| Let’s be honest 21:20 - Jan 27 with 3912 views | GlasgowBlue |
Our season turned at the Norwich game. Before that game everything we touched turned to gold. We hit ever rub of the green. Small margins went our way. And we played superb football where we dominated established Championship teams. We may have conceded a few but we were out scoring teams. Score 3 against us? No problem. Well score 4.
We went into that Norwich game all Billy BIg Bollox with flares, smoke bombs and a parade with an arrogance that came back to bite us in the arse. It wasn’t and end of season promotion winning game. It wasn’t a cup final. It was a Championship game against a team who were something like 20 points behind us. It was tinpot imo.
Should have been out of sight in the first twenty minutes except, guess what? We couldn’t finish.
We followed that with a 4 -0 stuffing by Leeds, got a last minute equaliser against Leicester which we followed up with two lacklustre draws against struggling QPR and Stoke (can’t remember which way round those games were. They blur into one). Since then we beat League Two Wimbledon in the Cup, beat a Sunderland team who are an absolute shambles under Beal and got another late equaliser against Leicester after player one good half of football. And now today.
My personal view is we have reached the same crossroads that we did last season after the Bristol Rovers game.
Where we go now is anyone’s guess. But after only scoring one goal against a semi professional team after 30+ attempts, it’s not going to be top 2 without getting in a serious striker and a settled starting eleven.
We managed it last year. Hopefully we will do it again. [Post edited 27 Jan 2024 21:25]
|  |
| |  |
| Let’s be honest on 21:23 - Jan 27 with 3272 views | pointofblue |
We did score against Maidstone, but I agree with your overall point.
There are questions about our first XI, aren't there? The obvious one being who is going to be our lead striker. Then has Broadhead lost the left winger position to Sarmiento. And finally, has Edmundson done enough to keep hold of the LCB spot over Burgess. |  |
| |
| Let’s be honest on 21:25 - Jan 27 with 3241 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Let’s be honest on 21:23 - Jan 27 by pointofblue |
We did score against Maidstone, but I agree with your overall point.
There are questions about our first XI, aren't there? The obvious one being who is going to be our lead striker. Then has Broadhead lost the left winger position to Sarmiento. And finally, has Edmundson done enough to keep hold of the LCB spot over Burgess. |
Yeah. Edited the goal bit. | |
| |
| Let’s be honest on 21:28 - Jan 27 with 3195 views | Mckenna1263 |
I think the management and owners are as much surprised as the fans. Consequently we are not prepared for promotion. Unless there is some serious transfer action in the next couple of days it will be the playoffs at best and I would not fancy our chances in that. | | | |
| Let’s be honest on 21:29 - Jan 27 with 3151 views | FrimleyBlue |
We've unfortunately got a few players short on top end performance levels.
Broadhead. Burns. Chaplin. All guilty of variable lower levels of performance. Yes Chaplin recently scored but he's not been his high level best.
Absolutely alot comes down to losing Hirst. Which is why this week is probably the most important week of a transfer window we've had as it could save our efforts in getting promoted. If you're still thinking anything is a positive result this season other than relegation then of course this week means nothing really.
We are indeed at that crossroads. Last seasons Jan window we signed players that were to good for the level they were playing in, we can't do that this window. |  |
| |
| Let’s be honest on 21:31 - Jan 27 with 3137 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
This time last season we had blown promotion to the Championship too.
That's not to say we haven't got some issues to solve, though (just as we had then too). |  |
| |
| Let’s be honest on 21:37 - Jan 27 with 3077 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Let’s be honest on 21:31 - Jan 27 by Nthsuffolkblue |
This time last season we had blown promotion to the Championship too.
That's not to say we haven't got some issues to solve, though (just as we had then too). |
Last season we had to get better results than Sheffield Wednesday. This season we have to get better results than Leeds and Southampton. Recent form doesn’t suggest that we will. | |
| |
| Let’s be honest on 21:37 - Jan 27 with 3063 views | tractorboy1978 |
You can’t just dismiss two late draws against Leicester and a win against a “shambolic” Sunderland (who won comfortably today) as if they are a negative. Three good results. And the QPR game was a freak in the sense we had arguably our 5 most influential players out and it showed.
We need a striker and miss Hirst, that’s very clear. We need to get the next few days right in the transfer window and then we have a good run of fixtures to follow. Hopefully today sharpens minds and we can use it as fuel. [Post edited 27 Jan 2024 21:38]
| | | |
| Let’s be honest on 21:38 - Jan 27 with 3036 views | FrimleyBlue |
| Let’s be honest on 21:37 - Jan 27 by GlasgowBlue |
Last season we had to get better results than Sheffield Wednesday. This season we have to get better results than Leeds and Southampton. Recent form doesn’t suggest that we will. |
We also had a new striker but also one who had ended up scoring 16? Goals that season.
At the moment. We couldn't even field a striker today. | |
| |
Login to get fewer ads
| Let’s be honest on 21:39 - Jan 27 with 3018 views | PioneerBlue |
As an alternative take
We have more of an issue with the quality of our non starters; rather than with our starters. The drop of in an offensive sense without Clarke and LD for starters, let alone not having a recognised 9.
In terms of goals,
we are top 6 for
Expected Goals XG, actual Goals scored, Shots on Target per match, Average goals scored per match.
And 6 for clean sheets
I certainly feel we could be more clinical but the idea we don’t score or can’t score because Hirst is injured isn’t accurate. However I agree we need the presence of a striker to help the rest of the forwards to be more effective. | |
| |
| Let’s be honest on 21:41 - Jan 27 with 2971 views | FrimleyBlue |
| Let’s be honest on 21:39 - Jan 27 by PioneerBlue |
As an alternative take
We have more of an issue with the quality of our non starters; rather than with our starters. The drop of in an offensive sense without Clarke and LD for starters, let alone not having a recognised 9.
In terms of goals,
we are top 6 for
Expected Goals XG, actual Goals scored, Shots on Target per match, Average goals scored per match.
And 6 for clean sheets
I certainly feel we could be more clinical but the idea we don’t score or can’t score because Hirst is injured isn’t accurate. However I agree we need the presence of a striker to help the rest of the forwards to be more effective. |
How do we look on those stats since the Leicester home game? | |
| |
| Let’s be honest on 21:45 - Jan 27 with 2944 views | Steve_M |
| Let’s be honest on 21:37 - Jan 27 by tractorboy1978 |
You can’t just dismiss two late draws against Leicester and a win against a “shambolic” Sunderland (who won comfortably today) as if they are a negative. Three good results. And the QPR game was a freak in the sense we had arguably our 5 most influential players out and it showed.
We need a striker and miss Hirst, that’s very clear. We need to get the next few days right in the transfer window and then we have a good run of fixtures to follow. Hopefully today sharpens minds and we can use it as fuel. [Post edited 27 Jan 2024 21:38]
|
Yes, Glassers is way over the top here and connecting some things that aren’t really connected except in having three of our most difficult games in quick succession over Christmas.
The failure to be ready to go with a striker at the start of January is a bigger problem, especially given we wanted another last Summer. |  |
| |
| Let’s be honest on 21:47 - Jan 27 with 2904 views | SuperKieranMcKenna |
| Let’s be honest on 21:37 - Jan 27 by GlasgowBlue |
Last season we had to get better results than Sheffield Wednesday. This season we have to get better results than Leeds and Southampton. Recent form doesn’t suggest that we will. |
“Recent form doesn’t suggest that we will.”
We’ve just had our toughest run of the season - double header against Leicester, Leeds, and a firey derby game. The two ‘easier’ games the we missed half of our first team.
The upcoming fixtures don’t look nearly as daunting. We got back on track against Sunderland, and the new signings Travis and Sarmiento look top quality. A striker should be just the missing piece of the puzzle. Today was a bit of a freak, promotion wise I’m feeling very optimistic. | | | |
| Let’s be honest on 21:47 - Jan 27 with 2904 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| Let’s be honest on 21:37 - Jan 27 by GlasgowBlue |
Last season we had to get better results than Sheffield Wednesday. This season we have to get better results than Leeds and Southampton. Recent form doesn’t suggest that we will. |
The same was said at this point last season about Wednesday, Barnsley and Derby. Most seemed to think we would have no trouble with Plymouth.
Don't get me wrong, we need to sort a striker out and it is going to be tough even if we do, but we are second in the Championship for good reason too. | |
| |
| Let’s be honest on 21:51 - Jan 27 with 2842 views | ReusersTown |
| Let’s be honest on 21:39 - Jan 27 by PioneerBlue |
As an alternative take
We have more of an issue with the quality of our non starters; rather than with our starters. The drop of in an offensive sense without Clarke and LD for starters, let alone not having a recognised 9.
In terms of goals,
we are top 6 for
Expected Goals XG, actual Goals scored, Shots on Target per match, Average goals scored per match.
And 6 for clean sheets
I certainly feel we could be more clinical but the idea we don’t score or can’t score because Hirst is injured isn’t accurate. However I agree we need the presence of a striker to help the rest of the forwards to be more effective. |
How much has that gone down since we've lost Hirst out of interest? Re: your last point, so you agree and then disagree with yourself!? | | | |
| Let’s be honest on 21:54 - Jan 27 with 2809 views | Kieran_Knows |
‘We went into that Norwich game all Billy BIg Bollox with flares, smoke bombs and a parade with an arrogance that came back to bite us in the arse. It wasn’t and end of season promotion winning game. It wasn’t a cup final. It was a Championship game against a team who were something like 20 points behind us. It was tinpot imo’
Exactly this. I said it at the time, but no matter the form book going in to that game, you chuck it out the window as it doesn't matter on Derby days. I was continuously told by someone on here (can’t actually remember who) that I was wrong and that the tide had turned and there was no way we was going to lose that game (but it was said in a way that we would win).
Again, as I said at the time ‘I’d rather say nothing at all and have the last laugh then give it the Barry big one and be left with egg on my face’. Again, I was told I was being stupid. |  |
| |
| Let’s be honest on 21:55 - Jan 27 with 2775 views | Herbivore |
So your glass is half full? |  |
| |
| Let’s be honest on 21:55 - Jan 27 with 2769 views | NeedhamChris |
Couldn't agree more re: the Norwich game. For all of those on here who call them an irrelevance etc, we sure made them feel special, whilst piling extra pressure on ourselves. Derby games are levelers, and boy did we help with that.
The gap is nothing, if we don't finish top 2 there a good chance it'll be all square again at the start of next season.
Fingers crossed we do it again, but I fear we don't have the extra quality over our rivals that we had last year. | |
| |
| Let’s be honest on 21:57 - Jan 27 with 2735 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Let’s be honest on 21:47 - Jan 27 by SuperKieranMcKenna |
“Recent form doesn’t suggest that we will.”
We’ve just had our toughest run of the season - double header against Leicester, Leeds, and a firey derby game. The two ‘easier’ games the we missed half of our first team.
The upcoming fixtures don’t look nearly as daunting. We got back on track against Sunderland, and the new signings Travis and Sarmiento look top quality. A striker should be just the missing piece of the puzzle. Today was a bit of a freak, promotion wise I’m feeling very optimistic. |
If Southampton win away at West Brom, Leeds, Leicester and at Portman Road then fair play to them.
I think it's going to nip/tuck all the way to the end now. We will drop points, the others will drop points. Probably where you don't expect them too as well. You look at Leeds today and a very strong team drew at home with Plymouth. The other two aren't infallible. | | | |
| Let’s be honest on 21:57 - Jan 27 with 2726 views | Sharkey |
| Let’s be honest on 21:37 - Jan 27 by tractorboy1978 |
You can’t just dismiss two late draws against Leicester and a win against a “shambolic” Sunderland (who won comfortably today) as if they are a negative. Three good results. And the QPR game was a freak in the sense we had arguably our 5 most influential players out and it showed.
We need a striker and miss Hirst, that’s very clear. We need to get the next few days right in the transfer window and then we have a good run of fixtures to follow. Hopefully today sharpens minds and we can use it as fuel. [Post edited 27 Jan 2024 21:38]
|
I think that QPR game with the 'five most influential players' out kind of highlighted how extremely few injuries there had been up to that point. They'd all been available for almost every game up till then, which is freaky in itself. |  | | |
| Let’s be honest on 21:57 - Jan 27 with 2725 views | Kieran_Knows |
| Let’s be honest on 21:57 - Jan 27 by tractorboy1978 |
If Southampton win away at West Brom, Leeds, Leicester and at Portman Road then fair play to them.
I think it's going to nip/tuck all the way to the end now. We will drop points, the others will drop points. Probably where you don't expect them too as well. You look at Leeds today and a very strong team drew at home with Plymouth. The other two aren't infallible. |
I imagine that’s what Sheffield Wednesday said about us around March time last year ….
But I do get your wider point though! | |
| |
| Let’s be honest on 22:05 - Jan 27 with 2654 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Let’s be honest on 21:57 - Jan 27 by Kieran_Knows |
I imagine that’s what Sheffield Wednesday said about us around March time last year ….
But I do get your wider point though! |
The way I look at it, if we hit 92 points we've had a truly exceptional season that should get you promoted. If two teams finish ahead of us, you have to say fair play to them (and probably cry about your luck!). Although I am sure plenty on here would blame anyone they could. | | | |
| Let’s be honest on 22:06 - Jan 27 with 2646 views | GlasgowBlue |
| Let’s be honest on 21:55 - Jan 27 by Herbivore |
So your glass is half full? |
Still half full rather than half empty. | |
| |
| Let’s be honest on 22:07 - Jan 27 with 2623 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
If we won that I think we’d have been 12 points clear of third at the time. Personally I didn’t love the Blue Action stuff against Norwich just because it had the ability to come back and bite us on the backside but whatever, it won’t happen again unless the occasion merits. Not sure I can think of a scenario where it would to be honest, unless in celebration.
Our form during the fall was ridiculous. There was a 6 week period where we looked pretty unstoppable it was always going to be hard to maintain.
The dip happened during a cluster of games and the Hirst injury was huge, a possible turning point in our season. Not sure anyone expected him to start every game but to lose him for half the year is a sickener. We had had no one ready to replace him and we still don’t. It’s a tough market.
The true Christmas period was a poor return IMO. Quite a few people were saying to get out of that still some points in the clear was great, I personally disagree. Three points out of Scum, QPR and Stoke didn’t give us enough breathing space. Not a huge knock on the squad, just the levels that will be required this year. However, four points out of Sunderland and Leicester is really decent. So I’m not writing us off yet but we need to likely sign two strikers in the coming days and really hope one works out.
The next marker is 5pm on Feb 10th. Leeds and Saints have two (on paper) easy home games that day, we have WBA and then it really softens. If we’re still second after that I’ll have some real belief. For now it’s hard for me to tip us to finish top 2 but you never know. Unless we have a complete meltdown this season will ultimately be looked on a very strong campaign whatever the outcome. It will hurt though to think we were mid December. A lot of football to play though. I think the realistic requirement is going to be 94/95 points. |  | | |
| Let’s be honest on 22:08 - Jan 27 with 2604 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Let’s be honest on 21:57 - Jan 27 by Sharkey |
I think that QPR game with the 'five most influential players' out kind of highlighted how extremely few injuries there had been up to that point. They'd all been available for almost every game up till then, which is freaky in itself. |
We were fortunate Hirst didn't get his injury 2 months earlier or we'd not be in the position we are now. As Steve said above, the biggest issue for us so far has been not getting that second striker of sufficient quality before the season started. | | | |
| Let’s be honest on 22:26 - Jan 27 with 2438 views | Dubtractor |
Have to say, that's an outstandingly negative take on our situation.
Do agree with the view about the parade etc against Norwich though - all felt like an unnecessary distraction and setting us up to fail. |  |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
