Just back in from Stoke 21:27 - Jan 1 with 2954 views | TresBonne | I have to say, it felt like a really weird afternoon tbh. Wanted to see if anyone else thought so in the ground too?! Just very, very, flat. Home atmosphere was silent, you could hear a pin drop at times. Away too. The game ebbed and flowed, neither team really made any clear cut chances or anything. Bit like a pre-season game at times. I wonder if the majority of the ground (including me!) were battling their New Years' hangovers... Have to say I am a little disappointed we didn't push more after the red. They set up well at the back, but it's not the first time we've been a bit crap against 10 men. Oh well. Onto Wimbledon in the cup! |  | | |  |
Just back in from Stoke on 21:40 - Jan 1 with 2784 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior | KM alluded to this in his pre match. We all love our football around this time of year but 4 games in 9 days is a bit much. I don’t think it was like pre season so much but just the toll of such a busy period by a lot of leggy players and injuries. [Post edited 1 Jan 2024 21:40]
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Just back in from Stoke on 22:28 - Jan 1 with 2478 views | Illinoisblue |
Just back in from Stoke on 21:40 - Jan 1 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior | KM alluded to this in his pre match. We all love our football around this time of year but 4 games in 9 days is a bit much. I don’t think it was like pre season so much but just the toll of such a busy period by a lot of leggy players and injuries. [Post edited 1 Jan 2024 21:40]
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KM is right; I know it’s tradition but four games in such a short space of time is insane. We looked tired today and not surprising, after the hype of Norwich, chasing shadows at Leeds, the second half effort v Leicester, huffing and puffing v QPR. Add in illness and it’s not a surprise we looked cooked. |  |
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Just back in from Stoke on 22:53 - Jan 1 with 2294 views | SitfcB |
Just back in from Stoke on 22:28 - Jan 1 by Illinoisblue | KM is right; I know it’s tradition but four games in such a short space of time is insane. We looked tired today and not surprising, after the hype of Norwich, chasing shadows at Leeds, the second half effort v Leicester, huffing and puffing v QPR. Add in illness and it’s not a surprise we looked cooked. |
I love the Christmas period of football but heck Leeds (a), Leicester (H), QPR (H) and Stoke (a) in 10 days has done me in let alone the players I finished work on the 22nd and back tomorrow… feel like I need a couple more days off to recover haha. Looking forward to a little break from league action this week now, it’s going to be a stressful few months again as was the second half of last season! |  |
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Just back in from Stoke on 22:57 - Jan 1 with 2259 views | JakeITFC |
Just back in from Stoke on 22:53 - Jan 1 by SitfcB | I love the Christmas period of football but heck Leeds (a), Leicester (H), QPR (H) and Stoke (a) in 10 days has done me in let alone the players I finished work on the 22nd and back tomorrow… feel like I need a couple more days off to recover haha. Looking forward to a little break from league action this week now, it’s going to be a stressful few months again as was the second half of last season! |
I understand that the game in between Boxing Day and NYD is probably a bit of a money-spinner for home gates/lack of Boxing Day home game compensation, but realistically that one could go and the schedule wouldn't be that brutal. Seems like that would be a quite easy fix for player/squad welfare (loads of empty midweeks in the second half of the season). |  | |  |
Just back in from Stoke on 23:13 - Jan 1 with 2162 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
Just back in from Stoke on 22:57 - Jan 1 by JakeITFC | I understand that the game in between Boxing Day and NYD is probably a bit of a money-spinner for home gates/lack of Boxing Day home game compensation, but realistically that one could go and the schedule wouldn't be that brutal. Seems like that would be a quite easy fix for player/squad welfare (loads of empty midweeks in the second half of the season). |
Yep Boxing Day to NYs weekend is fine. Not sure even the fans want that one. |  | |  |
Just back in from Stoke on 23:43 - Jan 1 with 2029 views | TRUE_BLUE123 | Yep for sure a flat one home and away crowd. I mean that home atmosphere… Jesus. We are quiet but that was different level bad. As for the game i thought we defended really well, Edmundson the pick of the bunch. But you can see how much we miss Leif and Hirst. I never once thought in that game we were going to score. Jackson did fine, he did what he does works hard put himself about but he’s not going to score goals. We brought Ladapo on and barely played the ball to him. Just really disjointed from the front 3 in and around the boxes got much harder after the red card. I do feel it’s too much football (for the fans and players) we need a good window and a break. Then back to it, need to start winning games again. But still a superb start to the season and we go again. |  |
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Just back in from Stoke on 23:54 - Jan 1 with 1972 views | HalifaxBlue | The workload this time of year is insane, and surely will be addressed in the coming years. Look at schedules for major(ish) leagues in any other country - none are playing today, or basically for the next week or so. On the continent, a week where you play Sat-Weds-Sat (which is much rarer) is known as an "English week". We are driving our players into the ground. |  |
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Just back in from Stoke on 01:04 - Jan 2 with 1814 views | pointofblue |
Just back in from Stoke on 22:57 - Jan 1 by JakeITFC | I understand that the game in between Boxing Day and NYD is probably a bit of a money-spinner for home gates/lack of Boxing Day home game compensation, but realistically that one could go and the schedule wouldn't be that brutal. Seems like that would be a quite easy fix for player/squad welfare (loads of empty midweeks in the second half of the season). |
There was no reason to have games on the 29th. And indeed, the games on the 23rd could arguably be ditched too - just have Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. |  |
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Just back in from Stoke on 01:25 - Jan 2 with 1769 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
Just back in from Stoke on 01:04 - Jan 2 by pointofblue | There was no reason to have games on the 29th. And indeed, the games on the 23rd could arguably be ditched too - just have Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. |
Ok for an extra festive game but 4 is dumb. |  | |  |
Just back in from Stoke on 09:45 - Jan 2 with 1223 views | Sawtrich | There is widespread agreement that 4 games in 10 days is too much, Schumacher made reference to it as well. When there's a sickness bug as well as a couple of key injuries it makes it very difficult. A 0-0 on New Years Day at the end of an intense period isn't really going to get anyone's juices flowing is it? I went to get a pint in the ground around 2:15, no queue, very quiet. There was just a holiday over, back to work feel in the crowd and I'm sure the players and coaches are desperate for a chance to get some recovery time. |  | |  |
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