Totally agree with this. before KO Barnsley went into a group huddle - they wanted tp play for each other as a team, whereas we were handing out high fives to each other and then played as a team of individuals. They wanted it more and delivered for their fans.
Fathi is a player who has been there and won in big games - ACN, ACL.. 100+ caps for Egypt, championships for Al Ahly.. I was very surprised he didn't start in the middle. Just cos of one lost ball vs Wolves, he looked good the rest of the game. Koren may not be a "leader" naturally but the players look to him to add that something special..
Those who say Watford lose to Leeds, are those the same people who expected us to hammer Bristol City, Wolves and Barnsley? This year has being a very average year in the Championship with regards to quality, so anyone can beat anyone. I fancy Leeds to grab a draw, its whether we have enough left to go out and match the Watford result. If i was Bruce i wouldn't check the Watford score, go for the win, that way its in our hands. It is still in our hands, those calling for a whole new team are idiots. We are second, even if we don't go up we have finished third, we just need a bit of quality up top, and maybe a centre midfielder to dictate the game. Not a whole new team.
Exactly, if the ball he lost in midfield had not led to the Wolves goal, he'd have played vs Bristol City, of that I'm sure. He's a very good player who could have been used more.
Good point to bring up, all the top teams have wobbled, Watford recently lost at Barnsley as we did yesterday. As the caption thread says, this is our play off final this coming Saturday, and would it be better to go for a 442, as teams seem to have sussed how to stifle our wing backs?
Bruce needs to be brave and surprise Cardiff with changes to team and system. I would go with a back four and have Fathi & Rosie as full backs, Cairney, meyler & Quinn midfield, Koren if it just behind Simpson & Pros. Then if things aren't working make appropriate changes early and not leave it too late. Case of freshen up or fail I think
I would defo go for a bit of experience at the back 451 Stock Rosie Chester Faye Dawson Elmo Meyler Fathi Quinn Brady Boyd
On the basis of the last 2 performances, Boyd will be dropped if Koren is fit enough. Elmo did more in 20 mins yesterday than elmo in his last 3 games. Stockdale Chester Faye Hobbs Rosie-----------Brady Meyler Fathi Quinn Koren Simpson. Or perhaps: Stockdale Fathi Chester Faye Brady Elmo Meyler Evans Quinn Koren Simpson. Need to get balls into the box somehow, which hasn't happened in our last 3 games.
We are bang out of form. If we **** up 2nd spot, we wont be going up. I'd bet my house on that. A few players are looking out of sorts, and a few need to earn a new contract, I'd be looking to shake things up a bit. It's do or die time. Stockdale Rosie Chester Faye Brady Evans Fathi Meyler Koren Boyd Simpson Simpson purely for his hold up play with Meyler, Koren and Boyd all capable of pushing beyond him. With Elmo, and Quinn on the bench to add some flair in the latter 30 minutes.
As the poster above said.. Fathi has played in MASSIVE games.. that put the rest of our team except the egyptians together and they've not played in half as big games.. african champs league final.. african cup of nations final.. he is use to the pressure.. he has to start against cardiff... our team are so predictable to play against with the opposing managers already knowing us before we kick a ball..
That would probably be my pick to start and then elmo and quinn to come on to give that pace and tenacity of their old selves
We all have - that's the bizarre thing this season - I think I heard Barnsley had won 7/8 games against teams in the top 8 at the time of playing. This league, and all of our performances is f*****g mental.
The bare minimum we need to see on Saturday is a strong fighting display. Even if we don't make the autos a good performance could trigger a change in form and give us a chance in the play-offs. Who knows, missing out in the last game could make the players determined to go up via Wembley.
Like someone's said on twitter - we haven't gone four games without a win under Bruce. Even if it does go tits up on Saturday, we can't just write off the season. Let's not forget in 2008 we had a few bad defeats in the run in, Sheff Utd for example - and we lost to Ipswich on the last day, even though we went into it knowing we could still make second.
Yea i was saying about that, after 43 games we were second then didnt win another game if i remember yet bombs the playoffs
The game against Cardiff is our play-off final. Win it, with even a fluky goal will do it. I hope, and still believe we will turn over Cardiff - it is our last chance saloon. We are not strong enough mentally for the two legged semis of the playoffs, and I fear we will only be similar to Grimsby - losing both legs 1-0. When we got to Wembley before we had not spent this length of time in the automatic spot and blowing it will destroy the confidence and moral of the squad. We've just now got one shot at it.
