 | Forum
Thread | Heading Back Down and Time to Regroup
at 03:01 6 Apr 2025
Now that it’s all but confirmed we’re heading back to the Champ, I’ve had a bit of time to think it all over, and I’m not devastated. It’s more of an “oh well” kind of feeling. A bit of frustration in places, but I also appreciate the size of the task we were up against.
Looking at the squad now, too many of our signings just haven’t worked out. Some arrived with big reputations, PL experience, and big wages and we really needed them to hit the ground running and not just with performances, but by setting standards and showing others what it takes at this level. But they simply haven’t. Muric, Johnson, Phillips, all with PL experience have been really disappointing. O’Shea’s probably the only one with PL experience who can walk away with any real credit.
Then there’s the lads we brought up from the Champ. Clarke’s shown glimpses. Szmodics had done okay, though injuries have been a problem. Greaves hasn’t looked fully convincing but again, injury hasn’t helped. And Philogene only came in January, so while it’s hard for him to make a huge impact, it’s also tough and unfair to judge. In my opinion, thats simply too many signings who havent added any real significant improvement or contribution to the team.
But if we’re being honest, of all the new arrivals, it’s only really O'Shea, Delap, Omari (kind of new), and Cajuste who’ve had any consistent impact. And even then that’s two U21s and a player managing an injury all season. That’s a huge ask in this brutal and unforgiving league. Which brings me to the recruitment in general.The hit rate just hasn’t been good enough. And as we’ve seen, if you don’t get that right, the task becomes almost impossible.
Would we have been any worse off if we’d just kept the spirit and core of last season and added two or three quality signings rather than trying to overhaul the squad? Maybe not. But then again, if we’d started getting battered every week, everyone would’ve said we didn’t do enough or we didnt "have a proper go". It’s one of those damned if you do, damned if you don’t situations. That said, I do think we lost a bit of what made us tick last year by changing too much too quickly.
I’ve still had a good time this season. New grounds and some great away days, doing it all with the same group of lads I’ve followed this club with for the last 15–20 years and that’s what it’s really about. I’d have loved to stay up, of course, but the PL isn’t perfect. The awkward kick-off times, the soulless atmospheres at some grounds, and the constant VAR nonsense definitely suck some of the fun out of it.
If we learn from this, we’ve got a real chance to come back stronger. We had a go. Came up short. But we’ll have learned loads and now it’s about doing it properly next time..
[Post edited 6 Apr 3:06]
|
| Forum
Thread | My thoughts on last night..
at 08:27 29 Aug 2024
I have been in Teams meetings all morning and had chance to write down my thoughts on last night. Hopefully I'm not asked to create any minutes for the meetings..
Late night and early morning - what a combo. But, here are some reflections. It was a frustrating night in the Capital, and let’s be honest, anyone who says they don’t care that we lost is kidding themselves. No one likes losing. Maybe it’s not just the result that frustrates; it could be the cost of the ticket, the time away from home, or even the tough late-night-early-morning combo. Whatever it is, please don’t tell me you’re ‘OK’ with losing to L2 Wimbledon, as I'm not buying it.
Let’s talk about the lineup—perhaps some surprises there. Seeing so many new faces was a pleasant shock. Walton in goal? That one caught me off guard since I half-expected Muric to get a confidence boost after his shaky debut on Saturday. Maybe Slicker would’ve made sense too, just to get him some game time since he’s sticking around. But Walton got the nod - should we read into that? Who knows. Let’s see how it plays out.
Townsend at left back had a decent game. He’s got a lovely left foot and looked comfortable on the ball. He wasn’t really tested defensively, but from what I saw, I’d have no issues with him stepping in for Leif when needed.
O’Shea. He looked sharp. Quick on his feet and moved the ball well. What I liked most was when he strode out of defence with the ball in the second half, comfortable as you like and always looking to be positive.
Burgess was okay - nothing spectacular. A few passes went astray in the first half, which is understandable given how long it’s been since he last played. But he wasn’t as commanding in the air during set pieces, which is usually his strength. If he’s not dominating aerially, then Greaves should start, no questions asked.
Johnson is an enigma right now. He’s got the athleticism and came with a decent reputation, but I’m still not sure what to make of him. Defensively, he’s not quite there, but he does get into good positions going forward- but just doesn’t quite execute. It’s early days, so maybe I’m being harsh, but as of now, he doesn’t make my starting XI.
Seeing Clarke start was a nice surprise. Most of his good work was in the first half, so it was tough to see from our end, but he looked like he glided past a few players and carried the ball well. He played narrow, though, and with Townsend not being as adventurous as Leif, that space outside wasn’t used as much as it could have been. But that’s an exciting combo, and I’m sure it’ll only get better under McKenna. Solid signing.
Phillips was steady—safe, maybe too safe, but he hasn’t played a competitive game in a while. He showed some beautiful technique on a couple of passes but didn’t create much. He’ll get better as he gets fitter and more accustomed to our style and his role in the team.
Cajuste was the one I was most excited to see, mainly because I know almost nothing about him aside from a few flashy YouTube clips that made him look like a prime Yaya Touré. He made some decent passes and made a few great recoveries. He’s got good size and covers the ground well. I like him and think he should start alongside the skipper on Saturday.
Ogbenne starting was a pleasant surprise, too. He started well but didn’t really get to stretch his legs with Wimbledon sitting so deep. Early on, he and Johnson looked like they had a connection, but as the game went on, it was clear they’re still strangers on the pitch. I’m excited to see Ogbenne tearing up that right side, and maybe he’ll get his first league start on Saturday.
Chaplin wore the captain’s armband and had a good game, in my opinion. He dropped deep to pick up the ball and tried to make things happen. I actually think it was his best game in a while—his form dipped last season, but he seems like the kind of player who can adapt to the level he’s playing at. Hopefully, the better players around him will raise his game. I’d love to see him be a consistent starter, but that’s up to him.
Al-Hadami got his goal early, and I was hoping he’d grow into the game more. But with Wimbledon sitting deep, he couldn’t really show his best attributes. He looks like a player coming back from injury, but he’s getting better and stronger with each game. A loan move, preferably in the Championship, might do him good.
Subs:
Harness:Not really a winger and struggled to get past his man. He’s great when things are chaotic, but I’m not sure he’s the guy you bring on when he’s expected to be better than his opponent.
Taylor:Moved the ball well, gliding across the pitch. I like him, but I’m not sure where he fits in. The penalty really bugged me, he’s probably the best striker of the ball we have, and he tried to take a penalty like Ivan Toney. Perhaps he moves on this window.
Luongo: Did everything Phillips did—buzzed about and moved the ball well. No complaints. I want him to stick around.
Hutchinson:Always brings energy when he gets the ball. He added the urgency and directness we needed. He might have even deserved a penalty when he got pulled back. This guy makes us tick, and I’m excited to see how he progresses this year.
Delap: He’s getting better every time I see him. I’m hoping and fully expecting that £15 million will turn out to be a steal. He’s going to be a fan favorite, I’m sure of it.
Summary:
The whole match felt a bit "meh." We started each half well and finished the second half strong, but there was a big chunk in the middle where we dominated the stats without doing much on the pitch. What disappointed me most was that we got undone by two long balls into the box. As long as you’re not out of sight, the game is always live, and you’re susceptible to that kind of thing. I don’t expect McKenna was thrilled after the game, but he probably stayed level-headed, and we should too as fans.
It’s a shame we can’t have the distraction of a cup run to give the squad players more time on the pitch throughout the season. We’ll need everyone ready and dialled in. One thing is clear - we need another number 9. Hopefully, we can bring someone in who can contribute immediately.
Ultimately, the team we put out should have been enough to beat Wimbledon, and it’s a bit embarrassing that we didn’t. We looked like a side of strangers out there - not a McKenna team yet. But that’s likely because we’re still in the early stages of building with these players. It’s a process, and we’re learning as we go. Luckily, we’ve got KMc to guide us on this journey.
On to Saturday… |
| Forum
Thread | The Fridge
at 08:45 3 Jun 2024
In the same vein, some believe Taylor may be better suited to the Premier League, and I share this opinion. Does anyone think Edmundson could also be better suited to the Premier League? He has been brought into the side when we have faced 'strong runners' at the expense of Woolfy. While I have no doubt we need another center-back, I wonder if we already have one in the building who could be well suited for the Premier League. |
| | TownieRob
|
Site Scores| Forum Votes: | 24 | | Comment Votes: | 32 | | Prediction League: | 0 | | TOTAL: | 56 |
|
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.