This is a **** league. Whoever shows consistency will get promoted. It's in our hands, we need to keep it steady and keep winning games. Last night was ugly and frustrating but we won.
My only 'possible' criticism of Johnson is that he does seem to bring players back just a little too early. I think Willis wasn't ready to return when he did and Bailey as well and it resulted in Willis season being over and Wright being out for a few more weeks. It could well be the players and physios saying yes, ready to go but a manager also needs to manage that aspect as well. Hopefully just a coincidence and we get everyone we can back for the run in, healthy and firing on all cylinders. Would rather risk an extra game without Wright than bring him back for 1 then out for 3. As I said earlier in the thread, I would maybe look at resting some key players in the Papa Johns to freshen them up.
If this lot are available for the final I'd play them all and give others a rest for an hour then change things for fresher legs, Tranmere by the way are on a great run of form at present and this final night not be the formality some might think.
Sometimes the players are too keen to get back in to the side and probably convince the medical staff that they are fit to play , same applies when clubs are struggling a bit when the players aren’t quite right to play a la Jack Rodwell .
I'm afraid you've failed to take 'the Sunderland effect' into account. The law clearly states: Any team on a good run are unstoppable. Any team/striker on a bad run will break their duck against us. Any ex-player of Sunderland/Newcastle are 100% certain to score ... ... even if they're a goalkeeper
I've heard of a referred pain but never a deferred injury. Since you can do that now - why didn't he defer the injury until after the season?
Be all and end all is the league table, and having had another study today, well it’s looking superb. You know, I’m not sure we are crediting Johnson enough here, we were ****ed when he took over. Yeah it’s not always flowing and it’s not always dominant, but the mentality and attitude has improved drastically and that is all on the leader, as in the gaffer. The lads look happy on the park. The goal celebrations have more vigour. He’s doing brilliantly and I’m excited to see what he can do when it’s ‘his’ team. Let’s not overlook how close he had Bristol City to the playoffs, and had his top players sold time and time again. He won’t have that handicap here, he will be allowed to keep players. He is doing a superb job I can live with tatty wins, what I could never stand was players looking beat under Parky. From memory weren’t we about 13 points off auto when Parky left? Now it’s 3 in theory (if we count games in hand as wins v Hull, which I accept isn’t a given) On top, I like Johnson. I like how he talks. I like his confident demeanour. I like that he acknowledged underestimating the scale of the club. We never look beaten.
I couldn't agree more. The whole place was on its arse and he's changed that despite losing Hume in the first game, etc. He's improved O'Brien, Power, Wyke, etc and even McGeady who looks like he cares again. At Christmas Portsmouth were top after beating Hull and 10 points clear of us ... ... now we're 2 points above them and a win down there would crush them. With Johnson and his magic bench I think we can do it.
I think he's doing a great job. He's improved every player, some massively and that's the sign of a good manager. Tries to win every game, makes proactive subs, what more could you want? I have to think that under your average league one level manager our defensive problems would have destroyed them, having to play two CMs in defence is no joke. Johnson finds a way to make it work and it's no more than a wrinkle in the fabric. Of course he's been lucky there in that he's had superstar Luke O'Nien to save the day.
As you’ve both said, Geads, he’s like a ****ing new man. Now Geads is always a guide, a player far above the level and the one at the club who’s done a proper career. If he’s buying into Johnson that is really significant. O’Nien is just brilliant. An absolute sponge who wants to soak up and improve. Really hope he can keep going and get to Championship standard with us. He’s 3 times the player we signed, who I didn’t rate but liked for his efforts. He’s now absolutely good enough.
We need to take him on as a coach and train endless clones to do that trick every defender knows is coming ... ... but can't seem to stop.
You know, on Fifa 21 there’s only about 20 players with 5-star skill moves. Geads remains one of those. Messi isn’t. Ha.
I'm pretty certain I've missed out on millions in winnings over the years by not following these rules. Sod's Law? Sunderland's Law, more like.
As many have said, you judge a manager on results, a couple of months ago by and large we were in the same position with LJ that Jurassic had left us. In the past couple of months, Mcgeady keeps finding Wyke in the box and Wyke keeps scoring. A true Jekyll/Hyde for both of them, LJ can claim credit for it. It is in our own hands now whether we stay in the play-off places. IF we keep winning and the teams ahead of us slip up..we could sneak an automatic promotion spot (two big IFs there mind). O we are also in the not very meaningful final of the tinpot Cup. I appreciate some fans like this, obviously I put promotion ahead of it. LJs transfer window: the winger he brought in has shown promise, the LB has not delivered and Mcfadzean is considered better! The striker has been crocked since he arrived. With Leads injuries and Power and 09 having to play defenders (brilliantly, I may add) Winchester is playing a role, IMHO I think Neil would be better. So transfers are poor. So judging by league position and by getting more out of existing players, LJ is doing well. Next review will obviously be where we end up this season.
Me too . I’ve been saying for years that I must remember to get bets on. One I particularly remember is not “ bad run “ related, but was the 2004 play off semi v Palace . I predicted we would win the 2nd leg 2-1 , but still not go through to the final . Reason being that we were ( and still are ) the only club ever relegated by the away goals rule , so it was obvious that having lost first game at Palace 2-3 , we’d end up winning at home 2-1 only to remember by then they’d scrapped away goals . We were ok at 2-0 , and even their injury time goal would have still seen us through. Then a further inevitabilty that it went to penalties for us lose
Just lost to Burton at home without a shot on target and had a man sent off. Lost to Hull last night without a shot on target and had a man sent off. They've won fewer games than anyone else. Can't be coming here too full of confidence can they
Even people who like it would put promotion first tbh. However, it's no different to be playing a game in hand now so I'd rather we relax, attack and win it. It shouldn't hurt our league campaign and might even be useful for bringing back one or two of our injuries. After the shyte of the last few years a Wembley win wouldn't be a bad thing, and I'll be hoping that KLD has his family there.