Match Thread Preston North End FC - Coventry City Match Thread - Tuesday 9th Dec (17 Viewers)

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

I know loads of people who now have STs who went in L1 and L2 but they'd pick and choose a handful of games

I am the opposite sadly. Did the whole L1 and L2 tour, but don't get back for games that often now.

Most people I know are in the same category as you mentioned above though. One of my cousins who I used to have to drag to games is now a hardcore supporter and even goes away to the lower league cup ties etc.

 

---

[quinn1971]

No point worrying about Mboro, just need to keep daylight to 3rd, mad we beat a team 4-2 at their place and that’s the team nearest to us, we beat Bristol city, draw Southampton and beat Swansea and Ipswich, merry Xmas

 

[Earlsdon-Loyal-Blue]

Glory hunting? Principled and consumers of a good product. In my view we should be viewed more positively. SISU did everything to challenge the resilience of the most committed let alone people who know they are not keen on watching their home club in Northampton and Birmingham. The years of decline etc. it’s there for all to read about.

Excluding Northampton and St Andrews, attendances were average to poor until recent years.

Even before SISU, they were very average. 21K in our first season at the Ricoh, and we struggled to regularly sell out at HR.

 

[AFCCOVENTRY]

 

[Tommo1993]

Never thought I’d say I wanted an international break. Could do with one to clear the illness and buy us a bit more time for BTA.

 

[Warwickhunt]

Which in itself won’t exactly do much for performance levels to be fair.

You only have to look at Sakamoto! He looked ill and struggled, he only played him cos MVE has got the sickness bug

 

[Grimetime]

Is that the same Covsupport from back in the old days? Didn't he have form for spreading bullshit before?

 

[Shannerz]

Excluding Northampton and St Andrews, attendances were average to poor until recent years.

Even before SISU, they were very average. 21K in our first season at the Ricoh, and we struggled to regularly sell out at HR.

Football attendances in general were lower across the board in those years.

We shed support in the SISU years for obvious reasons.

I'd say we now have, for the most part, a re-engaged fanbase and youngsters who now want to be City fans. There may be some casual fans who'd have told you they supported Arsenal or Manchester United in the wilderness years, but they will be a small minority.

 

[Otis]

I’m convinced we’ll win the Nobel prize for literature and the Miss World contest before we win a league game up here.

Yeah, I came second in both not so long back, but you don't get owt for runner up unfortunately.

 

[Mcbean]

Football attendances in general were lower across the board in those years.

We shed support in the SISU years for obvious reasons.

I'd say we now have, for the most part, a re-engaged fanbase and youngsters who now want to be City fans. There may be some casual fans who'd have told you they supported Arsenal or Manchester United in the wilderness years, but they will be a small minority.

While maybe not turning up we have ia lot ofChelsea fans who watch our matches - they love Frank

 

[wingy]

I’m convinced we’ll win the Nobel prize for literature and the Miss World contest before we win a league game up here.

Maybe Trump should by us?

 

[shmmeee]

I doubt the rumour re Bamford is remotely accurate

Not sure why that should stop us

 

[TomRad85]

Not sure why that should stop us

#WrightOut

 

[Pezza]

Finally calmed down ENOUGH to process last night and post.

Firstly, take away all the noise, top of league in Dec, 5 points clear, etc - unreal I know!

But sadly, my head is noisy with what I have been seeing in recent weeks, and yes Frank that is the championship, I know! Here are my thoughts and before people jump on it, it's only my opinion/how I feel and as a caveat, I am as glass half empty as they come!

- We haven't comfortably won a game in weeks, and no Charlton doesn't count as it was yet another game where we conceded first.
- Haj is so frustrating in so many ways, his general vibe and casual nature only goes well for him when he is scoring but the man cannot head a ball for his life.
- Not winning last night was so Cov, we will never be given a better chance to win at that place. I don't want to hear any of this valuable point rubbish, the way the game panned out, we should 100% have won.
- I'm fully aware that us winning so many games has made me very spoilt/privileged etc, but that doesn't take away the issues I am starting to see in the performances, notably the lack of ability to keep a clean sheet. I have no idea how we ever went on that run.
- Why is it, EMC is giving away on average about 5 fouls a game? It's not even his fault half of the time tbh, but the referees are so bad, they just don't see the game in the same way as most people who have played it. The one last night where the lad fell over on the byline was a absolute joke.
- The oldest record ever played I know but lack of squad depth was ALWAYS going to catch up with us, and it will only get worse in next few weeks.
- I don't think we go up, AMAZING start but I just don't feel it.
- Despite our incredible run this season, we never beat parachute teams - ever. There has been Ipswich and Leicester so far, we will 100% lose at Southampton, then maybe we draw with Ipswich but don't be surprised if by the middle of Jan we are 5th or 6th.
- Lastly, the 2 clowns on the second tier with their jinx "we were wrong about Lampard" video too, people like that will LOVE to see us fall away and annoyingly they will all likely be delighted when it happens.

There, had to vent and get it off the chest. Again, this is just my view and yes, perhaps I am simply so terrified of being disappointed that I am going with this negativity to protect myself lol, but I'm nearly 40 and Cov have made me like this!

Let's hope we can win on Saturday, or else I can see a real meltdown from me, which will be interesting as that evening I am with the other half of the family in Finland.

 

[Evo1883]

Our deliveries at times make uber eats look like david beckham

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

You only have to look at Sakamoto! He looked ill and struggled, he only played him cos MVE has got the sickness bug

If it is that flu bug, it’s bloody horrible.

 

[Potbellypig]

Finally calmed down ENOUGH to process last night and post.

Firstly, take away all the noise, top of league in Dec, 5 points clear, etc - unreal I know!

But sadly, my head is noisy with what I have been seeing in recent weeks, and yes Frank that is the championship, I know! Here are my thoughts and before people jump on it, it's only my opinion/how I feel and as a caveat, I am as glass half empty as they come!

- We haven't comfortably won a game in weeks, and no Charlton doesn't count as it was yet another game where we conceded first.
- Haj is so frustrating in so many ways, his general vibe and casual nature only goes well for him when he is scoring but the man cannot head a ball for his life.
- Not winning last night was so Cov, we will never be given a better chance to win at that place. I don't want to hear any of this valuable point rubbish, the way the game panned out, we should 100% have won.
- I'm fully aware that us winning so many games has made me very spoilt/privileged etc, but that doesn't take away the issues I am starting to see in the performances, notably the lack of ability to keep a clean sheet. I have no idea how we ever went on that run.
- Why is it, EMC is giving away on average about 5 fouls a game? It's not even his fault half of the time tbh, but the referees are so bad, they just don't see the game in the same way as most people who have played it. The one last night where the lad fell over on the byline was a absolute joke.
- The oldest record ever played I know but lack of squad depth was ALWAYS going to catch up with us, and it will only get worse in next few weeks.
- I don't think we go up, AMAZING start but I just don't feel it.
- Despite our incredible run this season, we never beat parachute teams - ever. There has been Ipswich and Leicester so far, we will 100% lose at Southampton, then maybe we draw with Ipswich but don't be surprised if by the middle of Jan we are 5th or 6th.
- Lastly, the 2 clowns on the second tier with their jinx "we were wrong about Lampard" video too, people like that will LOVE to see us fall away and annoyingly they will all likely be delighted when it happens.

There, had to vent and get it off the chest. Again, this is just my view and yes, perhaps I am simply so terrified of being disappointed that I am going with this negativity to protect myself lol, but I'm nearly 40 and Cov have made me like this!

Let's hope we can win on Saturday, or else I can see a real meltdown from me, which will be interesting as that evening I am with the other half of the family in Finland.

To have an opinion that we didn't comfortably beat Charlton, is quite frankly nuts.

 

[TomRad85]

Finally calmed down ENOUGH to process last night and post.

Firstly, take away all the noise, top of league in Dec, 5 points clear, etc - unreal I know!

But sadly, my head is noisy with what I have been seeing in recent weeks, and yes Frank that is the championship, I know! Here are my thoughts and before people jump on it, it's only my opinion/how I feel and as a caveat, I am as glass half empty as they come!

- We haven't comfortably won a game in weeks, and no Charlton doesn't count as it was yet another game where we conceded first.
- Haj is so frustrating in so many ways, his general vibe and casual nature only goes well for him when he is scoring but the man cannot head a ball for his life.
- Not winning last night was so Cov, we will never be given a better chance to win at that place. I don't want to hear any of this valuable point rubbish, the way the game panned out, we should 100% have won.
- I'm fully aware that us winning so many games has made me very spoilt/privileged etc, but that doesn't take away the issues I am starting to see in the performances, notably the lack of ability to keep a clean sheet. I have no idea how we ever went on that run.
- Why is it, EMC is giving away on average about 5 fouls a game? It's not even his fault half of the time tbh, but the referees are so bad, they just don't see the game in the same way as most people who have played it. The one last night where the lad fell over on the byline was a absolute joke.
- The oldest record ever played I know but lack of squad depth was ALWAYS going to catch up with us, and it will only get worse in next few weeks.
- I don't think we go up, AMAZING start but I just don't feel it.
- Despite our incredible run this season, we never beat parachute teams - ever. There has been Ipswich and Leicester so far, we will 100% lose at Southampton, then maybe we draw with Ipswich but don't be surprised if by the middle of Jan we are 5th or 6th.
- Lastly, the 2 clowns on the second tier with their jinx "we were wrong about Lampard" video too, people like that will LOVE to see us fall away and annoyingly they will all likely be delighted when it happens.

There, had to vent and get it off the chest. Again, this is just my view and yes, perhaps I am simply so terrified of being disappointed that I am going with this negativity to protect myself lol, but I'm nearly 40 and Cov have made me like this!

Let's hope we can win on Saturday, or else I can see a real meltdown from me, which will be interesting as that evening I am with the other half of the family in Finland.

I don't really get the bit about not winning comfortably tbh. You expect teams to roll over for us?

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I don't really get the bit about not winning comfortably tbh. You expect teams to roll over for us?

Every team is raising their game against us, but the xG was ridiculously in our favour for that one. It’s people’s nerves about bottling the season, based off two games where we haven’t actually played badly, that are allowing some pretty absurd comments in recently.

 

[skybluecam]

We’ve not lost a game when we play our preferred formation and aren’t playing people out of position.

Injuries/illness have killed us recently. Wright, BTA, Sakamoto, Eccles, Rudoni, Torp, Milan all missing games within the space of a few weeks is just rotten luck.

Get to Jan still top, make some additions and I’ll still be very confident.

 

[Pezza]

I don't really get the bit about not winning comfortably tbh. You expect teams to roll over for us?

To have an opinion that we didn't comfortably beat Charlton, is quite frankly nuts.

Ok both fair points.

I think what I mean is in terms of being more comfortable and going 2-0 or 3-0 and managing game out.

But again, this is perhaps where I have become so accustomed to a good thing and to expect to have too many of these type of games is nuts, you're right.

 

[StrettoBoy]

I don't think Middlesbrough are all that though, so it's by no means a foregone conclusion that they win them all.

I’m sure that they won’t win all of their upcoming games, prior to them playing Southampton, but I think they will generally do well. Probably well enough to draw level with us, or overtake us by a point or two, as we go through our difficult spell.

It’s not necessarily the end of the world, as long as we don’t go into a slump thereafter.

 

[Shannerz]

Every team is raising their game against us, but the xG was ridiculously in our favour for that one. It’s people’s nerves about bottling the season, based off two games where we haven’t actually played badly, that are allowing some pretty absurd comments in recently.

There was no excuse for not winning that at all.

First half, we were not bad, and it looked a matter of time before we'd score. After the red they sat in, so it was always going to be difficult. But again against a low block we looked ponderous and lacked vision. Then after getting into the lead, to surrender that through complacency was unforgivable.

There should be no talk of bottling it, but we can't have complacency like last night again. They thought they'd won.

 

[Gint11]

Every team is raising their game against us, but the xG was ridiculously in our favour for that one. It’s people’s nerves about bottling the season, based off two games where we haven’t actually played badly, that are allowing some pretty absurd comments in recently.

100% this.

Not in an arrogant way but being top by 10 points means we’re there to be shot at and are now everyone’s cup final.

The pressure is weird for us now. All of a sudden it’s the fear of throwing it all away. Not sure if it’s just the fan base

 

[chiefdave]

We're not at a point where we need to panic but equally there's warning signs for all to see. Would be foolish to ignore those, all well and good giving it 'we are top' but that can soon change.

The biggest concern for me is leaking goals. Even when we were keeping clean sheets we were letting other teams have decent opportunities. We're now getting punished for allowing those chances. Our tactic can't just be we'll score more than you, especially when the goals aren't flowing like the were.

Think our expectations for the January window might be too high. We certainly need bodies in but realistically how many first team ready players can we sign. Look at Woolf and KKH, you've got £6m there and the general consensus so far has been 'not good enough'. Not sure they're bad players, think you have to factor in how difficult it is to not play for weeks / months then be expected to come in and match the level of a top of the table team.

Work for Lampard and the coaches to do. If they can make the tweaks that lead to us not leaking goals we've got nothing to worry about.

 

[Warwickhunt]

We have to recognise that other clubs will start to get players being hit with the sickness bug and the run up to Xmas will be affected by all the teams, hopefully we can manage ours and hopefully start to come out of it soon I've been around the other fans forums and its becoming apparent the bug is getting a hold

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

We're not at a point where we need to panic but equally there's warning signs for all to see. Would be foolish to ignore those, all well and good giving it 'we are top' but that can soon change.

The biggest concern for me is leaking goals. Even when we were keeping clean sheets we were letting other teams have decent opportunities. We're now getting punished for allowing those chances. Our tactic can't just be we'll score more than you, especially when the goals aren't flowing like the were.

Think our expectations for the January window might be too high. We certainly need bodies in but realistically how many first team ready players can we sign. Look at Woolf and KKH, you've got £6m there and the general consensus so far has been 'not good enough'. Not sure they're bad players, think you have to factor in how difficult it is to not play for weeks / months then be expected to come in and match the level of a top of the table team.

Work for Lampard and the coaches to do. If they can make the tweaks that lead to us not leaking goals we've got nothing to worry about.

Well that wasn’t the tactic yesterday at all, we played a 5 and tried (successfully) hitting on the break. We only switched up once we were a man up and it made good sense to go for it.

 

[SkyBlueMatt]

It was a poor clearance from Rushworth. But we should defend a standard throw in much better than that. We totally switched off down the flank.

Definitely. I think it was EMC (correct me if I'm wrong), he was in a much better position (it looked). Dasilva had got beat and wasn't getting back, EMC had time to get over and cover.

I'm not putting the blame just on him though, most of the team switched off.

 

[alexccfc99]

Still frustrated - I would rather have huffed and puffed not scored and drew 0-0 than take the lead and concede the way we did, at least at 0-0 you can at least say that we tried and tried and could not break Preston down and file it as not our night, to take the lead however and concede the way we did to 10 men was a bit embarrassing

Might sound a strange thing to say but at 11v11, I think we win

File it away as another unsuccessful trip to Deepdale but Saturday is a must win for me with Southampton all of a sudden being a 10x tougher game than it was a month or so ago

Hopefully Derby can do us a favour later and our gap stays at 10pts to third

 

[alexccfc99]

Dalsiva definitely has some culpability for the goal, as do others, it was a shocking passage of play from us.

The kick from Rushworth that enabled them to have the throw in at all was needless and sloppy, set the tone for what followed

 

[Mcbean]

The kick from Rushworth that enabled them to have the throw in at all was needless and sloppy, set the tone for what followed

What was sloppy is that someone passed to him with a Preston in close attention and he was forced into a left foot kick under pressure - and then no one was with the runner - got to release the ball earlier

 

[Warwickhunt]

Definitely. I think it was EMC (correct me if I'm wrong), he was in a much better position (it looked). Dasilva had got beat and wasn't getting back, EMC had time to get over and cover.

I'm not putting the blame just on him though, most of the team switched off.

It was Rudoni who was left in the wake of their fullback! Lack of match fitness stopped him getting back to stop him and then JDS did not push towards him to reduce the angle on the cross.

 

[CovValleyBoy]

Finally calmed down ENOUGH to process last night and post.

Firstly, take away all the noise, top of league in Dec, 5 points clear, etc - unreal I know!

But sadly, my head is noisy with what I have been seeing in recent weeks, and yes Frank that is the championship, I know! Here are my thoughts and before people jump on it, it's only my opinion/how I feel and as a caveat, I am as glass half empty as they come!

- We haven't comfortably won a game in weeks, and no Charlton doesn't count as it was yet another game where we conceded first.
- Haj is so frustrating in so many ways, his general vibe and casual nature only goes well for him when he is scoring but the man cannot head a ball for his life.
- Not winning last night was so Cov, we will never be given a better chance to win at that place. I don't want to hear any of this valuable point rubbish, the way the game panned out, we should 100% have won.
- I'm fully aware that us winning so many games has made me very spoilt/privileged etc, but that doesn't take away the issues I am starting to see in the performances, notably the lack of ability to keep a clean sheet. I have no idea how we ever went on that run.
- Why is it, EMC is giving away on average about 5 fouls a game? It's not even his fault half of the time tbh, but the referees are so bad, they just don't see the game in the same way as most people who have played it. The one last night where the lad fell over on the byline was a absolute joke.
- The oldest record ever played I know but lack of squad depth was ALWAYS going to catch up with us, and it will only get worse in next few weeks.
- I don't think we go up, AMAZING start but I just don't feel it.
- Despite our incredible run this season, we never beat parachute teams - ever. There has been Ipswich and Leicester so far, we will 100% lose at Southampton, then maybe we draw with Ipswich but don't be surprised if by the middle of Jan we are 5th or 6th.
- Lastly, the 2 clowns on the second tier with their jinx "we were wrong about Lampard" video too, people like that will LOVE to see us fall away and annoyingly they will all likely be delighted when it happens.

There, had to vent and get it off the chest. Again, this is just my view and yes, perhaps I am simply so terrified of being disappointed that I am going with this negativity to protect myself lol, but I'm nearly 40 and Cov have made me like this!

Let's hope we can win on Saturday, or else I can see a real meltdown from me, which will be interesting as that evening I am with the other half of the family in Finland.

A lot of stuff & nonsense there
Are you Finished ?

 

[Major Tom]

Reflecting on last night with a number of things in play, our record, team in top 6 and the pitch was shocker so happy with a point.
we looked the better team even with 11 men. Win Saturday and back at it.
Plus teams around us will have their sticky matches too. Will be an exciting Jan to May.

 

[Incognitocov]

It was Rudoni who was left in the wake of their fullback! Lack of match fitness stopped him getting back to stop him and then JDS did not push towards him to reduce the angle on the cross.

Correct - Rudoni tracked the runner, but didn’t inconvenience him. JDS did what all our inside defenders have done since Frank arrived and protected the space (watch Thomas, Grimes and Kitching do it every game). it’s hilarious that JDS is being given the blame.