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Post by davidm on Sept 20, 2019 17:49:15 GMT
A difficult match for us this one.
The massive improvement in the quality of football that was shown on Tuesday needs to continue. If we can continue with the style that we showed against Oxford and, somehow, manage not to run out of steam in the second half, it should be a good match.
Sunderland seem to draw a lot of matches so perhaps a 1-1
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Post by whitesince63 on Sept 20, 2019 18:22:09 GMT
Gutted I can’t now go tomorrow as I have a hospital appointment and XRay at Barnsley General, just typical and for the first time in ages I was genuinely excited about going. Like you David, I hope they can continue their improving methods and hopefully get at least a point. Of course it will be a tough one as Sunderland, like Rotherham, are a big physical side. Without strikers again it’s going to be difficult to get the goals we need from the chances we’re bound to create, as in fairness we did even at Rotherham, so I can only see a low scoring draw at best, probably 1-1 as you suggest. I just hope the game is entertaining for you and whatever the results you can see the progress being made. There’s a slim chance we will stay up but it does need us to start getting wins now, not just draws, so I wish the boys good luck tomorrow and that they surprise us with our first three points!!
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Post by one2many on Sept 20, 2019 18:29:29 GMT
Snowball in hell. We have scored one goal in the league this season and both players and manager are still getting to know each other (not too mention fitness). Anything other than a heavy defeat will be a bonus.
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Post by OohMac on Sept 20, 2019 20:05:32 GMT
Wanted to start this thread earlier today as think its an intriguing match but didnt want to kick off with negativity.
It could genuinely be 0-0, 1-0, or 1-7. Such unknown quantities and starting so far back but potential there.
We do tire in games understandably. We will struggle to score and against the better teams we have shipped lots and Sunderland are one of the better teams.
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Post by Alptrotter on Sept 21, 2019 7:59:46 GMT
I’m looking forward to watching on i-follow and, unlike Rotherham, I don’t think I will have to watch through my fingers. The defence played a much better, organised formation on Tuesday and Bridcutt did well covering, so, on balance, I am confident that the days of conceding 4 or 5 are over. As everyone says, it’s difficult to see us scoring many, given our lack of striking options and it certainly makes gloomy reading that it may be 3-5 weeks before all are fit.
I think we are due a slice of fortune, so I can easily see us drawing or winning the game, but I do think it will be low scoring.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2019 9:28:14 GMT
Just about to set of to get the train from Alfreton and I'm not expecting anything today apart from hard work and try to keep the score down. 63 I will try to keep you informed as best I can I'm going for 1-3 sorry COYWM
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2019 14:58:44 GMT
Arrived late due to train delays 0-0 halftime and what I saw of it was very impressive all we need is a striker up front and a tough tackling ball winning midfielder and we have the makings of a half decent team. Let's hope we don't tire in the second half COYWM
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2019 15:26:38 GMT
1-0 and very deserved Hobbs I think we are playing very well long may it continue COYWM
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Post by whitesince63 on Sept 21, 2019 16:06:03 GMT
How unlucky, haven’t seen the handball but it must have been pretty decisive. Not as good a trip back to Nottingham as it looked like being for you Chip but at least we didn’t lose. Sunderland didn’t seem to be on song today though so it seems 2 points lost maybe? We’re playing better but our luck still doesn’t seem to have changed!!
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Post by andyl on Sept 21, 2019 16:23:02 GMT
Not overall an unfair result given Sunderland second half dominance but frustrating to be so close to afirst victory! No-one protested too much about the penalty, so presumed correct. Even so if Buckley had not been at his most lummoxlike we could have snatched victory on the break.
We saw less by way of fluent attacking and link up play with Crawford for the most part invisible. Bridcutt was again everywhere and Lowe similarly. I felt earlier midfield substitution might have been wise but we held on by virtue of their efforts and two excellent saves from Matthews, maybe three if he got anything on the shot that hit the bar.
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Our main attacking threat came on the right flank first from Politic with an excellent shot that somehow stayed out off the bar. Then KH ordered a a clever wing switch and Verlinden also had the measure of his man. Had we boasted a goalscorer such as Le Fondre we would surely have scored in this period.
In end it came as rather a surprise when Buckley nodded back a Crawford free kick and Hobbes bundled it in.
All in all a good, enjoyable game.
Matthews 9 Emmanuel 8 Hobbes 8 Wright 8 Chicksen 7 Lowe 8 Bridcutt 8 Buckley 6 Verlinden 7 Crawford 6 Politic 7
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2019 16:35:36 GMT
1-1 very late penalty but I couldn't tell from we're I was. Brilliant game though and we still have players to come so I'm very pleased with what I watched today onwards and upwards COYWM
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Post by davidm on Sept 21, 2019 18:05:29 GMT
What a sickener to concede so late but, as Andy says, Sunderland dominated the final 30 minutes as our legs gave out as is the norm.
First half, we played really neat attractive positive football. Chalk and cheese compared to last season. Sunderland had some decent possession also but once we got going after about 10 minutes, we dominated the half and deserved to lead.
Why we didn’t lead is because luck is against us so far. Politic hit the corner pf post and bar with a wonderful curling shot, with the ball running all the way back across the front of goal with no one near enough to tap it in. It was a brilliant effort from Politic.
Sunderland went close a couple of times, particularly Grigg who amazingly headed wide from 6 yards out.
First half though was excellent and we were unlucky not to lead.
Second half we again started well and eventually got our deserved goal when Buckley got onto a free kick and diverted the ball across for Hobbs to tap in. I think that Buckley totally mis-headed it but I haven’t seen in on TV yet but it was a deserved lead.
Sunderland woke up then and in less than 5 minutes had hit the bar/post with a rocket shot which I think bounced down, hit Matthews and was put wide.
From then on Sunderland had control. Matthews pulled off 2 great saves and we looked like we could hold on. We rarely had much control at this stage as we looked shattered.
And then the critical 5 minutes injury time and a bouncing ball was somehow handled/hit someone and we unluckily conceded a penalty which they scored. Again, I haven’t seen it on TV but not many of our players complained.
We then had a very late breakaway when Buckley had a glorious chance to play Politic in and managed to land the pass3 yards behind him and chance was gone.
Overall though another excellent performance.
Defensively we did well. One note of caution – their centre half (no 12) had 5 unmarked headers from corners/free kicks so we do need to continue to tighten up.
Midfield harried, bit in and pass ridiculously well for 60 minutes until the legs went.
Upfront though is a struggle. We desperately need a player up front to hold the ball and give the team time to get up and help. My comment earlier about luck applies. How do we manage to sign 2 strikers who both get injured and sign a left back who has a car crash. Surely it will change soon.
Anyway, well done the team and managers – sickened by the late goal but exhilarated with the performance.
Marks:-
Matthews - 8 Excellent. Two or three good saves in the second half. Deserved a clean sheet.
Emmanuel - 6 Much improved. Needs to tighten up a bit defensively but good going forward.
Chicksen - 6 Another good steady game and knows when to take a booking for the team.
Hobbs - 7 Won numerous headers and some good tackles.
Wright - 6 Good and steady. Hope the injury isn’t too bad.
Bridcutt - 9 Again, a dominating midfield display.
Lowe - 7 Much better playing in a more forward role than last year’s negative holding position.
Politic - 7 Good until his legs went. So unlucky with a wonderful shot.
Crawford - 6 A tiny bit anonymous. He has the ability to pass well but somehow the game bypassed him.
Verlinden - 7 Very dangerous – again until he tired. Creates danger when he gets the ball. Needs more experience in order to put a better final ball in and, somehow, needs to develop a little bit of defensive nous as Chicksen got no help from him.
Buckley - 6 Not as good as Tuesday but still a decent performance.
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Post by OohMac on Sept 21, 2019 18:08:39 GMT
Cruel. And 2 home games where we may have been 4 points better off. But what the players can take from these matches could be our survival.
I think we need to split our season in two. From now to Jan we need to keep in it and claw the deficit to 10 points. Then January we go again and fight for survival.
Obviously would like a better striker but not at any costs. If we go down with a good bunch i will look forward to next August.
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Post by Alptrotter on Sept 22, 2019 8:15:36 GMT
Another enjoyable game with an entertaining ebb and flow, in which both teams had periods of dominance. I agree with David that our best part of the game was the first half, when Verlinden really caused problems on the left flank of their defence. Sadly too many times this led to no result, as, of course, we are currently playing without a striker. Bridcutt, as has been noted, is improving with every game and really beginning to lead the team effectively. Lowe looks much better in his slightly advanced role, but Crawford has yet to fully settle. Politic showed flashes of ability, while Buckley was largely ineffectual. Even his assist for the goal was a badly misdirected header.
Defensively we were OK, though Matthews certainly saved us a couple of times. The penalty to my mind looked a touch harsh. Was his arm not down at his side? It looked like handball, but I’m not sure I would have blamed Zouma as roundly as Hill has done ( though he may have been able to study it more carefully than I, of course).
Once again we tired badly, and I do think Hill should plan to use the 14 players at his disposal rather more effectively, at least in these developmental weeks.
All in all, a shame that we couldn’t quite hold on, but the team for sure looks competitive in this league and the games are far more entertaining to watch. For me, Hill’s ability to maintain morale over the next difficult weeks until our full squad is available, is crucial. At the moment, he has that magic touch. I hope it doesn’t desert him.
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Post by andyl on Sept 22, 2019 13:22:53 GMT
I have recently been engaged in conversations and messages with an ardent bwfc fan who takes the view that nothing much has changed tactically and that it's an over-reaction to say it has. He was quite a supporter of Phil Parkinson.
I thought that the Oxford game was markedly different but I think it's fair to acknowledge that yesterday v Sunderland there were also similarities between regimes, for example low possession rates, no strikers; some indifferent passing, some long balls aimed at Buckley who made nothing of them ( I swear he could fall over if asked to walk a straight line). And it was almost a 4-4-1-1?
My general response is that yes, but KH is forced by circumstance rather than choice to have no strikers and we will have a better view when O' Grady, Murphy and Hall are available for selection. I also argue that there are more instances of: defenders playing out of defence; forward passes and running off the ball. This is in part to be explained by players playing in more natural positions, the device of using Lowe further forward and even more by the fact that Bridcutt looks a class above anyone we've had in midfield since Chungy and in some ways as I remarked last match is mor to be compared with Stu Holden in the way he runs off the ball, takes it from the keeper or defenders and invariably angles it forward and then has the energy to support it, risking injury with every tackle.
So, is it a case of the Emperor's new clothes and wishful thinking or are we at the dawn of a new era. We cannot know. But from yesterday there was one passage that to me implied an entirely different level of tactical combat. Early on Politic enjoyed success against the Sunderland left back ( Hume- whom I understand from a Sunderland fan I met on the way home is a midfielder). Noticing this KH whistled ( is his the loudest whistle in professional football?) and directed verlinden to the right and Politic to the left. Politic faded out of it. Verlinden tore Hume to shreds and had we had say Le Fondre in the middle rather than Buckley we would most certainly have scored one or more. At half-time Ross responded by substituting the hapless Hume and in so doing steadied the Sunderland defence on that side.
Memories fade with time bt I have no memory of Phil Parkinson visibly demanding a switch with an authoritarian signal and then gaining fifteen minutes acscendancy and forcing an opposition response. If anything happened at all tactically it occurred after a sideline confab and with great predictability. And there was no whistling or indeed much of a sign that the players were listening at all. More commonly Phil radiated pre-planned substitution strategies. Kieth Hill's seems to be more responsive- he seems to prefer not to make change at all if we are winning unless forced to by injury ( wright) or exhaustion ( Verlinden twice). Of course with more strength on the bench this may vary... My point here is that we saw visible tactical intervention by the manager and so did everyone else and its visibility both attested to it and made more of the team aware of it. And I think that's a difference and who knows may gives us chances in games when we are behind?Ttime will tell
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