Up for debate. Many feel he should’ve had at least 1 goal in the first half if not more. His marking was poor for their goal. Think we should have had both Simms and Wright to push for a second goal instead of hanging on to a slim lead. Frustrating not to get a win especially with Boro and Ipswich closing in.Wright was excellent against Preston.
Personally, I’d have taken off Sakamoto because his crossing and was poor and didn’t take anyone on v PNE.Problem with 4-4-2 (Wright and Simms) in the PNE game is one of EMC-Torp-Grimes-Rudoni-Sakamoto has to come off. Can't be Grimes and Rudoni and EMC were subbed on. So it has to be Torp I'm thinking. I can understand why Lampard thinks we're more likely to score with Torp and the additional midfield service to either Wright or Simms than with both and less service. The alternative would be to take off Sakamoto and play Rudoni out on the right, but I'm not sure anyone (even FL) is convinced by this. I do think the Simms/Wright combo will happen, but with Wright on the left. If we'd started with a back 4 (which we didn't to manage MVEs absence assumedly) Wright could have shifted to the left and EMC (who starts) comes off/Simms on at 60 let's say; with MVE we'd have been better down the right as well. Don't they have immodium? Gary Linkerer didn't mind playing with the runs...
Personally, I’d have taken off Sakamoto because his crossing and was poor and didn’t take anyone on v PNE.
That said, you lose more defensively which is a consideration when you’ve got KKH finding his way for form.
I know somebody has explained to me the reason we have wingers who are the t'other side footed but it doesn't half slow things down checking back all the time - also Saka CAN do this - see Eccles goal back against WBA. I just wish he'd do it a bit more. I'm not sure EMC has right foot at all from all the checking back he does. I recognise two footed wingers are a rarity and we've scored a lot of goals from having inverted, but the option to get to the byline would be exciting and also surprise the defenders.I think we needed to get to the byline more, like Tuesday night when you're playing a team defending its box and sitting deep, I think it can play into their hands to continually look for the angled ball in, they're face on to it. There was a relative lack of chemistry between KKH and Saka, so those times where Saka might roll in MVE near the byline just didn't happen.
On the other side, EMC is poor at seeing / using an overlapping run and there was one or two opportunities to use it.
Did it work when Tats and EMC swapped sides, giving both the opportunity to get to the byline and cross with their stronger foot?I think we needed to get to the byline more, like Tuesday night when you're playing a team defending its box and sitting deep, I think it can play into their hands to continually look for the angled ball in, they're face on to it. There was a relative lack of chemistry between KKH and Saka, so those times where Saka might roll in MVE near the byline just didn't happen.
On the other side, EMC is poor at seeing / using an overlapping run and there was one or two opportunities to use it.
I know somebody has explained to me the reason we have wingers who are the t'other side footed but it doesn't half slow things down checking back all the time - also Saka CAN do this - see Eccles goal back against WBA. I just wish he'd do it a bit more. I'm not sure EMC has right foot at all from all the checking back he does. I recognise two footed wingers are a rarity and we've scored a lot of goals from having inverted, but the option to get to the byline would be exciting and also surprise the defenders.
Agree and we did that for Haji’s disallowed goal.I think we needed to get to the byline more, like Tuesday night when you're playing a team defending its box and sitting deep, I think it can play into their hands to continually look for the angled ball in, they're face on to it. There was a relative lack of chemistry between KKH and Saka, so those times where Saka might roll in MVE near the byline just didn't happen.
On the other side, EMC is poor at seeing / using an overlapping run and there was one or two opportunities to use it.
He made things happen. It was a good performance especially when considering it's his first start since InjuryUp for debate. Many feel he should’ve had at least 1 goal in the first half if not more. His marking was poor for their goal. Think we should have had both Simms and Wright to push for a second goal instead of hanging on to a slim lead. Frustrating not to get a win especially with Boro and Ipswich closing in.
We need to get back to early KO in my opinion.
Problem with 4-4-2 (Wright and Simms) in the PNE game is one of EMC-Torp-Grimes-Rudoni-Sakamoto has to come off. Can't be Grimes and Rudoni and EMC were subbed on. So it has to be Torp I'm thinking. I can understand why Lampard thinks we're more likely to score with Torp and the additional midfield service to either Wright or Simms than with both and less service. The alternative would be to take off Sakamoto and play Rudoni out on the right, but I'm not sure anyone (even FL) is convinced by this. I do think the Simms/Wright combo will happen, but with Wright on the left. If we'd started with a back 4 (which we didn't to manage MVEs absence assumedly) Wright could have shifted to the left and EMC (who starts) comes off/Simms on at 60 let's say; with MVE we'd have been better down the right as well. Don't they have immodium? Gary Linkerer didn't mind playing with the runs...
Actually, that’s a v fair point. BTA being out for 6 weeks is a real sucker punch because he covers 2-3 positions.Against Portsmouth last year we went 4-4-2 and got a 97th minute winner
I think it is more likely that because Wright has just come back from injury so Frank didn't want to risk him playing the full 90 & we had no other options on the bench
Must win at least 3-1 or the dream is over.If we lose this I'll accept the wobble theory. I don't think we will though. 3-1.
we've lost 1 and drew 1 after a long run of winsI really hope that we can get four points out of our next two games, to get us back on track. Anything less and we risk losing further ground to Middlesbrough.
we've lost 1 and drew 1 after a long run of wins
Was EMC offside? I was livid at the time because Wright looked OK (for once) but I haven’t gone back to checkI would stick with Wright up front, even though he has hit a spell of not scoring he carved the defence open several times last night and would probably have scored 2 if he wasn't fouled. One where their player was sent off, and the header when he was flattened by their no. 14. The one he put in the net wasn't his fault it didn't count.
Yes, EMC was offside, unfortunately. It was a good call by the assistant refereeWas EMC offside? I was livid at the time because Wright looked OK (for once) but I haven’t gone back to check
2 teams get autos. Wouldn't care if boro were 5 ahead of us as long as the gap to third remains as it isThus enabling Middlesbrough to halve the gap from ten to five points in just a few daysI don't want to see it narrowing any more, as it will halt our momentum and could lead to a loss of confidence in the squad.
A good win on Saturday will be very welcome
PUSB
So far I make it 3 “must wins” vs 0 “I’d take a draws”
Its a 46 game season. 5 games ago we were 5 points ahead of Middlesbrough. Since then we've played Middlesbrough (2nd), Ipswich (4th) and Preston (5th) away and we're still 5 points ahead of them.Thus enabling Middlesbrough to halve the gap from ten to five points in just a few daysI don't want to see it narrowing any more, as it will halt our momentum and could lead to a loss of confidence in the squad.
A good win on Saturday will be very welcome
PUSB
2 teams get autos. Wouldn't care if boro were 5 ahead of us as long as the gap to third remains as it is
Its a 46 game season. 5 games ago we were 5 points ahead of Middlesbrough. Since then we've played Middlesbrough (2nd), Ipswich (4th) and Preston (5th) away and we're still 5 points ahead of them.
once again we've lost 1 game and drew another, we will likely lose more games even if we win the leagueAll true but we surged ahead of them and have since fallen back.
This is important to me, as I'm sure it is to you, and I can't help worrying. I have supported the Sky Blues since I attended my first match in 1963 at the age of eight. 62 years of supporting the club takes its toll!
To give EMC his due he did try himself once or twice. Saka didn't, he just wasn't with it at all really bar that brilliant ball to Wright in the first half.
Pretty sure they've just removed the top rows of seats in the corner of the North Stand off sale to try and get rid of the single seats. There were stacks of those left yesterday, no way they've sold. They did this for Charlton.Ticket sales seemed to pick up yesterday. Looks like a good chance the home end will sell out.
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