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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2017 22:53:19 GMT
Oh superb 2-0 up against the mighty Reading 26% possession and we draw 2-2 what a great result at this rate we will be out of the bottom 3 soon and pushing for the play-offs . BUT wait that's 7 without defeat we must be doing something right oh yes won 2 drawn 5 still in the bottom 3 .
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Post by andyl on Nov 21, 2017 23:02:25 GMT
So frustrating. Amazingly despite Madine's early missed sitter we went 2 up with two set piece headers, both well taken.
But with nothing whatsoever sticking upfront and next to no possession we were always going to be worn down. In truth they pussy footed around to such an extent that it almost seemed that we might hold on. I think that had PP withdrawn Madine and made earlier substitution they were weak enough at the back for us to have put the game to bed. In the end Buckley, Noone and Le Fondre did take us forward and we nearly won in extra time.
I do think Pratley and Henry played well defensively but Vela and Armstrong are wasted. It is I think obvious that we need to see Armstrong and Le Fondre in harness and that Buckley and No one need to be used more. I'm beginning to think that PP is a slave to his preferred shape and almost as adoring of Madine as NL was of Feeney. Not a good managerial game. A silly penalty but the writing was already on the wall by then
Alnwick 6 Little 6 Burke 7 Wheater 7 Robinson 5 ( good going forward but very vulnerable defending-silly booking) Pratley 8 Henry 8 Vela 5 Armstrong 5 Ameobi 6 Madine 0 ( did nothing good and much that was poor for me tonight- a passenger we can ill afford when he plays like this- had to be subbed but wasn't)
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Post by greydad on Nov 21, 2017 23:15:16 GMT
What a disappointing game...2 goals forged from a dearth of possession, and an opportunity to move within spitting distance of the 'dotted line' that Pratley spoke of in the BN earlier. The reluctance (or possibly the inability) of P.P. and his team to deal with the ever more blatant need for a tactical change was inevitably punished...instead we had the formulaic sub of Armstrong for Buckley, who did ok in fairness, but it was 88 minutes before ALF and Noone were introduced. The manager suggests the team was excellent in the first half and for large parts of the second, and is vastly improved from where they were at the start of the season...not quite the impression I had from the NS Upper. Have to agree with Andy L re: Madine, he looked superfluous to proceedings for much of the game.
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Post by Pedro on Nov 22, 2017 7:05:48 GMT
Oh dear. But we weren't beaten which would have been the ultimate insult after being 2 nil up after 23 minutes. We were counting the hoofs from Alnwick to Madine and most would be surprised how many were successful and successfully passed to a white shirt.
Another interesting stat. We are the only team in the whole league not to have a red L in their last 5 games.
Poss.Home 26% Away 74%
Shots Home15 Away13
Shots on Target Home4 Away4
Corners Home6 Away9
Fouls Home18 Away8
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Post by andyl on Nov 22, 2017 7:41:26 GMT
It wasn't really that hoofy a game. Indeed Alnwick threw the ball out from time to time once via Ameobi starting the counter attack which led to a goal!! We just didn't have the ball long enough to hoof it! A reason why Madine was superfluous was that when several times Pratley or Henry broke through he just couldn't be found. On one occasion Armstrong broke through in the first half and Madine lumbered forward behind two defenders. Armstrong then passed weakly to them. On another occasion Armstrong ran beyond Madine but the latter's touch collapsed the move as it did all too often on the night.
If if it seems that everything I've said leads back to Madine well last night it did. He competed for a handful of balls but most of the time made indecisive heavy footed slump shouldered leans. From one such failure to launch they broke away and scored!
In some games Madine has been positively at the heart of everything and although I personally feel that our play is weakened by hoofing I've had to acknowledge his merits. But last night he was just in the way. Can anyone imagine Le Fondre missing that first minute chance after Vela hounded down their over confident keeper. Madine froze and was dispossessed almost before he took his foot back.
Armstrong played well defensively. Good. So did Ameobi with one obvious error. And these days forwards have to defend. But is there really no place for ALF for more than 5 minutes.
No-one should be kidded by our unbeaten run. We are heading for relegation most surely. Possession does not win games, it's true but over a season and as was proved last night and in several home games lack of it will wear a team down by attrition and fatigue! Fair play to Reading they persisted with their possession game and disguised defensive inability and a lack of strike power by it. But that was a game we had the firepower to win. Alas it was on the bench or stranded on the wing and the complete lack of pace and movement upfront also wasted Vela whom we need in possession or shooting from the box edge. In this line up he was being used as a sacrificial pawn around the altar of Madine's inviolability and what a waste!
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Post by bonaparte on Nov 22, 2017 9:20:25 GMT
Could not agree more Andy. The 13,113 spectators were short changed by PP's tactics,his substition (or lack)and his Nelson eye regarding Madine, who was a passenger at best,or a hindrance in reality. Relegation loom.
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Post by greydad on Nov 22, 2017 9:21:17 GMT
My 'morning after' reflection on the game is that I probably feel as disappointed with last night's performance as with any other I have seen this season... the club are fortunate to have the impressive number of season ticket holders who will bolster crowd figures, but even the prospect of budget range tickets and festive bundles will fail to attract supporters if performances continue in last night's vein. For all the successful 'punts' and subsequent passes to white shirts I can't recall any that were actually progressive in terms of creating potential chances. ALF showed in his unfathomably brief cameo that he has a sharpness and speed of thought in the box that is sadly lacking in his absence, but, as with Vela and Armstrong, his attributes are being continually wasted. There was a palpable lack of awareness on the touchlines last night of the inevitability of the consequences of affording Reading the possession they ultimately benefitted from..if the Wanderers are genuinely unable as a squad to improve their passing ability, and to adapt a more flexible approach to the challenges presented by teams who can actually retain possession with consistency then relegation seems as inevitable as last night's dismal loss of 2 vital points. I hope somehow that whatever the system deployed Saturday will see an improvement in performance and an unlikely result.
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Post by davidm on Nov 22, 2017 9:35:35 GMT
I didn’t post last night when I got home because I was too angry.
So I decided to sleep on it before commenting.
Well, now I’ve slept, I’m still furious.
Furious with a set of negative second half tactics – yet again! – that cost us 2 points.
In recent home games (Sheff Wed twice, Norwich, QPR and last night) we have somehow got to half time on top. The second half has then consisted of 100% negativity with everyone behind the ball and a desperate attempt to hang on. What is said in the dressing room at half time must be so negative.
We started the game with our usual slowness. Reading had most of the ball but had really strange possession tactics. Strange in that their possession ideas were to keep the ball between their back five players and hardly progress up the field at all.
I have never seen a team take so long over free kicks, goal kicks and throw ins. They were deadly to watch.
We had our usual little spurts of action, usually involving Ameobi, and from these we somehow gained a lead.
Ameobi was taken down on the right flank. Vela’s kick was headed on for Burke to head in at the far post.
This still didn’t spur Reading on and they just went at slow motion albeit getting through us a few times. Their wide men certainly know how to centre a ball.
They slowly pushed us back but we won a corner and Pratley headed in unmarked.
Reading then awoke from slumbers and pressed us. Their centre back, Moore, nearly scored twice from 2 corners, heading wide when it was easier to score and back-heading across the goal line later. Slack marking from us from both corners.
We got to half time at 2-0. Not particularly deserved as we had had our usual very low amount of possession.
Second half came and we went into defensive, hold-on-to-what-we’ve-got mode. We just backed off and hardly had a kick. Reading for their part were now attacking at will but still played a weird slow pass, pass, pass game.
Reading now looked likely to score and Alnwick pulled off a great save to keep the score at 2-0.
Ultimately it got to us as some very slack marking allowed Moore to pick up a loose ball and score.
Normal panic mode now!
We looked like we might hold on, like the Sheff Wed matches, but Ameobi had a rush of blood when defending to concede a needless penalty and 2 points were gone.
We then introduced our subs and they made a difference. We actually had a bit of attacking in the last few minutes. Someone, Pratley I think, headed a corner straight at the keeper when a decent header would have scored and with the last kick of the game, Le Fondre got a toe to a loose ball and almost got it in but the goalie smothered it. If we had played like we played in the last 5 minutes throughout the second half, we would have won.
We could easily have lost this game. We should have won it from the half time position.
People may say that the unbeaten run continues. It could continue till the end of the season but if all matches are drawn, we will be relegated.
Our standard of passing throughout the 90 minutes was terrible. League 1 or 2 standard. We gave the ball away so many times.
Whilst I don’t read too much into possession stats, 26% possession at home is a disgrace!
I cannot understand our tactics. I wish the players had stayed on the pitch at half time and not gone into the dressing room.
Alnwick - 8 Apart from one bad punch in the first half, he was sound. A very good save in the second half.
Little - 4 Really struggled. His passing, tackling and forward play were poor.
Wheater - 6 Steady as usual. Burke - 6 Scored and looked quite good.
Robinson - 5 Some ropey spells. Booked. Some forward runs which nearly all finished with a poor pass.
Henry - 4 Initially fine but just totally lost midfield in the second half.
Pratley - 4 Started quite well. Won a couple of meaty 50/50 challenges. Scored and then it all went wrong. Spent the second half watching Reading pass and move around us. Dreadful passing.
Ameobi - 4 Some trickery. Not as much as usual. Terrible mistake in conceding the penalty.
Armstrong - 4 Little seen of him. Doesn’t seem to move into space to receive the ball. Wasted out wide. He should form a 2 man strike force with Le Fondre.
Vela - 5 Harried well but his form of last season just hasn’t returned.
Madine - 3 Terrible. Won a few heading battles but with the ball at his feet he was appalling.
Buckley - 5 A few decent touches but he still needs to convince me that he can help us.
Noone - 6 A couple of good runs in his short time on.
Le Fondre - 6 Did more in his few minutes on the pitch than Madine did in 90+ minutes. He must played regularly. Manager - 2 Awful, awful tactics yet again. Gave the game away with his second half play.
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Post by davidm on Nov 22, 2017 9:49:58 GMT
I've just read the managers comments:-
"I thought we were excellent in the first half and for large parts of the second half"
What!
In which parts of the second half were we excellent?
"The way we set up was excellent"
No it wasn't - it was desperate! It was BORING
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Post by whitesince63 on Nov 22, 2017 10:03:17 GMT
TWO POINTS against 2 5hit sides Would have been great facing Wolves on the back of a convincing win!!!! Unbeaten run? ?? We must be the only team with the worst ‘unbeaten’ run!!! Only a win for me tonight!!! We’re doomed if we can’t put away teams when we’re 2-0 up. Drawing all these games won’t save us. Just seen the next 4 fixtures, with my PP’Predictions Wolves A. LOSE Barnsley H DRAW Nottm Forest A LOSE Burton H DRAW Whilst Coleman gets a resurgent Sunderland up the table!! Ok, so my last prediction was a bit far fetched!!! Or was it!! I reckon that you're being over optimistic with points against Barnsley and Burton rftr, who both know if they win they put more distance between us. By that time we'll be well adrift and our wonderful unbeaten run will be long forgotten. As for your "far fetched" comment on Chris Coleman, I don't think it's far fetched in the least and would expect him to prove what a good manager can do with the same bunch of players. Sadly, Parkinson stays because, despite the cost of certain relegation, Anderson can't find the money to sack him.
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Post by whitesince63 on Nov 22, 2017 10:15:33 GMT
I wonder what Ken Armstrong really thinks? Surely he must see what we see?
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Post by andyl on Nov 22, 2017 10:35:48 GMT
I wonder what Ken Armstrong really thinks? Surely he must see what we see? He does see, I'm sure. But change for change sake seldom works. PP too has to build morale and show loyalty in public but we can exercise free speech and the team's 'new clothes' are a myth. The team is in the altogether. I'm going to Wolves on Sat. If we play like that we'll ship six.
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Post by andyl on Nov 22, 2017 10:38:05 GMT
I wonder what Ken Armstrong really thinks? Surely he must see what we see? He does see, I'm sure. But change for change sake seldom works. PP too has to build morale and show loyalty in public but we can exercise free speech and the team's 'new clothes' are a myth. The team is in the altogether. I'm going to Wolves on Sat. If we play like that we'll ship six. Imagine you are Le Fondre ,Karacan or Cullen watching that or Armstrong or Vela neutered. They must be really frustrated.
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READING
Nov 22, 2017 11:55:03 GMT
via mobile
Post by riochforthereebok on Nov 22, 2017 11:55:03 GMT
I think I somehow, perversely preferred it when we were getting beat every week!!! At least we knew our fate and could predict the next negative result. Since our unlikely ‘resurgence’ it has given rise to some odd belief that we aren’t really that bad and that we will march up the table!! I, like most on here believe we have the players that can do the business but if they are responding to the negativity and mind numbingly boring tactical offerings from our esteemed leader then they’ve no chance of survival
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Post by OohMac on Nov 22, 2017 14:05:38 GMT
Genuinely wouldn't know what would happen if we parted ways with Parky.
I find it quite interesting that "the miracle worker" Parky generated zero interest in other clubs. Sunderland, Birmingham, West Brom, Leicester, West Ham wouldn't any of these clubs be interested in the phenomenon that is Parky. He wins promotions with teams that have no right to win promotion and he's rescued Bolton to 23rd in the championship.
I have no faith in Parky and what he's trying to achieve and I would love to see someone else bring in charge.
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