20/21 Matchday Thread

[Atavistic]

We are the team to beat right now, but with their new manager bounce and some very good players in that Watford squad who gave us a right mauling in both meetings last season, a draw would be acceptable. As good as Sorensen has been while deputising at left back, Sarr will have an absolute field day against him if he starts for Watford on the right.

Still, with Buendia and Cantwell purring and Farkeball starting to pick up again, we really want to be going for the win and extending our lead at the top.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

At least we scored a goal so that "havent scored away in X hours" stat can be put to bed (at least for a few games) but we were atrocious today. Getting a bit like last season in that I genuinely cannot see us getting a win on the road which is a worry as without home fans for the foreseeable, you worry our home form might start to slip too.

Our approach to playing away is clearly to try and keep it 0-0 for as long as possible and hope we can eke a goal from somewhere but its not really working right now. With Reading hugely depleted it was opportunity to play a bit more on the front foot but we left our best midfield player in that sense out and left our best attacking fullback available out as well. Didnt really get it and with the early goal whatever we had planned just went straight to the bin.

Still mid-table but beginning to slide a little bit so could do with getting some positive results from the next 2 home games.

 

[Craig]

Shite

 

[Kenneth E End]

At least we scored a goal so that "havent scored away in X hours" stat can be put to bed (at least for a few games) but we were atrocious today. Getting a bit like last season in that I genuinely cannot see us getting a win on the road which is a worry as without home fans for the foreseeable, you worry our home form might start to slip too.

Our approach to playing away is clearly to try and keep it 0-0 for as long as possible and hope we can eke a goal from somewhere but its not really working right now. With Reading hugely depleted it was opportunity to play a bit more on the front foot but we left our best midfield player in that sense out and left our best attacking fullback available out as well. Didnt really get it and with the early goal whatever we had planned just went straight to the bin.

Still mid-table but beginning to slide a little bit so could do with getting some positive results from the next 2 home games.

We've been doing this since the start of lockdown. I suppose the difference between last season and this one is that the Oct-Jan spell included almost zero points in total. At least we're picking up the odd win as well as draws. Its almost as if this time Luton were targeting the Bristol City and then the QPR game on Tuesday as the opportunities.

Remember not so long ago, our home form was pretty poor too. There is a correlation that we had improved our home form when the fans were back... a luxury we won't have now for a good while.

 

[Super_horns]

Excellent to get that win against a very good side.

Attacked with more purpose and defended well with Foster not having much to do.

 

[Atavistic]

New manager bounce succeeds. Ah well, still got a decent gap at the top for now.

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

What is a goal?

 

[BelizeHatter]

I keep quiet mostly on Judas since his return as Im one of the few that hasnt forgiven, but I do respect what hes acheived.

But hes lost the plot to suggest we deserved anything yesterday - unless i misunderstood and he meant we deserved a battering. Reading didnt get out of second gear and were severely weakened whilst we were at 95% with just one player missing from the squad, I think.

We were worse than dire. Even in the second half we had almost zero quality and invention in the final third. Make that no quality. No movement, no thinking, no penetration, no killer crosses or through balls, no link up play, no midfield getting in front of the strikers, just awful with the ball. Even the goal, my Granny would have saved.

Hope it was a bad day at the office. But i suspect not. Even KDH, 'our' supposed playmaker and quality player while looking pretty, rarely creates anything if note. Please dont let him, or anyone else, try a long range shot or the the Pigeons in the rafters are scattering. Maybe we just practice that nice tac a tac passing circle piggy in the middle perfect for winter bog pitchfootball.

What a shit show lately.......... Moan over. Prob a 2020 (year, not board) rant/vent, but...........

 

[BelizeHatter]

I know its a bit harsh as almost everyone has more resources and experience than us, and we are above a lot of the previously mentioned. Im frustrated because we have what it needs to be better than we are, so we need a better mentality and mindset. Just the final delivery vision, thought process and quality. Thats on the Manager.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

I know its a bit harsh as almost everyone has more resources and experience than us, and we are above a lot of the previously mentioned. Im frustrated because we have what it needs to be better than we are, so we need a better mentality and mindset. Just the final delivery vision, thought process and quality. Thats on the Manager.

I think this is a little harsh to say it’s on the manager but I guess depends on your view of what a manager can control. Yeaterday was very poor undoubtedly and I think our approach away especially could be a bit better. Personally I questioned his selection a bit in terms of leaving out Dewsbury-Hall and to a lesser extent Norrington-Davies so he has some fault in yesterday in my view, but on the basis of the season so far you can see we have a structure and organisation about us that is better than last season so he’s improved us in that sense. NJ has given us that and that’s what a manager can influence most, setting a team up with a clear idea of how to approach games. We are solid at set pieces at both ends of the pitch, again something management/coaching plays a huge part in. Recruitment has been a lot more effective as well so the things in his immediate gift to influence to my mind we have done better in.

What we are struggling with is that bit of quality in the final third of the pitch in open play, which is probably where our budget, or lack thereof really gets exposed at this level. Our final “action” is often horrendously bad, which to my mind is less of a manager issue and more of an ability of the players we have available to us issue. Obviously coaching can be done here but ultimately that only takes you so far. Was thinking about the Reading second goal and thought I can’t really see us scoring that goal. Someone would have played the ball slightly behind someone, trod on the ball, taken a bad option and the chance would have been gone likely before we even got to the shooting position. That to me is because we don’t have that extra bit for quality rather than something NJ can be blamed for.

Structure, organisation, approach to the game, recruitment all are there but that “x factor” I guess to create in the final third isn’t there on a consistent basis and is hard to come by on our budget.

 

[thewwfc]

What is a goal?

something the opposition does to put them ahead, I’m told

 

[BelizeHatter]

Pretty much what i was saying TFCH. Exception is i think it is on the Manager because they are pros and thats all they do all day. We can make those passes at the back and middle third. Why not the final third.

Yes i agree we dont have the quality to others have due to resources and newness to this level, but to never see that pass or be able to cross it or shoot it properly, to not make those runs or attemt those passes? Thats technique and mindset and is a coaching issue for me.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Pretty much what i was saying TFCH. Exception is i think it is on the Manager because they are pros and thats all they do all day. We can make those passes at the back and middle third. Why not the final third.

Yes i agree we dont have the quality to others have due to resources and newness to this level, but to never see that pass or be able to cross it or shoot it properly, to not make those runs or attemt those passes? Thats technique and mindset and is a coaching issue for me.

Like I said think our mind set and approach to games especially away could be better, we weren’t set up yesterday (or really any game away to be honest) to cope with conceding early. There’s a reason good attacking players cost more and that’s because creating in that area is a lot, lot more difficult than the other previous 2/3rds of the pitch.

I don’t think it’s fair to say it never happens, wasn’t that long ago we were, rightly, lauding Pellys pass and Collins movement for a goal in a game we commanded, I can think of others but it shows it can be done. It’s the consistency we struggle with and getting them to put it all together at the same time in the same move. That for me is a player quality issue rather than NJ not doing his job, especially this season when the amount of actual coaching that can be done is probably at it’s lowest ever.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Im not attacking you. You are the voice of reason for us Hatters. Always on the money and may well be here. But for me this time we dont quite see eye to eye.......which is ok .

 

[BelizeHatter]

.........maybe cos my eyes are still looking down on Jones. Wish they werent but i cant quite get past it

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Im not attacking you. You are the voice of reason for us Hatters. Always on the money and may well be here. But for me this time we dont quite see eye to eye.......which is ok .

No worries I don’t think you’re attacking me, sorry if I came across overly defensive! It’s football and I’m invariably wrong when it comes to it.

 

[BelizeHatter]

You didn't. Its an art not a science, so everyone sees it differently. Which is its beauty and why theres always so many different angles and views. Always respected yours

 

[SF_]

Coventry at home, they've kept a bunch of 0-0s lately so I can see another one, we're useless at breaking organised sides down who don't leave gaps.

Sinclair went off against Derby, looked like a pulled muscle so he'll definitely miss this one.

Potts & Hughes might be close to making a return out of the injured lot but I wouldn't start either, Josh Earl has looked really good since coming back into the side. I'd probably move Maguire wide left, with Riis up top to replace Sinclair.

Rudd
Fisher, Huntington, Davies, Earl
Browne, Gallagher
Barkhuizen, Johnson, Maguire
Riis​

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

Looking forward to spending another tenner to watch Coventry Nil tonight. Expecting a comfortable Preston win, we never get a result at Deepdale.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Quite a few changes from the starting 11 at Reading for us. The headline one that will be the stick to beat NJ with post game if it goes badly is Tunnicliffe starting. I’m no fan but interesting that he has come in. Looks like 352 to me but that could end up a few different ways, even the diamond.

2 ex hatters in Bakinson and Martin for Bristol City so expect at least one of those to pop up. The former had a falling out with NJ if I recall correctly?

 

[Super_horns]

2 week break being mooted in the Premier league - and Football league ?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1343961351656501248

 

[SF_]

Back five for us tonight it seems. Don't mind that team as long as Fisher & Earl are pushed up all game, might even free up Davies who is one of our best passers. Barky & Maguire up top could work well.

Rudd
Fisher, Huntington, Davies, Hughes, Earl
Browne, Ledson
Johnson
Barkhuizen, Maguire​

 

[SF_]

Looking forward to spending another tenner to watch Coventry Nil tonight. Expecting a comfortable Preston win, we never get a result at Deepdale.

We ended our long standing winless run at Pride Park the other day so you'll probably end yours tonight.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

2 week break being mooted in the Premier league - and Football league ?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1343961351656501248

It’s been pretty remarkable that the championship has so far been pretty unscathed by it this season. Think only Rotherham been really affected by it to the extent they have lost games.

League 1 is getting to the point where you’re going to have to curtail the season if there are many more though.

A lot depends on announcements tomorrow, with the new variant spreading so much and quickly then I wouldn’t be surprised if restrictions are widened to the extent football cannot simply ignore it.

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

Been all over Preston but we have the worst attack in the league so have created absolutely nothing of note. Preston will probably win this now we’ve gifted them the lead.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Probably just edged the first half there, great strike from Rea for the goal. Rubbed my eyes in shock as thought for all the world that was heading over the oak road.

Outside of that it’s been pretty scrappy stuff and we continually look poor in possession. Bristol City look dangerous through Semenyo and Martin in particular but unlike Boxing Day we have got the goal first. Hopefully that proves decisive

 

[SF_]

Rancid. It's a travesty were winning.

They should have had a penalty too.

Browne has fucked up about 9 passes by my count, fucking shit. Gallagher nowhere near the game. Hughes just giving the ball back to them every time.

Hughes & Gally off. Ledson & Potts on. This is wank.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Probably just edged the first half there, great strike from Rea for the goal. Rubbed my eyes in shock as thought for all the world that was heading over the oak road.

Outside of that it’s been pretty scrappy stuff and we continually look poor in possession. Bristol City look dangerous through Semenyo and Martin in particular but unlike Boxing Day we have got the goal first. Hopefully that proves decisive

Can't disagree more with this. I thought we've been excellent although the crossing and lack of shooting when getting into good areas is slightly annoying.

Why are we good at home but absolutely hopeless away from home?

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

Rancid. It's a travesty were winning.

They should have had a penalty too.

Browne has fucked up about 9 passes by my count, fucking shit. Gallagher nowhere near the game. Hughes just giving the ball back to them every time.

Hughes & Gally off. Ledson & Potts on. This is wank.

Don’t worry mate, you could play without a keeper and we probably still wouldn’t score. Our players look absolutely terrified of shooting.

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

you’re welcome for the easiest 3 points you’ll get all season, Preston. God we are shite.