I don't think it's reasonable to make out that the way today's game went is Sellers' "style". We got penned in and couldn't get out, which meant we were very deep and couldn't get hold of the ball at all and just had to defend for our lives. That obviously wasn't the plan, it's just the way the game went. I don't think any of the other games under him have gone that way.
With a decent January i.e a few additions, we will be alright. Selles has that steel behind his eyes and words that will get us moving. Probably won’t be dutch total football but actual supporters love backs to the wall, last ditch, heart on the line passions with the odd bit of skill thrown in. Come on city.
Got to say I think the slagging of Kamara is ott today, won't defend him for the goal, but he was the only player today who managed to dribble the ball past an opponent, something he did a couple of times, have any of our current wingers, longman, Burstow or Omur even managed to take a single player on this season? That last min spell of possession summed up for me what were missing, not wanting to slag Vaughan don't mean it that way, but if we break in the 92nd min last season we'd have had one of philogene, Zaroury or tufan charging down the left looking to cut in and smash one at goal or go past the player and drive into the box, we had similar earlier this year with Millar but just don't have that at all on that side since he's been injured, nowt Selles can do at the moment to improve things with the fit players available
You can tell some have never played the game. I remember all too well the feeling of having all these plans and intentions and then all of a sudden you’re pinned in and it becomes a firefight.
I would like to hope it isn’t Sellés’ style either but every game under him so far we haven’t looked after the ball well at all or controlled games. The game against Coventry was very similar to today. Let them have the ball and dictate the tempo and we lump it long aimlessly whenever we get it and lose it again.
But more possession means more chances and more chance of a goal. According to some of the not606 brains trust. As I have said before the only thing that counts is BINs.
That game was so predictable given the problems we currently have. Only real surprise was how long it took them to score. Hopefully the Bellend road brigade are just as Lackadaisical on Sunday. UTT.
I think there has to be an element of awareness of who is in our first team. It’s got even worse since Walter was sacked with the amount of injuries we’ve been picking up. Equally Middlesbrough are a good side with powerful wide players. In terms of the performance today - no it’s not what I want to see but at the same time we looked organised and limited a play offside to few real chances. Our defensive work increasingly looks solid. There’s clearly a lot of work to do but it’s now January and the proper job can now commence. This is probably not the style Selles wants but at the moment it’s about picking up points where possible. We did almost do that today - and it would have been a point few would have realistically expected a week ago.
Absolutely gutted. Don’t get me wrong, Boro were hammering us nil, nil, an understatement to say we were under the cosh, but going into last minute of the game everyone should be putting everything on the line to save the point, which would have felt like a win. I’m fuming. I’d like to know who saw what in Kamara to think a £4m + proposition. ‘Cos, I just don’t see it, doesn’t even look like a footballer. I would imagine the dressing room atmosphere is not great after this showing, with Leeds up next, I fear the worst. One thing is abundantly clear, how threadbare our squad is of quality, we have little to no offensive threat, evidenced in quality of our subs v theirs. This season is now going to spin on how successful Ruben is in the transfer window, who/what he can bring in, equally important is when. For any chance of positive impact, we need some quality, committed reinforcements sooner than end of the transfer window.
I’m not one for slagging players off (and won’t in the stadium regardless) but I would quite happily drive Kamara to his next club…if it wasn’t for the fact that I’d get pissed off waiting for him to eventually drift over to the car and then show the motivation needed to actually get into it.
I understood and enjoyed a lot of what we did with Tim and remember coming away from many matches in disbelief we hadn't won because his tactics put us in a position to control the game. I didn't particularly enjoy the idea of bypassing the midfield but to say he's a terrible manager is a load of rubbish, we needed more signings...we still do.
I’ve been sticking up for Kamara but this is a really poor look. Although with the abuse he’s been getting all season, I hardly blame him
First half I thought we held them very comfortably and had a real structure to the set up. The subs at HT undid all that good work. Coyle looked infinitely better on the left, I dont think Drameh did anything wrong on the right and whilst Puerta wasn't the bee he has ben in recent games he still forced them back and then back again to their keeper. Moving Alzate into Puertas spot didnt work, where in his 'seri' role he looked composed and actually made one or two things happen. On reflection, I think that part of the backs to the wall issue we were left with was as much to do with substitutions as anything. Did anyone hear why Puerta and Drameh were subbed..?
Unfortunately thats a disgrace. He needs to come out and make an apology to everyone connected with the club. If Portsmouth were in League 1 ok, but they are a major rival at this point in time...
We were outclassed today and the scoreline flattered us. The most worrying thing for me though was that we were outfought. There looked to be a fitness issue from early on and I think the tiredness probably contributed to us giving the ball away so cheaply. I say it every time but all managers seem to do it - why do we put Omur on the wing? He’s not built for it and today will have done him absolutely no good. We really are wasting a talent here by not playing him centrally. When/if we do finally give him a game in the middle, where he has wingers either side of him, we will see his ability. I know I probably sound like Acun when he goes on about Sinik, but it’s probably my biggest frustration this season. Anyway, on the plus side, we seem to blow hot and cold under Selles so far. Let’s hope this one was a much needed kick up the a**e for Saturday.
