Two on spin and lots of goals...views changing?

[hogesar]

LDC, I dont understand you referring to two halves today as inconsistent. In fact, both halves were good performances because they achieved what they intended to.

First half kept it tight, which is clearly the intention when you play 4 cms in midfield. Half time we brought Redmond on with the clear intention of widening the pitch and exploiting the ten men of Huddersfield.

First half was far less entertaining but from a pragmatic view both halves achieved what was intended so there's no inconsistency there.

 

[Lake District Canary]

LDC, I dont understand you referring to two halves today as inconsistent. In fact, both halves were good performances because they achieved what they intended to.

First half kept it tight, which is clearly the intention when you play 4 cms in midfield. Half time we brought Redmond on with the clear intention of widening the pitch and exploiting the ten men of Huddersfield.

First half was far less entertaining but from a pragmatic view both halves achieved what was intended so there's no inconsistency there.

The inconsistency is still there imo and has been since the first day of the season.   If - I know its an if - Huddersfield had scored on their clear cut chance in the first half - and they very nearly did, we would all have been saying - here we go again - conceding the first goal then having to fight back.   Even Bolton where we did get  ahead was perilously close to looking like a disaster in the making, in the second half through indiscipline and cavalier tactics.  

I'm not knocking the win, I'm over the moon we scored five, but the question was what would it take to change your mind - and that in my case would be some more convincing first half displays where not only do we keep it tight, but actually offer some kind of threat.   We've seen loads of games where when we do score its been as the result of being poor in the first half.   Every game I've been to apart from the Bolton game its  been a case  of  a dire first half, followed by a "oh, we'd better do something about it" in the second half.  Its a game of 90 minutes, but I don't want to be a Man City type team where we look awful a lot of the time then turn in with a few goals just because we can.  I would rather see a team that looks purposeful and looks like it knows what it is doing for 90 minutes. That to me is more convincing - and entertaining if it comes to that.

 

[Yellow Fever]

IMO, we have improved in the first half of late. Yes, Bolton, but we also scored first against Reading and dominated most of the game except for the lapses at the corners. Similarly we scored against Wigan and then controlled the game very well. Had we gone full bore after the sending off, we could have been caught on the break. Bringing Redmond on obviously caught them out and we scored 3 gaols very quickly. That was well managed to my mind.

 

[Lake District Canary]

IMO, we have improved in the first half of late. Yes, Bolton, but we also scored first against Reading and dominated most of the game except for the lapses at the corners. Similarly we scored against Wigan and then controlled the game very well. Had we gone full bore after the sending off, we could have been caught on the break. Bringing Redmond on obviously caught them out and we scored 3 gaols very quickly. That was well managed to my mind.

I would agree about Wigan.  Reading was a disastrously jittery performance all round imo.  The team I would like to see - and imo one that we will have to see if we want one of the top spots - is one where we are relentless through ninety minutes, week in week out.  Middlsbro are the only team looking like they are capable of that and maybe Derby.  We have to match them in terms of teamwork and purpose, week in week out  to get up there.  We've had two positive results -  but it is not enough yet to change my mind.  The Derby match is a good one to have next. Win that then I will start to believe. 

 

[Salopian]

I am not suggesting that there was an element of luck, though there was in having a man sent off, but i speculated what might have happened yesterday if Huddersfield had scored a relatively early goal and then shut up shop, which has happened more than once against us.

Would the arrival of Redmond have led to the goal-fest? Somehow I doubt it The starting line-up, retained from last week,is O.K., but it relies on Ruddy dealing with very good chances. Yesterday the bar came to our aid.

Has there been a mini-revival? I'm not sure. It was good to see both strikers score and with three from the midfield, but...

The real test will be at Derby. If we can hold our own there, I would have to admit that progress has been made. There is certainly more coherence and discipline, even if the football is not so attractive, but we are still missing  several chances to score each game. We could and should have been two goals in front by half time.

 

[lyb]

I am not suggesting that there was an element of luck, though there was in having a man sent off, but i speculated what might have happened yesterday if Huddersfield had scored a relatively early goal and then shut up shop, which has happened more than once against us.

Would the arrival of Redmond have led to the goal-fest? Somehow I doubt it The starting line-up, retained from last week,is O.K., but it relies on Ruddy dealing with very good chances. Yesterday the bar came to our aid.

Has there been a mini-revival? I'm not sure. It was good to see both strikers score and with three from the midfield, but...

The real test will be at Derby. If we can hold our own there, I would have to admit that progress has been made. There is certainly more coherence and discipline, even if the football is not so attractive, but we are still missing  several chances to score each game. We could and should have been two goals in front by half time.

If you look at the teams above us, the only one we haven't played is Derby and the only one we haven't beat of the rest is Middlesborough. There's every reason to be confident about it, but I think this is a game where we need to set up not to lose and look to take counter-attacking opportunities rather than go gung ho. It's a six-pointer. 

 

[Yellow Fever]

If you look at the teams above us, the only one we haven't played is Derby and the only one we haven't beat of the rest is Middlesborough. There's every reason to be confident about it, but I think this is a game where we need to set up not to lose and look to take counter-attacking opportunities rather than go gung ho. It's a six-pointer. 

That's my feeling as well POJ. Derby are well organised and move the ball well if they're allowed to. Boro denied them that yesterday by pressing relentlessly and breaking up any rhythm. That's what we need to do, with more direct passing up to Hooper and Jerome like we saw at Wigan while Derby are pushing forward. Not hoofball, but intelligent passing into the channels and running at the CBs, especaily as Shotton will be suspended.

 

[Yellow Fever]

That's my feeling as well POJ. Derby are well organised and move the ball well if they're allowed to. Boro denied them that yesterday by pressing relentlessly and breaking up any rhythm. That's what we need to do, with more direct passing up to Hooper and Jerome like we saw at Wigan while Derby are pushing forward. Not hoofball, but intelligent passing into the channels and running at the CBs, especaily as Shotton will be suspended and they'll have a different back line.

Sorry, this somehow got posted twice.

 

[Din]

When the subject was previously discussed on here, and the question was asked as to what would change your mind, my answer was "4 or 5 wins". And that remains.

Agree with this. However a win away at Derby on Saturday will certainly change a few people's opinions.

 

[morty]

Agree with this. However a win away at Derby on Saturday will certainly change a few people's opinions.

Oh very much so, likely mine too.

This will be a pretty stern test.

 

[Yellow Fever]

I agree, and 3 wins on the trot would be hard to argue with.

 

[Paul Handscombe]

No, we played an absolutely crap team in Wigan and against 10 men on saturday.  Maybe if we get a result against Derby my opinion might change slightly but no we are still *bleep* poor in the final 3rd and have the cutting edge of a plastic spoon

 

[Highland Canary]

We need at least three wins and a draw out of the next four to provide some evidence that we are beginning to turn the corner and to start to close the gap on the top two.

 

[Jimmy smith]

For me, it's gone like this:

Preseason: We look strong, but it's a tough and unpredictable league. Not sure on Adams but he's built a strong squad

After 4/5 games: Wow, we look top notch! This year will be a breeze.

After 10 games: Cannot believe we're not flying away with this league, how unlucky have we been!

After 15 games: Hmm, this can't be purely coincidental. Adams looks naive and we look too easy to break down.

After 19 games: FFS what are we doing keeping going with Adams?! He's clearly out of his depth!

After 21 games: Hmm, maybe we were a bit unlucky from game 6/7 to game 15 and then lost our spirit a bit. Phelan seems to be turning the defence/ silly errors round and our strikers look exciting again. Hope we can build on this the next 5-10 games and get back to the top 2. Jury out on Adams but see where we are in 5-10 games, plenty to play for and we can beat anyone!

 

[Yellow Fever]

We need at least three wins and a draw out of the next four to provide some evidence that we are beginning to turn the corner and to start to close the gap on the top two.

IMO, both you and Paul are being a bit unrealistic, Highland. Two weeks ago it was 'we need 10-12 points from the next 4 games'. Now it's been upped to 16 points from a possible 18. That's stretching it, even for Chelsea. After two wins on the trot, we need to aim at 2 points per game over a run of games and that will get us back into the frame. No team is dominating things. I can't see Bournemouth, Ipswich and Brentford staying the course, and Derby have lost 3 of their last 4 games. Boro are having a spurt, but will it last long-term? We are as good as any of these teams.

 

[Yellow Fever]

It feels like the Derby game could be a turning point for our season with Hooper and Jerome looking good up front, Howson and Redmond playing well and Wes and Ryan Bennett available again, with Odjidja-Ofoe soon to follow.

 

[Wiz]

I might need to have a re-think IF that indeed did happen.

 

[Yellow Fever]

It's a 'funny game' after all!   Anything could happen! It's the 'should' I have trouble with.

 

[Brian Fantana]

Huh? Huh? How about now?

Got to say I am a bit impressed with the change in mentality.

 

[Dandy Mountfarto]

Huh? Huh? How about now?

Got to say I am a bit impressed with the change in mentality.

Imo there has been very little change in mentality, Boro game aside we've been going out and dominating teams in terms of possession, shots and chances all season. The only difference now is that now the defensive lapses have stopped and our finishing has improved a bit.

I'm sure many people however will pin it all on Phelan as a way of not having to admit they jumped the gun with regards to Adams competence.