To be fair to Wednesday, they will give anybody a game - I thought Stoke were the poorest team to get up to the premiership and they have stayed there. Just a tad dispointed Wednesday seem to be favouring the dark side of the force but it could see them being competetive this season. We should take it as a compliment they came to stop us rather than play (even if it diod spoil the game as a spectacle) but we do have to work out how to play teams that work very hard, are physical and turn every loose ball into a battle. Whilst I think it is a shame a team of Wednesday's staure adopted this approach, you can understand the smaller teams in this league doing so and not begrudge them that at all, and we will have to stand up to that and not lose points as we did yesterday.
Would have like to see what Pritchard could offer mid way through the second half as I was thinking this was the right sort of game for him.
Just dont see the negative at the moment. We havnt lost yet----beat a team from a higher level in the League Cup-----are third in league with 40 games to go-----the Board have played a blinder.
As for 14,000 being a poor gate ? Wigan and QPR struggle to get that in the Prem-----Millsmall get 10K and its a good gate --- On TV and pissing down with rain its a GOOD gate.
As for Hayes being poor well anyone when the ball is lumped in the air and you have a 6/& giant against you would look poor.
One word... FRUSTRATING. We know we can get the ball down and play it and when we did S W didnt like it. We started getting impatient and lumping the ball long playing into their hands every single time. It felt like we was playing one up front. Waggy was nowhere to be seen a lot of the time. Fair enough we are still unbeaten but its a soft goal to concede against a Palarse SCUMBAG.
"Whilst I think it is a shame a team of Wednesday's staure adopted this approach, you can understand the smaller teams in this league doing so and not begrudge them that at all, and we will have to stand up to that and not lose points as we did yesterday. "
Good point and while we held our own with the dark side for the first half we later sent a message to the rest of League 1 that we can be intimidated with the brutal stuff.
Wednesday never really threatened and the defence were the outstanding contributors last night. Stephens 2-0 and it's a very different game, whilst there's just one goal in it it plays into Megson's hands - very glad not to be watching their style of football every week.
We lost our way second half and needed to get back to playing football through the middle. It might have been smarter to bring Pritchard on for Hayes, an extra man with extra pace, skill and not frightened to get stuck in. We needed to stop punting balls forward and leaving a small mobile guy up front supported by wingers pushing on might have been a decent enough plan B.
Credit to Wednesday though, they weathered the storm and earned (rather than deserved) their point.
Not much to worry about. Our younger players will learn from it, Powell will learn from it, and we're still unbeaten. The better sides will come and play football, which we'll enjoy, the smaller clubs might spoil but won't be as strong as a Megson team at that particular game.
Another point gained, unbeaten and much to be positive about.
To be fair to Wednesday, they will give anybody a game - I thought Stoke were the poorest team to get up to the premiership and they have stayed there. Just a tad dispointed Wednesday seem to be favouring the dark side of the force but it could see them being competetive this season. We should take it as a compliment they came to stop us rather than play (even if it diod spoil the game as a spectacle) but we do have to work out how to play teams that work very hard, are physical and turn every loose ball into a battle. Whilst I think it is a shame a team of Wednesday's staure adopted this approach, you can understand the smaller teams in this league doing so and not begrudge them that at all, and we will have to stand up to that and not lose points as we did yesterday.
Would have like to see what Pritchard could offer mid way through the second half as I was thinking this was the right sort of game for him.
I hate the fact we have to resort to this style away from home but we haven't won on the road since March 8th and need to pick up points, for us it's a point gained on last year and sets us up for MK Dons on Saturday then back to back away games at Stevenage and Yeovil, hopefully we will get 4 points to kick start our season and should we get our key players back we will be a lot stronger.
Excellent start with Wagstaff to the fore and BWP looking very sharp - lots of running the channels and plenty of huff and puff.
Stephens missing that sitter was the game-changer - 2-0 then and it's just a case of how many we score.
2nd half clearly a total contrast. Don't think we forced a save from their keeper?
Disappointed that Green was not available as was looking forward to seeing him - heard good things.
Thought the new left-back looked good. Slightly disappointed with Stephens. At the heart of most of the good things in the first 30 mins but faded after that.
Wagstaff was anonymous in the second-half.
Euell for Hayes not a great substitution when we are 1-1 at home.
Why oh why didn't we go 4-5-1 with Pritchard replacing Hayes when it was clear that we would not win an aerial battle against their defence - and we all know from last season that is how to deal with a 4 man midfield containing Semedo?
We need to dictate the tactics at home - not the likes of Megson. Please have the courage of your convictions Chrissy and take some risks.
Just dont see the negative at the moment. We havnt lost yet----beat a team from a higher level in the League Cup-----are third in league with 40 games to go-----the Board have played a blinder.
As for 14,000 being a poor gate ? Wigan and QPR struggle to get that in the Prem-----Millsmall get 10K and its a good gate --- On TV and pissing down with rain its a GOOD gate.
As for Hayes being poor well anyone when the ball is lumped in the air and you have a 6/& giant against you would look poor.
Taylor looked more dangerous as an attacker than either Wright-Phillips or Hayes. One tremendous shot that was a foot wide, a header hitting the post and two other headers that caused minor havoc in the Owls' area. Hayes looks more of a midfielder than a striker. Benson should be given a go.
Just dont see the negative at the moment. We havnt lost yet----beat a team from a higher level in the League Cup-----are third in league with 40 games to go-----the Board have played a blinder.
As for 14,000 being a poor gate ? Wigan and QPR struggle to get that in the Prem-----Millsmall get 10K and its a good gate --- On TV and pissing down with rain its a GOOD gate.
As for Hayes being poor well anyone when the ball is lumped in the air and you have a 6/& giant against you would look poor.
Spot on GH.
Agree, perhaps I was too quick to comment on the crowd being "only" 14k
Agree with about Hayes, in fact he got dragged down twice by Jones when he was chasing the ball and Jones didn't get a yellow for either
So true. When the ball was at his feet Hayes did well including setting up the goal but what chance did he have in the air.
To be fair to Weds they saw the problem and pressurised us right up the pitch (at one point two players went to close down Hamer) which meant our players had to play it early and play it long.
Powell is starting his first full season, Megson is managing his 9th club so yes maybe he knows a trick or two.
A lot of teams will try to go 451 away against us and close down. They did the same last year. Few will have as good players as Wednesday so it's up to us to find a way to beat it. We came pretty close last night and against an expensive team.
thought the bench was all wrong. I just hope Benno was still injured otherwise a massive mistake by CP. Euell is not a striker and we have enough midfielders in the squad. His signing looks like an old pals act to me and the one mistake CP has made during the summer. Need at least one, if not two, loan striker signings as soon as the window re-opens. Thought Wiggins had his best game yet and unlike Solly with Waggy he gets very little help from Jackson. Don't go along with the criticism of Hamer. Thought Taylor and Morrison were very solid. Hollands did ok, Stephens off the pace and should have made way for Pritchard 20 mins to go. BWP, thank god he was fit. Hayes, nice touches but no pace and won't score enough goals as he is shot-shy.
On Semedo, didn't understand the booing until after that foul. Didn't understand the near standing ovation though either and the Semedo chant from the North Stand. I thought he was playing for the opposition. On the plus side I can't remember how many misplaced passes there were and how many sideways balls that went behind the player they were meant for meaning they had to back-track to collect it. Whole-hearted and committed he may be but is very, very limited as a footballer.
As for Hayes being dragged down - 2 very poor decisions from officials - you can tell the ones that never played the game a mile off. Having said that - apart from that they were ok.
Credit to Smegson in changing tactics so early, when it looked like Wednesday were in danger of being overun. Afterwards Wednesday played higher up the pitch, denying us time and space on the ball in centre midfield.
The disappointing thing is that tactically as a team we really didn't have an answer to that - especially as Megson ensured that Stephens as our playmaker was closed down, resulting in us playing the ball long, which just isn't our game this season.
So how did we counter that? ....... Unfortunately we didn't, just continuing to play into Wednesday's hands. Having conceded an equaliser, the team were crying out for leadership, new energy and to bring wide men into play. It didn't happen.
The sub change was made too late to make any impact - unless it was intended principally to hold onto the point we had?
When Euell came on he played more or less Hayesy's role; the big Wednesday centre backs needed someone pacy to run at them on the floor, maybe would have been better switching Waggy to play in the hole? Agree with those that say Pritchard would have had more impact with his energy and enthusiasm.
Anyway, glass half full and all that .......it's another point in the bag, and 14 points from 6 games is an impressive start.
I think there was an element of caution - Powell wanted to keep the unbeaten run going so wasn't willing to take a risk to get 3 points. Whilst they competed Wednesday didn't really look like they would get a goal. Who's to say Powell was wrong - a win at home to Exeter on Saturday and everything will be rosy again.
Posting without reading. Have had trouble accessing site so a few "stream of consciousness2 random thoughts.
This game was a reality check. We are not going to waltz away with this division as some seem to think. Our players need to play for 90 minutes rather than 25 or 30. Perhaps the inability to do that explains why they are third division players. Once again we failed to kill a team off after a good start. The moment Stephens missed that sitter I knew it would prove costly. Had Elliot conceded a goal to Clinton Morrison in the fashion Hamer did the lynch mob on here would have strung himup from a lamp post in Floyd Road. Jason Euell, love him as i do, does not appear to be an "impact" sub.
That said there are positives to be taken. A newly assembled side is still unbeaten and very much in touch with the automatic promotion spots hopefully we can only improve as the players get to know each other better. It's still very early in the season and I will be surprised if, come the end of the season, the teams we've failed to beat, Sheffield Wednesday and Scunthorpe, are not top half / vying for a lay-off place or better.
The message though is we cannot be complacent and our "one aim" is going to be damned hard to achieve without being "at it" every game we play
I think there was an element of caution - Powell wanted to keep the unbeaten run going so wasn't willing to take a risk to get 3 points. Whilst they competed Wednesday didn't really look like they would get a goal. Who's to say Powell was wrong - a win at home to Exeter on Saturday and everything will be rosy again.
I have read comments from CP a number of times this season that we are going out to win every game. Two points from two home games has really put the pressure on themselves for Saturday.
I'm not sure CP sees it that way, Large. He says that he sets his stall out to win every game - that's the plan, before the game.
Last night with 10 minutes left, it seemed apparent that he was determined to hold on to the point he already had, rather than risk going for all three points.
Ref didn't help. Semedo and Prutton were flying in and dominating the centre ground. Prutton particularly could have had three yellow cards, but it took a long time for him to get one. If the ref had dealt with it earlier, then it would have taken the edge out of his game. That said, we need to learn to deal with a bit of bullying, it's in the game.
Sorry Oggy, but holding out for a draw at home against a team who didn't have a shot at game all night isn't going to get promotion.............games like last night have to be sown up & won.
different case in a couple of weeks when we are away to MK Dons & Sheff U - just hope CP has learnt his lesson as the next 3 games are all winnable and anything less than 9 points isn't good enough.
Ref didn't help. Semedo and Prutton were flying in and dominating the centre ground. Prutton particularly could have had three yellow cards, but it took a long time for him to get one. If the ref had dealt with it earlier, then it would have taken the edge out of his game. That said, we need to learn to deal with a bit of bullying, it's in the game.
Saying that Morrison could have also gone for his challenge on his name sake although it was good to see Clinton in a crumpled heap with the ref telling him to get up
Sorry Oggy, but holding out for a draw at home against a team who didn't have a shot at game all night isn't going to get promotion.............games like last night have to be sown up & won.
different case in a couple of weeks when we are away to MK Dons & Sheff U - just hope CP has learnt his lesson as the next 3 games are all winnable and anything less than 9 points isn't good enough.
You don't have to say sorry to me, Golfie lol ......... I agree with you!
The scores level with 20 minutes to go and the team has lost it's way against a physically intimidating side in midfield, especially at home - I would risk going for all 3 points.
I'm sure Powell was mindful of the psycholgical benefits of keeping an unbeaten run going, but personally the benefits of a last gasp win, would lift the team and supporters hugely plus the 2 extra points.
And if it should go tits up and opponents sneak a winner - well it shouldn't be the end of the world after just 6 matches played. But then, Powell's mentors have always been cautious. ;o)
Posting a couple of observations before reading what others have said.
BWP's great opener apart, I really thought they were there for the taking....in the first half. Didn't like our close pressure when they were on the ball , made loads of errors which we were lapping up and seemed pretty shaky overall.
Second half was a different ball game . I'm not astute enough to recognise that Megson changed their formation but whatever he did knocked us off our stride. Resorted to too many long balls IMHO which played into their hands although I don't think Hamer had a save to make all game.
Thought Wiggins had a poor game & continually over egged his passes forward...maybe the strength of the wind contributed to that .
We just didn't seem to gel on the whole - the spark was missing to some degree - and we seemed to be bullied by a physical team with the ref not doing us any favours ..but hey, what's new there ?
Not a disaster but disappointing after our start to the match . Hoping the Exeter experience on Saturday is a million miles away from their visit last season.
Really enjoyed watching first 35 minutes, good passing and exicting going forward. Waggie doing well on wing, everyone going for every ball.
It then got really scrappy towards end of first after miss - thought would come up charged again in second half, but their early equiliser (would have to be morrision, ha ha) took wind out our sails, and then was a Charlton side of 15 years ago - long ball, long ball - never got back into it. As soon as saw Euell coming on I knew thats it (never been a fan!).
Got to give pressure and passing to feet to get them on back foot and give front men some service how we did in first half hour.
Pretty ordinary game, but on the whole a fair result if we are honest, even if I do think we should of pinched it (stephens miss). Disappointed as anyone not to get another win, but we didn't play well as good points tally so far.
Comments
Would have like to see what Pritchard could offer mid way through the second half as I was thinking this was the right sort of game for him.
We need to dictate the tactics at home - not the likes of Megson. Please have the courage of your convictions Chrissy and take some risks.
To be fair to Weds they saw the problem and pressurised us right up the pitch (at one point two players went to close down Hamer) which meant our players had to play it early and play it long.
Powell is starting his first full season, Megson is managing his 9th club so yes maybe he knows a trick or two.
A lot of teams will try to go 451 away against us and close down. They did the same last year. Few will have as good players as Wednesday so it's up to us to find a way to beat it. We came pretty close last night and against an expensive team.
Well good luck against the MK Dons.
Afterwards Wednesday played higher up the pitch, denying us time and space on the ball in centre midfield.
The disappointing thing is that tactically as a team we really didn't have an answer to that - especially as Megson ensured that Stephens as our playmaker was closed down, resulting in us playing the ball long, which just isn't our game this season.
So how did we counter that? ....... Unfortunately we didn't, just continuing to play into Wednesday's hands.
Having conceded an equaliser, the team were crying out for leadership, new energy and to bring wide men into play.
It didn't happen.
The sub change was made too late to make any impact - unless it was intended principally to hold onto the point we had?
When Euell came on he played more or less Hayesy's role; the big Wednesday centre backs needed someone pacy to run at them on the floor, maybe would have been better switching Waggy to play in the hole?
Agree with those that say Pritchard would have had more impact with his energy and enthusiasm.
Anyway, glass half full and all that .......it's another point in the bag, and 14 points from 6 games is an impressive start.
Posting without reading. Have had trouble accessing site so a few "stream of consciousness2 random thoughts.
This game was a reality check. We are not going to waltz away with this division as some seem to think. Our players need to play for 90 minutes rather than 25 or 30. Perhaps the inability to do that explains why they are third division players. Once again we failed to kill a team off after a good start. The moment Stephens missed that sitter I knew it would prove costly. Had Elliot conceded a goal to Clinton Morrison in the fashion Hamer did the lynch mob on here would have strung himup from a lamp post in Floyd Road. Jason Euell, love him as i do, does not appear to be an "impact" sub.
That said there are positives to be taken. A newly assembled side is still unbeaten and very much in touch with the automatic promotion spots hopefully we can only improve as the players get to know each other better. It's still very early in the season and I will be surprised if, come the end of the season, the teams we've failed to beat, Sheffield Wednesday and Scunthorpe, are not top half / vying for a lay-off place or better.
The message though is we cannot be complacent and our "one aim" is going to be damned hard to achieve without being "at it" every game we play
Last night with 10 minutes left, it seemed apparent that he was determined to hold on to the point he already had, rather than risk going for all three points.
Sorry Oggy, but holding out for a draw at home against a team who didn't have a shot at game all night isn't going to get promotion.............games like last night have to be sown up & won.
different case in a couple of weeks when we are away to MK Dons & Sheff U - just hope CP has learnt his lesson as the next 3 games are all winnable and anything less than 9 points isn't good enough.
Saying that Morrison could have also gone for his challenge on his name sake although it was good to see Clinton in a crumpled heap with the ref telling him to get up
The scores level with 20 minutes to go and the team has lost it's way against a physically intimidating side in midfield, especially at home - I would risk going for all 3 points.
I'm sure Powell was mindful of the psycholgical benefits of keeping an unbeaten run going, but personally the benefits of a last gasp win, would lift the team and supporters hugely plus the 2 extra points.
And if it should go tits up and opponents sneak a winner - well it shouldn't be the end of the world after just 6 matches played.
But then, Powell's mentors have always been cautious. ;o)
Posting a couple of observations before reading what others have said.
BWP's great opener apart, I really thought they were there for the taking....in the first half. Didn't like our close pressure when they were on the ball , made loads of errors which we were lapping up and seemed pretty shaky overall.
Second half was a different ball game . I'm not astute enough to recognise that Megson changed their formation but whatever he did knocked us off our stride. Resorted to too many long balls IMHO which played into their hands although I don't think Hamer had a save to make all game.
Thought Wiggins had a poor game & continually over egged his passes forward...maybe the strength of the wind contributed to that .
We just didn't seem to gel on the whole - the spark was missing to some degree - and we seemed to be bullied by a physical team with the ref not doing us any favours ..but hey, what's new there ?
Not a disaster but disappointing after our start to the match . Hoping the Exeter experience on Saturday is a million miles away from their visit last season.
COYA !!
Really enjoyed watching first 35 minutes, good passing and exicting going forward. Waggie doing well on wing, everyone going for every ball.
It then got really scrappy towards end of first after miss - thought would come up charged again in second half, but their early equiliser (would have to be morrision, ha ha) took wind out our sails, and then was a Charlton side of 15 years ago - long ball, long ball - never got back into it. As soon as saw Euell coming on I knew thats it (never been a fan!).
Got to give pressure and passing to feet to get them on back foot and give front men some service how we did in first half hour.
Pretty ordinary game, but on the whole a fair result if we are honest, even if I do think we should of pinched it (stephens miss). Disappointed as anyone not to get another win, but we didn't play well as good points tally so far.
COME ON YOU RED!