Confidence boost

BFC_53

BFC_53

Well-known member
A great, confidence boosting win yesterday against a side with some very expensive players in their team. It was just what we needed after a poor run, and the signs have been there for a couple of games now.

I said during the week that I've seen relegated 'pool teams numerous times (as many of us have), and this one isn't one of them. I don't get that sense of inevitability, or of a lack of quality for the league we're in. All I got prior to yesterday was a team just lacking a bit of self belief but with many of the attributes required to compete in the championship. I think yesterday was a bit of proof.

I really hope we can get Bridcutt up to full match fitness quickly. If he can get to a full 90 minutes against PNE it will be a huge bonus for us, because he's exactly what we've been missing. Leadership and experience in the middle of the pitch. He changed the game completely when he came on, not necessarily because of what he did with the ball, but what he did to the team. He was pointing and barking orders constantly, and when you are the club with the youngest average starting 11 in the league, that's invaluable. We started with an 18 year old, a 22 year old and a 21 year old in midfield, all of which were playing at a lower level not too long ago. So Bridcutt coming in will make a huge difference. It's also a message to the board that this is what could happen if you sign the midfielder that you've been trying to sign for about two years.

Yates was just phenomenal. His performance was one of the best individual displays back in the championship, and I hope he uses the confidence it must've given him to kick on. Madine was almost as good too. I'm not sure why sometimes Madine gets a harsh time of it with fans. He's still only 32, has 190 championship appearances to his name and all clubs need that bit of experience and nous that he brings to the team. And shithousery of course.

CJ did well, and yesterday was a vindication of those who don't like inverted wingers. That's what happens when you play a winger on the correct side!

Some have been saying Corbeanu isn't a team player and is selfish, but I think sometimes you need a little bit of selfishness. He's scored a few important goals for us and just didn't have the best of games, but I don't mind players having a go.

It was good to see Thompson put in a better display. That mistake against Norwich could've affected him quite badly so it shows his character to immediately come back from it. He's a good'un, and I think will go from strength to strength.

All the defenders did well, but I want to single out Connolly who was good again and it was a brilliantly time header back across goal for the first goal. He's so dependable, we could probably play him anywhere on the pitch including up front, and he wouldn't let us down. With the number of injuries we get, he's invaluable. But it's also a shame, because he's much better than just being cover for others.

MA made some good tactical changes which swung the game in our favour. It's something he seems to be good at and full praise to him for recognising our frailties at half time.

Last comment - there's only 6 points separating 6th place and 19th place after 13 games. It's a very tight league this season, and I don't think we should get too disheartened by our league position. It really will only take a very short good run to get us up the table.
 
A really big and timely confidence shot in the arm. Watching it back Watford were running a sloppy shop defensively and seemed to give up towards the end. There isn't too many times in the championship where a player marking CJ Hamilton is going to give him the thinking time and space he needs to sort his brain and feet out, even on his good side. But I'm glad it happened for him and that Yates got on the end of what he was trying to tee someone up for. And then managed to give us a few of those ever-so-rare minutes at the end of a game where you know you've won, which doesn't come around often. Jerry never gives up but is also a confidence player so I hope that effect can stick for a couple of games now.

It doesn't change much for me in terms of having a frail squad you can't rely on with never ending injuries (Madine back to square one after yesterday) and suspensions whilst having to find a way to be clinical at both ends of the pitch every week. And having to do it in a league that isn't subsidised by the bottom three on points deductions and squad restrictions this year. And where struggling clubs seem a lot more trigger happy to make manager changes a lot early to try and get a boost (Hudds just gone 2-0 v Hull, which they haven't been doing before now). The only way we can shake that off is by going on a run of wins to cancel out the bad run we had before this but is that likely.

Just a good day yesterday in the end. Feed off it until the next game.
 
Hopefully Appleton will continue to set us up to play aggressive, attacking football. Very few teams in this league to fear this season. Let them worry about us, especially at Bloomfield Road, and the expectation that other clubs’ should be beating #teamslikeblackpool should also play into our hands away from home. Sunderland were like a bunch of librarians the other week.
 
poolfc said:
A really big and timely confidence shot in the arm. Watching it back Watford were running a sloppy shop defensively and seemed to give up towards the end. There isn't too many times in the championship where a player marking CJ Hamilton is going to give him the thinking time and space he needs to sort his brain and feet out, even on his good side. But I'm glad it happened for him and that Yates got on the end of what he was trying to tee someone up for. And then managed to give us a few of those ever-so-rare minutes at the end of a game where you know you've won, which doesn't come around often. Jerry never gives up but is also a confidence player so I hope that effect can stick for a couple of games now.

It doesn't change much for me in terms of having a frail squad you can't rely on with never ending injuries (Madine back to square one after yesterday) and suspensions whilst having to find a way to be clinical at both ends of the pitch every week. And having to do it in a league that isn't subsidised by the bottom three on points deductions and squad restrictions this year. And where struggling clubs seem a lot more trigger happy to make manager changes a lot early to try and get a boost (Hudds just gone 2-0 v Hull, which they haven't been doing before now). The only way we can shake that off is by going on a run of wins to cancel out the bad run we had before this but is that likely.

Just a good day yesterday in the end. Feed off it until the next game.
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Agree that the Watford defending for our second, particularly the total lack of effort to mark CJ, gave us the opportunity. If either Thompson or Connolly had defended like that I'd be fuming, but I think that's the point. I highly doubt either would ever show such a lack of effort as that, and that's where sometimes we can get the edge in this league.

You've mentioned Hudds as an example of managerial changes having a positive impact, but I'd also argue that there are examples of the opposite. The best example is Rotherham who lost their manager to a club in the league below, and got pasted 3-0 yesterday. There are still several clubs that we have a great chance to finish above imo, even without points deductions. Cov seem to be struggling again with off field issues, Wigan don't look great and still haven't won at home yet. Bristol City 4 defeats out of 5. It depends which way we look at it. Even the game on now, Hull already below us and about to make it 6 defeats in 7 despite changing manager.
We have enough about us to ensure we don't get into trouble I think.
 
We should be going into games with great confidence. Look at some of the results we have had so far. Beaten Reading, won at QPR, a point at Burnley which should have been 3, unlucky not to get something out of the Norwich game , a good point at Sunderland which again we could have nicked it and yesterday’s great performance and win against Watford. What have we got to be afraid of ? Bring on Sheffield Utd. Play with confidence not cockiness, discipline , organisation and hard work ethic and we will soon start climbing the table.
 
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