Bristol City v Bolton Wanderers Match Day 27

[Ian M]

1 hour ago, oggysouthwest said:

yes  and  play  4-4-2    all  home  games from  the  start

 

When the 3 dubs came on we went 4312 with COD dropping into midfield and Kasey in the hole. Then when 2-1 up we went to 433 with Kasey sitting deeper and COD pushing on. Then he switched to 4411 with Kasey/COD wide for the last 5 mins and Bolton came back into the game.

The broadly 442 (4411) was our worst formation of the game.

[Esmond Million's Bung]

2 minutes ago, Alessandro said:

Thought your comments were a little glass half full IMO. Lessons learned? Not for me. A professional performance utilising the whole squad. But for a sloppy bit of play by Kelly, Bolton were never in it. We've hit the post twice and carved them open several times. 

I totally that Famara was awful today. Poor touch in front of goal, but an important good team shift IMO.

I also think you're harsh on Weimann today, thought he had everything apart from the finish. Feel he is now trying too hard to get a goal. 

I cannot argue with the highlighted part.

It took a sloppily conceded goal and a triple substitution before today became anywhere near a professional performance, they had more shots on target in the first half.

I thought he was Diedhiou was poor all round, never caused them a problem all day.

Wiemann I will agree is a difficult one, nobody can fault his endeavour but how many goal less games is that now and 2 assists all season, Taylor after today has 3 assists this season and now a recent goal and he hardly gets a game for some reason, as for the very last sentence another good reason to rest him.

[city1983]

2 minutes ago, Esmond Million's Bung said:

I cannot argue with the highlighted part.

It took a sloppily conceded goal and a triple substitution before today became anywhere near a professional performance, they had more shots on target in the first half.

I thought he was Diedhiou was poor all round, never caused them a problem all day.

Wiemann I will agree is a difficult one, nobody can fault his endeavour but how many goal less games is that now and 2 assists all season, Taylor after today has 3 assists this season and now a recent goal and he hardly gets a game for some reason, as for the very last sentence another good reason to rest him.

That’s unfair on Diedhiou. He missed some great chances put in a good shift. One of the reasons Taylor often look so good when he comes on is because Diedhiou has worn them down in a physical battle all game. He has his flaws in his game and certainly doesn’t fit into this high press game that Johnson preaches. But I guarantee the Bolton defenders will feel battered after today

[054123]

1 hour ago, Selred said:

1 shot on target. 0 goals. 

Against a team in the relegation zone who was recently pumped 6-0 by Hull.

We dominated that match and in another day would have scored 4 or 5.

In that respect we were just unlucky with our chances. The set up and team performance were fine.

I don’t see how based on the evidence it could be argued otherwise 

[054123]

2 hours ago, Alessandro said:

Good depth on the bench too as they tire later on.

Nailed it!

[Ian M]

5 minutes ago, JonDolman said:

Agree. I thought Bolton couldn't handle him. Don't get how anyone can think his general game was not good today. 

Pre conceived opinions.

[Alessandro]

19 minutes ago, Esmond Million's Bung said:

I cannot argue with the highlighted part.

It took a sloppily conceded goal and a triple substitution before today became anywhere near a professional performance, they had more shots on target in the first half.

I thought he was Diedhiou was poor all round, never caused them a problem all day.

Wiemann I will agree is a difficult one, nobody can fault his endeavour but how many goal less games is that now and 2 assists all season, Taylor after today has 3 assists this season and now a recent goal and he hardly gets a game for some reason, as for the very last sentence another good reason to rest him.

Did I say glass half full?! I meant empty! 

Kelly will have learned a lesson today - and yes they may have had more shots on target, but one was a soft header, another a pea roller easily taken by Niki.

Forget the stats, we had by far the best openings and the only time they looked like scoring was the gift from our defence.

Agree to disagree with Fam. I can think of at least 2, 3 times he either won a good flick on or held the ball up well to link up or feed others into play. Thought his game was excellent but missed a final touch today.

I like Taylor and agree to a certain extent - but feel he is at his best off the bench TBH. Whenever he gets a start or a few games he disappoints me. Off the bench in front of a tired defence, a real weapon. Why not utilitise that. 

 

 

[REDOXO]

City played well and won. Its a factor of how far we have come in the past eight weeks that people are complaining about it....Please stop!

We play a certain way that is clear and grind out results partially by changing things on or about 60 mins. We are predictable in that respect, what we could not predict today was their goal.

LJ may not be inclined to change a winning team and who would blame him...I wouldn't.

For the record Taylor was class again off the bench also him and Kasey seemed to gel, which was good to see. 

I would start exactly the same way with same team, however straight swaps for Pato and Kasey, possibly Desilva for Kelly I'm sure will get discussed. Either way NF will not fancy us and nor will anyone else. If we keep this sequence going anything could happen, so don't change the basic formula and I can see something astounding happening in my crystal ball!  

[old_eastender]

53 minutes ago, Esmond Million's Bung said:

Somebody else claimed the same earlier today and I will answer the same way, not through my rose tinted glasses he hasn't, he offers little or nothing save the odd reasonable shot and the even less odd cross, his defensive work is appalling, I always feel it's like playing with 10 men with him in the side.

I would be interested to know the last game in which had an influence from start to finish, certainly not in the past 12 months.

 

8 Dec 2017, man of the match as we beat Sheff Utd 1-2 away.

[RED4LIFE]

Last season, if we were 2 or 3 goals up did anybody feel confident that we can see the game out? I certainly didn't.

This season, with the way we are set up defensively now I couldn't see us losing from 2-0 up. That is progress in my eyes.

Yes, we aren't as attack-minded or as pretty to watch as last season, but we are much harder to beat. A club of our standing and budget compared to others shouldn't expect to be able to steam-roller any side in this league but if we keep picking up points, it will breed confidence and stand us in good stead for the future.

As a club we are taking baby steps forward but I believe they will take us forward in the long term. 

[Kid in the Riot]

2 hours ago, Andy082005 said:

Well done City .....

 

Dreadful 

Are you still sticking to your pre-season prediction that we'd be relegated, Andy?

[downendcity]

3 minutes ago, RED4LIFE said:

Last season, if we were 2 or 3 goals up did anybody feel confident that we can see the game out? I certainly didn't.

This season, with the way we are set up defensively now I couldn't see us losing from 2-0 up. That is progress in my eyes.

Yes, we aren't as attack-minded or as pretty to watch as last season, but we are much harder to beat. A club of our standing and budget compared to others shouldn't expect to be able to steam-roller any side in this league but if we keep picking up points, it will breed confidence and stand us in good stead for the future.

As a club we are taking baby steps forward but I believe they will take us forward in the long term. 

You don't get extra points for style and at the end of the season the table shows how many points you have - not how you got them.

For how long have some fans been anticipating LJ's next major slump? This team seems more resilient and, as you say, harder to beat, and we have still only once conceded in the last quarter of any game this season. Perhaps this might be a season where we get stronger after Christmas. Apart from Hull, who are on a storming run of wins, no one else seems able to maintain any consistency.

Another post says that LJ doesn't know his best team. If we can have the sort of run we are on while he doesn't know his best team, then we might have a chance of making the play-offs if he does discover what the best team is. 

 

[Esmond Million's Bung]

39 minutes ago, Alessandro said:

Did I say glass half full?! I meant empty! 

Kelly will have learned a lesson today - and yes they may have had more shots on target, but one was a soft header, another a pea roller easily taken by Niki.

Forget the stats, we had by far the best openings and the only time they looked like scoring was the gift from our defence.

Agree to disagree with Fam. I can think of at least 2, 3 times he either won a good flick on or held the ball up well to link up or feed others into play. Thought his game was excellent but missed a final touch today.

I like Taylor and agree to a certain extent - but feel he is at his best off the bench TBH. Whenever he gets a start or a few games he disappoints me. Off the bench in front of a tired defence, a real weapon. Why not utilitise that. 

 

 

Should have had a hatrick today, his positional play in the 18 yard box at times is bewildering, he has been at least a yard late into the 6 yard box all season, there have been a lot of meat and drink driven crosses for strikers all season and his hold up play imho is weak, but I take your point it's all about opinions, like with LJ I remain unconvinced re Diedhiou.

But let me just throw one other FACT into the mix regarding Wiemann and Diedhiou, all of Wiemanns goals came during Diedhiou's suspension, he has not scored since Diedhiou has returned, maybe they should not be paired together???????

[Boston Red]

I was not at the game - was Weimann up front or wide right?

[BobBobSuperBob]

2 minutes ago, Boston Red said:

I was not at the game - was Weimann up front or wide right?

Wide right

[Jacki]

Some of the negativity on this thread is extraordinary. 

We played well today, albeit against a poor side. I felt we were in total control throughout and even when they scored I didn’t doubt we’d win the game. When we raised the tempo, especially after break, we looked a real threat. It was certainly one of the better home performances I’ve seen this season. 

As for Paterson, who seems to be the whipping boy of choice at the moment, I thought he was bright today and did absolutely fine. He looked a threat and I was surprised he was withdrawn. I’ve seek him play infinitely worse and not get taken off. 

Overall I’m amazed that some people are still moaning at the moment. I know LJ and the players are far from perfect but we’re 10 unbeaten, will almost certainly be playing Championship football next season at the very least and results of late have been excellent. It might not be as exciting as the best spell of last session but for Christ’s sake just try and enjoy it. There’s enough nonsense going on in the world at the moment without getting further depressed about our currently winning football team

[Mr Popodopolous]

57 minutes ago, RED4LIFE said:

Last season, if we were 2 or 3 goals up did anybody feel confident that we can see the game out? I certainly didn't.

This season, with the way we are set up defensively now I couldn't see us losing from 2-0 up. That is progress in my eyes.

Yes, we aren't as attack-minded or as pretty to watch as last season, but we are much harder to beat. A club of our standing and budget compared to others shouldn't expect to be able to steam-roller any side in this league but if we keep picking up points, it will breed confidence and stand us in good stead for the future.

 As a club we are taking baby steps forward but I believe they will take us forward in the long term. 

An interesting angle on that maybe, coming from behind- earlier in the season i.e. late September-late November type time, would we have won that? Not certain.

Things definitely on the up and thought the football 2nd half in particular was not too bad, albeit vs a Bolton in disarray on and off the pitch.

[Leveller]

I can’t disagree with the criticism of Diedhiou’ s finishing today.

However, I thought his hold up play was some of the best I’ve seen from him, so some of the broad brush insults are OTT.

What we need is a poacher to play alongside him. Matty Taylor might even be it. 

Todays finishing eleven looked impressive. And my MOM was Brownhill.

[RED4LIFE]

1 hour ago, downendcity said:

You don't get extra points for style and at the end of the season the table shows how many points you have - not how you got them.

For how long have some fans been anticipating LJ's next major slump? This team seems more resilient and, as you say, harder to beat, and we have still only once conceded in the last quarter of any game this season. Perhaps this might be a season where we get stronger after Christmas. Apart from Hull, who are on a storming run of wins, no one else seems able to maintain any consistency.

Another post says that LJ doesn't know his best team. If we can have the sort of run we are on while he doesn't know his best team, then we might have a chance of making the play-offs if he does discover what the best team is. 

 

Agree with most of that downend. 

You mentioned about LJ not knowing his best team but in the modern game there really isn't any such thing as a best team unless you're Liverpool.  There is a thing called a good squad and it takes a decent manager to utilise it properly which is what's happening to us now. Yes, the squad could easily be improved, but LJ is doing a good job with the tools he has got to hand. If Kelly hadn't had a mare with Boltons goal, which is something no manager can legislate for, we would be more than happy with an easy 2-0 victory. 

The difference between this team and last seasons is we are getting points when we arent playing especially well and also from losing positions. That shows to me the players have confidence and a belief that we can get a result no matter what.

I have had my doubts about LJ (mostly after the Preston game last year) but I feel he's getting more grief than he deserves considering some of the hands he's been dealt since joining us. A small League 1 squad when he took over and having to keep us up then filling the squad out, a ridiculous injury list last year with a non-experienced Championship side and this year having 3 of your better/most influential players sold and having to sign and bed-in their replacements whilst the owner is saying he wants more than last year. Not easy by any stretch. Yes, he's got one of the most tolerant owners of a football club in the country, but SL still knows how to pull the trigger when he has to. 

I think the club from SL down deserve a little more than they are getting from the fans at the moment with regards to how we are improving. That's not me trying to slate anyone as I can totally understand people's frustrations but I think if we as a group look at the bigger picture rather than the minutiae of the here and now we should be a lot happier as a whole.

Apologies for the long post.

[downendcity]

18 minutes ago, RED4LIFE said:

Agree with most of that downend. 

You mentioned about LJ not knowing his best team but in the modern game there really isn't any such thing as a best team unless you're Liverpool.  There is a thing called a good squad and it takes a decent manager to utilise it properly which is what's happening to us now. Yes, the squad could easily be improved, but LJ is doing a good job with the tools he has got to hand. If Kelly hadn't had a mare with Boltons goal, which is something no manager can legislate for, we would be more than happy with an easy 2-0 victory. 

The difference between this team and last seasons is we are getting points when we arent playing especially well and also from losing positions. That shows to me the players have confidence and a belief that we can get a result no matter what.

I have had my doubts about LJ (mostly after the Preston game last year) but I feel he's getting more grief than he deserves considering some of the hands he's been dealt since joining us. A small League 1 squad when he took over and having to keep us up then filling the squad out, a ridiculous injury list last year with a non-experienced Championship side and this year having 3 of your better/most influential players sold and having to sign and bed-in their replacements whilst the owner is saying he wants more than last year. Not easy by any stretch. Yes, he's got one of the most tolerant owners of a football club in the country, but SL still knows how to pull the trigger when he has to. 

I think the club from SL down deserve a little more than they are getting from the fans at the moment with regards to how we are improving. That's not me trying to slate anyone as I can totally understand people's frustrations but I think if we as a group look at the bigger picture rather than the minutiae of the here and now we should be a lot happier as a whole.

Apologies for the long post.

I'm the last person to whom you need to apologise for a long post!

 

 

[Davefevs]

2 hours ago, Major Isewater said:

It’s the old adage that «  when one goes in etc «  

He brings so much more to the team than goals ( much like Matty Taylor ) .

 

His understanding with Hunt shouldn’t be underestimated, but the end product is lacking at the mo’, unfortunately.  Just watch when Hunt is on the ball, with little option inside.  He drags his marker short and spins in behind, and Hunt is now on his wavelength and clipped 3/4 balls round the corner that Weimann latched onto.  He put in a couple of very good crosses today that someone like Palmer, might benefit from.  

2 hours ago, Ian M said:

When the 3 dubs came on we went 4312 with COD dropping into midfield and Kasey in the hole. Then when 2-1 up we went to 433 with Kasey sitting deeper and COD pushing on. Then he switched to 4411 with Kasey/COD wide for the last 5 mins and Bolton came back into the game.

The broadly 442 (4411) was our worst formation of the game.

Thanks Ian.  Yep wasn’t 442 when we made the subs, definitely 4312.

[Selred]

2 hours ago, 054123 said:

We dominated that match and in another day would have scored 4 or 5.

In that respect we were just unlucky with our chances. The set up and team performance were fine.

I don’t see how based on the evidence it could be argued otherwise 

Second half we upped our game.

But first half was slow, we needed to pass faster, be more clinical.

You picked out stats, so did I. 

We did not have a good first half. 

[054123]

16 minutes ago, Selred said:

Second half we upped our game.

But first half was slow, we needed to pass faster, be more clinical.

You picked out stats, so did I. 

We did not have a good first half. 

 That’s fair enough.

I suppose if the first wasn’t good, was it bad? I didn’t think so.

[22A]

Five months on and I think today's performance was an improvement on our August visit to Bolton.

https://www.otib.co.uk/index.php?/topic/196268-match-report-all-style-and-no-substance-at-bolton/

 

[Selred]

42 minutes ago, 054123 said:

 That’s fair enough.

I suppose if the first wasn’t good, was it bad? I didn’t think so.

Yes it was bad.

[BobBobSuperBob]

Worth a watch

Interesting view of the goals and key incidents 

Famaras miss.....wow !

Good support from loyal Bolton fans

 

[054123]

51 minutes ago, Selred said:

Yes it was bad.

Its only opinions, but in all my 30 plus years of watching city, that was not bad imo.

 

[RED4LIFE]

46 minutes ago, BobBobSuperBob said:

Worth a watch

Interesting view of the goals and key incidents 

Famaras miss.....wow !

Good support from loyal Bolton fans

 

Actually a pretty good video BBSB. What away days are all about. 

Would like to know what the stewards were stressing about though

[BobBobSuperBob]

2 minutes ago, RED4LIFE said:

Actually a pretty good video BBSB. What away days are all about. 

Would like to know what the stewards were stressing about though

It was the group of older blokes who were singing pre game and had a sherbet  , or two

They we’re singing about Anderson and pointing amongst their own 

Assuming Anderson wasn’t sat in the Away end I can only guess there was some friction between fans re Anderson etc

[RED4LIFE]

1 minute ago, BobBobSuperBob said:

It was the group of older blokes who were singing pre game and had a sgoherbert or too

They we’re singing about Anderson and pointing amongst their own 

Assuming Anderson wasn’t sat in the Away end I can only guess there was some friction between fans re Anderson etc

Stewards trying to stop people supporting their team? Blokes travelling 300 miles to watch their shit team play, have a few beers and try to make the most of it. **** me, we've all been there over the years surely?

[marcofisher]

5 hours ago, Esmond Million's Bung said:

Leave out the player who scored one and had an assist for the 2nd? and bring in a player who played no part in todays game?

Taylor deserves a run in the team I am not so sure that Eliasson or Diedhiou deserve that chance.

Taylor has shown this before and has shown to be more ineffective when starting. Throughout his career here he seems to have been far more effective off the bench when defences are tiring so why change that? 

The best teams will have players that can influence games off the bench, and Matty has shown himself to be that player, if we start with Matty up front with Fammy on the bench Fammy does not have the pace or work off the ball to profit later on in games. 

 

[Lew-T]

1 hour ago, BobBobSuperBob said:

Worth a watch

Interesting view of the goals and key incidents 

Famaras miss.....wow !

Good support from loyal Bolton fans

 

Ashton Gate looks beautiful doesn’t it?

Looked pretty full too. You go to places like Reading, Bolton, Wigan, Preston, Hull etc and there’s always plenty of empty seats. 

Don’t think we give ourselves enough credit sometimes. 

[Offside]

Very pleased to get the win today. When they scored I feared the worst.

First half we were too negative and didn't trouble their keeper enough. Too often our players seemed reluctant to run at them, even though when we did so we looked dangerous (e.g. Weimann's deflected effort that hit the bar). It frustrates the hell out of me when one of our players in acres of space plays a sideways pass (seemingly for the sake of it) to a player in less space who then gets closed down.

Second half was better. The subs made all the difference (I was hoping changes would be made at half time). Taylor was superb.

Overall I thought Pack had a better game and Diedhiou led the line well (despite being wasteful in front of goal). Palmer was very proactive when he came on - strong on the ball, chased back & not scared of getting stuck in.

Bolton were extremely poor. Credit to their fans who made the trip. Can't be easy to watch a limited side every weak who look destined for the drop (and we should know because we've been there only a few years ago).

The league table looks healthy tonight, so we can raise a glass to that.

[Mr Popodopolous]

2 hours ago, BobBobSuperBob said:

It was the group of older blokes who were singing pre game and had a sherbet  , or two

They we’re singing about Anderson and pointing amongst their own 

Assuming Anderson wasn’t sat in the Away end I can only guess there was some friction between fans re Anderson etc

Fighting amongst themselves?

Surefire sign of a club in deep strife that. It's obvious anyway but it only confirms that fact.

[Andy082005]

12 hours ago, Kid in the Riot said:

Are you still sticking to your pre-season prediction that we'd be relegated, Andy?

I actually didn't say we would get relegated? This is the first season where I have said I thought we would come mid-table 

I predicted a lower finish then last season though 

So not sure where your getting your info from mate . 

[Mike Hunt-Hertz]

9 hours ago, BobBobSuperBob said:

Worth a watch

Interesting view of the goals and key incidents 

Famaras miss.....wow !

Good support from loyal Bolton fans

 

I love seeing away fans jubilant and then crushed.

[DT The Optimist]

15 hours ago, BobBobSuperBob said:

Wide right

Still cannot ever get my head round this one.  AW states he likes to play down the middle and is his best position and LJ agrees with that.

We have an abundance of wide players, some who cannot even get in the match day squad. WATKINS for example, a £1.0 Million signing. 

So, we play AW wide, out of position, and while the effort is there for all and everyone to see, no end product  in his game ?

Would you put AW wide instead of the natural wide players like  Elliason and co ?, 

[BobBobSuperBob]

2 hours ago, DT The Optimist said:

Still cannot ever get my head round this one.  AW states he likes to play down the middle and is his best position and LJ agrees with that.

We have an abundance of wide players, some who cannot even get in the match day squad. WATKINS for example, a £1.0 Million signing. 

So, we play AW wide, out of position, and while the effort is there for all and everyone to see, no end product  in his game ?

Would you put AW wide instead of the natural wide players like  Elliason and co ?, 

It’s a ‘safe’ pick in Lees eyes IMHO

knows he will work , knows he’s likely to  make sensible decisions , offers some attacking threat and link play

Can see the thinking - I’d have liked to have seen Elliasson start yesterday against a side likely to sit deep

 

[DT The Optimist]

20 minutes ago, BobBobSuperBob said:

It’s a ‘safe’ pick in Lees eyes IMHO

knows he will work , knows he’s likely to  make sensible decisions , offers some attacking threat and link play

Can see the thinking - I’d have liked to have seen Elliasson start yesterday against a side likely to sit deep

 

seems we have fallen into the same 'trap' as his previous club,  where he ends up a wide player because of his 'work' ethic and being 'busy'   Clearly an intelligent player who has played at levels above the championship but still a square peg in round hole and all that.

Thats what happened to him at derby and LJ said he saw him as a player in the middle when he arrived here.  Oh well !

[Nicki's soulmate]

17 hours ago, Jacki said:

Some of the negativity on this thread is extraordinary. 

We played well today, albeit against a poor side. I felt we were in total control throughout and even when they scored I didn’t doubt we’d win the game. When we raised the tempo, especially after break, we looked a real threat. It was certainly one of the better home performances I’ve seen this season. 

As for Paterson, who seems to be the whipping boy of choice at the moment, I thought he was bright today and did absolutely fine. He looked a threat and I was surprised he was withdrawn. I’ve seek him play infinitely worse and not get taken off. 

Overall I’m amazed that some people are still moaning at the moment. I know LJ and the players are far from perfect but we’re 10 unbeaten, will almost certainly be playing Championship football next season at the very least and results of late have been excellent. It might not be as exciting as the best spell of last session but for Christ’s sake just try and enjoy it. There’s enough nonsense going on in the world at the moment without getting further depressed about our currently winning football team

People on here seem to look for things to criticise rather than praise

[mozo]

If you look at the table at this stage of last season we had 6 more points in 5th, and Fulham were in a very similar position to the one we're in now. Fulham then won 14 of their last 19 games. Not sure we'll manage that, but playoffs still a possibility. 

[BTRFTG]

Football's about winning. We won. 3 points. That's all that matters.

The following are neither praise or criticism and appear simply as matter of record:

Bolton were poor;

They were content to cede us tons of possession and we didn't have to work that hard to win the ball back;

We knocked it around pretty much with unencumbered ease given we moved well and held a decent shape;

We were ponderous in the extreme in getting the ball forward;

Our final balls and particularly those into the box were woeful;

Brownhill's dead ball efforts couldn't have been less effective had tried (otherwise he had a decent game;)

Weimann isn't a striker, but as he never was that's no surprise;

WeeLee's changes weren't inspired, they were down to his system and choices not working irrespective of how much possession we had (he said as much post match;)

Taylor makes the most aggressive and decisive forward runs at the club, if he was an average scorer we'd think him a superstar - he should start over Weimann every time;

The Chelsea lads are positive, have good touch and improve the side. No sh*t Sherlock, why do you think Chelsea invested heavily in their services? If they don't start one has to ask why?

Webster gets stronger by the match;

Pack's worryingly inherited Hunt's habit of needlessly cedeing possession half a dozen times per game;

It's decent, nothing yet to shout about and the unbeaten run continues. If it does continue against better sides we may indeed have something to proclaim to the hills .......

[Mr Popodopolous]

2 hours ago, BobBobSuperBob said:

It’s a ‘safe’ pick in Lees eyes IMHO

knows he will work , knows he’s likely to  make sensible decisions , offers some attacking threat and link play

Can see the thinking - I’d have liked to have seen Elliasson start yesterday against a side likely to sit deep

 

Eliasson and O'Dowda v teams like Bolton at home would be excellent IMO. Thought similar v Rotherham but fair Rotherham posed more threat than anticipated in first half but definitely when they went down to 10? I'd have switched to that right away.

[Lanterne Rouge]

5 hours ago, BobBobSuperBob said:

It’s a ‘safe’ pick in Lees eyes IMHO

knows he will work , knows he’s likely to  make sensible decisions , offers some attacking threat and link play

Can see the thinking - I’d have liked to have seen Elliasson start yesterday against a side likely to sit deep

 

I tend to agree with this, you know exactly what you`re going to get from Andi, constant running and a great workrate. I watched him quite a bit yesterday in the second half as he was right in front of me and he was getting into dangerous positions and seemed to have a good understanding with Hunt. Some of the little triangles out by the corner flag were very good and switched the angle of attack several times and he also got a couple of good balls into the box himself. All in all, I thought it was one of his better games but do agree that Niclas should probably have started in a game like yesterday.

[Esmond Million's Bung]

23 hours ago, Jacki said:

Some of the negativity on this thread is extraordinary. 

We played well today, albeit against a poor side. I felt we were in total control throughout and even when they scored I didn’t doubt we’d win the game. When we raised the tempo, especially after break, we looked a real threat. It was certainly one of the better home performances I’ve seen this season. 

As for Paterson, who seems to be the whipping boy of choice at the moment, I thought he was bright today and did absolutely fine. He looked a threat and I was surprised he was withdrawn. I’ve seek him play infinitely worse and not get taken off. 

Overall I’m amazed that some people are still moaning at the moment. I know LJ and the players are far from perfect but we’re 10 unbeaten, will almost certainly be playing Championship football next season at the very least and results of late have been excellent. It might not be as exciting as the best spell of last session but for Christ’s sake just try and enjoy it. There’s enough nonsense going on in the world at the moment without getting further depressed about our currently winning football team

Your post does have a lot of merit.

But Paterson whipping boy my arse, 12 months of mainly dross, this season 3 goals 1 assist is just not good enough, defensively he is a liability.

This is where I stand on yesterday, Palmer achieved more in 30 minutes than the supposedly bright Paterson, there has been much talk about Diedhiou and Wiemann and my contention is that they cannot play together, Wiemann has not scored since Diedhiou returned from suspension and playing wide does not suit him. In recent weeks I have noticed an increase of low driven crosses into the 6 yard area and Diedhiou has not connected with one, to me he is a yard behind the play all of the time, whereas that was an area that Wiemann looked dangerous pre Diedhiou returning, something has got to give with these 2 as our strike force and Kelly is due a rest.

For me the team that finished yesterday has to be the one that starts on Saturday and LJ needs to allow players like Taylor, Da Silva and Palmer to have a fair run in the same way that he has for Paterson over the past 12 months and not look for the first opportunity to shoehorn him back into the team.

 

 

[Jacki]

1 hour ago, Esmond Million's Bung said:

Your post does have a lot of merit.

But Paterson whipping boy my arse, 12 months of mainly dross, this season 3 goals 1 assist is just not good enough, defensively he is a liability.

This is where I stand on yesterday, Palmer achieved more in 30 minutes than the supposedly bright Paterson, there has been much talk about Diedhiou and Wiemann and my contention is that they cannot play together, Wiemann has not scored since Diedhiou returned from suspension and playing wide does not suit him. In recent weeks I have noticed an increase of low driven crosses into the 6 yard area and Diedhiou has not connected with one, to me he is a yard behind the play all of the time, whereas that was an area that Wiemann looked dangerous pre Diedhiou returning, something has got to give with these 2 as our strike force and Kelly is due a rest.

For me the team that finished yesterday has to be the one that starts on Saturday and LJ needs to allow players like Taylor, Da Silva and Palmer to have a fair run in the same way that he has for Paterson over the past 12 months and not look for the first opportunity to shoehorn him back into the team.

 

 

I know what you mean about Paterson as he hasn’t been great for long periods of the season. It did feel like he was indulged earlier in the season. 

I would however say that he’s been much improved over the past month or so, certainly in my view. When he’s on song, and he’s as close to being at his best as he’s been all season, he’s a good player at this level. He’s not consistent but players of his type rarely are. 

As for Diedhiou, there are plenty of flaws for him to work on but I think he’s doing okay. He could be better at attacking those balls into the box but if he was 100% the finished article and took the vast majority of his chances he wouldn’t be playing for us for long. Playing up front alone is a tough job and I think he’s made a decent fist of it. 

As I said yesterday, we're far from perfect but recent results have been excellent. I’m of a mind to look for and enjoy the positives and give credit where it’s due while things are going well. 

[Esmond Million's Bung]

1 hour ago, Jacki said:

I know what you mean about Paterson as he hasn’t been great for long periods of the season. It did feel like he was indulged earlier in the season. 

I would however say that he’s been much improved over the past month or so, certainly in my view. When he’s on song, and he’s as close to being at his best as he’s been all season, he’s a good player at this level. He’s not consistent but players of his type rarely are. 

As for Diedhiou, there are plenty of flaws for him to work on but I think he’s doing okay. He could be better at attacking those balls into the box but if he was 100% the finished article and took the vast majority of his chances he wouldn’t be playing for us for long. Playing up front alone is a tough job and I think he’s made a decent fist of it. 

As I said yesterday, we're far from perfect but recent results have been excellent. I’m of a mind to look for and enjoy the positives and give credit where it’s due while things are going well. 

We will have to agree to disagree reference Paterson, your description of him being a whipping boy is just wrong, I totally disagree with your 'much improved'  tag, at best there has been a very slight improvement, also he hasn't been 'on song' since December 2017.

But to be fair all of this is not his fault, it's LJ for as you do rightly say 'indulging him' for such a long time and even when he does drop him, he always seems to be looking to get him back into the team on any pretext, pity he is not so patient with other players.

[Davefevs]

I know it’s a one-off example from yesterday, but when Ameobi strides forward on the break (like he did last year at their place - to score), look who’s busting a gut to get back...and eventually closes a bit of space he had to get a better shot off - Pato.

No way was he doing that a month, six weeks ago.  His attitude has changed.

Hes not in the form of Dec2017, but he’s been playing a part.  I want more from him, I suspect he’ll make way for Palmer.  Whether he ends up getting minutes wide or not I don’t know.

[1960maaan]

20 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

I know it’s a one-off example from yesterday, but when Ameobi strides forward on the break (like he did last year at their place - to score), look who’s busting a gut to get back

Here's a random thought, how about Ameobi as back up for Fam ? Good touch, holds the ball well , has a decent shot and decent in the air, and can play the lone striker role. 

[Davefevs]

10 hours ago, 1960maaan said:

Here's a random thought, how about Ameobi as back up for Fam ? Good touch, holds the ball well , has a decent shot and decent in the air, and can play the lone striker role. 

Very random