I like what I see with Beale and his refinements week on week. Yesterday was a bit of a culmination I think. So many more crosses into the box, and players into the box. The second goal was real training ground stuff. He has come in and dealt witg injuries but has still focussed on what I think a coach should. Defensive shape has improved for me, with Ballard and ONien much closer together. Our width is better in possession and our pressing is more structured. It looks to me at least like he is doing a lot right and it is starting to show on the pitch, and hopefully now in results. One thing I would say is we have a young side and it will take a bit longer for them to learn how to implement tweaks and adjustments. I think Beale and Dodds know this and will be patient. He might need another voice to help him, and I have said before, maybe that is an ex pro of good pedigree, but I like Beale more and more as each performance unfolds. There will be bumps in the road ahead, but lets be patient and give him time. In my opinion he could be just what we are all after.
That’s the first time I’ve seen positive changes to the way we play, we looked more confident certainly after the second goal. He finally played Ba in his best position but had the Pritchard carry on not unfolded I reckon he would have been on the right and it would have been the same as Hull. I’m no doubt coming across as pessimistic but he has a way to go before he wins me over. I will get behind the team and certainly won’t be shouting or booing the manager. I genuinely hope he does turn it around and yesterday wasn’t a one off, time will tell but it was a much needed improvement.
Not sure if this has already been posted, this backs up the feeling that the team was more balanced yesterday.
Dan Neil as the central pivot makes us much quicker as well, as he’s quicker on the ball than Ekwah is
more height and physicality through the spine and back, what we need. Jinky players out wide / up top. Young, but lots of promise
100% agree. It is his speed of thought and great touch that makes him perfect in that position. He really starting to use his body well also, there was a little play yesterday where he took it in tight and used his body to roll his man, then sent Clarke away with the outside of his foot. A year ago he would have played that on the half turn and potentially got caught, now he seems to know when to take it in safe side and then take stock. Ekwah is better than Neil at arriving in the box at the right time. He was finding some brilliant positions in there yesterday and to be honest might have had 2 or 3 on another day. That left foot is a rocket.
Just watched the 90 back again. Don’t think Chris Rigg put a foot wrong. if we maintain this midfield three he should get tonnes more minutes now.
Thing that stood out for me is JC has had a haircut and is now wearing a hair band keeping that troublesome fringe out of his eyes. Now he just needs some tighter elastic in his shorts waistband then we'll really see how good a player he is
i have kept out of all this opinion swapping but here goes... think i am the same as the majority in that i did not want to see TM go and that i had no effing clue as to the names i saw suggested, one of them was very much wanted by the fans and the rest few seemed keen, therefore i cannot say (despite all the talk) that i had any pre-concieved thoughts on any of them, beale was just another on the list of 'unknowns' to me. some of the posts i read were beyond belief and mainly why i kept away from it...but then i always prefer to give someone a 'fighting chance' and half a dozen games was not enough for me...considering the lad came in at a pretty exhausting time for footballers with a hectic, tiring schedule while trying to prepare for the first derby for years AND the backlash from the seating and BCB fiasco and yesterday (stoke) was the first time i saw a difference in the play, maybe it was slightly forced due to pritchard but the movement around the pitch was keener and faster. not going to call or crow mind, it was a good performance from the team, MB and the other coachs... now we all want to see it continue but if that was a sign of things to come i feel we might enjoy the rest of the season.
We were decent with a 10 minute spell after we scored the second , much quicker and with confidence , against a very poor Stoke side. On a better day they may have scored 2 or 3 themselves if the could finish. The diamond shape worked second half but we played far to narrow and a few more ,through balls, would not go amiss to give Burstow a chance. He nearly made a mess of his goal but for their keeper.
Hope he keeps proving a lot of people wrong (inc myself). I was never a fan of the appointment tbh and thought it was deflating when he was appointed. Last couple weeks tho I've been impressed with the changes hes made to the starting line up n the tactical tweaks hes starting to make - he nailed his subs yesterday and while i didmt agree with his subs at the time against boro he got them spot on in the end Still not seen a 90 min performance from the team since hes arrived but it feels like its getting closer n when it does i think we will hammer a team Hate how some folk who were posting every 2 mins when things were going wrong havent been seen the last few weeks. Some even said we would be in a relegation battle just 3 weeks a go. Beale seems to be learning n improving week on week so long may that continue
Absolutely this mate. It’s fine to have doubts. I had doubts when Tony Mowbray arrived and I voiced them. I was always willing to give him a fair crack, though. I said weeks ago about Beale that it’s common for performances to go backwards when managers arrive at a new club. It takes time to shift the players from what they know to a new way of playing. There’s obviously mistakes along the way while that is being sussed out. It does seem now the players are understanding what he is asking of them and their performances are improving game on game. To write Beale off as a failure from the very start along with the personal abuse he received was shameful and I hope we never see that again at the club.
I don’t think they would get away with that attitude again, have a opinion yes by all means but just a opinion.
