Thought I would start a thread. No score prediction but think the team should be Walton Furlong O’Shea Kipre Davis Matusiwa Nunez Clarke Philogene Akron Azon goes without saying but could really use a confidence boosting win
Town players find abandoned Charlton flasks, and with whatever is in them, give an improved performance and come out winners. 2-1
I have no idea what town team will turn up... will it be a reaction and a decent win, or low in confidence defeat... Think we'll be much tighter in defence, so will go for a minor morale boosting 1-0 win
Hopefully we’re in for a more improved performance where we actually take our chances! McKenna ringing the changes - some enforced, some sensible, and some confusing. Walton has a potential chance to stake a first team claim if he can calm the defence and distribute the ball better than Palmer (a key issue for him I think). However, Walton’s weaknesses are well known and in evidence on Tuesday - he’s too vulnerable to a low shot. Part of me does wonder if we maybe gave Muric another chance, he’s playing so well in Serie A. That defence is probably our strongest, most reliable back four. But they’ve had issues, mainly communicating with our central midfield. Kipre needs to put Boro behind him and prove he’s better than Greaves. Both O’Shea and Davis need to improve their recent form. Jack Taylor starting is a bit strange. I assume it’s a message to Cajuste and Nunez after a couple of poor recent games. I do cautiously question it because I’m not sure he’s starting level quality in the Championship, but I hope he takes his opportunity. Matusiwa looks to be put into that other central midfield position - maybe to cover the Davis run forwards? I think McKenna has settled on his favoured front four - Philogene, Szmodics, Egeli, and Hirst. I’d argue the only one who has consistently impressed has been Philogene. Egeli comes with a big price tag but is still young and learning. I just hope he can deliver a stand out performance we can hang our hopes on. Szmodics and Hirst need to do more for me. On current form, both are too wasteful in front of goal despite the amount and quality of chances we’re producing. I’m not yet convinced Azon is starting material, but I think Jack Clarke can feel hard done by he hasn’t got a starting position today.
Potential point in our favour is West Brom played Wednesday evening and have only made a couple of changes. Possibly some tired legs out there for West Brom today?
Well, in 65 yrs of following Town, never seen 9 changes in League comp! Could be brave, a learning lesson, over-reaction plain stupid, or a nice surprise once they settle down.
A decent - if rather tepid - 0-0 first half display. We certainly seem a lot tighter at the back and more willing to get the ball out when needed. Some loose moments peppered throughout, but nothing to really give West Brom a sniff of a goal. A rather workmanlike attack which still gives the impression we’re playing a gear or two below the optimum level. It’s giving off a weird impression we’re saving our fitness levels for some reason. Philogene has forced their keeper into a couple of saves, but slim pickings for the rest of them. Egeli still seems to be adapting (and being reminded to press at times) - having said that, he’s definitely got a bit more of a spark in this game and is getting stuck in. Akpom making a few bright runs. Hirst’s hold up play looks a bit better but it’s often 40 yards from goal where he’s given a bit more space by the opposition defence. We just need to up the tempo. Main concern for me has been West Brom have been clearing a lot of our attacks straight to the likes of Matusiwa and Taylor, but we’ve been unable to make the most of these second balls. Potentially need a Jack Clarke or Azon to come on (ideally before the 70th minute mark) to keep this West Brom defence working. I feel we’ve got a goal in us.
