I'm really worried about Saturdays game. I have a horrible feeling it will be much like when our unbeaten run ended at colchester back in 2009. I make that 4 games where we've been 2nd best, though credit has to go to the players for the never say die attitude. I think we will have to dip in to the loan market next week and we definitely need someone to take the burden off Vetokele who once again was awesome last night.
Agree I think we are a hammering waiting to happen. Lucky for us big bob seems like lucky manager.At Brentford we were the better side Wigan pretty even Brighton we were unlucky not to hang on though under the cosh for much of it Huddersfield Watford wolves all out played us,Derby could of gone either way though we were excellent that night.
Lucky or good... makes absolutely no difference whatsoever to me. Just so long as we keep putting points on the board in what is easily one of the most competitive leagues in Europe. I for one intend to enjoy every moment while it lasts.
Quite a few doom and gloom merchants on here this morning... not sure how you can consider yourselves very lucky when you had 8 clear cut goalscoring opportunities... Tucudean 4, Jacko 2, Igor 1, Bikey 1, the latter being actually the most difficult and went in. Yes, we were totally under the cosh between the start of the second half and when they scored, but we could and probably should have been 2-0 up after 4 minutes. Personally Henderson was MOTM for me. Totally dominant in the air and a few quality saves... realised he had to aim for Cousins with his kicks with the result that a few went off, but otherwise spot on. Biggest disappointments were Tucudean, and Bikey in the 2nd half... he and Wiggins had a nightmare 45 mins.
In my opinion, Wolves have been the best team to visit The Valley so far, and I can see them making the play-offs. McDonald and Saville were excellent. I wouldn't say we were awful, but some of the players look knackered, which is worrying so early on in the season, and Igor needs a worthy strike partner. TBH and Henderson shone for me. Gomez looked shaky, but the talent is evident. I'd rather see Church than Tucudean. The loan market is key.
You can't keep going through games with only 35-40% possession like we do, and not expect the old Donald Duck to run out sooner rather than later. I think Super commented two weeks ago that Igor was papering over the cracks, and he is right. Tucadean may have had 4 chances last night but he has scored 1 goal from about 20 chances this season, an even worse conversation rate than Danny Welbeck's in the Champions League The team is very dependant on Bikey, Igor and AHLL's favourite player, Ben Haim.
WE've been dependant on Buyens too, and when he has a poor game like last night Wolves were walking straight through our midfield.
I agree with this. For me and perhaps only me I think Jackson can't play 90 minutes and Tucadean should not play any. Its getting concerning that Solly and now Jackson are one game a week now - if lucky.
I think people are overstating when they say we were terrible. This is work in progress and we are doing alright. Yes, we were poor in spells but in other spells are so far ahead of last year - well maybe that low bar comparison is artificially inflating my optimism.... But I think TVR above is right to highlight that we created plenty. The huge negative for me is our full backs were a horror show last night - Gomez needs to back his pace more but essentially is not ready and Wiggins was way off the pace. The main problem for me is our set up when we haven't got the ball. In open play we invite the oppo on - basically we are a counter attacking team even at home - so when confronted by pace as we were with Sako and Dicko last night - we are very vulnerable. Ben Haim and Bikey both had a couple of dodgy moments but the reason we weren't walloped last night is because even with pace they are difficult to get through. Then at set pieces are we doing zonal marking? Two goals at Brighton, one last night? If so, please Bob STOP!
On the positive side, watching the opposition outplay us for large spells is a damn sight better than watching the opposition fans celebrating victory, which is what we had to do for most of last season.
I thought Joe Gomez was poor last night. But he is seventeen and being played out of position. He will come good playing in his proper position of centre half.
Fair enough FHB - don't get me wrong, I get that he is a potential star of the future but he looked his age last night out of position or not. Clearly the main issue here is dearth of cover at full back.
Cousins can play RB. He played there quite a lot for the U-21's, he's more suited there than wide left. And of course Wilson, assuming Gudmusson is fit soon. By the way I didn't much like the look of Bulot, I don't know where he was told to play, it left us without a RM half the time. Looked a show pony, hope he proves me wrong.
Personally, and it is great with hindsight but I would have preferred to have seen Wilson at right back, move cousins over to the right, play Harriot at left mid with Moussa up top with Vetokele. For me this gives us the option to go 4-3-3 with Cousins tucking in with Buyens and Jacko and then having Harriot and Moussa up top supporting Igor. When JBG is fit then play him right and move Cousins inside for Jacko.
Favorites to go down preseason I'm well pleased with how the seasons goin so far to be honest. Long may it continue.
I enjoy the fact we are picking up points, but as Nick says - we can't keep finishing games with 35-40% possession. The day we get thumped you will see the change in opinion, because it is coming.
