some one said "grindout" also calculated play to allow the opposition just "not quite enough" room and a 1-0 win... but amazingly the results today were like a dozen pairs of socks in a washing machine and pulling them out 1 at time with a blind fold on... it really has given the table a good shake up! 8 points clear! and Yeovil cant win the league! but are now in serious trouble! The local derby next year almost certainly / might be THE GAS V YEOVIL...
The base for a promotion is constructed in August to October with free flowing football and goals aplenty. Holding your nerve through November to February confirms a team as good enough to go up. But the dream is won or lost in March/April (count 28 Feb as March) when every team in the league is scrapping for points to survive or go up. This is when you just take any win, never pretty, draining physically and mentally. So an ugly win yesterday, was probably our most important victory of the season.
I have been criticised in some quarters for "moaning" and non positive comments. My main comments relate to how lucky we have been at times this season, criticisms of Agard and concerns re strike force in general. as well as certain off pitch matters. Well yesterdays performance was dire against a team with 9? academy players. Another critic has mentioned the fact about our suspect defence. Just look at the possession stats and shots against yesterday. Yes I want City to win (and they are) but I want them to win playing well but I have to say for the last six home games or so I feel embarrassed that we claim to be a top of the league team . In several matches we have been outplayed. Whether it is the pressure lack of confidence or what I don't know but if we continue to play as per yesterday we will struggle to get over the line. One good thing through Wilbraham was superb. No comment re Agard. We now face two away matches against bottom four teams fighting to survive so come on City show some style please
To be fair that defence has only conceded 30 goals, 2nd best in the division and also our big man at the back Flinty hasn't picked up a card all season.
It could also be argued that the other teams around us, overall, can't be any better than we are as we have the points tally to prove it, so in reality they are all worse than us. Stats can be read any number of ways, but the league table never lies. We're top on merit after 33 games
It's not about looking pretty in this league, having said that, over the season I think we've looked good, we like to pass it and mix it up a bit.. I think we have to concentrate on getting out of this league in whatever way required. Another 3 points yesterday to achieving the task in hand. I for one won't moan if we play like we did yesterday and we go up!
I agree entirely and in this respect I have to say that despite many critics reservations Fielding has in the main been totally reliable. The defence in general has gained from an almost continuous lack of injury but Flint will be exposed in the Championship for his lack of pace but he has been a stalwart in League One (another Jamie McCombe?) . The position is as the lady says we are the best of a mediocre bunch this year. Needs to spend big if we go up.
I consider Flint a better footballer than McCombe. Agree about pace but he reads the game very well and is not prone to diving in like many big defenders.
no need to worry about flints lack of pace its why you play 3 at the back to cover any issues. the most worrying thing was the midfield being overrun pack will have to go he never has 2 good games in a row
OTHER THREADS actually cover a myriad of "things" like the "aggression" ratings City seem to allow the opposition space to do nothing, but convert a high percentage of " lower on target attempts" probably the epitome of this was against Rochdale 43% of the play, shots off 8-13 on target 4-3 corners 3-6 City converted 1 in 4 but defensively limited / allowed 16 shots to fail! NOT NICE / TIDY but effective...
