Don't Shoot Me....

1966_and_all_that

1966_and_all_that

Well-known member
...and I'm not even a piano player.

No, my reason for posting this is a concern about our lack of wins of late.

Of our last 4 games - Stoke, QPR, Swansea and West Brom - I'd say that Stoke was the only disappointment. Getting the draws against QPR, Swansea and WBA were good results. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a 'having a go at the team' thread.'

So, what the deuce am I on about? Well, I suppose it's the lack of real threat in front of goal. I know that someone, (Chunky I think), opined that other teams have strikers costing millions whereas we don't. True enough. But our boys are not slouches. Bowler scored a 'worldy' teasing the ball past defenders earlier in the season. Yates found Madine with a great, cheeky bit of skill against Preston. These are not "league 2 strikers" they are good Championship players.

I watched Lavery last night against West Brom. Not only can he jump high for a small lad, he also has good strength to get past big defenders whilst holding onto the ball.

Gary Madine - good
Keshi - excellent
Gerry Yates - good
Lavery - good with potential.
Bowler - can do it
Dale - has shown great skill and awareness.

So why am I posting this? I can't even convince myself.

Thoughts.....
 
1966_and_all_that said:
...and I'm not even a piano player.

No, my reason for posting this is a concern about our lack of wins of late.

Of our last 4 games - Stoke, QPR, Swansea and West Brom - I'd say that Stoke was the only disappointment. Getting the draws against QPR, Swansea and WBA were good results. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a 'having a go at the team' thread.'

So, what the deuce am I on about? Well, I suppose it's the lack of real threat in front of goal. I know that someone, (Chunky I think), opined that other teams have strikers costing millions whereas we don't. True enough. But our boys are not slouches. Bowler scored a 'worldy' teasing the ball past defenders earlier in the season. Yates found Madine with a great, cheeky bit of skill against Preston. These are not "league 2 strikers" they are good Championship players.

I watched Lavery last night against West Brom. Not only can he jump high for a small lad, he also has good strength to get past big defenders whilst holding onto the ball.

Gary Madine - good
Keshi - excellent
Gerry Yates - good
Lavery - good with potential.
Bowler - can do it
Dale - has shown great skill and awareness.

So why am I posting this? I can't even convince myself.

Thoughts.....
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Totally get where your coming from... we don’t have a stand out... Charlie Adam, DJ, Tom Ince, Matty Phillips, Kevin Phillips etc etc but I can see Keshi, Demetri, Lavery becoming such players. I’m confident, all in good time👍
 
I think the strikers we have are good enough….. particularly Lavery..Although in keeping with AVFTT tradition a Simms option would be nice.

If anything, I think a quality playmaker in CM is likely to have a bigger impact on our overall attacking threat / options.

I do think that Jerry or Lavs would have probably bagged the chance that fell to CJ last night and capitalising on limited chances is likely to be the difference in the bigger games.

So Simms plus a Midfield Maestro and we’re Premier League bound IMO👍
 
Echo what other have said with the fact it’s a very tough set of fixtures and a good few weeks ago I looked at November and though it looked incredibly tough, I’m confident of a win at Birmingham which imo will make it a excellent month, a draw and it’s a good month. Anyway back to the question in hand…..we don’t create masses of chances and what we do create I feel we do snatch at a little and we’re just a little off with our decision making……Madine early in the second half if he got a shout from bowler surely it would of been a tap in? We do play some good stuff for sure but I will sacrifice goals galore for maybe 50-55 goals a season and a decent points total and steady improvements. Again our players are continuing to climb the leagues and improve constantly which I’m more than happy with, a lot of championship clubs throw cash at the teams like it’s going out of fashion yet are miles behind us in the league. Didn’t Readings team cost something like 100 Million?
 
1966_and_all_that said:
opined that other teams have strikers costing millions whereas we don't. True enough. But our boys are not slouches.
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Other teams also have defenders,defensive midfielders who cost millions, regularly play on the International stage for their National side and many with Premier League experience also.

The forward line are playing against way better defenders and we are doing bloody well to be where we are seeing as two where in Lge1 and one in NI last season.

Would I have like Simms to have come to us hell yes and he'd have netted a few by now but if anyone would have told me in August we'd be ninth in the table 12 points above the relegation zone in November I wouldn't have believed them.
 
Part of the problem is we don't get the ball forwards quickly enough. The strikers are making runs that aren't being spotted. This is happening regularly. Maybe it will come. Swans and West Brom were pressing hard, so our players got a bit stuck passing sideways.
 
poolseasider said:
Other teams also have defenders,defensive midfielders who cost millions, regularly play on the International stage for their National side and many with Premier League experience also.

The forward line are playing against way better defenders and we are doing bloody well to be where we are seeing as two where in Lge1 and one in NI last season.

Would I have like Simms to have come to us hell yes and he'd have netted a few by now but if anyone would have told me in August we'd be ninth in the table 12 points above the relegation zone in November I wouldn't have believed them.
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Cheered me up here PS. Yes, the parachute teams will have top price defenders. Forgot to acknowledge that.
 
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Costero Poderoso said:
QPR and stoke we were robbed, swansea are a very good team with what seemed to be a very good defence. last night could have gone either way in reality
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Yes we were robbed against Stoke and QPR but the Swansea fans can say that they were robbed with the challenge from Husband in the second half that was a stone wall penalty.
The volume of baggies fans that thought they were worthy of the win is laughable.
The clear cut chances were all Blackpool's and with a bit more composure we'd have won the game, not easily but we'd have won it .
 
I really am impressed by Lavery, he reads the game so well and peels off into space and always looking for the ball. He's probably the most natural finisher we have and can create a chance out of nothing. He's quick and not afraid to put himself about.

Although we have a real gem in him I do feel the most naturally gifted player we have at present is Sonny Carey, I really can't understand why he's not been involved in the last 2 matches but I'm sure Critch knows what a talent he has on his hands and is managing the youngsters career accordingly.
 
Wizzerboy said:
Yes we were robbed against Stoke and QPR but the Swansea fans can say that they were robbed with the challenge from Husband in the second half that was a stone wall penalty.
The volume of baggies fans that thought they were worthy of the win is laughable.
The clear cut chances were all Blackpool's and with a bit more composure we'd have won the game, not easily but we'd have won it .
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wouldnt disagree with that, apart from the stonewall penalty, we were lucky that he didnt give it we would have felt aggrived if he had.
 
onlyonepool said:
I really am impressed by Lavery, he reads the game so well and peels off into space and always looking for the ball. He's probably the most natural finisher we have and can create a chance out of nothing. He's quick and not afraid to put himself about.

Although we have a real gem in him I do feel the most naturally gifted player we have at present is Sonny Carey, I really can't understand why he's not been involved in the last 2 matches but I'm sure Critch knows what a talent he has on his hands and is managing the youngsters career accordingly.
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Very interesting OnlyonePool. Carey: where should he play to get our best out of him? Who should he be supporting? Who should support him?
 
Wizzerboy said:
Yes we were robbed against Stoke and QPR but the Swansea fans can say that they were robbed with the challenge from Husband in the second half that was a stone wall penalty.
The volume of baggies fans that thought they were worthy of the win is laughable.
The clear cut chances were all Blackpool's and with a bit more composure we'd have won the game, not easily but we'd have won it .
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Actually that's a fair point about the clear cut chances.
 
Our issue and has been for a while is creating clear cut chances and taking them.

Inventive play and precise passing in the final 3rd and good finishing.

We've not scored a few for a while or often.

An area to improve.
 
Loco said:
Part of the problem is we don't get the ball forwards quickly enough. The strikers are making runs that aren't being spotted. This is happening regularly. Maybe it will come. Swans and West Brom were pressing hard, so our players got a bit stuck passing sideways.
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We get it to Keshi and we all start to think, 'this'll be good', but then it isn't. Open question, are we not getting our chaps in a good receiving position, is Keshi dwelling on the ball, is their defence too good?
 
We aren't a goal happy squad. We weren't last term and we aren't this. Last year we upped our average with that burst from Ellis Simms but we are not a squad full of goal scorers. We are still highly effective as a squad but we really could do with a little creativity in the middle which we've never had under Critch.
 
1966_and_all_that said:
We get it to Keshi and we all start to think, 'this'll be good', but then it isn't. Open question, are we not getting our chaps in a good receiving position, is Keshi dwelling on the ball, is their defence too good?
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I was really meaning from defence or defensive midfield. Keshi can make things happen but often takes the ball too far - same as Bowler. Maybe they need other players to support them more, or think outside the box a bit. An area to work on for Critch. But starting at the back is what he did last season. Then Simms came along.
 
Macseasider said:
We aren't a goal happy squad. We weren't last term and we aren't this. Last year we upped our average with that burst from Ellis Simms but we are not a squad full of goal scorers. We are still highly effective as a squad but we really could do with a little creativity in the middle which we've never had under Critch.
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Probably a good post. I just don't like criticising Critch - which is feeble, I know.
 
Wizzerboy said:
Yes we were robbed against Stoke and QPR but the Swansea fans can say that they were robbed with the challenge from Husband in the second half that was a stone wall penalty.
The volume of baggies fans that thought they were worthy of the win is laughable.
The clear cut chances were all Blackpool's and with a bit more composure we'd have won the game, not easily but we'd have won it .
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We definitely should have had five extra points against Stoke and QPR, and yes, Swansea should have gone 2-0 up with a penalty, but even losing there, we would be four points better off. WBA generally had more attacking threat than us but I couldn't believe the double save just before halftime preventing us from going 1-0 up. Our problem is constantly playing back to the keeper, especially when teams are cottoning-on and pressing high. We almost made a monstrous balls-up in second half injury time because of it.
 
1966_and_all_that said:
Very interesting OnlyonePool. Carey: where should he play to get our best out of him? Who should he be supporting? Who should support him?
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66, I'd say he should be playing in front of 2 holding midfielders, Dougall/Stewart and Wintle, a bit of a free reign. let Lavery/Yates and Madine occupy the central defenders and this guy will create, he oozes class and has some shot on him. The confidence of a run of games and he'll be dominating the middle of the park.

A proper footballer stands out a mile, you can tell by his first touch just how good he is. He's chomping at the bit in Critch's ear for game time. Critch knows how to manage a good youngster and I think this one is going to be a star.
 
onlyonepool said:
I really am impressed by Lavery, he reads the game so well and peels off into space and always looking for the ball. He's probably the most natural finisher we have and can create a chance out of nothing. He's quick and not afraid to put himself about.

Although we have a real gem in him I do feel the most naturally gifted player we have at present is Sonny Carey, I really can't understand why he's not been involved in the last 2 matches but I'm sure Critch knows what a talent he has on his hands and is managing the youngsters career accordingly.
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Injured
 
Wizaard said:
Injured
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Critch said in his press conference that Carey had wanted to play after his cameo against QPR, Critch said he told him everyone would get their chance and said it could be West Brom or Birmingham. I hadn't heard about an injury. You maybe right would explain a lot.
 
onlyonepool said:
66, I'd say he should be playing in front of 2 holding midfielders, Dougall/Stewart and Wintle, a bit of a free reign. let Lavery/Yates and Madine occupy the central defenders and this guy will create, he oozes class and has some shot on him. The confidence of a run of games and he'll be dominating the middle of the park.

A proper footballer stands out a mile, you can tell by his first touch just how good he is. He's chomping at the bit in Critch's ear for game time. Critch knows how to manage a good youngster and I think this one is going to be a star.
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Good post. I haven't seen as much in him but then, I haven't been paying so close attention. Who then does he replace. From your free roll idea is it Keshi? Tricky isn't it?
 
L’étranger said:
Critch after the Swansea game, ‘Carey couldn’t even get in the squad’ - suggests he isn’t injured.
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Sorry L'etranger. I don't understand you. The quote 'Carey couldn't even get in the squad' sounds like an injury. The only other reading is that of a put down and Critch doesn't do that.
 
1966_and_all_that said:
Sorry L'etranger. I don't understand you. The quote 'Carey couldn't even get in the squad' sounds like an injury. The only other reading is that of a put down and Critch doesn't do that.
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I may have slightly misquoted him, but the gist of it was the team and bench were so strong that even Carey couldn’t get in, which implies he wasn’t injured.
 
Really enjoyed reading this thread. Some interesting thoughts. Progress is steady but relentless, no longer a league one squad playing in the championship..... now a squad worthy of the championship... in less than 20 games. Obviously NC deservedly takes the credit but let’s not forget his staff too👍
 
1966_and_all_that said:
Good post. I haven't seen as much in him but then, I haven't been paying so close attention. Who then does he replace. From your free roll idea is it Keshi? Tricky isn't it?
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It certainly is tricky but a nice problem to have, hard to leave Keshi out with the form he's been in lately but he has shown he can be effective wide or in a more central role. I think Critch has shown he isn't going to change from his rotation policy everywhere but central defence. only Marv. Keogh/Husband are fixtures, the rest are revolving doors which must make it a nightmare for scouts reporting back on us. Critch certainly keeps them guessing and it seems to work.
 
Some very valid and good points on this thread, I wonder where Dale fits in the the equation? As I understand it his loan is so we can sign him in January, he made an instant impact against Reading, so where and how do we fit him in?
 
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