Sulemana got caught trying to run it out for their first. Also if the forwards did their job a bit better in the first half, we'd have had nothing to worry about.
Or the draw with Watford with their last minute equaliser after we battered them all game But I’m sure every team can point to certain games
Good result, keeps us in the game. ****ing loving this season. Highs, lows, good stuff, bad stuff, laughs, tears, fires and more. Run in should be a right laugh.
Yeah if we keep scoring 4 goals a game we could top 100 for a season for only the third time in our history, pure entertainment these days, that's what the game is all about. Just a message to Russell though, there's no room for sentiment just pick the best players in their correct positions please.
I'm pleased for Rothwell, he clearly plays better when he doesn't have to worry about his defensive positioning.
I’m wondering if he feels he has to play Stephens to keep him happy? If we don’t go up we lose THB and stephens will be an important player.
I can't get my head round the THB thing at all. As much as I disagree when he does it with KWP I do see the logic with it and understand it more. Breaking up our successful CB partnership which served us well through our best run though I find genuinely perplexing. If he wants Stephens in then I don't see why he just puts at him at FB like he's done before.
Harder for Stephens to randomly pop up as our central striker from right back though The main issue as someone pointed out when Manning was dropped is that putting THB/Stephens at full back just completely ****s the attacking threat from a natural full back. Especially at home in games where we usually have most of the play. Having Bree/Manning is far better. Away at say Leeds or something it’s not so much of an issue like we saw when Stephens played left back against West Brom
On your first point thats probably true but then KWP basically gets a free role at home so would still get that option. I also don't feel we get enough from that to balance out the loss in defence. We've got quite a few options really with multiple versatile players and personally I'd prob have Stephens on the bench but understand why Martin likes him in team. The bigger issue though is that we've moved our best CB out of his natural position and broken up the partnership which brought us our only sustained period of looking good defensively.
Just got back and happy with most of what I saw. I wish Martin would stop with this THB at RB to fit Stephens in crap though. At least he changed it in time for it make a difference. Thought Downes was outstanding first half in particular. Sulemana was bright. Rothwell excellent off the bench. Huge 3 points. Would have been the end of our automatic promotion chase had we not won today IMO, would have been so deflating with Ipswich losing and Leicester drawing not to take advantage. Now it's game on. We have a nice little break where the players can have a few days off and everyone can have a mental refresh before the run in.
