That's complete bullshit, sorry pal. If yiu hadn't heard of Paterson then yiu having been paying attention to the division all season ! Yes he's 30 years old but that's why he was so cheap. We made 3 bids that Warburton said and the top bid was just under 500 k, he said it in interview with Bloke who does regular podcasts, Gallen was on it too. I did say Paterson or a similar attacking midfielder who can create chances and score goals. You've seen how poor we are without Willock and it was always gonna happen when he or Chair or both get an injury. I'm sick of hearing we are on a shoestring budget and then we bring in someone like Hendrick. Seriously what's he gonna bring to the squad that we didn't already have. I'd rather have Dozell playing than him , at least he might create an attacking opening like the pass he put through to Gray to win us a game earlier in the season. All I hear from Warbs is how it's great to have quality players like Charlie and Johansen to come on and affect games. These players were decent players 3 or 4 years ago or more, they don't have the legs to control games now. Moaning that he has to chop and change because there's so many games, hasn't everyone in the division ffs, how many games does Mitrovic miss or Jones at Boro or Johnson at Forest ? It's bullshit, you get your best 11 on the pitch that are fit. We have a glorious chance to at least make the play offs, then who knows. He has to use the players that in form and can put some energy into the midfield and might nick a goal, cos when Willock doesn't play we're a very mediocre side.
You do realise we're skint as a club, still paying (massively, compared to other clubs, but that's irrelevant) the fine for the cheating we did under Redknapp, and are hugely punching above our weight at the moment. Long may it continue - if you're gonna get your knickers in a twist at how this season pans out, you could be in for a painful ride...this year has been a joy, especially as it's so unexpected. Enjoy it while it lasts.. who know's it could lead to glory come the end of May, or it could not, but at least the club will still be a viable option unlike many other Championship clubs who have gambled and failed, only to be landed with fines, point deductions and transfer embargoes...take your pick....keep the faith
Your missing what I'm saying, the money were spending on Hendricks wages and Odebajo's could've been put towards buying a player we really need who could win us a game when Willock and Chair aren't available. The 2 I've mentioned aren't gonna win any games for us. I do know about the FFP restrictions and appreciate the situation but sometimes you have to take a chance on a player if the reward could be huge. You can't go to Barnsley in the position we are and the position they are and get turned over if your realistic about getting promotion. Bournemouth went there 3 weeks ago and played worse than we did yesterday but came away with 3 points , the same as they did yesterday from a goal down. It's mentality and game management as much as the players on the pitch. We needed to grasp the mettle and get rid of this tag of always gifting whoever's bottom 3 points. We failed and missed a glorious chance of going 3rd and keeping the pressure on Bournemouth. We better hope that Willock is back soon cos we need him desperately. Massive game in midweek now, we have to bounce back and consolidate that top 6 position.
I thought the lack of supply from midfield and the poor passing from the back 3 was far worse. Moses was our most lively player and put in a few decent crosses as did Albert when he came on, Barbet's passing was under par until that one at the death it seemed Dykes should have won us a point from. That chance was set up initially by good combination work down the right wing by Moses and Albert. Chair had 2 or 3 attempts on goal but contributed little to building good passing movements. We only improved in midfield when Stefan and Albert came on. I'm a bit unsure generally whether we are better with 2 strikers or the one. Yesterday I thought we'd do better with Amos for Gray leaving Dykes or Austin up front alone. We went 4 at the back at the end when Wallace belatedly went off with Moses RB, Albert RW and Barbet LB and were far more dangerous. Maybe a formation change for a game or 2 at least maybe worth it, as apart from the extra threat it gave us, we will be a bit less predictable to the oppo.
If we don't go up this year I fear we will lose most of this seasons talent leaving us to languish in the bottom half for years to come
Agreed, although l do believe ( as others have said ) .... we are punching above our weight. I can't remember the last time l was as angry and pissed off from us losing this morning. We all felt it was going to happen. We all thought surely not, we are playing too well and poor old Barnsley were playing too poorly to win....... and of course, we lost. I've calmed down a bit, hence the reason l'm writing this post but l'm still really pissed. It should not have happen. To me, it says we are not really ready to make a concerted effort to go up. We're hoping to keep getting some good wins but we're not really serious in making the correct statement in saying, this is our year. Again, as others have mentioned, we're having a good year and nothing more. I guess l should be satisfied although it is hard to accept. I want more.................... but so do we all. Were fans. R'rs fans.
Blimey... Did you not see our figures. WE are still making losses. Hoos has pulled us back from the brink....but we will probably have to sell a player at the end of the season to balance the books. We are lucky we came out of covid in less bad shape than many other teams. Onto yesterday Dozzell, Willock and Johanssen are injured or sick. I personally would have played Amos as a second no10, rather than Gray in a front 2. But the options weren't there to do much else Hendrick is cover for all the midfield. Patterson would never have been used to cover Johansen. Yes he could have been used to cover Willock, but we had Amos and we didn't use him either And the criticism of Odubajo is really unfair.. We have 3 fit ( ish) wing backs.. two over 30... We are a small stretched squad ...fighting above our weight. Let's hope yesterday's result has given them a scare ...and we have a tremendous end of season like last year
Yes, don't get all the criticism of Hendrick on here. He may not have made any defense opening passes yesterday and Willock he is not, but his passing was accurate, he found space, and linked well.
Only been at the club five minutes so I think expectations are exaggerated. Looks like a quality player to me and will be a valuable asset on the run in.
All true. However, it is a fair point to make that these opportunities aren't likely to come around every season. Yes, we're punching above our weight, yes the finances are very dodgy, although better than for a while. Obviously it's prudent and correct not to gamble with the future of the club, but at the same time we may well sell Willock, Chair and Dickie or possibly Dunne at the end of the season. Then we'll be back to mid-table/relegation zone times. On the pitch, I like Warburton and his style of play. However, he is far too hung up on the sports science imo. Obviously if a player is injured, he can't play, but Warbs constantly whines, whinges and moans about the amount of games. I've not heard any other coach moan so much about this in our division. It's not new. It's the same for everyone. Fulham wouldn't rest Mitrovic if he was showing some fatigue in his legs and the same goes for nearly all the other teams. It's the Championship Warbs, of course players are tired. We bought players with a history of injury and that's our fault. I am fully expecting Field to go down soon, but I truly hope not. Play your best team Warburton unless they're genuinely injured, ill or really, really knackered. Stop tinkering. We're likely to blow a chance that doesn't come along very often. One season in the Premier League and our finances get a huge boost.
I agree entirely, these opportunities don't come round often. I have always argued against the proposition " its too early for the team to go up". Col is right...it is a rare season that you get the right squad, lack of injuries, bit of luck, other teams not doing well..sort of mix and you need to take advantage of it. Few teams can build season after season like Brentford did. Warburton has done well on that front... but we need to push on. Our season depends on Willock, Field and Chair remaining injury free, McCallum coming back and staying fit...And Dykes scoring a few more I hope this is the wake up call
Completely this. I don’t mind a bit of passing along the back line to draw the opposition out, and create a space to counter attack, but if you don’t/can’t flick that ball through to attack you spend 35-45% of the game doing nothing. We can’t afford to do that if our middle and forward lines can’t counter successfully (and they follow the opposition into our territory to get the ball). MW needs to get this sorted on the training ground and meeting room. We need this Millwall win now, we are dropping too many points - and you can’t, with all respect to Barnsley, be dropping opportunities like yesterday to widen the gap to those below and keep pressure on Bournemouth/Blackburn/Middlesbrough.
It was very poor to watch. Barnsley just marked the spaces and let us do it. Hendrick and Field come looking for a pass, with back to goal and that pass goes back to the defence and it starts over again. Odebajo was our main outlet in the 1st half but nobody could see past a sideways pass. Yes we looked dangerous when we went 1-0 down, well for the last 10 minutes anyway and thats because we moved the ball forwards. There was a scenario near the end, we had a throw in near their corner flag, desperate for an equaliser, the ball ends up with Marshall. That one play summed up our entire performance.
