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Thread | Norwich trying to play like us last season
at 20:24 14 Mar 2025
But with four Nsiala’s at the back is quite the wonderful spectacle.
Could be a long night for the 43 travelling fans. [Post edited 14 Mar 20:27]
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Thread | In a weird sort of way
at 17:49 27 Feb 2025
And whilst it is no way much of a consolation, I am having to remind myself that I'm annoyed we failed to beat Manchester United away last night.
Manchester United.
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Thread | Ultimately relegation seasons are crap and only redeemed slightly by the moments
at 11:36 27 Feb 2025
Not saying I have accepted relegation. But looking very difficult to see where 5-6 points are coming from, let alone that amount more than Wolves.
If you'd have told me at the start of the season we'd go down but we'd, amongst other moments:
- Take the lead at Man City
- Beat Chelsea convincingly at home
- Win at Tottenham
- Take the lead and equalise at Man Utd
- Draw (and deserve to beat) Champions League Villa at home
- Draw (and deserve to beat) Champions League Man Utd at home
- Win in the last minute in a vital relegation clash away from home
- Go 2-0 up at Brentford and make it 3-3 late one
It's probably more than I'd have expected from a season like this.
Which really goes to highlight how few points we've taken from the teams around us or the traditional smaller teams! |
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Thread | Massive disclaimer here, so hear me out!
at 08:53 24 Feb 2025
Absolutely love Kieran. He will forever be a club legend. I also wouldn't have wanted the guy replaced if we'd have gone down with Southampton's record this season. Absolutely he's earned his chance and deserves loyalty and I hope he'll be here for years to come because I believe he's going to go right to the very top in the long term.
However ...
We went into this season off the back of a joke of a League One season. Almost 100 points and goals and we absolutely dominated every match we played pretty much. We were insane. McKenna was a genius.
We went into this season off the back of a joke of a Championship season. Almost 100 points and goals and in many games we were second best in terms of possession and chances. But the genius of McKenna again got the team spirit sky high, patterns of play were brilliant, every knew their jobs and he got an extra 10-20 % out of every player as we stormed our way to promotion again.
This year was going to be different. We either went into the season with some players we loved that were, through no fault of their own, not going to cut it in the top flight, or we make wholesale changes to bring in quality and lose a bit of the soul and spirit initially and the new players have to get up to speed with the system.
We were always going to get a few hammerings. We were always going to be down there. The gulf is huge. We were always going to have signings that didn't work out.
However, I honestly expected that, whilst Kieran isn't going to come in as a young coach and consistently out-think Emery, Guardiola, Slot and Arteta from day one, that McKenna's ability alone would be worth 10 points over this season.
That a 20 or 25 point haul would be 30 or 35 because of his tactically ability and that we'd spot weaknesses, stop the opponents exploiting ours and I've not really seen that from him this season. Of course it's bloody difficult all things considered.
Spurs were pretty poor and aimless earlier in the season and we were great. Tactically you could say we were good. Chelsea owed a lot to Delap being out of this world, albeit the tactically side wasn't bad.
So in summary, Kieran is a god, I love him, I want him to stay, he will learn and not having a pop at all, but I thought that no matter what the squad, players, season looked like, him alone might eek out a little bit more than what we've seen from the squad. That's been probably the biggest disappointment for me.
He's not as ready for this level as I thought he'd be, which is fine. He will be. But I did think we'd be sat here in February talking about 5 or 6 McKenna masterclasses that had totally outwitted opposition managers on the way to big wins, rather than what you could say has been 1 or maybe 2.
He's probably where he should be in his coaching journey and maybe I just expect too much of him based on the last two seasons but I do think he's on his way to being a phenomenal manager and thought he'd (possibly unfairly so) be a little bit closer to that at this stage than perhaps the reality suggests. [Post edited 24 Feb 9:20]
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Thread | Forest twice in three games
at 11:00 17 Feb 2025
How often has that happened in the past for matches (where the second game isn't a cup replay)?
Can only remember Coventry in the league and FA Cup 5 years or so ago (think there was a third tie too as a replay?) where we've played the same team in league and cup in the space of a game or two. |
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Thread | So here we are. TWO years on.
at 11:25 14 Feb 2025
I sat freezing under a gazebo in Bristol watching our defence struggle to contain a very poor Rovers side that outplayed us on the night as we struggled to put a pass together or create a chance. Shortly afterwards Morsy got involved in a row with a fan and we looked like making it five years in the third tier.
Tomorrow I'll be at one of the best grounds in the country watching us take on an enormous football club, possibly seeing us in a position of safety in the Premier League with a team full of players worth £20m, £30m, £40m. In a proper stand. Still freezing my arse off.
Been said so many times but in 24 months we've gone from a team of players picked up for modest fees, to one of the top spenders in Europe, a club with a bit of investment to one that's financially secure, a team who could only dream of the Premier League to one either staying in it or with a statistically overwhelming chance of returning straight to it.
What a bloody journey, whatever happens next. |
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Thread | Context
at 08:17 20 Jan 2025
Fantastic to see the reaction the players got at the end. Anyone who can't put yesterday into context can't be helped.
At the end of last season this City side won 4-0 at Brighton and then won 4-0 at Fulham. Two solid Premier League teams around the top half. They also beat Bournemouth 6-1 and Luton 5-1, whilst scoring 4 again Villa, Palace, the list goes on.
We've seen them stick 5 and 6 past teams for fun. Even a few weeks back, when out of sorts, they beat high flying Forest 3-0.
Yesterday was for me the strongest XI we have ever faced. Even going back to Sir Bobby and the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid. The City team yesterday man for man is better. Every single player comes into the world class conversation.
For 27 minutes we looked good, Haaland should have scored, but we have a deflection that can go anywhere going just wide, a header either side of the keeper and we are ahead and then bang. 2-0 down.
We were always going to have matches like this because even Arsenal have been beaten 3-0 at home by City in title deciders. They've embarrassed some of the best teams the league has to offer.
We've come a long way. Yesterday wasn't fun but it's understandable. Those aren't the games we take points from. The GD was a blow, but we remain a point away from staying up as it stands and I've long since been at ease with wherever we finish.
We've been competitive, I still think we'll just about do it and if we do we'll be able to move to the sort of team that might only lose 4-0 to Man City when they are in the mood! That's the reality! [Post edited 20 Jan 8:50]
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Thread | Philogene
at 18:17 14 Jan 2025
So it goes
Possible
Likely
Probable
Imminent
Close
Closer than Close
Closer than you ever can imagine
Complete? [Post edited 14 Jan 18:17]
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Thread | A word on Donacien
at 17:01 10 Jan 2025
One of the great performances I have seen by a Town defender was by JD when, down to 10 men against Villa, he kept both Grealish and Adomah at bay almost single handedly.
Absolutely incredible display that confirmed what a player he could be and then Lambert of course comes in with a grudge and banishes him.
Hell of a player to be dropping down to League Two. |
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Thread | Famous Town Uses Of The Same Script
at 15:01 8 Jan 2025
Seeing that Hirst goal again at Barnsley, where we scored two goals in a minute to go 2-0 up at Oakwell in a massive promotion clash reminded me of 2000 when we ... well ... scored two goals in a minute at Oakwell to go 2-0 up at Oakwell in a massive promotion clash.
So what other Town moments have happened in spookily similar circumstances?
A near 100 goal and 100 point promotion in what proved to be a relentless three horse race with near record points tallies for one.
A vital last gasp goal against Southampton is a bit tenuous but could just about count, albeit similar circumstances.
A 1-0 cup win over the Arsenal in a match we were billed as underdogs?
Marlon Harewood missing a sitter the week after missing a sitter? |
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Thread | We are so close
at 20:23 5 Jan 2025
Robbed against Leicester of 2 extra points.
Brentford we could easily have been 3 up by half time, could have potentially gone in ahead, could have held on at the end and still could have equalised. 2-3 extra points.
Bournemouth we are minutes away from a win. We get none. 3 extra points potentially there too.
Fulham we are an inch or two from sealing it with a minute left and instead end up drawing. 2 points lost.
That’s 10-11 points. That puts us mid-table. Some of it bad luck like the width of a post at Brentford and Fulham, some terrible decisions like Leicester and some self inflicted.
But even half of those points and we’d be absolutely thrilled. We really are doing so very well and have improved a lot of late. A tiny bit more improvement and we’ll be in great shape. M
That is before considering we could have easily beaten Villa and United at home late on. We’ve had 2-3 bad performances and every other game we’ve competed for all or most like an established Premier League team with a lot of players that other clubs at this level simply wouldn’t sign but have fully earned their chance.
Considering the injuries the above is even more likely to have been a bit better with even average injuries and heading into a window it looks really bright.
Great support today. Brilliant scenes for the second. [Post edited 5 Jan 20:38]
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Thread | 35 years on
at 09:00 1 Jan 2025
And it’s still the case that as soon as I see the words New Years Day I’m transported back to getting soaked leaving Vale Park at 4-0 down only to hear in the car as we pulled into a petrol station that it ended up 5-0.
Funny how stuff like that from your childhood cuts through all the great NYD’s since! Etched into my mind in the same way that 21 December is for that 2-0 win at Norwich on Sky.
We went into it on a long unbeaten run and sure some of the former players have since admitted they’d got hammered on NYE and were in no fit state to play. [Post edited 1 Jan 10:40]
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Thread | Small moments of destiny - the Arsenal PA?
at 13:23 31 Dec 2024
Obviously the defensive display at Arsenal gave us confidence to build on but there was a wonderful moment at full time when The Emirates played Waka Waka immediately at full time.
Shame it’s not been seen on Town in 5 but there was a fabulous and weird contrast between the fans of the winning team, what was left of their lot, leaving the ground in silence, whilst 3,000 travelling Town fans, off the back of seeing their team lose, were in full voice singing along.
As we did so the players were in that corner and soaking it all in. I just wonder in that little moment how much that gave the players to work with in starting yesterday the way we did.
Seasons can turn on the weirdest and smallest moments but in that moment on Friday the players just looked to be in awe of the support, more than the usual claps and acknowledgement and it could be one of those bizarre little things that makes the different.
Several really tough away matches in the last two years where we were pretty quiet before kick off suddenly turned on the choice of song. Depeche Mode and Gala for example played a few minutes before kick off and suddenly an away end in full voice. That Waka Waka at The Emirates though and how the players seemed to just stare in almost disbelief just made me think the players might pull out a performance like they did last night. [Post edited 31 Dec 2024 13:32]
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Thread | Split the season so far roughly into halves
at 23:29 30 Dec 2024
We have 3 wins, 2 draws and 5 defeats now in our last ten, after 0 wins, 4 draws and 5 defeats in the first nine.
If we assume we’ve now found our feet and we can continue at this latter pace that would be around 20-22 points in the second half of the season which would surely be enough to stay up.
Encouraging stuff. |
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Thread | So almost at the half way stage
at 16:47 22 Dec 2024
And we are level with or a win behind Palace , Leicester and Wolves who’ve had about a £900m head start on us, Everton who’ve had about a £1.5b head start on us.
We’ve done it all with a squad that largely was playing in League One 18 months ago, we’ve had the second worst injuries in the league, they’ve been to the key positions we don’t have cover for and we’ve held our own against some very good sides for the large part playing some decent stuff.
I’d have absolutely taken that in any world where realism exists and we’ve been pretty unlucky to not have taken more from the performances.
We were always going to have off days and on those off days we were going to get a good bloody hammering. We lost to the same scoreline that the mighty Man City lost to Spurs by.
I actually still think we’ll just about stay up. Never write this manager, the group or this club off. But I’d have absolutely taken going into Christmas a win or so from safety! |
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Thread | All this from an inexplicable kick off routine
at 16:28 21 Dec 2024
Burns starts on the left, Chaplin tries to play in Hutchison and they get the ball. Bizarrely Burns then runs over to the right mid play when Omari can get out to the left leaving a massive gap for them to play through and score.
Was sat here shouting at Burns to cover that side which is a basic for a Sunday team and we are one down and tone set.
Shambles of a performance. |
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Thread | One thing that shouldn't be lost from Saturday, and I fear has been
at 10:49 16 Dec 2024
As I have seen barely to no mention of it, is another bloody clear penalty we didn't get.
90th minute, Davis into the box, Guedes comes from behind, nowhere near the ball and just sticks his elbow right into Davis' back and sends him flying. Ref has a clear view.
If you pause it Davis has one foot in the box and one outside, his back is probably level with the edge of the area. It's a clear foul, would have been determined as being on the line therefore in the box.
How the bloody hell are we not getting that, on top of Chaplin v Leicester, Davis v Man City, Clarke v Everton.
All fine because we won but that again could have been costly come the end of the season!!! |
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Thread | Performances scale
at 09:57 9 Dec 2024
Thought I'd take a calm approach and look at performances and ultimately what I feel we deserved out of each game if it was played several times over on average.
Here's my take.
LIVERPOOL (0-1) - We did very well for most of the game. Liverpool deserved to win but another day we may have held on for a point.
Man City (0) - Totally outclassed.
FULHAM (1) - Draw a completely fair result. Either team could have won it.
Brighton (0-1) - Like Liverpool. We probably lose that most times that match is played out like that. Could have actually won it. This time we get the point.
Southampton (1) - We were poor but they had three attacks and could have scored from them all. Think we deserved a point.
ASTON VILLA (1-3) - Deserved at least a point. Very unlucky not to win it.
West Ham (0) - Awful.
EVERTON (0) - Deservedly beat. Penalty could have changed things into a point but really weren't good enough for anything here.
Brentford (1-3) - Could easily have been 3-0 up, lost late on, still have drawn even later on.
LEICESTER (3) - Better team. Deserved to win.
Tottenham (3) - Better team. Deserved to win.
MAN UTD (1-3) - Deserved a point but could easily have won it.
Nottingham Forest (0-1) - On another day we hold on for a point. Forest edged it.
CRYSTAL PALACE (0-1) - Could have easily held on for a point here but Palace were the better side.
BOURNEMOUTH (1) - I don't think we deserved the win on the performance. Second half you could see it coming. Deserved a point though.
On that basis, taking the mid-point of here, with one 1-3 turned into a win, one a draw, one 0-1 turned into a defeat and one into a draw, that's 17 points I think would have been possible based on the performances and what I think we get on another day.
With VAR, injuries, being out of League One recently then yes sure the results are needed, points are needed and we are still adrift. But for me the promising thing here is how we've played.
I could see us finishing 12th at the start of the season or being totally out of our depth. Very few games we've not been in, very few games we've been battered.
Spurs, Villa, Man Utd, Liverpool, Brighton, Fulham, Bournemouth we've been in all of these matches and shaded those games overall really.
Yes it's easy to see 9 points a gap and be all doom and gloom. I was always very much of the what will be will be.
But when you look at a team of players from League One essentially, with a few new signings who have come from Championship sides, many never played in the Premier League and the performances so far we really can't complain too much.
What it does give me belief in, with just a 4 point gap, is that the players are improving (Muric, Johnson, O'Shea all look miles better than the first few months) that we can start to pick up results and give ourselves a chance.
Yes we made mistakes, were naive, but the crazy thing is that Brentford, Leucester, Spurs, Man Utd block could have seen us come out with as many points as we have all season with a little bit more luck or one or two mistakes cut out.
Fine margins.
Maybe we don't stay up. But it won't be for the lack of trying. [Post edited 9 Dec 2024 10:03]
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