Possible but if he's good enough he's old enough. Dan Gore might be better though as he can slot into CM which needs more urgent cover and United want him to get a good loan after his last one ended with a horror injury in the first game. They're two players United are desperate to loan out and who have been among their better U21 performers. The other is James Scanlon but as an attacking mid/winger he's not in a position that Wycombe need right now.
I didn’t watch or listen to the game today but one thing I am almost certain of is that Hartridge hasn’t played his last game for us - Blooms isn’t that type of manager. Putting things into perspective across the entire season, we are 2nd with 3 defeats in 24 games. We are over half way there. With Morley and Taylor, our form has been shaky recently (by our standards this season) and yet we continued to pick up points, and today without them was no different.
We have 22 games remaining and even if we drew the lot, we are still there or there about for a play-off spot. And let’s be honest, we are unlikely to not strengthen this window, so there’s a good chance we will win more of our remaining games than we lose or draw.
Feels like this season is finely poised, could go either way. I’m reminded of a quote.
“There was once a dream that was promotion, you could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish. It was so fragile and I fear that it will not survive the winter.”
A measured and accurate assessment in my opinion. Despite dropping a few points in the last month we are still in a great position. I was as gutted as anyone about Blackpool’s fortunate equaliser but let’s not forget that in the last couple of weeks they have drawn away to both Birmingham and Wrexham and we came closer to beating them than either of our closest rivals. Agree with the criticism of a referee who was annoyingly inconsistent in his use of yellow cards.
Good post, though I think Blooms does have a ruthless streak - see Stryjek, Max, who lost his job after a harsh red card.
I agree about Hartridge though, especially while we are low on bodies. I would be fine with him playing against Portsmouth in the cup, for starters. I will say (as I think someone else said) I would prefer him primarily as a backup to Harvie than backup to whichever new CB we get in, though.
I read on the Exeter forum a while back that Hartridge could only play as the left CB in a back three. Obviously that is their opinion, but maybe the way we set up is not his forte.
"It was a timing error [for the tackle], and I will not heap any blame on Al because he has been a diamond of a boy since he has come in and he has given us everything he has got."
Hartridge is no Taylor. Nor is Taf or Skurra. From what I saw Hartidge did OK apart from his two bookable challenges. Which probably cost us 2 points. I would have started Skurra today, I think he works better with Low but hey ho.
I thought the three subs up front worked pretty well and I was disappointed we went for running down the clock with too many minutes left, even though we did it well for a two to three minute spell. It shifted the mindset it all being over and it cost us because we couldn’t do it for six minutes. No-one ever does.
Fred is a disappointment at present and GMac to me, is lest consistently excellent than he used to be.
I want another centre back who can play the Bloomball way and if we don’t get Sadlier back soon, wide player. Be nice to have Jasper back soon.
Humpreys is a loss playing the Morley role. Much as I like Josh up front, we need Humphreys forward so I think Josh has to go backwards. Not sure if Leahy or Bakinson is quite the answer?
@frequentstander you seem very angry. I thought Hartridge did okay...you didn't. That's allowed. Don't remember anyone calling you subhuman for disagreeing.
Wouldn't say Tuesday is a must win. Possibly for Huddersfield, but not for us. I'd happily take a draw, as that would keep a nice gap between us. A win would be even better of course!
To turn that frown upside down I only think four very realistic things need to happen:
Sadlier comes back at the same level, or thereabouts.
Joe Low stays
We sign a decent CB to compliment Joe.
We sign a decent midfielder.
Even if Joe Low goes, we could still sign two CBs - we are linked with four, after all, so I am wondering if there could even be a 'Low only goes if we get the next Danish wunderkid' thing going on.
Note: I have been too lazy to look up which of the four CBs are left-footed or right-footed.
Vokes may be the best hold up player we have up front and that would be very useful right now. He would have been a useful sub on today up front to take pressure off the boys when we went down to ten men.
Comments
If it's any consolation* Coventry were winning in the 91st minute v Norwich today and lost.
* - it's not.
Possible but if he's good enough he's old enough. Dan Gore might be better though as he can slot into CM which needs more urgent cover and United want him to get a good loan after his last one ended with a horror injury in the first game. They're two players United are desperate to loan out and who have been among their better U21 performers. The other is James Scanlon but as an attacking mid/winger he's not in a position that Wycombe need right now.
I didn’t watch or listen to the game today but one thing I am almost certain of is that Hartridge hasn’t played his last game for us - Blooms isn’t that type of manager. Putting things into perspective across the entire season, we are 2nd with 3 defeats in 24 games. We are over half way there. With Morley and Taylor, our form has been shaky recently (by our standards this season) and yet we continued to pick up points, and today without them was no different.
We have 22 games remaining and even if we drew the lot, we are still there or there about for a play-off spot. And let’s be honest, we are unlikely to not strengthen this window, so there’s a good chance we will win more of our remaining games than we lose or draw.
Feels like this season is finely poised, could go either way. I’m reminded of a quote.
“There was once a dream that was promotion, you could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish. It was so fragile and I fear that it will not survive the winter.”
Biggus Dickus
A measured and accurate assessment in my opinion. Despite dropping a few points in the last month we are still in a great position. I was as gutted as anyone about Blackpool’s fortunate equaliser but let’s not forget that in the last couple of weeks they have drawn away to both Birmingham and Wrexham and we came closer to beating them than either of our closest rivals. Agree with the criticism of a referee who was annoyingly inconsistent in his use of yellow cards.
Good post, though I think Blooms does have a ruthless streak - see Stryjek, Max, who lost his job after a harsh red card.
I agree about Hartridge though, especially while we are low on bodies. I would be fine with him playing against Portsmouth in the cup, for starters. I will say (as I think someone else said) I would prefer him primarily as a backup to Harvie than backup to whichever new CB we get in, though.
I read on the Exeter forum a while back that Hartridge could only play as the left CB in a back three. Obviously that is their opinion, but maybe the way we set up is not his forte.
I’m fairly sure Blackpool lost at Wrexham on Boxing Day.
Blooms on the sending off:
"It was a timing error [for the tackle], and I will not heap any blame on Al because he has been a diamond of a boy since he has come in and he has given us everything he has got."
Everything he's got = not enough for a team at the top of the league.
Also, Kone four off 20 goals for the season in all comps - no Wycombe player has managed that since Beavon (Bayo closest with 18 in 17/18)
They did... but don't let a good story get in the way of truth
Apologies, I forgot about the ridiculous late penalty Wrexham got in that game. My mistake.
Hartridge is no Taylor. Nor is Taf or Skurra. From what I saw Hartidge did OK apart from his two bookable challenges. Which probably cost us 2 points. I would have started Skurra today, I think he works better with Low but hey ho.
I thought the three subs up front worked pretty well and I was disappointed we went for running down the clock with too many minutes left, even though we did it well for a two to three minute spell. It shifted the mindset it all being over and it cost us because we couldn’t do it for six minutes. No-one ever does.
Fred is a disappointment at present and GMac to me, is lest consistently excellent than he used to be.
I want another centre back who can play the Bloomball way and if we don’t get Sadlier back soon, wide player. Be nice to have Jasper back soon.
Humpreys is a loss playing the Morley role. Much as I like Josh up front, we need Humphreys forward so I think Josh has to go backwards. Not sure if Leahy or Bakinson is quite the answer?
Burst pipe I believe … poss due to the coolest game of the season..
Not the coolest ref though..
"Cool" is an interesting word for a freezing cold day!
wycombe fans reaction to Hartridge slightly mistiming a tackle: absolutely embarrassing
hashtag we’re second
Typo my friend
@frequentstander you seem very angry. I thought Hartridge did okay...you didn't. That's allowed. Don't remember anyone calling you subhuman for disagreeing.
Imagine if we had lost.
We didn't create much after the goal and neither did they even with 11 men.
I agree Humphries should have stayed on but other than that agreed with the subs especially as it seems Tuesday is now a must win.
Wouldn't say Tuesday is a must win. Possibly for Huddersfield, but not for us. I'd happily take a draw, as that would keep a nice gap between us. A win would be even better of course!
Must win was a bit tongue in cheek on my part...as we seem to have lost the draw today. 😉
If, as somebody said earlier, drawing all our remaining games will see us in the playoffs then Huddersfield is a 'must draw'
Two tackles?
@oilysailor ”Wycombe fans are vermin”
To turn that frown upside down I only think four very realistic things need to happen:
Even if Joe Low goes, we could still sign two CBs - we are linked with four, after all, so I am wondering if there could even be a 'Low only goes if we get the next Danish wunderkid' thing going on.
Note: I have been too lazy to look up which of the four CBs are left-footed or right-footed.
I'm sure Joe will stay if we bring someone in to pay him compliments 😉
He's not been mentioned but I really think Vokes will give us a boost when he comes back. Offers something completely different.
Vokes may be the best hold up player we have up front and that would be very useful right now. He would have been a useful sub on today up front to take pressure off the boys when we went down to ten men.
Big game this one.
Huddersfield haven't lost a league game in over three months - a 1-0 defeat at Birmingham on 1st October. Since then they've won 9 and drawn 5.
They look more of a threat than Wrexham and putting an end to their run would be a fantastic result - especially without Morley & Taylor.
Unbearably pompous scenes.