Edgy Red

We didn't deserve that tonight but i have to admit to having some worries moving forward.

I think when we return after the World Cup we are going to be in the bottom 8 and it's going to be a tough second half of the season.

We can't keep feeling hard done by. Results are everything.

I'm looking forward to the game. Morgan Whittaker looks a player.

9 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

Firstly - that was very enjoyable today. A good game of football that we were unlucky not to win. But, looking at this the other way, today Swansea were the perfect opponent for us. They played in the back and midfield, and rarely up front. First half, it was 1 vs 3 in our back line and aside from Obafemis tactic of following Max, there was no pressure on our scratch back line.

I get Swansea have a way of playing. But for Martin not to push men up and play more direct was naive. 
 

This leads me to the point. If you look at the recent games lost - QPR, Brum, Reading, Millwall. We’ve been bullied. Stronger, more aggressive players. You’re never getting that with Swansea - but you will with Sheffield Utd (McBurnie etc). 
 

So, I’m delighted with today. But at the same time markedly concerned for Tuesday. The question is, can we play like that, against greater physicality!

That is the perfect summary Silvio and exactly how i saw it, and also how i thought it would pan out today.

Tuesday night will be a totally different challenge and one that i think we will find much harder.

3 hours ago, Super said:

Martin offers next to nothing these days. I was disappointed to see him brought on tbh.

Sadly this is true. Chris Martin has been a decent professional but taking off Wells and Semenyo gave the clear message that we were purely trying to hold on to what we had.

We looked dangerous with Conway, Wells and Semenyo on the pitch and it always gave us a chance to press Swansea high up the pitch.

Overall i thought a draw was about right although we did have a couple of very good chances early on.

20 minutes ago, Silvio Dante said:

I think it’s related. We’ve got at this level 4 very good strikers (Weimann, Semenyo, Wells, Conway) and one good (Martin). The temptation has to be to get as many of them in the team as you can but if you do, it sometimes leaves you short elsewhere. Especially when Andi isn’t fully fit and can’t play midfield and attack at once.

Agreed... Weimann is a really good player for us, but he's not a central midfielder and isn't comfortable when the game is ahead of him.

Nige made a big call tonight and it will be interesting to see whether he sticks with this line up at Reading.

Just now, steviestevieneville said:

Love wiemann as most of us do . We look so much more balanced in there with three orthodox midfielders though . 

100%  Weimann has been brilliant for us but he's not a central midfielder and doesn't look comfortable when the game is in front of him. Alex Scott has been crying out for some help in midfield and tonight he had it.

1 minute ago, Silvio Dante said:

Someone has to start this.

We were top six before he got injured.

We’ve been poor since the break - when he was missing.

Today, he was filling all the gaps. Nothing spectacular but just there, available for a pass and blocking their play.

Vital. The stats show it. 

I think the fact we played 3 natural midfielders and left Weimann on the bench really helped.

I thought Williams, Scott and James had decent games and looked far more comfortable than when there is only 2 of them in the middle of the park

Semenyo just has something special and can make things happen on his own. He's arguably the only player we have that can do that it in the final third.

He will get a move to the Prem at some point and i really hope he goes on to have a top career.

The decision to leave Weimann on the bench and play 3 natural midfielders was key. Fair play to Nige for changing the set up slightly and to the boys for a solid performance.

A really good victory and 3 points

The most worrying thing for me is that the current formation isn't working. You could argue that certain players aren't effective enough in their roles but Nige has concentrated all his efforts on this system and we have not improved one bit.

Yesterday was an awful watch but its clear that we have ineffective wing backs, we get overloaded in midfield and we still lack physicality in key areas.

I'm not sure Nige would ever admit defeat and try something different, so i don't even think there is a plan B?

40 minutes ago, steveybadger said:

So leaving players on to spite them even though they deserve to come off - is that not cutting off your nose to spite your face? More to the point is it really good management?

I’m on the fence with NP for the record. I can see the issues he has to deal with but his track record is middling at best, IMHO.

I'm sat on that fence with you. The squad lacks physicality and that has been blindly obvious for at least 2 years.

For what its worth i think Vyner has done OK in the last half a dozen games but he isn't good enough if we want to progress. Atkinson has got ability and can compete physically but the squad overall lacks players that can physically compete. Nige has had more than enough time to sort us out defensively.

Alex Scott is 19 and puts himself about, but we don't have enough knowhow in key areas.

I completely understand where we are financially but sadly this is going to be another tough season.

6 hours ago, Davefevs said:

Zak had a good game tonight, apart from…

…virtually every challenge in the air.  He in part allowed Coventry an easy out-ball from their keeper, down the inside left / left wing.  He really needs to impose himself on his opponent, far too often he allows his man to get the optimum position for winning the header…and that exposed King (on the cover) two or three times.  It is so disappointing he doesn’t have this (physicality) in his game, because it really takes away (for me) an otherwise very decent performance.  Anyone in the South Stand advise whether that shot was on target, he caught it sweet.

Also when opponents are hitting an under-pressure clearance, he needs to anticipate better and get in front of his man.

Sorry to be critical, I just find it incredibly frustrating.

This is spot on Dave... Zak had a good game. His ball distibution and positioning were both really positive, but his lack of physicality in the one on one situations is a concern.

Sadly, i'm not sure that is something a player can easily improve on. You've either got that in your game or you haven't. Someone like Bailey Wright (similar size to Zak) would run through a wall to get the ball, but Zak doesn't really have that physical intensity in his defending.

Credit where it is due though, his performances have been much better over the last half a dozen games.

It was a poor game but i thought we had a few decent performances. Vyner was good throughout, King showed Naismith how to play at the centre of a back 3 without taking risks, Atkinson was solid and Semenyo had a couple of bursts when he was 1 on 1. Oh... and Bents did everything he was asked to do.

Weimann's lack of impact is becoming a bit worrying but we've stopped the rot and on to St Andrews we go.

Defensively we are a shambles!

Naismith had a decent season at Luton but he had players like Campbell and Mpanzu in front of him screening, and dominant ball winning centre backs alongside him. He doesn't have that luxury with us.

We are where we are and there will be many more bumps in the road as the season progresses.

We have played 3 of the best sides in the league in our last 3 games but we do need to bounce back with our next 3 or 4 fixtures.

At least its not boring!

I've experienced this too. I tried to buy a couple of tickets in the Dolman for the Cardiff match and ended up about 6 rows further back than i really wanted as it kept saying i couldn't leave an individual seat!

I know its a pain but if you phone up the ticket office, it may be easier to pick the exact seat you want?

3 minutes ago, City1970 said:

Naismith is not the only liability at the back.

I agree, going forward we look good.

Sadly Naismith is making errors in pretty much every game. Unfortunately it cost us tonight.

I agree Vyner isn't a long term solution but i think his performances have improved recently.

We are looking to play on the front foot all the time and it will lead to goals being conceded, especially against the better teams

We are like the Harlem Globetrotters! Its great watching us go forward but we could have easily conceded 5 at the other end.

This is the most exciting attacking football we've produced in nearly 5 years.

If Naismith can cut the errors out then you just never know!

8 hours ago, Mr Popodopolous said:

Don't think that would wash these days personally. For Covid, very much so. Death of a monarch? Nah. Rather a few especially younger are indifferent towards the monarchy.

Can't speak for anyone else but I'd be sorely tempted to sign up for Republic in your scenario and I dare say it could cause some resentment towards the institution among those who are currently indifferent. Impose your will without unanimity and people's positions harden. Mine has reading your post, although I respect your view an imposed grief driven shut down I have severe contempt for.

In fact I wonder if some of those who would have already booked but cannot easily get refunded might travel anyway to placrs, make most of a day, weekend in a new town.

I certainly wasn't calling for a full UK shutdown Mr P... infact quite the opposite.

I was responding to a post regarding British Identity, and made the point that this has eroded beyond repair over the previous few decades and the love for the Royal family is part of this. I won't get all political and start discussing the reasons for this erosion on a football forum, but i'm sure everyone has their own thoughts.

If a similar figure had passed away in many other countries around the world, then i'm sure it would have been handled very differently, but the way the UK has dealt with it purely reflects where we are at, and the lack of "Britishness" that now exists (rightly or wrongly)

32 minutes ago, Sandhurst Red said:

I could not disagree more with this comment. I respect your views but I do feel the alternative to a monarch, is a far poorer option.

I do however agree with you and believe that some of the protocols could be reviewed again and the need to have such a pause culture in respect of death, is perhaps outdated.

But to abolish the monarchy altogether, would take away a huge amount of British symbolism and identity. The net gain (commercial and positive view of UK) from having a head of state, of monarch dynasty, generates incredible revenue and also acts as a figurehead for respecting the faith of society. A vast majority of children in this country attend CofE schools, which through history (rightly or wrongly) has been a large proportion of what state and kingdom has come to represent. 

Sadly British symbolism and identity has eroded irretrievably over the past few decades and i can see the monarchy going the same way.

If The Queens passing was going to be respected correctly then the whole of the UK should have shut down for a period of time and the choice shouldn't have been left to each individual organisations/businesses to decide.

I'm not a Royalist and it just seems wrong to me that we can still sit in a pub all day tomorrow or go to the Cinema, but football at all levels has been suspended.

I remember recording it on VHS or Betamax (ask your parents if you're under 40). I thought we were in for a stuffing and then Shelts got wrestled to the ground and an amazing game unfolded.

Great memories

32 minutes ago, johnbytheriver said:

He has now picked up 4 yellow cards.

I actually love that side of his game. He's a teenager in a tough physical league and he puts himself about and doesn't care about reputations.

He may miss a few games due to suspension, but for me it makes him what he is. He'll play in The Prem for sure and has a great career ahead of him.

I'm really enjoying this season and we are playing some proper aggressive attacking football for the first time in 5 years..... but lets not get ahead of ourselves. 

Huddersfield could have easily scored 2 or 3 against us and we are going to be properly tested against the likes of Norwich, Burnley, Sheff Utd and Watford etc.

There will be some bumps in the road and we just need to enjoy Scott, Semenyo and Conway etc while they are here.

I thought James and Scott did well last night but i do worry in the games against the better sides, that we will get overun in midfield. Weimann will run all day, but we're basically playing with 2 central midfielders which is fairly rare in the modern game.

Someone mentioned in another post about Naismith and the way he plays being a risk and reward strategy and i think the way we utilise Weimann is similar.

Don't get me wrong, i am really enjoying this new positive approach and hope Nige sticks with it, but i do think we could be in for some very tough games as the season progresses.

I think (unfortunately) we have to expect days like today and realise its where we are as a club. There will be disapointments along the way but i do believe that we are gradually improving.

We are a bit weak defensively but we are missing (arguably) our best 2 defenders in Kalas and Baker. They would both make a big difference to the team, and whilst we may never see Baker in a City shirt again, if we can get Kalas back fit, then it would be a huge boost.

After a number of years of fairly dull football, i'm just looking forward to getting back to The Gate on Wednesday!

Sadly, i'm starting to think we may have to trade before the window closes and Semenyo and Scott are the only 2 players we have that will command a decent fee.

If that allows Nige to bring in a few quality replacements (loan or permanent) and also gives us some space with FFP then it's a win win.

I really like Antoine and he makes such a difference to us, but he does seem to pick up injuries regularly which is a worry.