Finally, a nice 3 points to improve the mood If we can get a half decent run going things could seriously pick up. I know i am one of the first to point out our squad in far too weak quality wise, if we can get that belief and perform on full throttle we should be fine and next year we could be pleasantly surprised by a bit of investment or one of the youngsters doing a Chris Solly. Although i must add, under section 1 of sods law, i did predict a nice 1 goal win and said to the missus this morning "It will definitely come in now because i haven't put money on it". Always the way!
One swallow doesn't make a summer, as Monica Lewinsky once said. However, a very welcome three points and a spirited, backs to the wall performance by all accounts. I watched Wigan's game on Sky earlier. They are poor. Next week is very winnable.
Yes, for once I'm confident that we aren't going to fluff a chance to perform well in front of a decent crowd. A win - I'm going for 2-0 - Church and Kermorgant.
I have been to Ascot today, just checked the league table on the way home. Even at this early stage it looks more stretched than a pair of Jordan's knickers. Still only 20th that win would have climbed us at least six places last season.
It wasn't "backs to the wall" at all. We had as many shots and shots on target as them and missed as many good chances and half chances as them. Like most games in this division it could have gone either way but there was no suggestion of desperately clinging on and, thankfully, no pulling all eleven players back to around our own penalty area for the last twenty minutes.
Someone on here said that after our previous defeat to Millwall, we went on the run that took us to the brink of the play offs. Maybe this year will do the same. Shame we could'nt start the run FOR the Millwall game, not after, but for the moment, it's nice to have a win, a clean sheet and the optimism Ted mentioned. See you all tomorrow!
A win against Wigan could really turn things around, wether they are on form or not at the moment psychologically they are a scalp in this division. Blackburn despite being rather poor for a while now still get treated like a bigish side as well, so if we can get another 3 points and have beaten these teams back to back i really think that could get the players going. I am feeling mildly optimistic about the Wigan game, if we start seeing fired up performances and the players attempt to pass the ball around and play good football we could find ourselves in a much more comfortable position just in time for the christmas period. That in my opinion will make or break us, we either need a good run until then, or we need to do well over that period. If we can get to the other side of xmas with some points under our belt and manage to get the squad injury free for the second half of the season, we might be alright
It all seems to fall into place for us when we get someone who can play defensive mid. Last season Andy Hughes ,this season Jordan Cousins. Not forgetting the fact that Stephens seems to have a new lease of life on the left. I wouldn't have dreamed of putting him there, so someone deserves credit for a bit of imagination. Since no-one on this forum thought of it maybe CP doesn't read this forum for inspiration.
The October/November games are tricky (especially QPR away) but nothing to fear but I really have to stop smoking these
The performances against Leicester, Forest and Blackburn prove that we do have a good enough squad for this league, but they also make the Millwall-type results even more frustrating. There are inconsistencies in the management decisions, so CP needs to sort these and get us moving in the right direction. But Saturday was an excellent result and performance, and I expect us to generate further momentum on Sunday. The excuses about a poor squad do not wash with me.
Bit of a shame that Wigan are @ Home in the Europa League this week (and against Russian opposition), would have been lovely facing a team having to travel back from there...
The squad arguement is a tough one. They can fight in this league, but I think the individual quality of the players are below par to most of the teams in the division. We need to maintain the fighting spirit in every single game if we are to push on and move away from the relegation zone.
Didn't say they aren't up to it. Just think the squad does lack overall quality - and in particular the midfield. The heart of our defence worries me also. 2 consecutive clean sheets still hasn't assured me that we are sorted there, though Wood seems to be a good find.
In all honesty, i believe the only Championship quality players we have are Solly, Wiggins, JJ and Big Yann. Everyone else is good enough on a good day for sure, but when you look at players like Stephens it is a strange thing. I am not a Stephens fan, almost every game i see him play he contributes nothing but errors and poor performances, yet on the occasions he does get going, he looks very good. Pritchard tends to either have a howler or be a rock, and Hamer has been letting some very soft goals in for a while now. I honestly think the youngsters we have could be competent championship players but not consistently for another year or so. Saying that though, we have seen before that although we have a clear lack of natural flair and quality, those in the team that do have that extra something about them coupled with the rest of the lads really trying and showing grit and determination is when we look our best. Players like Matt Holland and Radostin Kishishev are examples of players who can be very handy despite not really being a naturally gifted technical footballer. The effort they put in made them the players they were. I would take a 6/10 player putting in 100% effort every week over 7/10 player putting in hardly any effort at all. Every time we have had some form of success, high work rates have played a big part
I can only hope this current blip turns into un upward spiral for the club. Momentum and spirit can turn a season on it's head.
It's no surprise our best results come against the better sides, as the players appear to put a lot more effort in their performances. They need to do that against all of the opposition if we are to push on.
