Simple Maths

[Numero Uno]

Williams stays fit = we stay up.

[BasSavage88]

Best player by a mile today. 

[Numero Uno]

1 minute ago, BasSavage88 said:

Best player by a mile today. 

Massive difference to us. The middle of the park was decent today. Back three cost us second half and we need more up the top end.

[Gazred]

All action isn't he? Got a bit of everything and a desire to give it his all for 90 mins.

He makes a big difference.

[Alessandro]

I’ve never thought we’d go down and accept this as a transitional season - play like today in the majority of the rest of our games and we’ll be absolutely fine IMO.
 

[Johnr1986]

Agreed Williams, bakinson massengo as 3 should be able to hold there own. 

[nickolas]

Still hoping for Williams, James and Massengo as a 3. Hopefully at some point theyre all fit at the same time!!

[pl00peh91]

I think he should be made captain if he can stay fit. He’s the only player I’ve seen for 2 years that was actually shouting at players telling them what to do. Haven’t seen that since Pack and Smith!

[mozo]

1 hour ago, Numero Uno said:

Williams stays fit = we stay up.

I've just done some calculations on my scientific calculator and you're actually correct.

[Pezo]

Fairly sure that the game changed after half time when they reacted and then when Williams got his yellow.

[Numero Uno]

18 minutes ago, Pezo said:

Fairly sure that the game changed after half time when they reacted and then when Williams got his yellow.

They reacted and we lost composure at the back. Those two things changed the game. Williams nor Bakinson could show for the ball like they did first 45 because it kept being smashed over their heads.

Edited November 20, 2021 by Numero Uno

[BS3City]

I've only really seen Williams in action properly on two separate occasions - today and at Peterborough. On both occasions he has been absolutely superb...

[The Gasbuster]

1 hour ago, pl00peh91 said:

I think he should be made captain if he can stay fit. He’s the only player I’ve seen for 2 years that was actually shouting at players telling them what to do. Haven’t seen that since Pack and Smith!

Great point. We haven’t had a proper “Captain” on the pitch since Korey left.

(and his last two seasons were hampered by injuries).

James is a good player of course, but we don’t see him bellowing at the others.

Edited November 20, 2021 by The Gasbuster

[Davefevs]

Was excellent first half today.  Said it before but he’s similar in style to Gerrard (not that level obviously), got a bit of everything, and his passing range must left O’Dowda licking his lips.  Not had that since Pack.  But the important thing today was his ability to be a passing option in tight areas where he can keep the ball, feint to go one way but go the other…and move the ball having sucked in two players.

All-action.

Having said that, I would be mindful re starting him again on Wednesday.  He is gonna be so important through to Xmas, need to manage carefully.

That little dink and then 50 yard volley pass to O’Dowda was worth the admission money on its own.

[Rocking Red Cyril]

1 hour ago, Johnr1986 said:

Agreed Williams, bakinson massengo as 3 should be able to hold there own. 

Do not want bakinson in any team at city. He did exactly nothing to today.

Shows ability at times but does not engaged in the game enough at

 

get rid 

 

[Numero Uno]

2 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Was excellent first half today.  Said it before but he’s similar in style to Gerrard (not that level obviously), got a bit of everything, and his passing range must left O’Dowda licking his lips.  Not had that since Pack.  But the important thing today was his ability to be a passing option in tight areas where he can keep the ball, feint to go one way but go the other…and move the ball having sucked in two players.

All-action.

Having said that, I would be mindful re starting him again on Wednesday.  He is gonna be so important through to Xmas, need to manage carefully.

That little dink and then 50 yard volley pass to O’Dowda was worth the admission money on its own.

It’s a difficult one. Had we held on today I would have 100% rested him Wednesday. However long term fitness comes before short term points so I would still be tempted to bench him Wednesday.

[Harry]

2 hours ago, Numero Uno said:

Williams stays fit = we stay up.

True story 

Which makes it even more baffling that he was shoved out to right wing for a couple of games!! 

Edited November 20, 2021 by Harry

[Pezo]

29 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

They reacted and we lost composure at the back. Those two things changed the game. Williams nor Bakinson could show for the ball like they did first 45 because it kept being smashed over their heads.

Yeah in possession that's certainly the case, out of possession as soon as Williams got the yellow he couldn't be as dynamic.

It's a bit of a shame that we have one player that makes others in the team look championship quality but without him they look amateur.

[Davefevs]

7 minutes ago, Rocking Red Cyril said:

Do not want bakinson in any team at city. He did exactly nothing to today.

Shows ability at times but does not engaged in the game enough at

 

get rid 

 

I thought his application for 90 minutes today was spot on. He worked well with Williams.  Bit too eager at times to pass forward, but no criticism of his overall performance from me today.

[Rocking Red Cyril]

1 minute ago, Davefevs said:

I thought his application for 90 minutes today was spot on. He worked well with Williams.  Bit too eager at times to pass forward, but no criticism of his overall performance from me today.

Those comments surprise me. I was at the game today and felt he was our major weak link throughout the side. I did feel it was a better more encouraging performance on the whole by the dude today . Williams makes s big difference  

[One Team]

Different class today made a huge difference in midfield and brought a better performance from those around him too.

[Davefevs]

5 minutes ago, Rocking Red Cyril said:

Those comments surprise me. I was at the game today and felt he was our major weak link throughout the side. I did feel it was a better more encouraging performance on the whole by the dude today . Williams makes s big difference  

More than happy to have differing views.

[The Dolman Pragmatist]

I thought Williams was excellent (but then I thought Bakinson had a decent game as well).  But however good Williams is, he can’t deliver wins single-handed and today was two points dropped.  The gap is narrowing every match and we need to start winning matches pdq or we are in BIG trouble.

[Gazred]

12 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

I thought his application for 90 minutes today was spot on. He worked well with Williams.  Bit too eager at times to pass forward, but no criticism of his overall performance from me today.

His natural game was subdued but i think he played to instruction today and in the main made a good go of that.

Edited November 20, 2021 by Gazred

[Rocking Red Cyril]

7 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

More than happy to have differing views.

Yrs me as well. I normally tend to agree with your thoughts. But I really not sure what I am missing with Bakinson. Cause to me he has not good enough and get rid all over him 

[GrahamC]

Really would be a sliding doors moment to wonder what would have happened if he had stayed fit under Holden.

Excellent today, we badly need him to stay fit & play as many games as possible.

[Lanterne Rouge]

51 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Was excellent first half today.  Said it before but he’s similar in style to Gerrard (not that level obviously), got a bit of everything, and his passing range must left O’Dowda licking his lips.  Not had that since Pack.  But the important thing today was his ability to be a passing option in tight areas where he can keep the ball, feint to go one way but go the other…and move the ball having sucked in two players.

All-action.

Having said that, I would be mindful re starting him again on Wednesday.  He is gonna be so important through to Xmas, need to manage carefully.

That little dink and then 50 yard volley pass to O’Dowda was worth the admission money on its own.

I particularly liked the slide to win the ball to the right of our area second half. The forward thought he was going to whack it into row Z and turned his back but JW just slowed up and tapped a pass to Bakinson who started an attack for us.

Edited November 20, 2021 by Lanterne Rouge

[City1970]

4 hours ago, BasSavage88 said:

Best player by a mile today. 

I believe he is our best player by a country mile, but it appears a lot of people believe we have the best keeper in the league. 

[tin]

3 hours ago, GrahamC said:

Really would be a sliding doors moment to wonder what would have happened if he had stayed fit under Holden.

Excellent today, we badly need him to stay fit & play as many games as possible.

All ifs and buts, but don’t forget it was Holden who rushed Williams back and then asked him to play twice in three days — all while freezing out HNM — that saw him break down. Poor management, although he probably acted on poor advice from Rolls.

[hollydog]

5 hours ago, Rocking Red Cyril said:

Do not want bakinson in any team at city. He did exactly nothing to today.

Shows ability at times but does not engaged in the game enough at

 

get rid 

 

Rubbish. I have been a big critic of Bakinson but he was good today, especially out of possession.

[Swede]

He is so important to us

 Can play in different roles in midfield. Very combative. Exactly what we've been missing for a long time.

[Sandhurst Red]

How good is Joe WIlliams? Simply put, wIthout him, we lose that game yesterday That is how important he was.

He also carried Bakinson for 90 minutes, who quite frankly is stealing a living as a professional footballer. League One at best, and that is being kind.

I can deal with misplaced passes etc, but he's so lazy and lethargic and showed zero fight. 

[Port Said Red]

I don't think I have ever seen a  yellow card given to one of our players so roundly applauded before. A recognition of when the professional foul was most required.

I can't agree with @Sandhurst Red though, Bakinson got through a lot of good defensive work yesterday.

[Bodiesaffer]

Williams is the player we needed back badly.  I’m praying to all the gods out there he’s now over his injury issues.  Key player. 

[Davefevs]

2 hours ago, Port Said Red said:

I don't think I have ever seen a  yellow card given to one of our players so roundly applauded before. A recognition of when the professional foul was most required.

I can't agree with @Sandhurst Red though, Bakinson got through a lot of good defensive work yesterday.

I watched Bakinson a lot yesterday. He worked both ways yesterday, I saw no laziness.  When Williams was dictating play from deep he was trying to break beyond the Blackburn back line.  And as per one of my photos in another thread, he tucked in when Baker went for a header in his area.  His passing was a bit off yesterday, but I could not fault his application.  Think Williams communicates well too, which helped him.

[Sir Geoff]

37 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

I watched Bakinson a lot yesterday. He worked both ways yesterday, I saw no laziness.  When Williams was dictating play from deep he was trying to break beyond the Blackburn back line.  And as per one of my photos in another thread, he tucked in when Baker went for a header in his area.  His passing was a bit off yesterday, but I could not fault his application.  Think Williams communicates well too, which helped him.

I noticed him doing this in a game earlier in the season Villa or Blackpool, I think. Dropped back in when the CH went forward. Good signs of football intelligence and doing the basics automatically.