| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... 15:43 - Mar 22 with 2398 views | Bellevue_Blue |
quite good enough?
I look at yesterday as a perfect example. Throughout the 90 minutes it was clear we were the 'better' team, better technical players, better shape and patterns.
We just consistently don't take our chances and when games are close, we seem to be seriously mentally fragile.
Whatever happens we are going to run boro/ millwall close, I just fear we don't have the killer instinct we are going to need. |  | | |  |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 15:46 - Mar 22 with 2258 views | Leutard |
Everything still feels like if we had a striker scoring consistently we'd be far more comfortable. I like Azon and Hirst, but we create a lot of chances around the box which there's no one to take, and its really hindering everything. Puts the team under a lot more pressure to be consistently at 0-0 or 1-0 even when we're doing well | | | |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 15:53 - Mar 22 with 2196 views | EddyJ |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 15:46 - Mar 22 by Leutard |
Everything still feels like if we had a striker scoring consistently we'd be far more comfortable. I like Azon and Hirst, but we create a lot of chances around the box which there's no one to take, and its really hindering everything. Puts the team under a lot more pressure to be consistently at 0-0 or 1-0 even when we're doing well |
I'm not sure we do create a lot of chances around the box. Other than Azon's shot which produced a good save, I don't think either striker had much of a sniff.
The problem is we don't provide service to the striker. McAteer and Egeli don't cross well or often. Clarke and Philogene don't cross full stop. The latter two have both scored a good number of goals by cutting in and shooting from crossing positions, but that is at the expense of strikers scoring.
The only players we have who regularly provide "striker" chances are Burns (crosses) and Nunez (through balls). Neither were playing yesterday. [Post edited 22 Mar 15:54]
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| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 16:02 - Mar 22 with 2145 views | Bent_double |
What about Boro then, are they good enough? 3 consecutive draws, all games a top 2 team should have won.
Millwall are the dark horses here, they could easily snatch 2nd while us and Boro faff around drawing games we should be winning.
For what it's worth, I think we need 5 wins and a draw - as long as it's a win/draw against Boro. I think we can just about afford to lose the Noj and Soton games - not that I want us to, but they're the most likely candidates.
Doesn't really matter if we don't seem good enough for 2nd, just need 1 point more than 3rd! |  |
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| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 16:07 - Mar 22 with 2123 views | cbower |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 15:53 - Mar 22 by EddyJ |
I'm not sure we do create a lot of chances around the box. Other than Azon's shot which produced a good save, I don't think either striker had much of a sniff.
The problem is we don't provide service to the striker. McAteer and Egeli don't cross well or often. Clarke and Philogene don't cross full stop. The latter two have both scored a good number of goals by cutting in and shooting from crossing positions, but that is at the expense of strikers scoring.
The only players we have who regularly provide "striker" chances are Burns (crosses) and Nunez (through balls). Neither were playing yesterday. [Post edited 22 Mar 15:54]
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Hirst and Azon are 3rd and 4th respectively in the Championship for Big Chances Missed on 17 & 16. We do create the chances, they are just not good finishers. Poor recruitment in the 9 position may well cost us. Delap aside (and I don't think he was bought as a 9 myself), we have invested millions in wide boys (Hutchinson £20 million, Clarke £15, Jaden £20, McAteer £12, Walle-Egeli £17, Mehmeti £3). In the same period we have bought Delap for £20, Al-Hamadi £1.5, Szmodics £9 and loaned Azon and Akpom. I rest my case. [Post edited 22 Mar 18:10]
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| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 16:11 - Mar 22 with 2090 views | chicoazul |
Currently 7 games unbeaten at the business end of the season and Opie thinks they are mentally fragile. |  |
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| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 16:11 - Mar 22 with 2101 views | E_I_E_I_E_I_O |
The copious amount of posts almost identical of this get so tedious. Middlesborough are good enough? Millwall are good enough? What makes them good enough but we are not, I genuinely intrigued. Which 2 teams this season have been good enough? Decisions do not even out over the season and if we were not robbed of those 4 points vs Leicester and Stoke we'd be clear and people would be saying we will go up and deserve to do so, yet our performances are the same whether the ref got those decisions right or not. It's all very confusing! |  | | |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 16:15 - Mar 22 with 2071 views | exeterblue10 |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 16:11 - Mar 22 by E_I_E_I_E_I_O |
The copious amount of posts almost identical of this get so tedious. Middlesborough are good enough? Millwall are good enough? What makes them good enough but we are not, I genuinely intrigued. Which 2 teams this season have been good enough? Decisions do not even out over the season and if we were not robbed of those 4 points vs Leicester and Stoke we'd be clear and people would be saying we will go up and deserve to do so, yet our performances are the same whether the ref got those decisions right or not. It's all very confusing! |
Outrageously rational comment | | | |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 16:28 - Mar 22 with 2020 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
Strange. Everything I see tells me we are good enough.
Without 5 of our best players we outplayed a promotion rival and easily could have won it. We dropped off in the second half and could have lost it but did enough for the draw. We are in pole position to get second place alongside Boro. There is nothing between the two of us.
To have lost no ground whilst missing Philogene, Nunez, Davis, Burns and Kipre is good in my book. |  |
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| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 16:45 - Mar 22 with 1951 views | MattinLondon |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 16:11 - Mar 22 by chicoazul |
Currently 7 games unbeaten at the business end of the season and Opie thinks they are mentally fragile. |
If a team doesn’t win a match it’s because they are either bottle jobs or mentally weak.
First noticed it when Sheff W failed to go in the top two with both us and Plymouth going up. It was tidy then and it’s ridiculous now. |  | | |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 17:14 - Mar 22 with 1824 views | GlasgowBlue |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 16:11 - Mar 22 by chicoazul |
Currently 7 games unbeaten at the business end of the season and Opie thinks they are mentally fragile. |
As a group, I think the team is very fragile after conceding a goal. It is usually followed up by 15 minutes of nervous misplaced pases, calamitous defending and an unwillingness to make themselves available for the ball.
We can also be very fragile in the final minutes of the ge when hanging on. This was typified by Millwall layin g siege to our areas in the final six or seven minutes. A confident home team should be the one laying siege. Which is what we did in the 2023/24 season. |  |
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| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 17:18 - Mar 22 with 1798 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
After yesterday, despite I suspect their fanbase having a meltdown, I have Boro as favorites now. With all these slip ups, I really think we needed to get ahead instead of rely on games in hand, April looks brutal. They’ve won 2 of 8 and stay second, ugh.
If we don’t go up it will be the 3 draws in the last 4 that will have cost us I think.
Hope I’m wrong of course.
We need to win 3 of the next 4 including beating Boro. [Post edited 22 Mar 17:21]
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| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 17:24 - Mar 22 with 1771 views | ZapatasMoustache |
I think we'll sneak it. We are as good as Boro when viewed over the longer term, but not as good as their peaks - but they are streaky as hell. Yesterday was super frustrating - totally dominated the first half, then flaked in the second. Azón was great, Clarke was good, but most of the lads didn't have one of their better days at the office. Too many pauses, returns, recycles, and far too many hospital passes (a regular gripe of mine lately). But if we play like that it will be enough to win against almost anyone else in the division, which has a lot of flawed teams even up top. It will be tight, but I think we will do it. |  | | |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 17:30 - Mar 22 with 1738 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 17:24 - Mar 22 by ZapatasMoustache |
I think we'll sneak it. We are as good as Boro when viewed over the longer term, but not as good as their peaks - but they are streaky as hell. Yesterday was super frustrating - totally dominated the first half, then flaked in the second. Azón was great, Clarke was good, but most of the lads didn't have one of their better days at the office. Too many pauses, returns, recycles, and far too many hospital passes (a regular gripe of mine lately). But if we play like that it will be enough to win against almost anyone else in the division, which has a lot of flawed teams even up top. It will be tight, but I think we will do it. |
I worry we may see on those mini streaks when they have Swansea away, Pompey and Wednesday at home. I get that they are struggling to covert but the data is insane in terms of chances, shots on goal and then the XG against.
We are going to need to match whatever they do and beat them. Hopefully Millwall get something up there. | |
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| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 17:39 - Mar 22 with 1677 views | Illinoisblue |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 16:11 - Mar 22 by E_I_E_I_E_I_O |
The copious amount of posts almost identical of this get so tedious. Middlesborough are good enough? Millwall are good enough? What makes them good enough but we are not, I genuinely intrigued. Which 2 teams this season have been good enough? Decisions do not even out over the season and if we were not robbed of those 4 points vs Leicester and Stoke we'd be clear and people would be saying we will go up and deserve to do so, yet our performances are the same whether the ref got those decisions right or not. It's all very confusing! |
Also of note: some Boro fans are very unhappy.
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| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 17:44 - Mar 22 with 1646 views | HighgateBlue |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 15:46 - Mar 22 by Leutard |
Everything still feels like if we had a striker scoring consistently we'd be far more comfortable. I like Azon and Hirst, but we create a lot of chances around the box which there's no one to take, and its really hindering everything. Puts the team under a lot more pressure to be consistently at 0-0 or 1-0 even when we're doing well |
Yes I agree with this. I don't think we have too many weaknesses. Lack of perfection, sure, but we're pretty strong in most areas.
In terms of demonstrable weakness, it seems to me that the area you identify is the one area where we just miss too many big chances, both in absolute terms and relative to the amount of chances we create. We lack a Johnny on the spot a la Coburn yesterday, and you might say, well that's because we play a different system. And that is a valid point. But in whatever system you do play, with whatever personnel, you can't be having a no.9 miss as many as I'm afraid Azon and Hirst have over the season. I do think that Azon has been better of late, and Hirst has a decent recent record in scoring off the bench in the last couple of months. But this area is not a standout strength like it is for some other teams.
Your last sentence has been borne out time and again. The amount of times I say that you have to score when you're on top, and we're on top and don't score and it comes back to bite us. We're close to being a top Championship side. We've even shrugged off the lack of contribution from Akpom, McAteer, SS etc, through the goals and creativity of Clarke, Jaden, Mehmeti and Nunez. But that no.9 spot is the season's missing piece.
Will it ultimately cost us? Well it's probably 50:50, and I hope it doesn't. |  | | |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 19:50 - Mar 22 with 1384 views | sohamblue74 |
I share your concerns and your gut feel
We draw too many and we don't score enough.
Reckon that we will need to win 6 from last 8.
Assuming we lose/draw at both Nodge and Saints, then that leaves us zero margin for error.
If Millwall beat Boro, then we beat Brum on Easter Monday, then we will at least stay closely in touch, before the fixture pile up thereafter. | | | |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 07:58 - Mar 23 with 1096 views | Steve_M |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 16:02 - Mar 22 by Bent_double |
What about Boro then, are they good enough? 3 consecutive draws, all games a top 2 team should have won.
Millwall are the dark horses here, they could easily snatch 2nd while us and Boro faff around drawing games we should be winning.
For what it's worth, I think we need 5 wins and a draw - as long as it's a win/draw against Boro. I think we can just about afford to lose the Noj and Soton games - not that I want us to, but they're the most likely candidates.
Doesn't really matter if we don't seem good enough for 2nd, just need 1 point more than 3rd! |
"What about Boro then, are they good enough? 3 consecutive draws, all games a top 2 team should have won."
Yes, exactly. Arguably we should have taken greater advantage of Boro's results, particularly against Stoke but the inability to look at wider perspectives and see Boro also stumble a bit is bizarre. |  |
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| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 08:38 - Mar 23 with 938 views | ArnoldMoorhen |
That's not the whole story of the Millwall match, though. Coburn should have been sent off twice before he scored, and then should have got a second yellow when he pushed Walton into the net.
And as for Cooper... I made it six yellows.
I hope Town lodge a complaint over Coburn's stamp on Dara, so he can miss three games like Leif has had to.
Although the FA would probably respond by suspending O'Shea. | | | |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 08:40 - Mar 23 with 928 views | Bellevue_Blue |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 16:11 - Mar 22 by E_I_E_I_E_I_O |
The copious amount of posts almost identical of this get so tedious. Middlesborough are good enough? Millwall are good enough? What makes them good enough but we are not, I genuinely intrigued. Which 2 teams this season have been good enough? Decisions do not even out over the season and if we were not robbed of those 4 points vs Leicester and Stoke we'd be clear and people would be saying we will go up and deserve to do so, yet our performances are the same whether the ref got those decisions right or not. It's all very confusing! |
The only key difference is they have both shown the ability to go on extended winning streaks. Both have gone 6+ I think.
We have not won more than 3 in a row so we are almost certainly going to have to do that before the end of the season. | | | |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 09:27 - Mar 23 with 818 views | fallyblue |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 17:18 - Mar 22 by Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
After yesterday, despite I suspect their fanbase having a meltdown, I have Boro as favorites now. With all these slip ups, I really think we needed to get ahead instead of rely on games in hand, April looks brutal. They’ve won 2 of 8 and stay second, ugh.
If we don’t go up it will be the 3 draws in the last 4 that will have cost us I think.
Hope I’m wrong of course.
We need to win 3 of the next 4 including beating Boro. [Post edited 22 Mar 17:21]
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If we don’t go up it will be because we didn’t win any of our first 4 games because we done our transfer business too late and were not ready for the start of the season | | | |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 09:48 - Mar 23 with 753 views | itfcsuth |
I think it's been a story of the season a little bit.
We've missed big chances throughout the season, at times our final decision making has been poor, and we do still feel a little bit fragile without giving away masses of chances.
I think it comes back to the fact, we aren't the finished article by any stretch yet, but we have put ourselves in such a good position without being perfect.
Ultimately we will finish where we deserve to finish, for me it's just one game at a time right now. |  | | |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 09:56 - Mar 23 with 739 views | SuffolkPunchFC |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 08:40 - Mar 23 by Bellevue_Blue |
The only key difference is they have both shown the ability to go on extended winning streaks. Both have gone 6+ I think.
We have not won more than 3 in a row so we are almost certainly going to have to do that before the end of the season. |
If you are comparing us, Boro and Wall, then no. Yes, Boro managed 6 once, but Wall is the same as us with 4 win streak. Flip that, and we’ve got 7 undefeated, close to Boro on 8, but Wall only 5.
All pretty meaningless stats though, in general - all that matters is the average points you gain over the season, regardless of any ‘run of results’, and on that metric we’re ahead of both right now. | | | |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 09:57 - Mar 23 with 738 views | cressi |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 09:27 - Mar 23 by fallyblue |
If we don’t go up it will be because we didn’t win any of our first 4 games because we done our transfer business too late and were not ready for the start of the season |
We are all as bad as each other in a very average championship its who gets their sh*t together for the remaining fixtures. And honestly you can't trust any of the sides to do so. | | | |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 10:06 - Mar 23 with 702 views | Swansea_Blue |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 15:46 - Mar 22 by Leutard |
Everything still feels like if we had a striker scoring consistently we'd be far more comfortable. I like Azon and Hirst, but we create a lot of chances around the box which there's no one to take, and its really hindering everything. Puts the team under a lot more pressure to be consistently at 0-0 or 1-0 even when we're doing well |
Yep. I know we’ve not relied on strikers to score since KM has been here, but look at the difference players like Murphy made for Mick. When we had good strikers under Mick we did significantly better than when we didn’t. And that was with an otherwise poor side playing a poor brand of football.
It’s a shame Philogene and Clarke are strongest in the same spot. If we had one left and the other better central or on the right, we’d be much better off (injuries notwithstanding). Or if Egeli was on 10 or 12 goals we’d also be flying and could afford to have non-clinical strikers more in that case. |  |
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| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 09:36 - Mar 24 with 351 views | billlm |
| I want to believe we will get autos, but everything I see tells me we aren't ... on 16:28 - Mar 22 by Nthsuffolkblue |
Strange. Everything I see tells me we are good enough.
Without 5 of our best players we outplayed a promotion rival and easily could have won it. We dropped off in the second half and could have lost it but did enough for the draw. We are in pole position to get second place alongside Boro. There is nothing between the two of us.
To have lost no ground whilst missing Philogene, Nunez, Davis, Burns and Kipre is good in my book. |
That's a very good post,
Shows how strong our bench is going to be for this run in which is needed for this amount of games in a short space of time,
Keep Nunez and philliogene fit for these last eight we will edge it, |  | | |
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