In isolation if I was to look at the table and look at see the result on teletext I wouldn't disagree with you. But that performance was horrid. Predictable. Ponderous. Error strewn. Body language wrong. Organisationally confused. Tactically messy.
At 6:45 I could have called the tactics. Goal kick. Short pass. Short pass. PANIC - LUMP IT 40 YARDS. Lose ball. I am confident the players saw it too. You can't play through the thirds if one of the thirds doesn't exist.
Might be an unpopular comment on here as i never really see any negativity towards him, but seriously what does Luke Leahy offer this team? his set plays are awful, rarely beats the first man. He is so flat on the ball in midfield and gets dispossessed rather easily. His passing is average at best, and that's at a push. Whenever he seems to find himself at left back or in the middle of a 3 its aways hopeless aims down the line to no one. I Appreciate that may not be his natural position but my main issue is even in his natural position he is a below par player, so that's not an excuse. What more does Butcher have to do to get a chance? he was a start signing last January, and if Bakinson and Leahy are ahead of you then surely he is nocking on the door wanting out, which would be a real shame.
Have to say I do find it amusing reading all the conspiracy posts about Bloomfield not getting on with Rice and not having any say on transfers. All without a shred of evidence apart from perhaps the departure of Scott Mitchell some months ago. Hardly conclusive proof. Where’s your evidence?
Blimey - we lost a close game to one of the main promotion candidates after a very tough period and everyone is in despair. We should isolate this result an look at the bigger picture. We are still having a fantastic season and once rested I have confidence our attackers will get back to their earlier form.
Huddersfield had a lot to gain yesterday and fair play- they took it with a classic dig in away performance but the season has a long way to go.
totally agree , really don't get the hype ...comes across as a proper nice guy but it should be on the pitch where they make a difference, only top attribute is that he very good from FKs 20 yards out from goal
@Major Butcher for me is the shock of the season. Before a ball was kicked in August I'd have expected him to be the first name on the teamsheet, now he's glued to the bench with no hope of getting any minutes in the league. The camera cut to the Wycombe bench on about 80 minutes yesterday and Butcher was slouched back looking completely bored. You don't have to read too far between the lines to conclude that he's had a falling out with Bloomfield. The Butcher we saw in the second half of last season would certainly have a place in that midfield last night otherwise.
Come on @DevonBlue , you surely can’t think that performance last night was anywhere near a top team level? Our tactics were terrible, people in wrong positions and lack of understanding throughout the team. The back five didn’t work and playing Leahy as left sided centre back was a disaster. Also, wasting Fred in a wing back position was criminal.
Bloomfield has confirmed in his interview at least that the back 5 was enforced due to having no fit right backs. I'd have trusted Skura in that position and stuck with the 4, but at least we know that it should hopefully be the last time we see that system in use...
What happened to that Crystal Palace right back we were supposedly signing on loan?
@Malone To be clear, I wasn't saying that Butcher should be playing, more that it shows how far he's fallen down the pecking order that he's not anywhere near the team right now. The Butcher of last season walks into the team last night ahead of Bakinson, and Leahy when he plays CM too.
The bigger question is to speculate what has gone wrong. I imagine seeing Morley come in on loan and being relegated to the bench was a nail in the coffin for Butcher. It's a shame though as we could really use Butcher at his best right now.
I'm glad it was that rather than not trusting the new loanee's pace in a back 4!
But it seems utterly daft to switch to a system we've not used all season in one of the toughest games because we're without arguably the easiest position to slot someone into for one game!
Skura, Fred or maybe even a Butcher could easily have slotted in for one game.
Butcher is a good all round midfielder but definitely not the deep lying playmaker that was so important to our style. And maybe not as effective in the attacking mobile roaming other positions available.
The comparison with Leahy is a good one though. As from day 1 I wasn't sure he's mobile enough, but seems to get the nod due to his set pieces, which will make some laugh as he attracts a lot of moans.
I agree that it was a daft thing to do. The management team have done superbly to get us where we are in the league, but they aren't immune to taking the blame when an error is made.
Also Hanlan is not a number 9 and never will be. With his back to goal his second touch is invariably trying to regain control whilst sprinting back towards his defence. He is so much more dangerous out in the wing.
Lubabla and Udoh are much better suited to the central role IMHO.
For me it was a tactical error. I would certainly not blame the players for the performance last night. Matt knows a lot more about football tactics than me but it was very clear that we had square pegs in round holes.
Hopefully it is the last time we use that five at the back tactic.
Bakinson strikes the underside of the bar. The ball rebounds back towards the penalty spot. Hanlan isn’t perceiving the rebound. He’s stood side on, 90 degree angle, studs about 10 inches deep into the turf. No striker instinct. Sums up why he’s averaging a goal in every nine games.
I thought his overall game was okay when he came on - and I understand Kone can’t play 500 minutes in thirteen days - but we’ve got to find a way to continue threatening once Kone comes off.
Skura at right back seemed like a no brainer to me. And Leahy as a left sided central defender, if that’s what he was, also seemed odd. And please don’t mention the set pieces. We’re not very good at them lately.
Yesterday was also very clear we need to sign Morley (or a capable replacement). As much as i love Josh, he isn't going to get the ball in difficult areas at the back under pressure and pass through the lines, and thats not what we want from him anyway, he has his own tough job to do. Bakinson looks terrified of the ball and often went hiding yesterday like he didn't want to receive it. And when he did it ended up being a heart in mouth moment. Cameron had to keep coming deep to get on the ball and try and make something happen but then you lost his presence further forward. Heard yesterday that the club went half with Morley on a flat in Windsor for his season long loan. His girlfriend and young daughter are still living down here hopeful of a move to be done. Aaron wants the move, down to the clubs to agree something. Please make it happen.
Hi. New member so this is my first comment. I've come here as the Facebook group is a little uncivilised for my tastes...
Anyway thought it was a strange one from Matt to move to a 3 at the back particularly for a mid week game with little preparation. I totally get his hand was forced with the Grimmer injury and Hartridge ban. I thought we were pretty blunt going forward and Huddersfield limited our attack to mainly clipped in balls in the box that were more hopeful than incisive. Pearson (who was the obvious motm for me) marshalled Kone well who looked isolated and their left back stopped Fred from putting in clean crosses. On the subject of crosses Leahy and Harvie's deliveries were poor which is an ongoing theme for Leahy as harsh as it sounds. Sonny Bradley, however, settled in well even if his first involvement in a Wycombe shirt was elbowing the opposition in the face.
FA cup brings a welcome break from the league and hopefully the end of our Christmas "blip".
The more I watch us since his departure, the clearer it is that this team is crying out for Aaron Morley. Hopefully Dan's data brings him to the same outcome.
Here's hoping there's some truth to what you heard @Major !
I'm surprised MB has come out and said he changed the style up because we didn't have a right back. Skura has done really well so far and looks very comfortable on the ball, I'm sure he would have been absolutely fine at right back.
I also thought Gideon was wasted at right back, he tried his best and had one electric run. I would liked to have seen him up top with Hanlan, stretching their back four. For me, he actually looked the most dangerous last night but couldn't have an impact from right back.
Leahy is an interesting one, he doesn't do huge amounts wrong but doesn't unlock defences that often either. When playing in the back line his one dimensional ball into the left hand channel, normally cleared by the right back or right centre back, is so frustrating. I thought Bradley played some really good long balls into the channels which they struggled to clear.
Leahy free kicks/corners have been average at best, unless he is taking a strike at goal. His shots are normally very good and I have no issue him taking those around the box. The little chip into the box when we get a central free kick has never worked, regardless of who takes it, so I'd like to see something different there. I'd like to see Humphreys taking corners.
Huddersfield were excellent defensively, they backed themselves to get a clean sheet and did so. They offered little going forwards. I have a few Town mates who are STHs and they are happy with the wins but are really bored of going to games as they are saying it's generally very dull.
We have so much to be positive about, we shouldn't let a couple of defeats and some indifferent play get too much on top of us. I'm sure we will sort it out over the transfer window. I think we've overthought things the last couple of games. With Morley we were winning by two or more goal margins. I'm sure if we keep the same team and shape, and played Bakinson or Scowen in the Morley role we'd create enough to win by one goal. Not sure it needs these re-thinks. Why we went long ball against one of the best defences in the league without Vokes I cannot explain.
I will reiterate that we are in second spot in the league with a better goal difference than the team in third.
Yes our recent form has been poor, but not dreadful, exacerbated by the loss of key players either due to recall or injury & a loss of form for other starters (Fred & Leahy in particular).
Rav is coming in for a lot of stick, but he has shown himself to be our best keeper for some time & has grown in confidence. As for last night, Kone blocked him from getting greater contact on his punch & Fred had gone to sleep & failed to shut down Kane, hardly all his fault as some you have said.
We are still creating lots of chances & having lots of shots even though our attacking set pieces have pretty much deserted us. We are also still stuggling with defensive set pieces, I am sure the coaching team are trying to resolve both but with the current schedule that is a big ask.
As someone once said "form is temporary, class is permanent".
We will finish in the top 6 at worst & 2nd at best - yes a positive window will definitely help.
Comments
In isolation if I was to look at the table and look at see the result on teletext I wouldn't disagree with you. But that performance was horrid. Predictable. Ponderous. Error strewn. Body language wrong. Organisationally confused. Tactically messy.
At 6:45 I could have called the tactics. Goal kick. Short pass. Short pass. PANIC - LUMP IT 40 YARDS. Lose ball. I am confident the players saw it too. You can't play through the thirds if one of the thirds doesn't exist.
Blooms certainly sounded very downbeat in his post match interview. Let's hope it was just because of the result.
Might be an unpopular comment on here as i never really see any negativity towards him, but seriously what does Luke Leahy offer this team? his set plays are awful, rarely beats the first man. He is so flat on the ball in midfield and gets dispossessed rather easily. His passing is average at best, and that's at a push. Whenever he seems to find himself at left back or in the middle of a 3 its aways hopeless aims down the line to no one. I Appreciate that may not be his natural position but my main issue is even in his natural position he is a below par player, so that's not an excuse. What more does Butcher have to do to get a chance? he was a start signing last January, and if Bakinson and Leahy are ahead of you then surely he is nocking on the door wanting out, which would be a real shame.
Have to say I do find it amusing reading all the conspiracy posts about Bloomfield not getting on with Rice and not having any say on transfers. All without a shred of evidence apart from perhaps the departure of Scott Mitchell some months ago. Hardly conclusive proof. Where’s your evidence?
Blimey - we lost a close game to one of the main promotion candidates after a very tough period and everyone is in despair. We should isolate this result an look at the bigger picture. We are still having a fantastic season and once rested I have confidence our attackers will get back to their earlier form.
Huddersfield had a lot to gain yesterday and fair play- they took it with a classic dig in away performance but the season has a long way to go.
totally agree , really don't get the hype ...comes across as a proper nice guy but it should be on the pitch where they make a difference, only top attribute is that he very good from FKs 20 yards out from goal
A tactical disaster. 🤦🤦
Amazing,I read another post reckoning we were much better than the last 3 and could easily have taken a point.
I saw it closer to how you saw it.
@Major Butcher for me is the shock of the season. Before a ball was kicked in August I'd have expected him to be the first name on the teamsheet, now he's glued to the bench with no hope of getting any minutes in the league. The camera cut to the Wycombe bench on about 80 minutes yesterday and Butcher was slouched back looking completely bored. You don't have to read too far between the lines to conclude that he's had a falling out with Bloomfield. The Butcher we saw in the second half of last season would certainly have a place in that midfield last night otherwise.
Very interesting to see if he plays on Friday...
5 games in 13 days...squad depleted by loan return and injuries and still 2nd in the league...what do fans expect???
We can't fall too much into the whoever isn't playing is the answer, trap.
Butcher has looked well off the pace when he has played this season, so if he's like that in training, it's no surprise others are ahead.
And when you had Morley, Humphreys and Scowen, no surprise at all.
Come on @DevonBlue , you surely can’t think that performance last night was anywhere near a top team level? Our tactics were terrible, people in wrong positions and lack of understanding throughout the team. The back five didn’t work and playing Leahy as left sided centre back was a disaster. Also, wasting Fred in a wing back position was criminal.
Bloomfield has confirmed in his interview at least that the back 5 was enforced due to having no fit right backs. I'd have trusted Skura in that position and stuck with the 4, but at least we know that it should hopefully be the last time we see that system in use...
What happened to that Crystal Palace right back we were supposedly signing on loan?
@Malone To be clear, I wasn't saying that Butcher should be playing, more that it shows how far he's fallen down the pecking order that he's not anywhere near the team right now. The Butcher of last season walks into the team last night ahead of Bakinson, and Leahy when he plays CM too.
The bigger question is to speculate what has gone wrong. I imagine seeing Morley come in on loan and being relegated to the bench was a nail in the coffin for Butcher. It's a shame though as we could really use Butcher at his best right now.
I'm glad it was that rather than not trusting the new loanee's pace in a back 4!
But it seems utterly daft to switch to a system we've not used all season in one of the toughest games because we're without arguably the easiest position to slot someone into for one game!
Skura, Fred or maybe even a Butcher could easily have slotted in for one game.
It happens doesn't it. A change in tactics.
Butcher is a good all round midfielder but definitely not the deep lying playmaker that was so important to our style. And maybe not as effective in the attacking mobile roaming other positions available.
The comparison with Leahy is a good one though. As from day 1 I wasn't sure he's mobile enough, but seems to get the nod due to his set pieces, which will make some laugh as he attracts a lot of moans.
I agree that it was a daft thing to do. The management team have done superbly to get us where we are in the league, but they aren't immune to taking the blame when an error is made.
Nailed it. To read comments on other social media (thankfully not the gasroom) you’d think we’d dropped into the relegation places!
Also Hanlan is not a number 9 and never will be. With his back to goal his second touch is invariably trying to regain control whilst sprinting back towards his defence. He is so much more dangerous out in the wing.
Lubabla and Udoh are much better suited to the central role IMHO.
Yep, i'm convinced Bloomfield is the only person connected to Wycombe who thinks he's a central striker.
His best work for us was in the wide left position.
Lubala should be the Kone central rotation option.
For me it was a tactical error. I would certainly not blame the players for the performance last night. Matt knows a lot more about football tactics than me but it was very clear that we had square pegs in round holes.
Hopefully it is the last time we use that five at the back tactic.
Bakinson strikes the underside of the bar. The ball rebounds back towards the penalty spot. Hanlan isn’t perceiving the rebound. He’s stood side on, 90 degree angle, studs about 10 inches deep into the turf. No striker instinct. Sums up why he’s averaging a goal in every nine games.
I thought his overall game was okay when he came on - and I understand Kone can’t play 500 minutes in thirteen days - but we’ve got to find a way to continue threatening once Kone comes off.
Skura at right back seemed like a no brainer to me. And Leahy as a left sided central defender, if that’s what he was, also seemed odd. And please don’t mention the set pieces. We’re not very good at them lately.
Yesterday was also very clear we need to sign Morley (or a capable replacement). As much as i love Josh, he isn't going to get the ball in difficult areas at the back under pressure and pass through the lines, and thats not what we want from him anyway, he has his own tough job to do. Bakinson looks terrified of the ball and often went hiding yesterday like he didn't want to receive it. And when he did it ended up being a heart in mouth moment. Cameron had to keep coming deep to get on the ball and try and make something happen but then you lost his presence further forward. Heard yesterday that the club went half with Morley on a flat in Windsor for his season long loan. His girlfriend and young daughter are still living down here hopeful of a move to be done. Aaron wants the move, down to the clubs to agree something. Please make it happen.
Hi. New member so this is my first comment. I've come here as the Facebook group is a little uncivilised for my tastes...
Anyway thought it was a strange one from Matt to move to a 3 at the back particularly for a mid week game with little preparation. I totally get his hand was forced with the Grimmer injury and Hartridge ban. I thought we were pretty blunt going forward and Huddersfield limited our attack to mainly clipped in balls in the box that were more hopeful than incisive. Pearson (who was the obvious motm for me) marshalled Kone well who looked isolated and their left back stopped Fred from putting in clean crosses. On the subject of crosses Leahy and Harvie's deliveries were poor which is an ongoing theme for Leahy as harsh as it sounds. Sonny Bradley, however, settled in well even if his first involvement in a Wycombe shirt was elbowing the opposition in the face.
FA cup brings a welcome break from the league and hopefully the end of our Christmas "blip".
I'm pleased to hear that the move to 3 at the back was caused by injuries. If we never see that system again it'll be far too soon.
The more I watch us since his departure, the clearer it is that this team is crying out for Aaron Morley. Hopefully Dan's data brings him to the same outcome.
Here's hoping there's some truth to what you heard @Major !
I'm surprised MB has come out and said he changed the style up because we didn't have a right back. Skura has done really well so far and looks very comfortable on the ball, I'm sure he would have been absolutely fine at right back.
I also thought Gideon was wasted at right back, he tried his best and had one electric run. I would liked to have seen him up top with Hanlan, stretching their back four. For me, he actually looked the most dangerous last night but couldn't have an impact from right back.
Leahy is an interesting one, he doesn't do huge amounts wrong but doesn't unlock defences that often either. When playing in the back line his one dimensional ball into the left hand channel, normally cleared by the right back or right centre back, is so frustrating. I thought Bradley played some really good long balls into the channels which they struggled to clear.
Leahy free kicks/corners have been average at best, unless he is taking a strike at goal. His shots are normally very good and I have no issue him taking those around the box. The little chip into the box when we get a central free kick has never worked, regardless of who takes it, so I'd like to see something different there. I'd like to see Humphreys taking corners.
Huddersfield were excellent defensively, they backed themselves to get a clean sheet and did so. They offered little going forwards. I have a few Town mates who are STHs and they are happy with the wins but are really bored of going to games as they are saying it's generally very dull.
We have so much to be positive about, we shouldn't let a couple of defeats and some indifferent play get too much on top of us. I'm sure we will sort it out over the transfer window. I think we've overthought things the last couple of games. With Morley we were winning by two or more goal margins. I'm sure if we keep the same team and shape, and played Bakinson or Scowen in the Morley role we'd create enough to win by one goal. Not sure it needs these re-thinks. Why we went long ball against one of the best defences in the league without Vokes I cannot explain.
Looking forward to Friday, COYB!
I will reiterate that we are in second spot in the league with a better goal difference than the team in third.
Yes our recent form has been poor, but not dreadful, exacerbated by the loss of key players either due to recall or injury & a loss of form for other starters (Fred & Leahy in particular).
Rav is coming in for a lot of stick, but he has shown himself to be our best keeper for some time & has grown in confidence. As for last night, Kone blocked him from getting greater contact on his punch & Fred had gone to sleep & failed to shut down Kane, hardly all his fault as some you have said.
We are still creating lots of chances & having lots of shots even though our attacking set pieces have pretty much deserted us. We are also still stuggling with defensive set pieces, I am sure the coaching team are trying to resolve both but with the current schedule that is a big ask.
As someone once said "form is temporary, class is permanent".
We will finish in the top 6 at worst & 2nd at best - yes a positive window will definitely help.
Not sure where this came from but I heard that Grimmer's absence last night was due to illness rather than injury.