Yep, we always want to see the best team every week, but imagine if we didn't rotate at all - even our good lads would be up in arms.
I'm intrigued how we go about the onslaught of games in early Jan.
Probably Kone, Fred straight back in for Exeter, benched at the weekend and fresh for Huddersfield.
Harvie probably IS someone that matches your fitness test - but can he play 4 games in 9 days? Probably wouldn't be best to. But how many changes can you make for a very winnable cup tie v Portsmouth?
Also let's not forget Udoh is a very good front man who can also bang them in.
The player I wouldn't have started today was McCleary - he's not been on fire in his recent substitute appearances. Playing Fred from the start might have been more productive. It would also have been a good game for Sadlier - we've been so spoilt for goals recently that it's easy to forget the brilliant link up play between Harvie and Sadlier before the latter was injured.
It's exactly the right approach from Matt. Had he picked the same side as Boxing Day and we lost you probably would have been bomoaning the fact that we hadn't rotated
When all is said and done, we're still an incredibly position one game off the halfway mark. We need to capitalise on that, and I sense we'll spend quite big in Jan - starting with Morley.
I remember losing my head during and after a 2-2 draw at Gillingham in August 1999. It was the apathy and indifference that led to my exasperation. It feels as if nothing's changed in a quarter-of-a-century. I try but I will never understand the collective sigh and shrug-of-the-shoulders after a performance like today's.
As expressed by the likes of @floyd, it feels a bit brattish to complain about losing after a 19-match unbeaten league run. Very much the ungrateful teenager who has been given the wrong colour iPhone as a Christmas present. However, that performance today was a long way short of the standard those players have set for most of the season so far.
I guess it doesn't really matter how irksome the fans response is, as long as the players, and most importantly the manager, recognise the array of red flags all over the place and act appropriately, calmly and decisively, I don't envy Matt Bloomfield one bit, because he faces a huge task to keep this team in top six over the next couple of months.
As a striker myself (once upon a time), I'd actually say that, as far as finishing goes, that's a relatively easy finish. I'd be pretty annoyed with myself if I missed that one. It's basically a clipped pass into someone's feet, although the "feet" are the size of a goalpost.
It takes 2 to tango. We didn’t play poorly, we were made to play poorly. When you look at teams we have smashed it’s because they gave us space and we tore them up. I don’t care if you are Liverpool or Wycombe if a team closes and harasses you enough you will struggle. Regardless of how committed you are or technically good competent.
It’s up to the coaches to find strategies that can work when we get smothered like today. 4-3-3 is preferred and I’m not in a place to disagree but maybe a change of shape would have helped today.
In the next couple of weeks we will have different options in the form of Vokes and Sadlier available to us and maybe that’s what we need.
Let’s face it today was always going to happen. An amazing bit of history and one to be proud of. Exeter will be the proof I guess
Yep, to my mind being philosophical about taking today’s result on the chin is a different planet from “not caring” about the result - but it has to be taken in the wider context of the season.
Mr Catchpole’s excellent interview with the manager alludes to negative reaction on social media and whether that “drives him on” (MB) - I can’t bear to scan Twitter or Facebook for what he may be referring to, but anyone wetting the bed after this result needs a good hard slap.
I think it's because most people realise that losing one game in 20 and accumulating 47 points in those games is worthy of praise, not a tantrum
You're entitled to react as you like. You are not entitled to label the way others choose to react as apathetic.
I'm proud of what these players and this manager has achieved so far this season. That's the message I'd like them to hear, not collective bed-wetting from fans that have become entitled
There are far too many variables with the January transfer window. We could lose Caleb Taylor, Joe Low, Aaron Morley and Richard Kone. Ask me again on February 4.
Nah, I don't agree. Today wasn't always going to happen, unless we allowed it. We've dictated the play in so many games this season. We're responsible for that as a team, just as we allow the opponent to do it, as we did today.
I would argue that Nathan Jones is the first manager to do a job on us. He found a way to stop us playing and at the same time his attack was a real handful.
Comments
Yep, we always want to see the best team every week, but imagine if we didn't rotate at all - even our good lads would be up in arms.
I'm intrigued how we go about the onslaught of games in early Jan.
Probably Kone, Fred straight back in for Exeter, benched at the weekend and fresh for Huddersfield.
Harvie probably IS someone that matches your fitness test - but can he play 4 games in 9 days? Probably wouldn't be best to. But how many changes can you make for a very winnable cup tie v Portsmouth?
Worry about Wednesday first I dare say!
Is it though? For a striker? An out and out striker??
Yes kone gets back when needed to.... but still a striker should be up top waiting to receive a decent pass to attack the goal.
We have so many across our front line who can score and get back. Ie our wingers.. we only play one striker currently
It was definitely crazy positioning from Rav. Low gets back to either block the shot or ensure the striker is hitting it off balance.
Still might have gone in. But it's a much tougher chance.
Rav was far enough out of position that we called it at the time before the shot was taken. Watching the replay just confirms.
Bakinson's header on the first was also poor. Downwards and right toward their player.
Also let's not forget Udoh is a very good front man who can also bang them in.
The player I wouldn't have started today was McCleary - he's not been on fire in his recent substitute appearances. Playing Fred from the start might have been more productive. It would also have been a good game for Sadlier - we've been so spoilt for goals recently that it's easy to forget the brilliant link up play between Harvie and Sadlier before the latter was injured.
It's exactly the right approach from Matt. Had he picked the same side as Boxing Day and we lost you probably would have been bomoaning the fact that we hadn't rotated
When all is said and done, we're still an incredibly position one game off the halfway mark. We need to capitalise on that, and I sense we'll spend quite big in Jan - starting with Morley.
This sounds exciting.
I sincerely hope you are right 👍.
Yep, more than likely @eric_plant 🤣
As crazy as Rav's positioning was, that's not an easy finish.
Nothing more than a hunch, mind you
Don't spoil it.
(Lights pipe)
Aston Villa won the league in the 1980/81 season with just 14 players who between them played 42 games.
No PlayStation 5s and TikToks in those days. Just men who got the job done.
And who were probably doped off their tits(Drops pipe in lap. Sets fire to himself)
Well yes, there were probably players in the 1930s playing eleventy games a week too.
The pace has ever so slightly increased. And today's players might still be walking at 50.
I remember losing my head during and after a 2-2 draw at Gillingham in August 1999. It was the apathy and indifference that led to my exasperation. It feels as if nothing's changed in a quarter-of-a-century. I try but I will never understand the collective sigh and shrug-of-the-shoulders after a performance like today's.
As expressed by the likes of @floyd, it feels a bit brattish to complain about losing after a 19-match unbeaten league run. Very much the ungrateful teenager who has been given the wrong colour iPhone as a Christmas present. However, that performance today was a long way short of the standard those players have set for most of the season so far.
I guess it doesn't really matter how irksome the fans response is, as long as the players, and most importantly the manager, recognise the array of red flags all over the place and act appropriately, calmly and decisively, I don't envy Matt Bloomfield one bit, because he faces a huge task to keep this team in top six over the next couple of months.
As a striker myself (once upon a time), I'd actually say that, as far as finishing goes, that's a relatively easy finish. I'd be pretty annoyed with myself if I missed that one. It's basically a clipped pass into someone's feet, although the "feet" are the size of a goalpost.
Where do you think we'll finish @glasshalfempty ?
And more importantly, what is the correct response to an underwhelming performance and result like today?
All storming the training ground tomorrow demanding answers?
With bedsheets
I believe Mr GFE is a founder member of the infamous Banner Gang, so does have form for producing little sheets with protests on.
The level of protest that 'third with a game in hand' deserves.
It takes 2 to tango. We didn’t play poorly, we were made to play poorly. When you look at teams we have smashed it’s because they gave us space and we tore them up. I don’t care if you are Liverpool or Wycombe if a team closes and harasses you enough you will struggle. Regardless of how committed you are or technically good competent.
It’s up to the coaches to find strategies that can work when we get smothered like today. 4-3-3 is preferred and I’m not in a place to disagree but maybe a change of shape would have helped today.
In the next couple of weeks we will have different options in the form of Vokes and Sadlier available to us and maybe that’s what we need.
Let’s face it today was always going to happen. An amazing bit of history and one to be proud of. Exeter will be the proof I guess
Yep, to my mind being philosophical about taking today’s result on the chin is a different planet from “not caring” about the result - but it has to be taken in the wider context of the season.
Mr Catchpole’s excellent interview with the manager alludes to negative reaction on social media and whether that “drives him on” (MB) - I can’t bear to scan Twitter or Facebook for what he may be referring to, but anyone wetting the bed after this result needs a good hard slap.
https://x.com/wwfcofficial/status/1873482076147667226?s=46
Wet bed sheets
I think it's because most people realise that losing one game in 20 and accumulating 47 points in those games is worthy of praise, not a tantrum
You're entitled to react as you like. You are not entitled to label the way others choose to react as apathetic.
I'm proud of what these players and this manager has achieved so far this season. That's the message I'd like them to hear, not collective bed-wetting from fans that have become entitled
There are far too many variables with the January transfer window. We could lose Caleb Taylor, Joe Low, Aaron Morley and Richard Kone. Ask me again on February 4.
He's referring to the reaction on Twitter following our defeat at Exeter City on Boxing Day 2023.
Nah, I don't agree. Today wasn't always going to happen, unless we allowed it. We've dictated the play in so many games this season. We're responsible for that as a team, just as we allow the opponent to do it, as we did today.
I would argue that Nathan Jones is the first manager to do a job on us. He found a way to stop us playing and at the same time his attack was a real handful.