JJpool
Well-known member
Maybe, maybe not what matters is we beat them. They are due a bit if bad luck... we're due good but hardly ever get it.Not for long if we don't start supplying our strikers
We have to make our own luck.
Maybe, maybe not what matters is we beat them. They are due a bit if bad luck... we're due good but hardly ever get it.Not for long if we don't start supplying our strikers
Just like the entire squad was L2 standard last season right? And finished 3rd?Not proven at this level.
Yeah were a Championship club, we outplayed Birmingham for parts of it, they had almost nothing and got incredibly lucky with that blatant offside goal.Sorry but we need to bin the Tony Parks "we're doing well to be here" mentality.
It’s our first season back after years of chaos. It’s just realism. We need to keep improving and can get better.Sorry but we need to bin the Tony Parks "we're doing well to be here" mentality.
In what way?
Surely being mid table is the definition of mixed results?Mixed results like finishing third and winning promotion last season, and then sitting in the top half this season? Real mixed results.
Weve had a tough run, done well against some top sides.In the not winning games sort of way....3 points fromn the last possible 15 was it?
Sterling- Gabriel Connolly- Yates/ LaveryWhich players cost us the match and who would you have played in their stead?
Weve had a tough run, done well against some top sides.
Should have beaten QPR, today didn't score but their goal again offside.
The officiating is dreadful. I hate var but wed probably have a fair few more points.
Were outplaying sides but its just the final 3rd it's not clicking.
This is nothing new and under Critch we rarely have been prolific in the final 3rd.
But we definitely need to be better, almost every chance the ball was crap or at at a defender.
I agree, but I'm sick of hearing, " thinking we should have beaten Birmingham, Stoke, WBA, QPR etc. Shows how far we've come"It’s our first season back after years of chaos. It’s just realism. We need to keep improving and can get better.
I think our goal scoring ability is an entirely different debate, but even if we scored more these refereeing decisions would still be massively impacting us. Today if we'd scored and that offside goal still happened its 2 points dropped, we lost out on 2 more points against QPR, we most likely missed out on at least a point when a player wasn't sent off against Stoke (the winning goal scorer too boot).But should those shit referees have had any real effect on the outcome? It's our own inability to score that's doing the real damage.
I get that totally No disguising it was a frustrating day today overall and we didn’t do ourselves credit in the second half.I agree, but I'm sick of hearing, " thinking we should have beaten Birmingham, Stoke, WBA, QPR etc. Shows how far we've come"
We have a right to compete in this league we have a right to beat every team in it, we're not plucky Blackpool.
Kenny is good but needs another midfielder with himSterling- Gabriel Connolly- Yates/ Lavery
We can't 'expect' anything, it's our first season back in the Championship.Expecting a big win next week, sure we'll get a response
Absolutely agree. Huge losses.Ward and Stewart big losses to the squad
I agree about Grant Ward, I dont think we've seen enough of Stewart this season to miss his contributionAbsolutely agree. Huge losses.
Surely then referencing “last season” in your point is nonsense?Surely being mid table is the definition of mixed results?
I certainly would have started Gabriel , Wintle and one of Yates/ Lavery assuming they wereWhich players cost us the match and who would you have played in their stead?
I listened to the game on the radio, so didn't see it first hand. However, the commentators were very surprised when Demi was taken off, and they attributed blame for the goal to Bowler, for not tracking his winger, which Demi had been doing.A pretty toothless performance today I have to say we were very disappointing as poor as anything so far this season.
Birmingham to be fair weren’t much better and as usual the ref was just shocking.
Not often I pick players out for a poor game but Bowler offered absolutely nothing when he came on, gave the ball away time and time again he just couldn’t get round his man just not sure he’s up to this level.
Deserved nothing got nothing.
One thing is for sure we need to strengthen in January and in a few positions as well.
That’s exactly how it was.I listened to the game on the radio, so didn't see it first hand. However, the commentators were very surprised when Demi was taken off, and they attributed blame for the goal to Bowler, for not tracking his winger, which Demi had been doing.
You want to bin Critch then?I certainly would have started Gabriel , Wintle and one of Yates/ Lavery assuming they were
fit to start of course. We may have lost with them but I don't understand why any Manager wouldn't
start his best team for any league game. Squad rotation ..... do me a favour.
Not at all as the same problems were there last season in that we didn't score enough goals or create enough chances but got away with it cos we were so much better generally than the opposition. I'm surprised you think differently.Surely then referencing “last season” in your point is nonsense?
Where has he said that?You want to bin Critch then?
His choices
That’s exactly why they are very expensive in the transfer market and wages !It's the same since last season. We need a quality creative midfielder and a quality goal scorer. In no way do I think we are poor but until we address these we will continue having mixed results
yes the shit referees would have and are having a real effect.
He chases, fights, scraps, he’ll nick a ball better than Madine for sureHow would he have scored? Strikers thrive on service, our lads are living off scraps
Next weekWe've never scored many under Critch, we've always struggled.
The final 3rd rarely clicks, wrong decisions and quality of ball.
When did we last score 3 in the league?
Yep but the point remains valid and is the difference when push comes to shove. Hopefully can get inspired loans in. A KDH and a striker but as you've alluded to, everyone is after themThat’s exactly why they are very expensive in the transfer market and wages !
I'd prefer to score more goals than we do and, if your honest, so do you. We've struggled to score enough goals all season whichever forward combination we've put out. Critchley, of course, is a safety first coach.Just like the entire squad was L2 standard last season right? And finished 3rd?
Of course, playing really well literally every time we’ve seen him, against all levels of opposition, and being our most prolific player of the season, doesn’t mean he’s Championship level.
Would you prefer Joe Garner?
Are you winding me up ? There both pants. Soft not tough enough and 100% not championship standard centre midfielders.Ward and Stewart big losses to the squad
Agreed he was sorely missed today.I hope we didn’t drop Wintle because we know he’s going back shortly and need to look at other setups. He’s been ace for us.
I'd prefer to score more goals than we do and, if your honest, so do you. We've struggled to score enough goals all season whichever forward combination we've put out. Critchley, of course, is a safety first coach.
I appreciate your opinion but don’t agree with it. Glad Crtichley is in charge of the squad and not the North StandAre you winding me up ? There both pants. Soft not tough enough and 100% not championship standard centre midfielders.
I wouldn't disagree...but Critchley does.Disagree. It’s November, we’ve just been promoted and he deserves to start every game in my opinion. Bowler on the other hand...
Me toI appreciate your opinion but don’t agree with it. Glad Crtichley is in charge of the squad and not the North Stand
Critchley is definitely a safety first coach, and it's been highly successful so I've no problem with that. However, it's clear we do need more in an attacking sense - we either struggle to create, or we do create and struggle to finish. Let's be honest, we 100% should've had at least two goals against WBA. In recent games we've been nearly but not quite.I'd prefer to score more goals than we do and, if your honest, so do you. We've struggled to score enough goals all season whichever forward combination we've put out. Critchley, of course, is a safety first coach.
Yes, we should have scored against WBA but they should have scored several and won the game.Critchley is definitely a safety first coach, and it's been highly successful so I've no problem with that. However, it's clear we do need more in an attacking sense - we either struggle to create, or we do create and struggle to finish. Let's be honest, we 100% should've had at least two goals against WBA. In recent games we've been nearly but not quite.
What we're missing is one of those midfielders that can really play a pass, a through ball that can set us away. Our attacking mostly relies on running at defenders, but we have more than enough pace to put players beyond the defence and we rarely find that pass. Wintle and Dougall are great defensively and that's their main job, but they don't have that passing range. Nor does Anderson really, although he does have a few assists.
Secondly we need a presence in the penalty area. Madine is strong but isn't a finisher and lacks pace/movement, yet Yates and Lavery have the pace and finishing instinct but they do get bullied out of games often, especially when up front on their own. A combination of them in one player would be perfect......but you'd be talking a fair amount of money!!
Critch knows that draws are no good though, he said as much after the WBA game.The game went exactly as i thought it would. Fact is there really isn’t that much between the teams in this division. I never ‘expect’ us to win but by the same token i never ‘expect’ us to lose.
My take on it is that this team is far far better than the sum of its parts. I really think a lot of these players don’t have that much individual quality. How many players would be in demand by other top sides in this division if they were for sale? Arguably nobody apart from Keshi.
I think Critch realises this (especially after the start we had) and he’s now set the team up to compete as best they can.
Its a pragmatic and sensible approach and it’s allowing us to pick up more points than we would do otherwise going hell for leather.