I thought Colchester done a job on us. They did their homework and excuted their game plan well, made easier by a superb strike for their opening goal. They crowded Yann out and thier number 4 won more headers than i have seen anyone do against him. We know we like to play out from the back and Hamer's kicking is a weapon and they closed us down all night and put pressure on Hamers kicking all night which in turn led to the fortunate second goal. They threw themselves into block after block and i thought were the first team to come to the valley this season who deserved to take something away I actually thought we started well, first to the tackle and looking up for it, we created enough chances and on another night would have scored 1 or 2. If someone would have told me at the start of the season it would be March 6th before we would lose our first home game after last season i would have thought they were completly bonkers. Maybe the odd change to freshen one or two up for the run in, but nothing too major please. Imagine how you would be feeling this morning if you were a blade? Charlton slip up and they lose at Walsall (no disrepect to Walsall) Now is the time for the fans to do their bit and be the twelfth man and push them over the line and finish what has been a fantastic season COYR
agreed with the midfield green is clearly out of sorts and everything he tries doesnt come off although i feel sometimes he would help himself in doing the basics right at the moment instead of the flash.
Jackson I think is still being nursed through.
Stephens is just not in it enough he needs to stamp his authority on the game a bit more.
They have done fantastic this season but if you were on the bench wathing the last few games you would think what have i got to do to get in.
Ps how predictable are we with our build up lump it up to kermy look for a flick on needs to change
Nothing's broken so there's nothing to fix. I just fail to understand the drama after we lose a game. Our strongest 11 is what we started with today. That has been proven time and again this season. Why change it unless forced to through injury.
So Hamer came off injured Saturday, Jackson seems to be nursing an injuanther the rest of the team seem knackered from playing a whole 2 games a week.
We need to utilise our bench and ressies.
If they're not strong enough we need to bring in some emergency loans.
I'm not really up for seeing it come down to the last game of the season like Leeds did.
Funny how many of you found a bit of realism & humility over the last year or so and was just grateful to get a team playing decent football again & winning games.
Now it's demanding wins every game, threads on how many points you will get, when will you secure promotion, who else is going up with you...are you the Leeds or Sheff Wed of South London?
Funny how many of you found a bit of realism & humility over the last year or so and was just grateful to get a team playing decent football again & winning games.
Now it's demanding wins every game, threads on how many points you will get, when will you secure promotion, who else is going up with you...are you the Leeds or Sheff Wed of South London?
Not demanding, just think we would have a better chance of winning games if our team weren't all blowing out their arses.
Perhaps it would be better to be mid table with a bunch of players with no confidence but trying really hard to prove they are good enough rather than top, 13 points clear with 11 games to go having been top 2 all season! bloody cocky lot they need a right talking to and maybe SCP has taken this team as far as he can !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'll just stick my 2p's worth. I wasn't there last night, but I have seen the team play and recently I think a few players have looked knackered. We do have a squad and I agree with people that now may be the time to use it. We should be able to rest a couple of players, surely?
I have to say that I saw the line-up last night and thought we'd win - that is our strongest team (or close to it) however, they are not playing up to their potential at the moment.
Stephens looks like one of many players we have had over the years who looks great when the game is slow in August/September and April/May but goes missing a bit when the going gets tough.
Lovely passer of the ball, but also gets caught out of possesion a lot which has led to goals and chances lately. Centre midfield hasnt been our strongest area lately.
Green I just dont get, but options are limited if Waggy is so out of favour as Haynes seems to have pace and no end product.
We were poor at Bournemouth and I thought CP would make a couple of changes last night. As a minimum I thought Haynes & Russell would come in for BWP & Stephens (who were the poorest). I was surprised no one was rested with another game on Saturday. However, if he had changed a winning team & then lost, he'd have been criticised for that.
One of the reasons we are where we are is because we've largely had an unchanged team, who almost exclusively have been more than good enough to beat any opposition. Teams have cottoned on and try to flood the midfield against us meaning that often our 4 is up against a 5.
Over the course of the last couple of months that must have taken it toll on the guys and they do look a little tired so I wouldn't be against 'resting' one or two for a couple of games before the run in.
But I don't think that there's anything 'wrong' with any of them that justifies 'dropping' them.
In the PL, how often do the likes of Man U and Man City play the same team every game, especially when they are playing twice a week?
Obviously we don't have that type of squad, but playing twice a week on often mediocre Div 3 pitches will take it's toll on energy levels, and what you don't want to do is have everyone falling off the cliff at the same time. We have many experienced players in reserve, such as Russell, Hughes and Cort, all would do a decent job if given a chance (I thought Taylor looked leggy as well last night, and he was rested around xmas for a game)
Shake up the team????? The performance last night wasn't that bad, we have played worse and won. We might need an odd tweek to keep the opponents guessing as our starting 11 is predictable but no need to panic, these players have kept us top all season and we will finish top. Minor tactical adjustments depending on our opponents is all thats needed.
Thank heavens in the internet age that Chris Powell can easily access the wisdom and freely given advice that is available to him on this thread. I am sure otherwise he would never have spotted that Danny Hollands might be getting a bit knackered (especially with his triplets) and that he has a large squad. I am sure he only made the case to the Board for a large squad because as a kid he collected Panini cards. The idea of using it in case some players are tired or carrying injuries might never have occurred to him, had he not read been able to read your helpful suggestions.
In the PL, how often do the likes of Man U and Man City play the same team every game, especially when they are playing twice a week?
Obviously we don't have that type of squad, but playing twice a week on often mediocre Div 3 pitches will take it's toll on energy levels, and what you don't want to do is have everyone falling off the cliff at the same time. We have many experienced players in reserve, such as Russell, Hughes and Cort, all would do a decent job if given a chance (I thought Taylor looked leggy as well last night, and he was rested around xmas for a game)
THIS....but in CP I trust, and it's all part of the learning curve
Interestingly enough, on CAFC Player Chris was asked if the players are getting tired because of all the games lately. In true down to earth Chris fashion he said that it is only being raised because we just lost. He said if we had won nobody would be talking about tired players. I think if we had been played off the park on Tuesday then they'd be a case for changing the team, but we weren't. It just wasn't our day and we'll probably have a couple of others before the end of the season. Chris has one aim, as do all of us, so let's trust him. He's not done bad so far.
Think maybe people are forgetting about Hughes, personally I think him and Hollands worked PERFECTLY together, when it was those two as our central midfielders we were winning by large margins. I think he is a VERY underrated asset.
Yeah you're defo right there. 3-1 and 5-2 when he has been playing
two 4-0s i believe too. Think he is a seriously underrated member of the squad who lets other attack whilst he does the dirty work.
Comments
I actually thought we started well, first to the tackle and looking up for it, we created enough chances and on another night would have scored 1 or 2.
If someone would have told me at the start of the season it would be March 6th before we would lose our first home game after last season i would have thought they were completly bonkers.
Maybe the odd change to freshen one or two up for the run in, but nothing too major please.
Imagine how you would be feeling this morning if you were a blade? Charlton slip up and they lose at Walsall (no disrepect to Walsall)
Now is the time for the fans to do their bit and be the twelfth man and push them over the line and finish what has been a fantastic season
COYR
Jackson I think is still being nursed through.
Stephens is just not in it enough he needs to stamp his authority on the game a bit more.
They have done fantastic this season but if you were on the bench wathing the last few games you would think what have i got to do to get in.
Ps how predictable are we with our build up lump it up to kermy look for a flick on needs to change
We need to utilise our bench and ressies.
If they're not strong enough we need to bring in some emergency loans.
I'm not really up for seeing it come down to the last game of the season like Leeds did.
Now it's demanding wins every game, threads on how many points you will get, when will you secure promotion, who else is going up with you...are you the Leeds or Sheff Wed of South London?
I have to say that I saw the line-up last night and thought we'd win - that is our strongest team (or close to it) however, they are not playing up to their potential at the moment.
Stephens looks like one of many players we have had over the years who looks great when the game is slow in August/September and April/May but goes missing a bit when the going gets tough.
Lovely passer of the ball, but also gets caught out of possesion a lot which has led to goals and chances lately. Centre midfield hasnt been our strongest area lately.
Green I just dont get, but options are limited if Waggy is so out of favour as Haynes seems to have pace and no end product.
However, if he had changed a winning team & then lost, he'd have been criticised for that.
Over the course of the last couple of months that must have taken it toll on the guys and they do look a little tired so I wouldn't be against 'resting' one or two for a couple of games before the run in.
But I don't think that there's anything 'wrong' with any of them that justifies 'dropping' them.
Obviously we don't have that type of squad, but playing twice a week on often mediocre Div 3 pitches will take it's toll on energy levels, and what you don't want to do is have everyone falling off the cliff at the same time. We have many experienced players in reserve, such as Russell, Hughes and Cort, all would do a decent job if given a chance (I thought Taylor looked leggy as well last night, and he was rested around xmas for a game)
I think some of the support needs shake up not the team...
Like to see Waggy in for Green tho