| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar 19:54 - Feb 4 with 2512 views | Steve_M |
Teams happy to scrap and break the game up at home and we’ve taken three points from 15. Not managed to take the lead in any of them.
Home form is fine, a few tweaks needed perhaps, but what we’re doing away isn’t close to working now. The first half was as poor as we’ve been under McKenna, second a lot better but no real belief we could win it.
Top two looks to be gone for this season but we really need to sort this away problem out before the play-offs and hope it gets us closer to top two. |  |
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| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 20:02 - Feb 4 with 2439 views | tractorboy1978 |
We take far too long to get going, too often. As good as we generally were, it was an issue last season as well in the second half of the season. It's like we think we have all the time in the world to wear the opposition down and it's a given we win in the end. But it's far too common that we are left with 15 minutes on the clock needing a goal. We make it such hard work.
You could argue Morecambe, Accrington, Burton were all very similar games earlier in the season. The difference being we found a way in the end and got over the line. They could have easily gone the same way though. |  | | |
| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 20:13 - Feb 4 with 2362 views | LankHenners |
Mentioned belief earlier - just seems a bit of a mental block throughout the team that prevents them from really being ruthless even when we get well on top.
Seems too easy for me to relate it all back to the Charlton game but we didn't really put that behind us well enough and of course followed it up (in the league) with that very frustrating home draw against Cheltenham.
You need certain habits to get into the top positions in the league - Plymouth know how to score late goals and are never done until the whistle goes, whilst Wednesday know how to keep a clean sheet. Unfortunately our habits are the more negative concede from very little and concede very late.
Those aways at Bolton, Barnsley and Derby in quick succession coming up are starting to look a bit more fearsome than we should be allowing them to be. |  |
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| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 20:27 - Feb 4 with 2327 views | cbower |
McKenna conceded that 1st half we lacked urgency, intent and penetration. To me, in one word, it's tempo. Yes, the early goal against Morecombe and the fact they were poor helped, but in that game we played with tempo. Most games recently we seem content to have the ball, probing and probing, seeking an opening but it's all too pedestrian. If we don't score, we look vulnerable to a long ball or set piece and we have no variety in or game. I hear the 'trust the process' line quite a bit but that is no reason not to have a genine plan B is it. However, having said that, the changes at half time showed some flexibilty as did having Ladapo and Hirst on the pitch together for a few minutes. Maybe the emergence of a pla B or just desperation? |  |
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| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 20:30 - Feb 4 with 2309 views | pointofblue |
| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 20:27 - Feb 4 by cbower |
McKenna conceded that 1st half we lacked urgency, intent and penetration. To me, in one word, it's tempo. Yes, the early goal against Morecombe and the fact they were poor helped, but in that game we played with tempo. Most games recently we seem content to have the ball, probing and probing, seeking an opening but it's all too pedestrian. If we don't score, we look vulnerable to a long ball or set piece and we have no variety in or game. I hear the 'trust the process' line quite a bit but that is no reason not to have a genine plan B is it. However, having said that, the changes at half time showed some flexibilty as did having Ladapo and Hirst on the pitch together for a few minutes. Maybe the emergence of a pla B or just desperation? |
I think being so horrifically off the pace in the first half allowed McKenna to throw something and the wall and saw if it stuck. In most of our previous games, we've done well enough to expect a goal to come, so he's been loathed to change it. | |
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| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 21:59 - Feb 4 with 2154 views | TalkingBlues |
Well, prior to that our home form was bad and away form good, so there’s a couple of combinations left, both turn good, orrrrrr, the other one and that looks more like where we are headed. |  |
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| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 22:08 - Feb 4 with 2129 views | Radlett_blue |
We have picked up 7 points from the last 7 away League games, While away games are always going to be harder, this isn't nearly good enough. Our away form was well above average until the Charlton disaster. That shouldn't have had a big impact. [Post edited 4 Feb 2023 22:09]
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| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 22:38 - Feb 4 with 2066 views | SomethingBlue |
Six-point gap, just two wins, means it's not gone and we can't afford to think it has — but we are running out of road and need to solve this problem pretty much immediately. | |
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| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 06:31 - Feb 5 with 1848 views | Hackneyblueboy |
| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 22:38 - Feb 4 by SomethingBlue |
Six-point gap, just two wins, means it's not gone and we can't afford to think it has — but we are running out of road and need to solve this problem pretty much immediately. |
SB I like your optimism but in reality we're going to have to settle for playoffs. Can see us finishing 4th or 5th probably 10 points off autos in the end. It may be six points SB but it feels like we've blown our chance haven't we. We should be top of the table now. The Oxford and Cambridge results, plus the countless recent away draws (too many) failing to hold on against Plymouth, Charlton, Fleetwood. It feels like we've left at least 10 points out there. I mean look at Oxford and Cambridge's recent form, everyone are rolling them over, then there's us.
This is the period we needed to cash in. Our last 10 games are probably the toughest of the contenders. We need to win 6 out of the next 7 really to go into the last 10 in touching distance and I just don't see it. [Post edited 5 Feb 2023 6:32]
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| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 08:31 - Feb 5 with 1628 views | Herbivore |
| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 22:38 - Feb 4 by SomethingBlue |
Six-point gap, just two wins, means it's not gone and we can't afford to think it has — but we are running out of road and need to solve this problem pretty much immediately. |
In principle a six point gap with this long to go is not impossible to overhaul, however we just don't look like stringing together a sequence of wins at the moment and so it's hard to see how we make up that ground. What started as a run of frustrating results that didn't necessarily reflect the performances has now turned into a sustained dip that's included some very patchy performances of late. After each game we keep telling ourselves that we can still do it if we start a good run now, but still that good run is nowhere in sight. Yesterday was really quite abject and our away form generally has been poor for a couple of months. Sadly I think this season is slipping away in terms of seriously challenging for the top 2. |  |
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| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 09:11 - Feb 5 with 1549 views | ibbleobble |
Completely agree. When we’re at home we move the ball with pace and purpose. Away we look pedestrian and static. It’s been a repeat pattern for a while now and I’m beginning to wonder how much this is planned over players just not turning up. Keeping the ball and stifling oppositions away from home has its merits but when it creates very little, it’s easy to get undone as has happened so many times this season. | | | |
| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 12:07 - Feb 5 with 1404 views | Steve_M |
| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 20:13 - Feb 4 by LankHenners |
Mentioned belief earlier - just seems a bit of a mental block throughout the team that prevents them from really being ruthless even when we get well on top.
Seems too easy for me to relate it all back to the Charlton game but we didn't really put that behind us well enough and of course followed it up (in the league) with that very frustrating home draw against Cheltenham.
You need certain habits to get into the top positions in the league - Plymouth know how to score late goals and are never done until the whistle goes, whilst Wednesday know how to keep a clean sheet. Unfortunately our habits are the more negative concede from very little and concede very late.
Those aways at Bolton, Barnsley and Derby in quick succession coming up are starting to look a bit more fearsome than we should be allowing them to be. |
I’m not sure how much really comes down to Charlton, that was totally messing up at that back multiple times and I still thought we had come through a tricky period after Boxing Day.
I’m more and more convinced that Evans and Morsy isn’t working in games like this, far too predictable to play against and not quick enough. Not the only issue yesterday, neither Chaplin and Broadhead got on the ball anything like enough and Keogh was so slow with the game stretched Cambridge always had an easy out ball.
I’m still really frustrated this morning, Oxford and Lincoln we created enough chances to win comfortably but yesterday was a long way belt that - even after equalising we didn’t turn opportunities into genuine efforts on goal enough.
A really big test for McKenna now as this keeps happening away in very similar ways away from home. | |
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| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 12:10 - Feb 5 with 1386 views | Steve_M |
| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 22:38 - Feb 4 by SomethingBlue |
Six-point gap, just two wins, means it's not gone and we can't afford to think it has — but we are running out of road and need to solve this problem pretty much immediately. |
Yes, definitely not over but the trend - at least away from home - is clear at the moment. A credible performance midweek and a win next Saturday might make it look very different but then we would have to win an away match the following midweek. | |
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| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 12:19 - Feb 5 with 1344 views | pointofblue |
| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 12:07 - Feb 5 by Steve_M |
I’m not sure how much really comes down to Charlton, that was totally messing up at that back multiple times and I still thought we had come through a tricky period after Boxing Day.
I’m more and more convinced that Evans and Morsy isn’t working in games like this, far too predictable to play against and not quick enough. Not the only issue yesterday, neither Chaplin and Broadhead got on the ball anything like enough and Keogh was so slow with the game stretched Cambridge always had an easy out ball.
I’m still really frustrated this morning, Oxford and Lincoln we created enough chances to win comfortably but yesterday was a long way belt that - even after equalising we didn’t turn opportunities into genuine efforts on goal enough.
A really big test for McKenna now as this keeps happening away in very similar ways away from home. |
In order to play out of the back, we need Woolfenden there. But does that make us more susceptible defensively? Then again, we were a mess yesterday and he wasn’t in the 18. | |
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| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 12:23 - Feb 5 with 1327 views | FrimleyBlue |
| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 12:07 - Feb 5 by Steve_M |
I’m not sure how much really comes down to Charlton, that was totally messing up at that back multiple times and I still thought we had come through a tricky period after Boxing Day.
I’m more and more convinced that Evans and Morsy isn’t working in games like this, far too predictable to play against and not quick enough. Not the only issue yesterday, neither Chaplin and Broadhead got on the ball anything like enough and Keogh was so slow with the game stretched Cambridge always had an easy out ball.
I’m still really frustrated this morning, Oxford and Lincoln we created enough chances to win comfortably but yesterday was a long way belt that - even after equalising we didn’t turn opportunities into genuine efforts on goal enough.
A really big test for McKenna now as this keeps happening away in very similar ways away from home. |
Here's a question
in a game like yesturday, Do you ever feel either of our 2 cm's are going to get on the scoresheet? |  |
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| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 12:23 - Feb 5 with 1327 views | Steve_M |
| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 12:19 - Feb 5 by pointofblue |
In order to play out of the back, we need Woolfenden there. But does that make us more susceptible defensively? Then again, we were a mess yesterday and he wasn’t in the 18. |
I would have played Wolfenden yesterday, despite Oxford he makes fewer errors than Burgess or Edmundson at the moment. They kept Ironside away from Keogh and negated the entire reason for picking him and exposed his lack of pace. | |
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| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 13:39 - Feb 5 with 1237 views | LankHenners |
| Five away matches in a row all feeling very similar on 12:07 - Feb 5 by Steve_M |
I’m not sure how much really comes down to Charlton, that was totally messing up at that back multiple times and I still thought we had come through a tricky period after Boxing Day.
I’m more and more convinced that Evans and Morsy isn’t working in games like this, far too predictable to play against and not quick enough. Not the only issue yesterday, neither Chaplin and Broadhead got on the ball anything like enough and Keogh was so slow with the game stretched Cambridge always had an easy out ball.
I’m still really frustrated this morning, Oxford and Lincoln we created enough chances to win comfortably but yesterday was a long way belt that - even after equalising we didn’t turn opportunities into genuine efforts on goal enough.
A really big test for McKenna now as this keeps happening away in very similar ways away from home. |
Yeah as I say I don't want to pin everything on it but equally it can't have helped the general mindset around the place. Perhaps a different way of approaching it is that, as you say, we're not letting poor games or performances stay as one-offs and we're finding ways to beat ourselves a bit too regularly at the moment.
On the same page as you re: Morsy and Evans, liked the look of Luongo in his Burnley cameo and we know Humphreys always wants to go forwards with some impetus behind him so for me I'd give one of them an opportunity (which may be forced anyway if Evans is injured again).
Morecambe aside we've made a mess of this fairly (well it's really let's be honest) presentable run of fixtures so far and we're at a point now where a big win against Wednesday followed up by putting the remaining lesser sides away before Bolton can swing us back to where we want to be but making any more of a meal out of them than we have already will see the top 2 slip away. I'm a firm believer in 'it ain't over 'til it's over' but in reality we're in danger of putting ourselves in a position where we fall into the playoffs without being in particularly good form which is dangerous. | |
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