Davefevs

A few concentration issues first half, but another good game. Was it a foul on him? Nige said so, but I couldn’t tell.

Ref was generally decent, but Semenyo’s was a penalty all day long, cuts across defender, who leans in, tangles legs. Can’t be anything else.

In my notes, I wrote that Martin looked tired after 74 and Semenyo 76. Semenyo had enough left to get his goal, but i do think we were less able to close down their side CBs. Likewise, Kalas and Pring started no,bing as their forwards tired too. Minus 3 for the 2pts gained at QPR and 1pt at Hull.

Hi Mortis, good to see you posting. Hope you're well, but hope we are celebrating, not you, later!

Think we were 3-1 up when he missed iirc.

Bar a crap cross early on, he's played really well. Keeper targeting him with kicks, but Kalas so happy in wide positions covering round.

Plus pushing their players around in the box, not allowing himself to be pushed around. Two 40 yard passes into the front men...passes, not hoofs. Pring has lost concentration 3 times, once trying to run the ball out, the other two poor touches, one under his foot, the other too heavy. Concentrate please Cam. Chris Honour on Robinstv co-comms is spot on with his summaries.

1st Half summary: As good an opening 45 as we've had all season. 1-0 doesn't do us justice. Could shout out almost everyone. Important to go a half without conceding having got the first. What a super goal it was too. O'Dowda, what an awful touch, tensed up, ended up on his right foot. Weimann did a Chris Ewulumo, shanked it when easier to score. Same again please.

They aren't a huge team, Riis really works harder, puts you under pressure...a bit like Hugill but technically better. The main thing is don't give away needless set-pieces. No Daniel Johnson, Paul Gallagher or Ben Pearson....they used to get away with murder. Alan Browne is a good player too.

Just collect a zillion Bazooka Joe wrappers and this could be yours. Not @Bazooka Joerapper!!!

Preston: iverson VDB Bauer Hughes Potts Whiteman Ledson Cunningham (booooo) Browne Riis Archer

Cundy makes the 18. Well done him.

@JonDolman another team that recruit well. Surely us next…please. ?

Re Tom Lees, he won’t be what he was on at Wednesday, but I bet he’s on more than the £8-10k p.w we are probably paying Baker. We need to ignore those players like Kalas, Palmer, Wells, etc, the only reason they are on that much is because they were on existing contracts. The new norm is much less and I suspect that although Lees isn’t commanding a Kalas like salary, he would’ve been too rich for us….plus the location issue too. A bit like why Jack Hunt could go to Wednesday, take a paycut, but be “back home” with his young family. Huddersfield did loan Pereira and Eiting too in the window btw (I know you said by first game). Totally accept they sold a few, e.g. Grant. But not as bid a rebuild, nor as constraining a rebuild as us….and they struggled (apart from both games against us, when we stole 6 points!). Ultimately, we DO need to improve our recruitment, but it is harder when you’re skint…perversely it’s more crucial to get right too…a vicious circle. I’m glad we haven’t made any signings in this window, bar Klose. Can only assume it’s because Baker won’t be back…so keeping our powder dry til the summer. I do think Nige / RG are trying to be really careful with the purse strings, which is encouraging. Lets see what our recruitment looks like in the summer. Let’s hope it starts to look a bit more like Huddersfield.

Gonna be some interesting financial results coming out. Maja is a good player imho.

You’ll know my beef with Mark Ashton, and your TWTD forum blames it all on Cook. Just imagine Cook did want all 20 players signed in the summer. At what point does the CEO (playing the role of HoR) use his skill, experience and understanding of the market and the financial climate turn round to Cook and say “enough is enough Paul, that player you brought in at the start of the season, you’re telling me a few weeks later you want another in his position”. If you’re not in full support of the manager’s recruitment plan what the hell are you responsible for? Thats the bit I don’t get. And now some of those players brought in during the summer are poised to move on, in most cases it will be at a cost, because the players you don’t want aren’t the ones who are playing well, but the ones that haven’t. In most cases you’ll have paid better wages than most in your division, so who can afford to take your “unwanted” off your hands and pay either the necessary fee and / or wages. That poor recruitment has to be a reflection on the CEO’s judgment, not just the manager. Surely?

I’d be happy to see Williams play one, rest one, play one, rest one for the remainder of the season. I’m not desperate to see him start tomorrow. If he’s ready, he’s ready. It’s such a shame, because he’s been really good in the cameos this season.

Yes he was at Leeds pre-Bielsa wasn’t he.

Indeed, but two other factors: a year ahead of us in terms of squad building under Corboran, finished 20th last season still in receipt of PPs this season (final year) - I honestly believe they will be paying reasonable wages, comparable to us, plus location a helpful factor too, e.g. Lees But as per the article, they are switched on recruitment wise.

Glad he’s returned to his normal form. Joint worst ref with Davies in the Champ. Stoke having a poor run, thought they be playoff material.

They are from Swans Analytics, think 13th Jan.

He should be more responsible making comments like that.

We are also starting to see rumours of players signed in the summer, already looking to be moved on. Churn, churn, agents, kerching ? ? ?

I think that is fair. One caveat, the expectations of “minutes” for Tanner especially and Atkinson were lower than the others. I don’t think King was expected to play every week, but I do expect Nige wanted him to be in the 18 most / almost every week. Out of interest, here’s the contributions of the 4 signings, and 3 re-signings. Weimann has obviously played the maximum number of league minutes (he did get subbed in injury time though ?). I don’t think you’d get many arguments that Simpson has been a bad signing (assume he’s not suddenly gonna play 12-15 games). Baker is a real bummer, because he was playing well too, had got through his hamstring issue from last season, then concussed twice. King, not available enough due to injury Atkinson 68% of minutes is decent. James 71%, probably a tad lower than we’d hoped. Tanner probably exceeded expectations of minutes at this point and looked decent. Weimann has been stellar. As it stands I’d say the two players we’ve spent money on are fine, sensible. The freebies / re-signs a right old mix! But everyone will have their different interpretations.

You might need a XXXL to get that surname on!