I am still really upset (and a bit ill too, but I am not sure I can blame the Rs for that)
So...
We have deserved ( by on-pitch play, not by some God-given right) to get 9 points from the last 3 games, we got 1!
It is nothing to do with passing from the back, with measured passing or any of the rest of the garbage that is being shouted. It is what we do with the ball.
It is down to stupid carelessness and mistakes......plus a bit of bad luck.
The only goal we conceeded which was not our fault was the Reading goal from Swift...but we missed 3 sitters in that match and Hugill had real bad luck with the Goalies face and Chair hit a post and a crossbar.
We do not take our chances, our forwards are running scared because so much is expected of them.. Directly we conceed a stupid goal that the forwards panic and their heads go down.
An Assessment
Lumley, who was beginning to make a comeback, has lost confidence again, yesterdays brainf@@@@ was the worst of the lot and you can see it percolate down to the rest of the team. I do hope Kelly is fit. However I do not think Kelly is any better than Lumley but his confidence is not as shot as Lumleys, Kelly has to play. Do we get Dieng back in January? I do not not think loaning a GK is the answer, will Smithies just slot into that team. No
The defence looks best as a back 4 with a DCM in front (currently Ball is looking better than Cameron, but good to have both)
When will Barbet play again? He had his faults...and will have them again as he returns to fitness, but he is our best CB. I am sure Warburton wanted to play Hall and Barbet together, and he never has had the chance. Rangel is still a better defensive RB than Kane, but I think Kane would be better in a side that had Barbet.
We must not expect as much as we do from Eze, Chair and BOS. They are young and cannot sparkle all the time. BOS has a few games off on the bench, and comes back like a train, as does Chair. The three of them need to rotate...also playing all 3 makes us defensively weakened, although BOS has worked on his defensive game a lot.
In this team Hugill is a much better lone striker than Wells. Wells disturbs the team structure Hugill doesn't.....but Hugill does need goals to boost his confidence. Wells is fairly ineffective in all manner of his play at the moment, at least Hugill gets chances even if most of them he puts into the stands.
Warburton really must make more positive substitutions. Smith was out of his depth yesterday. Scowen would have added far more grit.
Amos is beginning to get there, as is Ball.
I read that Warburton said there are a couple of players that are carrying niggles and cannot play every match/minute. I wonder if this is Wells, Amos and Hugill?
Mlakar has not impressed, Pugh was good at Derby (and in one of the early cup matches I remember), but not in any other match.
Smith looks totally out of his depth too.
What would I do in January
A CB and a leader is a neccessity...do they come in the same wrapper, I do not know I cannot think of anyone. Can anyone.
If Eze is sold, I for one do not really want him loaned back. Will he play out of his skin for us, no! Not when he knows he is one championship clogger away from a season long injury.
Well those are my random thoughts
As said I am still angry, worried and a tadge ill...so I apologise
