Almost as if Szmodics is older and more experienced! Are you seriously writing off Delap's potential as a just turned 21 year old?
If Rosie wants to play out from the back I have no problem with that, but yesterday it was all too predictable, at least mix it up a bit more for me.
Surely they must have known that? Mustn't they? Why sign him, for half a season if they think he's ****e? Or did they just take a punt having never seen him play?
I agree. No idea what they saw in him. I think they tried to be too clever with analytics and find someone in Delap's profile on the cheap. It's going to cost us.
Only seen him for 20 minutes against Millwall, wasn't impressed, but then he went and scored at Rotherham so I thought maybe there is something there. Then he disappeared. Jury is still out for me!
Got up this morning thought I’d read the forum and it was like reading the bereavements column in the mail!! Preston and WBA had similar traits , strength height and mobility - we have way more technical skill and creativity but on dire pitches these get negated - plus players like Fabio and others continuously get the ball taken off them way too easily - on better pitches as at Saints they could control and move it easier , a small delay and it’s gone on bad pitches . some have decided Ohio is no good , Sharp too , plus Connolly and now Omur !!! Sharp didn’t do anything yesterday ? How many balls to him did get think I only saw one maybe ? Is he just the wrong player - had he been up fro for them he’d have had so many more chances the ones Woodman couldn’t take . We were a work in progress until Delap got injured Jaden many expected 8th or 12th etc - we sign good players but Delap remains injured and now we should be way better !!? As for finding a potent striker who can come or will in January is almost impossible , providing you’ve got financial scope , so I think those expecting the perfect world especially in football are watching the wrong sport . I get totally frustrated every week by small things like Jaden slowing the attack down by holding onto the ball too long and getting dispossessed , players under and overlapped him yesterday and I saw him play a man in once - he IS part of the problem . Zaroury didn’t attempt to pass anyone like their wingers did . Fabio was powder puff . So hiw can you have a potent attack with those three major weaknesses , by the way however good Jaden is - he dies this week after week - he is a player in a team he is NOT a team player . No good scoring g wonder goals or special ones every three weeks or so it’s not enough .
This 'pitch' debate has become tedious!! Maybe we should send our scouts out and recruit players that can play football on 'winter' pitches? It's Great Britain,it's wet in winter,we adapt accordingly? I get what you're saying that we look capable playing Football on lush,bone dry,flat pitches...Name another side in the Championship that wants to play on mush?
I didn't even think it looked too bad yesterday, albeit from a distance and appearances can be deceiving. But in any case it seems like a convenient excuse every time we look inept going forward, which is fairly often
Preston are a well organised yet limited championship team playing above their overall level of individual talent. Even away from home, teams chasing promotion should be putting them away. With the squad we have now I don’t see many teams in the league stronger than us on paper, and I wouldn’t take any of Preston’s starting 11 over ours. Ultimately games aren’t played on paper and it may take some time for us to gel with all the new talent. I think even if we hang onto 6th spot we won’t be strong enough to get over the line or even to Wembley. I’d love to be proven wrong, but if this season ends with playoff run and staying on the same division it still shows real progress. Looking at the quality of teams who may come down and us with another years experience I’d be hoping with a few clever loan signings and some good permanent ones we would be going straight for autos next season.
Pitches haven't been great, but they haven't been that bad either, and they are the same for both teams - meaning if pressured, the opposition is also likely to mistakes. We saw what we are capable of v's Southampton, at the time the best team in the division bar Leicester. We pressed them hard, we played higher up the pitch, we took the game to them, we were brave, energetic and positive. I posted after the game that hopefully it marks a turning point in the way we play. It hasn't; just another false dawn. We've since gone back to normal, and yesterday we were back to ridiculous ****ing about across the back, passing backwards, suicide passing out by Allsop. The pressing, bravery going forward, energy, positivity yet again missing. That's what's frustrating for me. Rosenior talks about those attributes but doesn't have or allow them himself. Let's hope that after the 3 week break, which is a great opportunity to work on our game plan, we see the approach taken against Southampton becoming our 'new normal'. (there I go hoping again). And that either Delap is back or they can get Ohio up to scratch (if not then what a total **** up that's been, just like Sharp, and maybe controversially I'd say Connolly too who some of us said was a mistake as he simply isn't 'robust' - we could and should have instead have had 1 or 2 strikers ready to step in not those 3 that are currently a waste).
You've had it explained to you but you seem to have your head in the sand. I can't fathom how you think we're expected to press high and get behind teams that sit deeper than Southampton. It was a topic of conversation on the 1904 podcast and they said exactly the same thing we've said to you.
I’ve said it before physics comes in to it , a tallish 13-14 stone player will win a 50/50 with a 5’8’’ stockier player I think 7out of 10 times ( Evandro apart) . Try playing pitch 6 at Longhill midwinter ya needed thighs like a speed skater to kick the ball through the mud LOL
Condescending prick. Whether that's right or wrong it's anyway only one part of the point. We can still press, we can still be braver, we can still be more positive, we can still cut out much of the ridiculous pratting around at the back, etc. And I agree with Springtigers phsyics lesson .. but apparently we don't need those sort of players.
It's condescending of me to point out you've had your query answered before? Jog on. "Whether it's right or wrong" is about as close as you ever come to acknowledging you've said something wrong so kudos on that growth. How's that for condescending.
For what it's worth,I didn't think it was as bad as is being made out. It was wet,as was Preston,as is the norm...
Noticed that last night watching EFL highlights show. A lot of the pitches are now showing damage due to the unprecedented amount of rain the country has had since what seems like ages..They might get better, but don't count on it. On City, good point, yesterday. Preston are no mugs. Overall, we're in pole position to secure 6th, so its down to us, to do the business. Its getting close to looking at the other fixtures and comparing them against ours.. Rest assured the Budgies, Preston and Cov will have difficult upcoming fixtures...Norwich struggled to beat an injury ravaged Sunderland yesterday, and have to go to Boro on Wednesday were they lost 1-5 last season. Cov appear to be on the crest of a slump. The ball is in our court.
Norwich have a far easier run than us unfortunately, Boro are a shadow of the side they were last season.
