Is Saturday a must not lose game?

S

straightatthewall

Well-known member
In hindsight, I was probably wrong to ask if the Reading game was ‘must win.’ But with still limited business getting done re players in AND fans favourite Rick Keogh being sold to the highest bidder, there’s bound to be some nerves in the stands on Saturday. That means the players cannot afford to lose in my view. It may well be pragmatic of Apples to revert to 4-4-2 or even 3-5-1-1 to ensure a safety first approach that lets him live to fight another day.
 
straightatthewall said:
In hindsight, I was probably wrong to ask if the Reading game was ‘must win.’ But with still limited business getting done re players in AND fans favourite Rick Keogh being sold to the highest bidder, there’s bound to be some nerves in the stands on Saturday. That means the players cannot afford to lose in my view. It may well be pragmatic of Apples to revert to 4-4-2 or even 3-5-1-1 to ensure a safety first approach that lets him live to fight another day.
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Game 3 of 46. No.

But we do need to show some progression and longer term style.
 
straightatthewall said:
In hindsight, I was probably wrong to ask if the Reading game was ‘must win.’ But with still limited business getting done re players in AND fans favourite Rick Keogh being sold to the highest bidder, there’s bound to be some nerves in the stands on Saturday. That means the players cannot afford to lose in my view. It may well be pragmatic of Apples to revert to 4-4-2 or even 3-5-1-1 to ensure a safety first approach that lets him live to fight another day.
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Stand up when you post, that way the sound won't be so muffled
 
straightatthewall said:
In hindsight, I was probably wrong to ask if the Reading game was ‘must win.’ But with still limited business getting done re players in AND fans favourite Rick Keogh being sold to the highest bidder, there’s bound to be some nerves in the stands on Saturday. That means the players cannot afford to lose in my view. It may well be pragmatic of Apples to revert to 4-4-2 or even 3-5-1-1 to ensure a safety first approach that lets him live to fight another day.
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Of course not. Even if we lose the next 3 games , we'll still have made a better start than last season.
 
In the context of the season, no it isn't.
But in the short term, and to stop a few nerves jangling, yes.

We've not had a terrible start to the league (1 point better than PNE who are unbeaten), but I'd like to see the players settling in to MA's system as soon as possible. The first half against Reading was very encouraging, but the awful first half against Stoke was worrying. Looking forward to it, I just hope we can get on the front foot ASAP against a team who like to keep the ball. We don't want to be chasing the ball in 30 degrees.
 
If Swansea turn up, then I can see a draw to stabilise on Saturday. I know it sounds boring, but, not losing at home in the league is a good way to start any season.

I would allow for around 10 games to settle our reshuffled pack.
 
straightatthewall said:
In hindsight, I was probably wrong to ask if the Reading game was ‘must win.’ But with still limited business getting done re players in AND fans favourite Rick Keogh being sold to the highest bidder, there’s bound to be some nerves in the stands on Saturday. That means the players cannot afford to lose in my view. It may well be pragmatic of Apples to revert to 4-4-2 or even 3-5-1-1 to ensure a safety first approach that lets him live to fight another day.
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“Live to fight another day?”

Jesus people really need to get a grip. As Wizz says, game 3 of 46
 
Swansea play a possession game mainly in their own half and struggle for goals,theyv had a poor start and lost 3 nil at home to Blackburn even though they had 70% possession .This is a winnable game
 
No, it would put more pressure on Appleton and the board, but losing a game in August, unless it was Nobbers, should never be seen as fatal. As much as anything I want to see a performance similar to the first 30 against Reading for an entire game. If we can see improvement, that in itself would be a step forward.
 
The season certainly hinges on a few games and this is the main one. We need to come out of the blocks fast and take the initiative to be on the front foot whilst ensuring we maintain as much elasticity as required.

Hopefully we come through it unscathed and survive to live another day...
 
agree with Wiz. Saturday is about the performance. The team need to show that they are capable of creating chances for the forwards who need to show they are capable of taking them. The defence needs to show their organisation against a team likely to dominate possession.
 
Graves said:
If Swansea turn up, then I can see a draw to stabilise on Saturday. I know it sounds boring, but, not losing at home in the league is a good way to start any season.

I would allow for around 10 games to settle our reshuffled pack.
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Did I miss something, is there now some doubt that Swansea won't turn up, does no one want to come here?
 
How many points from the next 3 games is worrying me. Unfortunately I can only see one point against a dour Swansea side. Hopefully the team will pick up and surprise me and pick up 9.
 
I think it’s bigger than it should be! Another home game against another of the clubs I would expect to be ‘bottom half’
Depending on result and performance this game will have a massive bearing on how a lot of fans view the progress at the club and of our new manager. Lose this, and lose without a decent showing will heap massive pressure on MA already.
I just pray we get the 3 points and a return of the feel good. COYP
 
All about staying awake in the heat whilst Swansea play keep ball. Hopefully the pool players do not nod off either.
 
Blackpool fans of all people should know not to panic based on the first few results, considering that some of out best seasons have followed a poor start. Lost the first three under Grayson in 2006, in the relegation zone after seven games under Critchley two years ago, almost bottom of league two after ten games under McMahon in 2000. All games are important but the side we put out tomorrow is unlikely to be the side MA eventually settles on.
 
JJpool said:
Another unhelpful wind up post 🙄
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The SS SS is navigating its first patch of choppy waters since SS took charge. The first thing you do when sailing through a storm is find calmer waters to assess damage and move on. This is not Hollywood where you sail into the biggest wave and take it on. Although ironically, Ollie would.
 
Who remembers the free game, ironically also against Swansea in 1993 where we'd not won in ages. Now they were shit times.
 
If we Lose.......Then it's the normal "Saturday Night Argument" and going into meltdown as the sky falls in and the worlds ending...etc. etc....

If we draw.......Then it's the normal "Saturday Night Argument" +/- Phil blaming Ben/The formation/no right back/no left back/floating full backs/ The weather/Critch/BSA/Holloway/SISA/anyone who once mentioned the Oystons over the last 15 years/anyone who thinks he's Welsh.....etc, etc....

If we Win.......Then it's the normal "Saturday Night Argument"/Phil blame game and then everyone picking one or two plyers we can slag off for not putting a shift in/ being crap/ cant pass a ball/ getting tackled or any combination of the above......

So doesn't really matter if we win, lose or draw......were just going to complain......
 
Potts Must Go said:
Who remembers the free game, ironically also against Swansea in 1993 where we'd not won in ages. Now they were shit times.
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We had lost a club record 8 on the spin prior to that game. 1-1 Andy Gouck scored ? Who also earlier in the game ran into the ref & knocked him out.

Home form & results is what will keep us up this season. So tomorrow is a highly probable must win. First 3 home games (Reading Swansea & Bristol) & 9 points is a solid platform.
 
braymarina said:
Did I miss something, is there now some doubt that Swansea won't turn up, does no one want to come here?
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What I meant was, if Swansea play well.
However, it does seem that people are terrified of BR these days... maybe now our guard dog Dobermann Uncle Richard is gone, they will be less so.
 
straightatthewall said:
In hindsight, I was probably wrong to ask if the Reading game was ‘must win.’ But with still limited business getting done re players in AND fans favourite Rick Keogh being sold to the highest bidder, there’s bound to be some nerves in the stands on Saturday. That means the players cannot afford to lose in my view. It may well be pragmatic of Apples to revert to 4-4-2 or even 3-5-1-1 to ensure a safety first approach that lets him live to fight another day.
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They are all must win games until we are safe.
 
Absolutely not, second guessing and playing safe at this stage of the season is just a way to make sure the squad never gel and a consistent philosophy never develops. You have to set out as you mean for the team to play long term, and balance that out with an in-game Plan B to make sure we take something away from the match.
 
It's a long season so no, but as others have alluded to from Appletons perspective he needs something to keep fans onside.
I think he'll be cagey and hope we nick it ( which is a great result in anyone's books) or at least get a point.
Lose and there'll be some booing I expect, but not a BIG FAT BOO.
 
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