Decent comeback but now Chuck's had played 90 minutes I don't expect to see him play Saturday, JFC pretty good again, Albie did well but God knows what the defence will look like next game!!
What a difference not having Gilbey makes, saw a lot of what will probably be our strongest team in the second half, and almost feels a bit like 2 points dropped rather than a point gained. Otherwise we can't currently defend for shit and without Pearce on Saturday it'll be even worse (or maybe better). Maybe time to turn to the kids again in that department for a one off, no need to get too creative
btw I don't usually like scapegoating but Gilbey has been more or less single-handedly fucking our team of late and I hope Bowyer has now realised
Funnily enough you’re both and right here. You said Gilbey was our weak link, thus scapegoating him... but you were right in pointing out before the game
So we can create and score goals, so why dont we concentrate on that rather than what the other teams do from now on. 5 at the back at home to Rochdale ffs
So , next Saturday, Inniss, Famewo, Pratley, Watson, Pearce, Maddison, Doughty, Shinnie all out. 6 of them at least would be in our first team, so until these injuries are fixed or alternatives signed, hard to see us not struggling further. Smyth playing rwb was a wrong call but the squad weakness is hard to overcome. Team this Sat: Amos Matthews, Gunter, Oshilaja, Maatsen Millar JFC, Morgan, Williams Aneke, Washington Subs MB, Purrington, Barker, Schwarz, Shinnie/Gilbey, Smyth, Bogle
btw I don't usually like scapegoating but Gilbey has been more or less single-handedly fucking our team of late and I hope Bowyer has now realised
Funnily enough you’re both and right here. You said Gilbey was our weak link, thus scapegoating him... but you were right in pointing out before the game
Can't set up wing backs who are not primarily a defender. We have 2 very good right backs & either one of Gunter or Matthews could play right wing back....esp against a team near the bottom of the table. The game was lost (or not won) in the first 25 mins once they sussed out Smyth can't defend.
Felt that Chuks should have been subbed with 15 mins to go. He seemed tired & although he did well for his last chance I wonder if a fresh legged player would have buried it. Nothing against Chuks & he was one of the better players, but he looked leggy at the end.
As for the rest of the team - not a lot needs to change apart from Morgan should play instead of Gilbey. Get the 2 big centre halves back & a top 8 finish is still possible. No way will be finish top 2 & play-offs are less than 50/50 imo. Look at the table. Teams above us have played 1,2 even 3 games less than us. Once everyone had played roughly the same we will be 4-6 points off the pace.
Saturdays defence is certainly going to look interesting...
Even when we brought it back to 4-4 we showed how much we need to have that enforcer type player in Midfield as whilst Forster-Caskey and Morgan did extremely well that second half there were still periods where a team (in relegation form) waltzed through them.
Still dont think Bowyer should go, we saw second half how he's not lost the dressing room. BUT mistakes like putting Smyth at RWB he has to take responsibility for - Yes I get it that we've got issues with the likes of our injury list but dont shoot yourself in the foot when you dont need to
So , next Saturday, Inniss, Famewo, Pratley, Watson, Pearce, Maddison, Doughty, Shinnie all out. 6 of them at least would be in our first team, so until these injuries are fixed or alternatives signed, hard to see us not struggling further. Smyth playing rwb was a wrong call but the squad weakness is hard to overcome. Team this Sat: Amos Matthews, Gunter, Oshilaja, Maatsen Millar JFC, Morgan, Williams Aneke, Washington Subs MB, Purrington, Barker, Schwarz, Shinnie/Gilbey, Smyth, Bogle
So , next Saturday, Inniss, Famewo, Pratley, Watson, Pearce, Maddison, Doughty, Shinnie all out. 6 of them at least would be in our first team, so until these injuries are fixed or alternatives signed, hard to see us not struggling further. Smyth playing rwb was a wrong call but the squad weakness is hard to overcome. Team this Sat: Amos Matthews, Gunter, Oshilaja, Maatsen Millar JFC, Morgan, Williams Aneke, Washington Subs MB, Purrington, Barker, Schwarz, Shinnie/Gilbey, Smyth, Bogle
Paul Smyth at RB and Gilbey cost us the first half. Second half subs made a huge difference ,why didn't we start with that team??? Really can't see how Gilbey gets into the team or what he offers?
So , next Saturday, Inniss, Famewo, Pratley, Watson, Pearce, Maddison, Doughty, Shinnie all out. 6 of them at least would be in our first team, so until these injuries are fixed or alternatives signed, hard to see us not struggling further. Smyth playing rwb was a wrong call but the squad weakness is hard to overcome. Team this Sat: Amos Matthews, Gunter, Oshilaja, Maatsen Millar JFC, Morgan, Williams Aneke, Washington Subs MB, Purrington, Barker, Schwarz, Shinnie/Gilbey, Smyth, Bogle
If Aneke starts on Saturday I'll be amazed!!
Yup, surely he’ll be on the next Saturday.
Go with Bogle and Washington against Bristol Rovers, Ronnie and Chuks have set them the benchmark - Start the latter two against Peterborough next Tuesday night
As expected Bowyer getting stick,but he has been poxed every way he turns. 1)Pratley or Watson plays we do not let those goals in,both out 2)Both first choice cb out 3)Shinnie out 4)And now pearce out next game
I will judge him when he has a full squad to pick from,lets be fair tonight,those Rochdale strikes where pretty special and unusual at this level.
Most managers have to go through the football season with injury to key players, it's why you have squads and its how they react to these challenges and change things up where they really earn their bacon.
So far Bowyer has changed formation and personnel every game and made some rather baffling decisions. Look at how we played 2nd half, if you praise him for getting that reaction and that performance (which I do) then he deserves every bit of criticism for that first half performance as well.
The set up was frankly bizarre and doesn't give me much confidence for the rest of the season. But the character to get back into it tells me all is not lost and the players haven't given up playing for Bowyer.
Not sure what the defence will look like on Saturday but I hope Gilbey isn't in the 11 and Aneke, Shwartz and Morgan are.
Morgan had a cracking game and JFC looked a different player in the second half.
Bowyer wasn't lying about Schwartz finishing ability, him and Aneke will be quite the partnership.
”Disappointed. We’re at home against lower half team.” ”I look at the positives, after Friday and losing by 2 at half time today. They showed fire. Didn’t crumble. Give the players a lot of credit” ”should have won it at the end. disappointed with the point, but everything they hit first half went in.”
I think it buys Bowyer some time for now at least. The shape first half was all wrong, Deji looked uncomfortable on the left side of a back three and was far too high up the pitch at certain points. That along with a couple of other players pushing too high up left us very open at the back. Smyth at right wing back was just crazy as well.
Much better second half though once we seemed to go back to basics. Aneke was superb, Millar was impressive as well and got us up the pitch and Ronnie took his goal very well.
Fingers crossed we can stop the chopping and changing of players and formations now and find a settled side.
Comments
Truly believe Bowyer would've been a goner had we gone on to lose after that 1st half display, maybe still will
Smyth playing rwb was a wrong call but the squad weakness is hard to overcome.
Team this Sat:
Amos
Matthews, Gunter, Oshilaja, Maatsen
Millar JFC, Morgan, Williams
Aneke, Washington
Subs MB, Purrington, Barker, Schwarz, Shinnie/Gilbey, Smyth, Bogle
Can't set up wing backs who are not primarily a defender. We have 2 very good right backs & either one of Gunter or Matthews could play right wing back....esp against a team near the bottom of the table. The game was lost (or not won) in the first 25 mins once they sussed out Smyth can't defend.
Felt that Chuks should have been subbed with 15 mins to go. He seemed tired & although he did well for his last chance I wonder if a fresh legged player would have buried it. Nothing against Chuks & he was one of the better players, but he looked leggy at the end.
As for the rest of the team - not a lot needs to change apart from Morgan should play instead of Gilbey. Get the 2 big centre halves back & a top 8 finish is still possible. No way will be finish top 2 & play-offs are less than 50/50 imo. Look at the table. Teams above us have played 1,2 even 3 games less than us. Once everyone had played roughly the same we will be 4-6 points off the pace.
More later.
Matthews - Gunter - Oshilaja - Maatsen
During which the average place of a team played is 15th.
Played 4 of bottom 5 and beat just one of them.
Let in 4 in one half v Rochdale.
Players out of position, injuries and suspensions.
I am more sad than mad. Just a dreadful run.
Second half subs made a huge difference ,why didn't we start with that team???
Really can't see how Gilbey gets into the team or what he offers?
So far Bowyer has changed formation and personnel every game and made some rather baffling decisions. Look at how we played 2nd half, if you praise him for getting that reaction and that performance (which I do) then he deserves every bit of criticism for that first half performance as well.
Not sure what the defence will look like on Saturday but I hope Gilbey isn't in the 11 and Aneke, Shwartz and Morgan are.
Morgan had a cracking game and JFC looked a different player in the second half.
Bowyer wasn't lying about Schwartz finishing ability, him and Aneke will be quite the partnership.
”Disappointed. We’re at home against lower half team.”
”I look at the positives, after Friday and losing by 2 at half time today. They showed fire. Didn’t crumble. Give the players a lot of credit”
”should have won it at the end. disappointed with the point, but everything they hit first half went in.”