| A few thoughts on yesterday 11:08 - Jul 31 with 1527 views | SomethingBlue |
The result will feel like a letdown because of the buildup, the incredible crowd and the atmosphere in town — but overall it's OK and hopefully most of us feel more positive than negative in the light of day.
Only one team in the game after the first half-hour (when we were hardly being battered, we were just exceptionally scratchy) and that's encouraging. We were fairly good at grasping the initiative back in the second half whenever Bolton tried to slow things down. It was good to see that we were, indeed, the stronger and fitter side as the game went on. Against less well-organised opposition that will definitely pay off more often than not. What we still haven't shown, albeit one game in, is that we can put the better sides to the sword despite outplaying them.
The goal threat still isn't quite there. The latter stages of that game were crying out for someone like Edwards, I felt, so hopefully he'll get on the bench from next week. There's also an obvious need for another striker. Ladapo did quite well up against Santos and is a menace, but I'm struggling to see exactly how Jackson fits in as a regular starter and we need a proper alternative to FL.
We also suffered from the fact that, as last week, Harness and Chaplin do not take care of the ball well enough as No10s. Chaplin improved, in fairness. But again, when we're up against a strong side we'll need at least one of Aluko and (hopefully) Celina in there to add some subtlety and stickability.
Defence looked fine, stupid penalty but we'll let Davis off on his debut, it seemed a mistake not to start Leigh who looks as if he'll be an excellent option. Didn't really give them another chance and that back line should keep us in most of the trickier games.
Morsy — outstanding, what a player at this level, should have scored but I'll not be holding that against him and in real time it looked as if TJJ might have been in his sightline.
Walton — how wonderful to have a keeper who you feel *certain* will come out to get a cross *and* claim it.
Overall: I think we'll be OK, we look like a proper play-off contender for sure. Let's hope for that signing or two that can make the difference in these tight games. |  |
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| A few thoughts on yesterday on 11:42 - Jul 31 with 1388 views | X0Y0 |
Agree with pretty much all of that. Good platform for a long season ahead against strong rivals.
One positive to add is how much more threatening from set pieces we appear, both in terms of training ground moves and the ability to find a free head. Defending set pieces has also improved, although they did have a free header from a corner in the first half that thankfully went over the bar. +10 goal difference from better attacking / defending set pieces would make a big contribution by the end of the season.
Overall transfer business looks very good but my main concern is Harness. On his day he can be direct, but his control, passing and creativity are not strong enough to fill the playmaker void left by Celina. I think we still need Bersant, though where does that leave TJJ who has looked excellent so far? Would he become back up to Ladapo rather than one of the No10s, though I'm not convinced he would be on his own up top. [Post edited 31 Jul 2022 11:44]
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| A few thoughts on yesterday on 11:48 - Jul 31 with 1338 views | SomethingBlue |
| A few thoughts on yesterday on 11:42 - Jul 31 by X0Y0 |
Agree with pretty much all of that. Good platform for a long season ahead against strong rivals.
One positive to add is how much more threatening from set pieces we appear, both in terms of training ground moves and the ability to find a free head. Defending set pieces has also improved, although they did have a free header from a corner in the first half that thankfully went over the bar. +10 goal difference from better attacking / defending set pieces would make a big contribution by the end of the season.
Overall transfer business looks very good but my main concern is Harness. On his day he can be direct, but his control, passing and creativity are not strong enough to fill the playmaker void left by Celina. I think we still need Bersant, though where does that leave TJJ who has looked excellent so far? Would he become back up to Ladapo rather than one of the No10s, though I'm not convinced he would be on his own up top. [Post edited 31 Jul 2022 11:44]
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I agree about Harness. Might be one for some away games rather than the kind of scrap we saw yesterday. Think with Celina in that team yesterday we probably win.
TJJ looks sharp, he'll do well I suspect, like you I'm not sure re his eventual role but he does seem to be preferred in quite a high position tucked off the left. Celina and Aluko tend to forage a little further back for the ball and Celina, in particular, can operate almost as an 8. So it's still different options for different needs.
True re set pieces, and the Evans header in the second half seemed a particularly good example of one where we've worked on freeing a man — there were a couple of others too. [Post edited 31 Jul 2022 11:49]
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| A few thoughts on yesterday on 11:49 - Jul 31 with 1305 views | billlm |
Morsy was epic, could watch him all day long, on his left foot not his strongest one of those things, seen it a few times tjj is a striker was in a great position, would he have scored we will never no, morsy earnt the right to shoot just for the run, oh what could have been, beating Bolton from one down would have shown real intensions, I'm a little flat from 3pm onwards, but high hopes in the other 45 matches, |  | | |
| A few thoughts on yesterday on 11:58 - Jul 31 with 1234 views | tractorboy1978 |
Agree with both points about needing a similar type player to Ladapo and the importance of someone like Celina. He’s a calm head in the final third that you can rely on more often than not to pick the right pass/weight of pass.
Play like we did in that second half and we will steamroll lesser teams at home with our pace off the bench and being able to use 5 subs. First half they were really well organised but as the game wore on they were struggling to cope with us. | | | |
| A few thoughts on yesterday on 12:04 - Jul 31 with 1190 views | LankHenners |
Hard not to feel a little flat after that and the main (slight) concern at the moment is that we don't want to have another season where we're saying things like 'well if we'd scored that chance' 'if that fine margin went our way' etc. Happy enough to put yesterday down as a display largely full of positives against a tough side that will be right in the mix but hopefully we can do that in isolation and we'll string a good few wins together over the next few weeks to allow that to be the case.
Felt we defended well enough despite being under pressure for the first 30 mins which is a good sign, and as you say Walton's ability to claim and hold crosses is massive. Afolayan, Charles and Lee as a forward 3 are going to be, as a collective, one of the biggest handfuls for opposition teams this season so to prevent any of them from a real sight of goal was good.
Shame the 5 sub rule doesn't allow 9 on the bench as that would obviously be a huge benefit and mean not having to leave an Edwards or Humphreys out who could give another, different, option. In games where we end up on top and Burns is essentially playing as a RW then being able to take him off for Edwards would be very handy.
Agree re: Harness and Chaplin - mitigating circumstances for the former but not wholly convinced with them as a pairing in there. Chaplin did improve but wonder if have John-Jules and Leigh on to give us a bit more control of the ball allowed him to get on it with a bit more purpose. TJJ looks like a very good fit for that position, good at getting in the pockets and half-spaces and always looking forwards. Noticeable how much the left side improved when him and Leigh came on (who I'd make first choice LWB if it were me but can obviously see why Davis may claim that spot for now).
Everyone, from McKenna to the average fan, knows we need a ruthless no 9 to stick the ball in the net. Ladapo looks to know how to use his strength and body intelligently and I believe is good for about a dozen goals this season but a George Hirst type that's a bit of a poacher will make things much easier for us.
Agree with your summation that we look a good top 6 team but not necessarily a top 2 one quite yet. Have to be able to consistently and repeatedly put awkward teams away. Rough maths tells you we need 3 runs of a dozen unbeaten games where we win 7 then average a bit more than 1ppg from the remaining 10 to get to about the sort of final tally that gets you at least 2nd more often than not. Obviously won't be as structured as that but you get the idea. Can't remember the exact figures but I recall that run in the PO season under Mick where we went about 8 weeks from November to January where we only lost once and shot up to 2nd by the New Year with some genuinely outstanding performances. Need that again this season but without falling away. |  |
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| A few thoughts on yesterday on 14:10 - Jul 31 with 898 views | chicoazul |
Contending for play offs is the definition of failure. Top 2. |  |
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| A few thoughts on yesterday on 14:21 - Jul 31 with 865 views | Westcountryblue |
I completely agree re: Edwards. He has the pace and dribbling ability to blow teams away in later stages of games at this level and is a cut above the likes of Jackson in my opinion.
I also agree with your comments regarding Chaplin and Harness. We need a 10 who can play on the half turn and retain possession better higher up the pitch. Sounds likely that it will Bersant, which is great news.
Really positive that we completely dominated a team that is likely to be in the play offs this year. I'd hope Ashton and McKenna can bring in a striker and Celina to finish the squad off. | | | |
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