We pressed well as a unit in the first half and we also moved the ball a lot more quickly out of defence. It was the best I've seen this season, but then sloppy errors left us two down and the heads dropped. The penalty gave us some impetus at the start of the second half, and if we'd got an equaliser we might have gone on to win it, but after their third the heads went down again and the last twenty was dreadful. Serious confidence issues and a lot of questions for Cifuentes to answer.
Disappointing result after starting so well & we was a lot quick tonight but error after error cost us yet again, don’t know the answer to our problems at home
We started so very well. Their goalie was world class to keep us out. But got to say the luck is very much against us. Yes I know you make your own luck ...but they must be the 4th and 5th goals we have conceded when the first shot has been blocked and the ball has fallen perfectly and fortuitously to a player to put away the killer second shot. That luck must change. But it is true we just cannot score...no lucky breaks for us...only world class goalies and poor decision making...all leading to lack of confidence. We are a decent team...things must change soon.. ( mustn't they)
Dont recall Hull scoring from Set pieces today? The first we failed to close the guy down, second Anderdon failed to clear, 3rd someone didnt block Millar's clever shot
Good assessment Beth. They got all the breaks but they were more incisive too. Marti has his work cut out for him for sure.
Beth - If we're banking on luck then we're seriously deluded. No one is scoring goals, the formation isn't working, our discipline is poor, confidence on a knife edge This is the managers domain. He bought the new faces in, he sets the formation, he makes the subs Currently it's not working It's not about luck, it's about management
Yes you are of course right. For a start..we need another player who can play DCM alongside Field. Varane was a liability, Madsen played well tonight...but he is not a real defensive player...Colback is the answer there. The back four...does need Clark-Salter there...but none of our RBs ( Santos or Ashby) seem any better than Dunne. So that leaves our attacking 4. The best 3 attacking midfielder/ wingers/ no10s are Saito, Dembele and Chair...all lightweight, short, clever players...who can be bullied.. that balance is certainly not right. Frey up front is a good player in the making...but he is living of scraps at the moment. We will improve with Colback and JCS...but we are missing the strong midfield general. .He is not at the club...we will suffer for that all season
One last thing and you will all say it is silly. Get our goalies out of a pale blue kit that you cannot see into fluorescent pink or yellow or orange ( like Hull had tonight). I played goalie to a good standard ( okay a different sport but the principle is the same).. Our coaches always dressed us brightly ( it attracts the ball). Subconsciously or not your eye is attracted by the bright object and it does "attract" the ball
Hardly any of the starting eleven have championship experience. They are young and need to learn fast. I think that was what the difference is? Also we we need to go back to forwards quicker, especially down the right. The amount of times Dembele, Santos and Smyth had a chance to put in a first time cross but checked back and let their defence set themselves. There's no cutting edge. Could also have done with an extra bod in midfield. We were outnumbered. They strolled through us. Sam Field is too often looking for the back pass. As much as I hate to say it, I think Colback is the better option. At least he tries to find the the forward pass. But what do I know? That was a bit of a mess tonight as it was v Blackburn. Not usually one to commentate on individual performances but where was Paal ( our left back supposedly ) for their second goal? He looked like he was over on the right touchline! Hopefully a win or a sneaky draw at Derby gets us happy clapping again. I'm glad I didn't go despite being a season ticket holder, who wants to watch that dross?
Sorry 999s the first 25 minutes was the best we had played all season. Likewise the start of the second ...we were in the ascendancy This was not the dross we saw last Saturday. We were all over them...and then they scored...our heads went down yes. But if we had scored any of those early chances, things would have been different. we were not dross..
I'm glad that you found it an acceptable performance Beth. I didn't, but there we are. We have a difference of opinion. The misplaced passes was galling.
I did not find it acceptable. I found the first 25 minutes of the first half outstanding. And also the start if the second. The way we keep giving away goals to exactly the same action..is not acceptable. Nor is our inability to score goals. But the team try and they work..and try to play nice football....maybe too much nice football could also be a criticism So very very different to the team we were left with after Beale left and what Critchley and and Ainsworth played
From the outside looking in….. Is it clear, that Celar is not producing? I even have to ask, has he scored any goals as yet?
We did play some very nice football, and it was good to watch, but didn't produce an end product. I was thoroughly enjoying it, and think I said on here that we needed to score during that period. We didn't, and as happens all too often, they scored and our game plan had to change.
I agree and as I stated before, if you don't take your chances then it's going to be a struggle. You can't rely on luck for the ball to go into the net. Anderson actually started the game quite well but trying to take 3 touches on the edge of your own area, facing goal was ****ing suicidal. Madsen, for all his height comes across as a very weak player, one of those who can make it look like he's trying to tackle but never has the balls to actually get stuck in. Interestingly, we have made the fewest tackles this season. A stat that is quite worrying as it's not as if we have huge possession stats.
