Thank goodness for someone who sees the bigger picture. Despite a loss of form and confidence we are still in a great position, one that no one expected before the season began. Whatever happens now this will still go down as one of the best seasons in the club’s history. Waving the white flag of surrender with ten games to go is just ridiculous.
But clearly when you've thrown the game away, are losing to massive rival and there's about 2mins left with no sign of getting back into it, not many are going to be ferociously applauding.
I don't think 6 weeks is enough time for that type of coaching. Humphreys was marked heavily today, and we simply never looked to really pass to him. Fred had a better game today, but we need to see more improvement.
The amount and quality of testaments Dodds has had from players he's worked with, is enough for me to believe he can do that side of things, and I think with a full summer, he can really get stuck in.
Whether he can do the other stuff that goes into managing a team on the pitch, is where I'm less convinced so far.
I didn’t see any of yesterday’s game so this is more of a passing observation.
We were at our best (and it was a brilliant best) under MB with Morley pulling the strings (stating the bleedin’ obvious I know).
It should also be noted that last season we were at our best (a pretty decent best) under MB with Potts pulling the strings (remember that awful 17-game run came when he was injured).
To function as a truly effective team we need that role to be filled by someone who understands what is needed - and I feel in Simons there are glimpses that he may be that player.
So I’m not throwing the towel in for this season yet.
It may be apposite to look at what happened to a team as individually talented and effective as Man City when they lost their midfielder lynchpin earlier this season before lumping ALL the blame on the new head coach and the datameister…
Time for change now and with a game against Rotherham on Tuesday, now is the time. 4 points from our last 4 games means others need to get their chance. So, assuming Kone will be well enough to start on Tuesday, I would go with this side in a total refresh;-
Ravazolli
Jasper, Bradley, Taylor, Leahy.
Scowen, Simons.
Humphreys
Kodua, Kone, Berry.
Franco deserves his place back in the side as Norris’s distribution is very poor indeed.
Pattenden for Grimmer is simply to give Jack a rest.
Bradley for Low is down to the fact that I believe Joe Low has been poor in our last two games and Bradley deserves his chance.
Leahy to left back for Reach as I think Leahy is slightly better in that position.
Simons coming back in is a no brainer.
Up front, Dan has battled hard over the past four / five games but a clean sweep is needed and although I didn’t think he lit up Adams Park when he came on yesterday, I would start Berry in place of Fred who has suffered a massive dip in form of late. Kone (if fit), would replace Dan and then finally Gideon Kodua for McCleary. McCleary looks tired.
I would not let Magnus anywhere near the bench either. Magnus looked like a Wycombe Sunday Combination player when he came on yesterday, very poor.
Pretty hard on some I know but we really haven’t done ourselves any justice and our poor run of results means something needs to be done now.
Finally, although I think he needs more time, Mike Dodds worries me.
I thought we played well first half with Scowen and Humphreys controlling the game, just lacking that key move/end product.
Second half agree we struggled a bit more, but surprised at the level of negativity.
Even with getting ready for the restart - thought we looked perfectly professional eg Leahy practising corners with Bradley, may have been the reason we almost scored from the restart.
Echo all the comments on the way all our staff reacted to the medical emergency. Really impressed with the response. Just hope the individual is ok.
Hoping the players can pick themselves up for Tuesday and illness is not going to spread around the camp ahead of that game.
Win that one and would put us right back in there before our next game (especially with Wrexham & Stockport playing each other Saturday).
Trying to block out the fact our run in keeps looking more and more like Plymouth’s the season we made the playoffs at their expense!!
I agree with all that wwfc_since_1993 says. All 11 who started for us yesterday showed creditable skill, energy and commitment. We exploited the space given to us by Wrexham playing deep. Losing Richard Kone on the morning of the game was tough for everyone, but there was nothing resigned, lethargic or predictable about what we tried. Fred, GMac and Dan looked as up for the challenge as for any game and were well served by all behind them. A shame only that an otherwise decent enough ref allowed Wrexham the freedom to spoil any green shoots of moves by cynical blocks and late challenges, with only one belated yellow well into the half. We forced many rushed poor passes by them. Rodriguez was prevented from imposing any real threat, which blunted any threat Smith could make. Biggest disappointment for me was our failure to finish promising half-chances or set pieces, the delivery of most of which were much better than of late. We are not blessed with having impact subs as threatening as Steven Fletcher late on, although Sam Vokes teased with a succession of successful aerial challenges late on. Their goal was well taken and we would be rightly lauding it had GMac volleyed in a header on from Sam. Let's all be a bit more forgiving and supportive of efforts to get back and keep our second place spot on Tuesday. No more games v Brum or Wrexham. If we cannot beat the other pretenders for promotion the only shame will be that we did not do our utmost on and off the pitch to make it happen.
I'm sorry, but we are still very well drilled. We've conceded 6 goals in 11 games. And every single one has been either a wonder goal from outside the box, a penalty, or a deflection like yesterday.
It's in attack where we're struggling (as we were before Dodds), and we've been without Kone for almost every game since Dodds joined. Likewise, we've only been able to play Simons (the Morley replacement) in about two of those games because of the red card.
A few unfortunate things have come together at unfortunate times, just as Dodds took over.
Excellent summary and noticeable that the more balanced posts come after the initial frustration at the result has allowed people to take a calmer view and look at the bigger picture.
Did we play better than Wrexham? Yes.
Did we create more goal scoring chances? Yes.
Did their keeper make more saves than ours? Yes.
Did the referee’s lenient approach to their robust tackling allow them to stifle our more creative players? Yes.
Are we still in a good position to claim second place with ten games to play? Yes.
Would any realistic Wycombe fan have taken this scenario before the season started? Yes.
If we win on tuesday and we are back to square one , no game on Saturday and wrexham have stockport at home draw or lose and the pressure is back on them . Maybe the fact that we are not playing next sat could be a good thing. I think everyone is just frustrated we know we are better than Wrexham but you know we were very similar under Gaz so can we criticise that effective just not pretty.
We still need a vast improvement in our form to hold off Charlton, regardless of whether we are "better" than Wrexham or not.
Since the start of Jan we have picked up 18 points from 13 games, scoring just 12 goals. In that same time Charlton have picked up 33 points from 15 games with 22 goals.
Defensively we still look very solid, but our attacking output has fallen through the floor.
Kone aside, we seemed to have stopped attacking with conviction. Our wingers run at defenders and then stop, turn around or lose the ball with ease. Our passes seem less slick, our shots are soft (see Berry yesterday and Low's header) rather than putting our foot through it. That doesn't seem to be coaching to me but a lack of confidence.
We might finish above Wrexham (I don't think we will) but I can't see a world where we finish above Charlton now.
Still, a huge game on Tuesday and I like many others will be there until the end supporting the boys. For me, it's more out of loyalty and love for the club now than genuine belief that we'll do it which is a real shame, because I think we've got enough in the building to get promoted but have fumbled things one too many times.
Sitting in the FA at the away end, it was a sobering experience to try not to look as the magnificent care team battled to save the life of the affected supporter. So pleased to learn that he made it to hospital alive.
Honestly can’t say I was in the mood for the last 15 minutes given the circumstances. Best wishes to the guy involved and his friends and family.
Should have added best wishes and thanks to to those responders. I am sure they will be feeling emotional today as they process what happened. I hope you are all proud of how you responded. Thanks to all of you.
I like the look of your suggested lineup but I wouldn’t drop Adam Reach. He and Leahy (who has been looking more assured lately) have a good understanding down that left hand side and we know from his showreel that Reach is capable of scoring worldies from distance. Positionally they are interchangeable as well. So I wouldn’t start with James Berry.
I would definitely start with Gideon Kodua wide right and if Kone is not fully recovered from illness Dan Udoh (or Sam Vokes) would be the obvious candidates to replace him.
The one bit I just cannot fathom is why when Morley was such a key part of our success we paid out about £1.5m for the two Danish players, paid a fee for Berry, paid a fee for Lowry.
When really we could have lumped all those payments together and paid Bolton to sign Morley permanently. Even at the top end of rumoured valuations, the fees we’ve paid for all those other players would have covered it.
What a waste of money, we now have a massive squad but not a strengthened one. None of those other players have improved us in any way.
I suspect all 4 were signed with an eye to next season, especially the 2 Danes. We have seen cameos from Lowry & Berry that excited me as to their potential.
The two Danes are 28 and 26 years old respectively. Players who are in the prime years of their career. If they were much younger then I'd buy this theory that they were bought with next season in mind, but they aren't.
If they aren't good enough for the team or squad by this point then it's already looking like an embarrassing waste of money.
Absolute madness making all those defensive changes. If anything yesterday showed our strength was in defence and going forward was the problem - as it has been now for a few months.
Udoh was the one bright spark of the front three and never gave up. Just needed more support around him and/or that energy used to help Kone.
Simon’s in for Leahy and Gmac & Fred dropped for Kone and either Bez or Gids as I don’t think Berry is quite ready and confident enough for a start yet. One of his first moves when he came on resulted is giving the ball away on a promising position which resulted in a counter attack and, perhaps harshly, but from the angle I was at should have scored when the ball came across the box to him free ish at the far post
Regarding Westegaard, if he needs minutes to get sharpness and fitness I really don’t get throwing him on for 5 or 6 minutes. He needs 30 mins at least or it’s going to along time before he is first team ready.
Thought he was a bit unlucky to be made to look foolish when he put one of those challenges when the ball disappears but it’s actually at his feet. Had it fallen a couple yards away from where it did he may well been 1 on 1 with the keeper with a chance to make headlines.
if you’re paying out money for players they need to make an immediate impact. Humphrey’s, Morley, Taylor, Bradley, Simons and probably a few others you knew after 10 minutes they were good signings.
We’re either of the Danes a direct replacements for Morley?
The way I see it, the club were in a position and wanted to strengthen in several positions. They could have spent all that money(or more depending on how much Bolton wanted) on Morley or identify Simon’s who some have said looked every bit as good if not potentially better than Morley, on a loan deal and spend that money elsewhere.
It could still turn out to be a masterstroke to have Simon’s (+2 others) over Morley, although that Red card and 3 games missed will make that difficult (but wasnt something that could have been predicted as happening mid transfer window)
It’s glaringly obvious that everyone on the Gasroom is capable of making better decisions than our beleaguered coaching staff when it comes to team selection, substitutions and tactics but are they listening? I have me doubts.
Tbf, they havnt really been given much of a chance to show if they can improve us, 5 or 10 minutes here or there isnt really fair on them is it ? Everyone moaning they aren't good enough, must be great for their morale when not even given a proper go.
Comments
Thank goodness for someone who sees the bigger picture. Despite a loss of form and confidence we are still in a great position, one that no one expected before the season began. Whatever happens now this will still go down as one of the best seasons in the club’s history. Waving the white flag of surrender with ten games to go is just ridiculous.
There was a gentle smattering of applause.
But clearly when you've thrown the game away, are losing to massive rival and there's about 2mins left with no sign of getting back into it, not many are going to be ferociously applauding.
I don't think 6 weeks is enough time for that type of coaching. Humphreys was marked heavily today, and we simply never looked to really pass to him. Fred had a better game today, but we need to see more improvement.
The amount and quality of testaments Dodds has had from players he's worked with, is enough for me to believe he can do that side of things, and I think with a full summer, he can really get stuck in.
Whether he can do the other stuff that goes into managing a team on the pitch, is where I'm less convinced so far.
I didn’t see any of yesterday’s game so this is more of a passing observation.
We were at our best (and it was a brilliant best) under MB with Morley pulling the strings (stating the bleedin’ obvious I know).
It should also be noted that last season we were at our best (a pretty decent best) under MB with Potts pulling the strings (remember that awful 17-game run came when he was injured).
To function as a truly effective team we need that role to be filled by someone who understands what is needed - and I feel in Simons there are glimpses that he may be that player.
So I’m not throwing the towel in for this season yet.
It may be apposite to look at what happened to a team as individually talented and effective as Man City when they lost their midfielder lynchpin earlier this season before lumping ALL the blame on the new head coach and the datameister…
Time for change now and with a game against Rotherham on Tuesday, now is the time. 4 points from our last 4 games means others need to get their chance. So, assuming Kone will be well enough to start on Tuesday, I would go with this side in a total refresh;-
Ravazolli
Jasper, Bradley, Taylor, Leahy.
Scowen, Simons.
Humphreys
Kodua, Kone, Berry.
Franco deserves his place back in the side as Norris’s distribution is very poor indeed.
Pattenden for Grimmer is simply to give Jack a rest.
Bradley for Low is down to the fact that I believe Joe Low has been poor in our last two games and Bradley deserves his chance.
Leahy to left back for Reach as I think Leahy is slightly better in that position.
Simons coming back in is a no brainer.
Up front, Dan has battled hard over the past four / five games but a clean sweep is needed and although I didn’t think he lit up Adams Park when he came on yesterday, I would start Berry in place of Fred who has suffered a massive dip in form of late. Kone (if fit), would replace Dan and then finally Gideon Kodua for McCleary. McCleary looks tired.
I would not let Magnus anywhere near the bench either. Magnus looked like a Wycombe Sunday Combination player when he came on yesterday, very poor.
Pretty hard on some I know but we really haven’t done ourselves any justice and our poor run of results means something needs to be done now.
Finally, although I think he needs more time, Mike Dodds worries me.
No blame on the new head coach for the lack of Morley.
Reach has been very good at left back, hasn’t he?
Actually an astute point on my comment…
I thought we played well first half with Scowen and Humphreys controlling the game, just lacking that key move/end product.
Second half agree we struggled a bit more, but surprised at the level of negativity.
Even with getting ready for the restart - thought we looked perfectly professional eg Leahy practising corners with Bradley, may have been the reason we almost scored from the restart.
Echo all the comments on the way all our staff reacted to the medical emergency. Really impressed with the response. Just hope the individual is ok.
Hoping the players can pick themselves up for Tuesday and illness is not going to spread around the camp ahead of that game.
Win that one and would put us right back in there before our next game (especially with Wrexham & Stockport playing each other Saturday).
Trying to block out the fact our run in keeps looking more and more like Plymouth’s the season we made the playoffs at their expense!!
I agree with all that wwfc_since_1993 says. All 11 who started for us yesterday showed creditable skill, energy and commitment. We exploited the space given to us by Wrexham playing deep. Losing Richard Kone on the morning of the game was tough for everyone, but there was nothing resigned, lethargic or predictable about what we tried. Fred, GMac and Dan looked as up for the challenge as for any game and were well served by all behind them. A shame only that an otherwise decent enough ref allowed Wrexham the freedom to spoil any green shoots of moves by cynical blocks and late challenges, with only one belated yellow well into the half. We forced many rushed poor passes by them. Rodriguez was prevented from imposing any real threat, which blunted any threat Smith could make. Biggest disappointment for me was our failure to finish promising half-chances or set pieces, the delivery of most of which were much better than of late. We are not blessed with having impact subs as threatening as Steven Fletcher late on, although Sam Vokes teased with a succession of successful aerial challenges late on. Their goal was well taken and we would be rightly lauding it had GMac volleyed in a header on from Sam. Let's all be a bit more forgiving and supportive of efforts to get back and keep our second place spot on Tuesday. No more games v Brum or Wrexham. If we cannot beat the other pretenders for promotion the only shame will be that we did not do our utmost on and off the pitch to make it happen.
I'm sorry, but we are still very well drilled. We've conceded 6 goals in 11 games. And every single one has been either a wonder goal from outside the box, a penalty, or a deflection like yesterday.
It's in attack where we're struggling (as we were before Dodds), and we've been without Kone for almost every game since Dodds joined. Likewise, we've only been able to play Simons (the Morley replacement) in about two of those games because of the red card.
A few unfortunate things have come together at unfortunate times, just as Dodds took over.
Excellent summary and noticeable that the more balanced posts come after the initial frustration at the result has allowed people to take a calmer view and look at the bigger picture.
Did we play better than Wrexham? Yes.
Did we create more goal scoring chances? Yes.
Did their keeper make more saves than ours? Yes.
Did the referee’s lenient approach to their robust tackling allow them to stifle our more creative players? Yes.
Are we still in a good position to claim second place with ten games to play? Yes.
Would any realistic Wycombe fan have taken this scenario before the season started? Yes.
Believe.
If we win on tuesday and we are back to square one , no game on Saturday and wrexham have stockport at home draw or lose and the pressure is back on them . Maybe the fact that we are not playing next sat could be a good thing. I think everyone is just frustrated we know we are better than Wrexham but you know we were very similar under Gaz so can we criticise that effective just not pretty.
We still need a vast improvement in our form to hold off Charlton, regardless of whether we are "better" than Wrexham or not.
Since the start of Jan we have picked up 18 points from 13 games, scoring just 12 goals. In that same time Charlton have picked up 33 points from 15 games with 22 goals.
Defensively we still look very solid, but our attacking output has fallen through the floor.
Kone aside, we seemed to have stopped attacking with conviction. Our wingers run at defenders and then stop, turn around or lose the ball with ease. Our passes seem less slick, our shots are soft (see Berry yesterday and Low's header) rather than putting our foot through it. That doesn't seem to be coaching to me but a lack of confidence.
We might finish above Wrexham (I don't think we will) but I can't see a world where we finish above Charlton now.
Still, a huge game on Tuesday and I like many others will be there until the end supporting the boys. For me, it's more out of loyalty and love for the club now than genuine belief that we'll do it which is a real shame, because I think we've got enough in the building to get promoted but have fumbled things one too many times.
Sitting in the FA at the away end, it was a sobering experience to try not to look as the magnificent care team battled to save the life of the affected supporter. So pleased to learn that he made it to hospital alive.
Honestly can’t say I was in the mood for the last 15 minutes given the circumstances. Best wishes to the guy involved and his friends and family.
Should have added best wishes and thanks to to those responders. I am sure they will be feeling emotional today as they process what happened. I hope you are all proud of how you responded. Thanks to all of you.
Fred was very much a Bloomfield signing. Bloomfield really fought for this one as Fred didn’t meet the data requirements.
I like the look of your suggested lineup but I wouldn’t drop Adam Reach. He and Leahy (who has been looking more assured lately) have a good understanding down that left hand side and we know from his showreel that Reach is capable of scoring worldies from distance. Positionally they are interchangeable as well. So I wouldn’t start with James Berry.
I would definitely start with Gideon Kodua wide right and if Kone is not fully recovered from illness Dan Udoh (or Sam Vokes) would be the obvious candidates to replace him.
I’m really looking forward to Tuesday.
The good news is Simons is back. I’m expecting him to walk straight into the team.
Of course.
The one bit I just cannot fathom is why when Morley was such a key part of our success we paid out about £1.5m for the two Danish players, paid a fee for Berry, paid a fee for Lowry.
When really we could have lumped all those payments together and paid Bolton to sign Morley permanently. Even at the top end of rumoured valuations, the fees we’ve paid for all those other players would have covered it.
What a waste of money, we now have a massive squad but not a strengthened one. None of those other players have improved us in any way.
Not so far, but have given us depth.
I suspect all 4 were signed with an eye to next season, especially the 2 Danes. We have seen cameos from Lowry & Berry that excited me as to their potential.
The two Danes are 28 and 26 years old respectively. Players who are in the prime years of their career. If they were much younger then I'd buy this theory that they were bought with next season in mind, but they aren't.
If they aren't good enough for the team or squad by this point then it's already looking like an embarrassing waste of money.
Absolute madness making all those defensive changes. If anything yesterday showed our strength was in defence and going forward was the problem - as it has been now for a few months.
Udoh was the one bright spark of the front three and never gave up. Just needed more support around him and/or that energy used to help Kone.
Simon’s in for Leahy and Gmac & Fred dropped for Kone and either Bez or Gids as I don’t think Berry is quite ready and confident enough for a start yet. One of his first moves when he came on resulted is giving the ball away on a promising position which resulted in a counter attack and, perhaps harshly, but from the angle I was at should have scored when the ball came across the box to him free ish at the far post
Regarding Westegaard, if he needs minutes to get sharpness and fitness I really don’t get throwing him on for 5 or 6 minutes. He needs 30 mins at least or it’s going to along time before he is first team ready.
Thought he was a bit unlucky to be made to look foolish when he put one of those challenges when the ball disappears but it’s actually at his feet. Had it fallen a couple yards away from where it did he may well been 1 on 1 with the keeper with a chance to make headlines.
Absolutely spot on.
if you’re paying out money for players they need to make an immediate impact. Humphrey’s, Morley, Taylor, Bradley, Simons and probably a few others you knew after 10 minutes they were good signings.
Yep that was outrageous bad luck.
If he clocked the ball was there and took control, he had a great chance to run in with it.
Though to be fair we've seen so little of him it's hard to tell what speed or composure he has yet.
We’re either of the Danes a direct replacements for Morley?
The way I see it, the club were in a position and wanted to strengthen in several positions. They could have spent all that money(or more depending on how much Bolton wanted) on Morley or identify Simon’s who some have said looked every bit as good if not potentially better than Morley, on a loan deal and spend that money elsewhere.
It could still turn out to be a masterstroke to have Simon’s (+2 others) over Morley, although that Red card and 3 games missed will make that difficult (but wasnt something that could have been predicted as happening mid transfer window)
I am convinced they were bought on the recommendation of that Claus chap that was rumoured to be our new manager.
It’s glaringly obvious that everyone on the Gasroom is capable of making better decisions than our beleaguered coaching staff when it comes to team selection, substitutions and tactics but are they listening? I have me doubts.
Tbf, they havnt really been given much of a chance to show if they can improve us, 5 or 10 minutes here or there isnt really fair on them is it ? Everyone moaning they aren't good enough, must be great for their morale when not even given a proper go.