Lets face it a loss like this was on the cards for many games now, the first 30 minutes against Fleetwood and the performance against Port Vale was shocking for a top of the table side. Few gripes to get off my chest: Wade Elliot hasn't been the same for a very long time now, I can't remember a game when he split open a defence with a through ball. JET- I think he's one of our best players but when we're desperately trying to get our game flowing, he gets the ball and slows everything down. Against poorer opposition this isn't a problem but against better teams quick passes and constant movement is key to winning, JET won't provide this. Bryan- Needs more movement in his game, when Williams has the ball on the left he just stands there stationary, although I think he's a terrific talent I think he has a lazy streak in him. Better teams were always going to figure how to defend against two big strikers. We made their number 19 looks like Franco Baresi, although it's not the end of the world losing against a very good side I think it's a great wake up call, we seem to be crawling to the championship performance wise, and we're getting lucky that teams around are losing. And for Redprintt. Why didn't Tavenier come on instead of Wagstaff?!
A wake up call indeed and, as you say, it has been coming on the back of some pretty ineffective performances. However it could be a blessing in disguise because it should make the players more aware of the problems of staying top of the division. Luck would have it that our 2 major competitors for automatic promotion both lost against weaker opposition. So the top of the table looks just the same as it did at 3 o'clock with points and goal differences staying put.
Joe bryan does not go past players never has to date.Until this happens he will struggle to effect a game. Never in a million years would a prem side come calling. Wade Elliott makes city tick,when he is not on the pitch we are not the same team. Jet is the one player that can change a game when we go from defence to attack,he has been excellent recently. My biggest concern is when smith goes back unless wilbs is going to be able to take the mantle we are going to struggle. Agard is not up to it at the moment,very poor. I hope SC has something up his sleeve,simply put wilbs has to be 100% fit,if not we are going to struggle,unless Agard gets back to form,we are going to need another striker in.
No gripes from me. Thought they pressed us well stopping Korey and Elliott from getting the ball off Fielding, they didn't mind Flint launching it. They were the better side 2nd half not helped by the substitutions, I could understand Elliott coming off again with 20minutes to go but bringing Agard on didn't work out for SC. More than anything though it's just whats can happen with football, we 'were due one' and today it happened. As for Wagstaff coming on, there is no rhyme or reason. I'll say it again we 'were due one', let's hope we take it out on Peterborough.
Got the feeling as Lanny says could be a wake up call for us, it's not done and dusted yet. Be interesting to see if we pick it up on Tuesday then the loss won't be in vain. Strange day today, one of Banksy friends is also an old work colleague of my wife's so good to speak to them today.
We were second best all over the park today. So they were a tough nut to crack but what really concerns me is that we are not clinical enough with our goal attempts. And we looked jaded after two weeks of two games each week. We have another five weeks of this to go. The cup matches are catching up with us now. I really hope we can get second wind because otherwise, automatic promotion will remain a dream and we'll be subjected to the play off lottery.
I quite agreeHad Sheff U gone in 1-0 up at half time,- it wouldn't have been hard on us. I thought we had been lucky to go in leading, but said then that having rode our luck, it would be good to see it out- With 20 mins to go, I said that I would happily take 1-1 if it was offered right now. Little was far too slow and lost his opponent twice in the build up for the 2nd goal with their 3rd coming from a poor ball in midfield. We didn't gain anything like as much possession as them and when we did, often surrendered this- On a plus point, I thought Freeman was outstanding again today
As we all seem to agree a result like this has been coming for some time as our performances have faltered. It's only poor opposition that have kept us winning at times. We have played a lot of games and we've also had injuries to contend with. Cotts needs to pick the players up and prepare for Peterborough and Colchester and look for another 6 points. Swindle and MK Dons both losing mean we've lost nothing, we've just not taken advantage of their results, and Sheffield Utd are not going to be top 2 come the end of the season - they've probably left it too late. PNE still being in the FA Cup may affect their results to come. Up The City
Glad to see that nobody is getting too upset about yesterday's setback and we can move on to better things. I just hope the congested fixture list leading up to Wembley doesn't have a more serious effect on our performances. We just sound to have lost our bite and it still makes me wonder why we didn't do some serious business in the transfer window? I would like to bet that SC is rattling the cages behind the scenes and we have a chance to put some icing back on the cake on Tuesday. We'll see!
My biggest concern now is the number of consecutive weeks with two matches per week. We looked jaded yesterday and unless we shake this off immediately, one defeat could become a horribly long blip. I hope I am being too nervous!
That's the result of having a small squad, and M Smith leaving in 2 weeks.... We've all said and noted it. Down to the club to get emergency loans in if needed. It's inconceivable to throw this away now after all the hard work that's gone into it.
I don't think we need to hit the panic button just yet but it is now up to the players to show the faithful that yesterday was indeed only a blip. We will need a good show against posh to get us back on track.
Without sounding panicky changes is needed against P'boro, we need pace upfront, and Agard really doesn't look worth the money we paid for him
'with their 3rd coming from a poor ball in midfield' I'll have to look at this one again as I thought Ayling got caught and dispossessed on halfway. My mate (fresh on) couldn't catch their player in possession. Yesterday, I hope, was one of those days. I don't blame anyone in particular but rather give credit to Sheff Utd.
Yes, I agree.. its not about yesterday now, (we actually got away with it with the results around us) its about the response on Tues night, I have been saying for a while key players are looking jaded, one of the effects of that is getting caught in possession! which happened loads yesterday, and Jet being a major culprit. it was a sucker punch goal and the third is irrelevant as we had no choice but to throw the kitchen sink at it. One of those days..
Like Cotts has said, we tried to win the game and extend our lead, and it backfired against a reasonable breakaway side. That being the case, I say fair play to Cotts for taking a gamble. We haven't lost ground, and he has oncoming matches in which to put things right. Attacking substitutions were a bold and calculated gamble, and I applaud it even though it didn't come off. In my mind, a good manager is someone who spots an opportunity and goes with it - i.e. doesn't sit and sweat over what may or may not happen He who dares wins, as they say in that building over the back...
The poor ball in midfield, I wasn't quite sure about but Ayling either got caught or played a weak pass that got intercepted- Either way, the goal could have been avoided.
If Agard would have come on and scored a winner, it would have been genius! them's the calls a manager makes!
Need Agard to start hitting the net regularly with Smith heading back to Fulham soon. Tomorrow is another tough game, and we need to restore confidence and get three points and kick on again. Cotts is bang on, we're bound to have setbacks, but when you consider we've had just 4 league defeats in 10 months, there's no need to panic Yet
I think Ayling took a chance as we were chasing the game. Wagstaff actually tried to foul the bloke but missed him!
