Sky Blue Pete
Well-Known Member
I still believe so many players are below their level that it’s possible they could find their level but it’s getting a bit late
I still believe so many players are below their level that it’s possible they could find their level but it’s getting a bit lateExactly what Boro fans were saying about us when we smashed them in November.
So what team would you of picked if you were Lampard, wer“e missing our top scorer and one of our best players , it’s that simple433 works without Assante, it was proven last half of last season with the play off push. The results throughout 2026 are really strong, less than half have Assante in the team.
Assante was fantastic before he got injured, and yes losing him in that form was a big loss, but it's a lot more than just him being out for our massive drop off in form over the last 13 games. And the majority of that has to be on Lampards shoulders.
A third of the season to go PeteI still believe so many players are below their level that it’s possible they could find their level but it’s getting a bit late
i Give Lampard credit all the time, he’s managed to get that squad to stay top of the league for 4 months, what’s he supposed to do when some of the players can’t handle the pressure of being there, we can add onyeka, assante and EMC to that team Saturday and it’s a Very different result, he’s getting the best out of what he’s got,So if you're exonerated the manager for our shit away form would it be fair to say he doesn't get credit for our excellent home form?
i Give Lampard credit all the time, he’s managed to get that squad to stay top of the league for 4 months, what’s he supposed to do when some of the players can’t handle the pressure of being there, we can add onyeka, assante and EMC to that team Saturday and it’s a Very different result, he’s getting the best out of what he’s got,
Not my words yours, maybe read replies , I’ve said I give Lampard credit all the timeSo to summarise, down turn in away form, not managers fault.
Cracking home form, great work by the manager!!
Not my words yours, maybe read replies , I’ve said I give Lampard credit all the time
And the three quarters of our back four weren't fit enough to start, and we had two central midfielders available.I was reading the Wrexham thread the week leading up to our game there.
Guess what they were all predicting they would be getting smashed.
We've dropped 17 points from winning positions, most of which BTA wasn't in the team. That's nothing to do with missing BTA.So what team would you of picked if you were Lampard, wer“e missing our top scorer and one of our best players , it’s that simple
Think you’ll be suprised how much difference he makes when he’s back, it’s like Mboro not having Hackney for 12 games, changes the whole way they play, BTS’s quality and we’ve missed him, and in those games where we have thrown away leads we go and get a 2nd goal with him,We've dropped 17 points from winning positions, most of which BTA wasn't in the team. That's nothing to do with missing BTA.
Grimes form has dropped off the cliff yet plays every minute, that's nothing to do with BTA being out injured.
MVE has been flogged all season and is not shattered and out of form, that's nothing to do with BTA being out injured.
Poor game management, squad rotation and subs and no plan B is nothing to do with BTA being out injured.
We play the same open way away as we do at home, despite poor results, thats nothing to do with BTA being out injured.
Getting your fullbacks to play in the 10 leaving massive gaps at the back, is nothing to do with BTA being out injured.
Not trusting your squad and rotating players or using subs earlier has nothing to do with BTA being injured.
In fact BTA was still fit in the run of games when we started to get done at the back and Rushworth had 6-7 games straight where he pulled off worldies and getting man of the match.
I'll say again, BTA was fantastic early in the season, but it's not due to him being out that our form has fell off the cliff. Simms has the best minutes per goal (107) yet got bombed out the side when he was scoring for fun. If you look at his career this first half of the season is a bit of an anomaly in BTAs career, it's unlikely he'd have kept up that form anyway.
But you haven’t answered what team you’d pick and how you’d change things ? Not having a go but we’ve had a very good 11 players, one of those doesn’t play and we struggle, we were never keeping that form up form up with other squad players, theyre not good enough. it’s not a coincidence look at the form without himWe've dropped 17 points from winning positions, most of which BTA wasn't in the team. That's nothing to do with missing BTA.
Grimes form has dropped off the cliff yet plays every minute, that's nothing to do with BTA being out injured.
MVE has been flogged all season and is not shattered and out of form, that's nothing to do with BTA being out injured.
Poor game management, squad rotation and subs and no plan B is nothing to do with BTA being out injured.
We play the same open way away as we do at home, despite poor results, thats nothing to do with BTA being out injured.
Getting your fullbacks to play in the 10 leaving massive gaps at the back, is nothing to do with BTA being out injured.
Not trusting your squad and rotating players or using subs earlier has nothing to do with BTA being injured.
In fact BTA was still fit in the run of games when we started to get done at the back and Rushworth had 6-7 games straight where he pulled off worldies and getting man of the match.
I'll say again, BTA was fantastic early in the season, but it's not due to him being out that our form has fell off the cliff. Simms has the best minutes per goal (107) yet got bombed out the side when he was scoring for fun. If you look at his career this first half of the season is a bit of an anomaly in BTAs career, it's unlikely he'd have kept up that form anyway.
Apart from Norwich where we threw away the lead with him?Think you’ll be suprised how much difference he makes when he’s back, it’s like Mboro not having Hackney for 12 games, changes the whole way they play, BTS’s quality and we’ve missed him, and in those games where we have thrown away leads we go and get a 2nd goal with him,
Hayden Hackney is a significantly better player than Brandon Thomas-Asante.Think you’ll be suprised how much difference he makes when he’s back, it’s like Mboro not having Hackney for 12 games, changes the whole way they play, BTS’s quality and we’ve missed him, and in those games where we have thrown away leads we go and get a 2nd goal with him,
They hadn’t coped and have only recently gone on a 6 game winning runHayden Hackney is a significantly better player than Brandon Thomas-Asante.
And even if Hackney were missing for a length of time, whilst it would affect their team, no doubt they'd find a way of adapting and avoiding a catastrophic down-turn in form.
It's not about which team I would pick it's about managing the players, tactics and the game, not playing rh same formation, same tactics, same gung ho way of playing leaving us wide open regardless of the opposition or the game situation. We can't keep playing the same way as teams have worked out how to stop us (mid and low block), let's us have the ball, and then hit us on the counter when we have overcommitted. The space we had to exploit earlier in the season is gone.But you haven’t answered what team you’d pick and how you’d change things ? Not having a go but we’ve had a very good 11 players, one of those doesn’t play and we struggle, we were never keeping that form up form up with other squad players, theyre not good enough. it’s not a coincidence look at the form without him
The ironic thing is, he only started the season because EMC was injured. Had we had a full squad he'd have started the season as a squad player.Hayden Hackney is a significantly better player than Brandon Thomas-Asante.
And even if Hackney were missing for a length of time, whilst it would affect their team, no doubt they'd find a way of adapting and avoiding a catastrophic down-turn in form.
Hackney has played every game this season for them.They hadn’t coped and have only recently gone on a 6 game winning run
Don’t normally win 7 on the trot so that’s good as it means we have a chance
I knew youd find somethingApart from Norwich where we threw away the lead with him?
That’s fine if you’ve got the players to change it, but I’m not sure we have, anyway , it’s all getting a bit negative on here, we’re still in with a great shout at autos or play offs, massive next game to get us back on top,It's not about which team I would pick it's about managing the players, tactics and the game, not playing rh same formation, same tactics, same gung ho way of playing leaving us wide open regardless of the opposition or the game situation. We can't keep playing the same way as teams have worked out how to stop us (mid and low block), let's us have the ball, and then hit us on the counter when we have overcommitted. The space we had to exploit earlier in the season is gone.
I have suggested playing 5 at the back away from home. Especially since our away form dropped. Not just that though is. We have gone ahead in a lot of away games, even recently in 2 games. Instead of trying to plug the defence, we carry on in the same mode and lose 2.1. It is the failure to adapt, when it is clear to most fans .So how would you suggest he changes things, we set up more defensive on Saturday which was what a lot wanted and we couldn’t even score against Oxford, he sets up attacking to try and win games, rather see us come up short having a go at teams than play like we did Saturday, unless You wanted to see us play 532 with a back 5 who can’t defend and no wingers and 2 forwards who can’t hit a barn door at the minute, we’re a team who can’t defend but some fans want us to play more defensively, work that out
You keep saying top scorer. All 3 strikers have 10 goals. Simms goals are more recent than any of them.So what team would you of picked if you were Lampard, wer“e missing our top scorer and one of our best players , it’s that simple
Apart from Norwich where we threw away the lead with him?
How come they haven’t won every gameHackney has played every game this season for them.
He’s missed 12 games, he’d be well clearYou keep saying top scorer. All 3 strikers have 10 goals. Simms goals are more recent than any of them.
How many starts, against Simms record?He’s missed 12 games, he’d be well clear
Opta analyst.He’s missed 12 games, he’d be well clear
He’s missed 12 games, he’d be well clear
They were very good. Not sure if you watched the game Evo. United were the better team for 15 mins, thereabouts, probably should have been leading. Middlesbrough then dominated. Utd were so open, at the back, just like us. Fortunate second goal, for Middlesbrough..2nd half, fairly even, Utd could have nicked a draw..Not sure what we do. Go 5 at back or just go for it. Trouble is , could be 3 down at half time. Hopefully not and we win 5.4Its not looking good brev
They were very good. Not sure if you watched the game Evo. United were the better team for 15 mins, thereabouts, probably should have been leading. Middlesbrough then dominated. Utd were so open, at the back, just like us. Fortune second goal, for Middlesbrough..2nd half, fairly even, Utd could have nicked a draw..Not sure what we do. Go 5 at back or just go for it. Trouble is , could be 3 down at half time. Hopefully not and we win 5.4
Come on mate, he’s not been on the pitch for 12 games, going by that Simms is our best forwardOpta analyst.
Minutes played. This season. Goals, etc
Wright...1803 mins ..10 goals
Assante 1356 mins..10 goals
Simms..1068 mins..10 goals.
It's a funny old game, they were fuming when Edwards left but I think they'd be well off it if he was still in charge.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?