The sensible thing surely would have been Leahy to LB and Harvie to RB. We already know Harvie's got an excellent right foot on him. I'm not buying the forced formation change claims when there was a much simpler, very obvious choice.
Maybe Dan Rice is deciding the formation now too 🤔
Really really impressed with Sonny Bradley last night. That first header had so much intent and their no. 9 crumbled to pieces like a Tom and Jerry cartoon. Didn’t put a foot wrong and there is nothing wrong with his pace. I can see a Caleb Taylor and Bradley combination when Taylor comes back hopefully. Almost certain Joe Low is off to pastures new.
In Bloomfield’s post match interview with Moose, he suggested that West Ham were strongly considering recalling Potts in January 2024 to redistribute him for the second half of last season, but it was a knee injury which meant he ended up staying with us.
Actually, just for the record, in the 2024-5 predictions thread I predicted that come January Wycombe would be second and facing a nervous wait over Bloomfield being poached by Ipswich as their next manager. It's not exactly come to pass that way -- though quite a few other teams in the leagues above seem to be sniffing around him...
Wheeler has played right back for the team before and not done badly. He is still a member of the playing squad, as far as I can tell, and not injured. I appreciate his days may be numbered here but one last hurrah wouldn't have hurt, would it?
In the lead up to the corner when the ball goes wide he should have gotten tight much quicker and forced them backwards. He took an age to communicate with (I think) Low behind him to pick up the winger. In the end he leaves their player too much time on the ball, never closes him down and is then nowhere when the ball goes down the line. As a result Low is pulled out to the ball, leaving the near post exposed. We only avoid conceding then due to a good save. From the resulting corner Fred is again on his heels and does nothing to disrupt the shot.
These are quite small details and in both cases he probably couldn't have totally prevented the action. But he could have ensured they were performed under pressure, with less time and off balance. All of which could have prevented the goal.
We were moaning behind the goal (or at least I was) that he was far too slow to get out to challenge the ball in the build up to the corner. So it was all pretty obvious at the time.
@Erroll_Sims the better goalkeeper is always on the bench...or at another team. ☺️
I thought Franco had no choice but to punch in that throng and no time to recover before the shot came in, but I am no expert. I thought Allsopp was a good keeper.
Welcome @ChairboySupreme . I hope you stick around. We'll have you assimilated in no time as long as you promise to work on your cheese puns and join both prediction contests next season.......
We have had an amazing season but have now hit a comparative rocky patch. It happens. The few games will be a test of how good a manager Matt Bloomfield is. He is proven he can ride a wave. Now he needs to show he can turn around a less good patch. If he can do that as well, he may well have a long managerial career hopefully here and potentially at higher levels.
I do find depressinng the increasing tendency both in society generally and reflected on football fansites towards extremes, conflict and conspiracies. Some seem to revel in spreading negativity, some need to find scapegoats for every problem. We have performed beyond our expected level in the first half of the season with a team playing good football and owners seemingly willing to provide a very high budget for a team of our size. Is everything wonderful - probably not. Is it pretty good - yes absolutely. My expectation is that automatic promotion is beyond us this season at least but I may be pleasantly surprised. We would need a major collapse to miss out on the playoffs so I think we'll probably achieve that. Playoffs are pretty much a lottery so who knows how we would fare in that but of the four teams that qualify I would not expect us to start as one of the favourites. That's cool.
For many of us who started out in the Isthmian League, competing at the top of the third level and agonising on whether we may or may not reach the Championship (or Division Two as I still sometimes think of it) is beyond even the wildest dreams I would have held back then. I intend to enjoy the footballing ride whatever it may bring while reserving my angst for the future of our world as it lurches ever further into fear, hatred and possibly increased conflict. Never too high.................
I agree that Bradley looked a good signing. If reports that we have signed a young Norwegian (?) are true we will have enough cover if indeed Low moves. Hanlan is not a goal scorer, he should not replace Kone. I think Kone has been isolated in the last couple of games - he needs another forward playing near him, not on the wing. That means only one of Fred or Gareth should be in the team and I have always had doubts about Fred, I reckon only 1 good game out of 4 is what we can expect.
Also agree that last night was a horrible throw back to the lump it up tactics of GA, when we were playing well recently it was because we played the ball on the ground and were making good passes through the lines. So if that means we cannot do it since Morley left we need to get him or someone like him back in sharpish. I don't think Leahy or Bakindon can do it. Problem, MB rates Leahy.
Humphreys can do it but is needed further forward.
We looked tired last night, perhaps the week off will do them good.
Butcher is on a hiding to nothing. He’s barely played, will be totally lacking match fitness and no doubt will be thrust into the game on Friday. If he plays poorly due to his lack of minutes people will say Bloomfield got it right. IMHO he’s been very poorly managed.
Numerous things I'lltm try and keep it brief.... We're absolutely awful to watch. We don't create anything and rely on set pieces. Most of the signings have been poor.
We set out not to lose rather than win games, against teams we should be beating or having a go at we look clueless. His substitutions are crap.
We've won 3 games in 19, lost to Southampton at home in the league cup.
It's so negative and he's had an easy ride with the press, he's good at getting people to believe he's done a good job when in fact he hasn't.
Best thing I seen a while ago was Sean Dyche is the kind of person to set fire to your house and then take credit for putting it out.
I don't believe apart from maybe Southampton or Leicester that any other team would employ him in the premier league.
Don't hate the fella but he comes out with some shite and the latest one about if you add some wins to the run we've been on then it doesn't look so bad, I think that convinced the final few who still wanted him that his time here is done.
The 3/5 at the back system seems to be an itch that MB just can’t scratch. He probably gazes longingly at it in his coaching manual. The problem is finding CB’s and WB’s at our level that can make it work. Currently in the squad, only Harvie has the required athleticism and crossing ability. You also need CB’s who are comfortable in wider areas or pushed further forward. Maybe one day he’ll make it happen. Probably won’t be any day soon.
I wouldn’t have dropped any of them. I might have tried Butcher instead of Leahey when Scowen was injured. And maybe I would give Butcher more than 1 minute v Shrewsbury when 4-1 up, for example.
My point is that we now have a player that will be so far off the pace he will not do himself or us justice if we decide to rotate a little on Friday. And that’s a shame for all of us as he’s a terrific player still I’m sure. Now whether that’s bad man management or simply seeing a player off form and therefore no featuring in plans we will never know.
I'll say again I can't wait for Sadlier to be back and up to speed. It feels as though earlier in the season we were consistently beating the wide defender and running into the box dangerously, whereas we barely seem to do that now. Sadlier was the reliable version on the left, and GMac was doing it from the right when in better form.
We are missing forwards who will put defenders on their heels out wide and create those dangerous close range balls through the corridor of uncertainty.
Comments
Blooms said a calf injury. What are you suggesting, too many milkshakes?
The sensible thing surely would have been Leahy to LB and Harvie to RB. We already know Harvie's got an excellent right foot on him. I'm not buying the forced formation change claims when there was a much simpler, very obvious choice.
Maybe Dan Rice is deciding the formation now too 🤔
Really really impressed with Sonny Bradley last night. That first header had so much intent and their no. 9 crumbled to pieces like a Tom and Jerry cartoon. Didn’t put a foot wrong and there is nothing wrong with his pace. I can see a Caleb Taylor and Bradley combination when Taylor comes back hopefully. Almost certain Joe Low is off to pastures new.
In Bloomfield’s post match interview with Moose, he suggested that West Ham were strongly considering recalling Potts in January 2024 to redistribute him for the second half of last season, but it was a knee injury which meant he ended up staying with us.
Actually, just for the record, in the 2024-5 predictions thread I predicted that come January Wycombe would be second and facing a nervous wait over Bloomfield being poached by Ipswich as their next manager. It's not exactly come to pass that way -- though quite a few other teams in the leagues above seem to be sniffing around him...
Grimmer has a minor calf injury and was at the game last night. He is likely to miss Portsmouth game but should be back for Mansfield.
Wheeler has played right back for the team before and not done badly. He is still a member of the playing squad, as far as I can tell, and not injured. I appreciate his days may be numbered here but one last hurrah wouldn't have hurt, would it?
Fred could have done much better on the goal.
In the lead up to the corner when the ball goes wide he should have gotten tight much quicker and forced them backwards. He took an age to communicate with (I think) Low behind him to pick up the winger. In the end he leaves their player too much time on the ball, never closes him down and is then nowhere when the ball goes down the line. As a result Low is pulled out to the ball, leaving the near post exposed. We only avoid conceding then due to a good save. From the resulting corner Fred is again on his heels and does nothing to disrupt the shot.
These are quite small details and in both cases he probably couldn't have totally prevented the action. But he could have ensured they were performed under pressure, with less time and off balance. All of which could have prevented the goal.
We were moaning behind the goal (or at least I was) that he was far too slow to get out to challenge the ball in the build up to the corner. So it was all pretty obvious at the time.
@Erroll_Sims the better goalkeeper is always on the bench...or at another team. ☺️
I thought Franco had no choice but to punch in that throng and no time to recover before the shot came in, but I am no expert. I thought Allsopp was a good keeper.
Welcome @ChairboySupreme . I hope you stick around. We'll have you assimilated in no time as long as you promise to work on your cheese puns and join both prediction contests next season.......
We have had an amazing season but have now hit a comparative rocky patch. It happens. The few games will be a test of how good a manager Matt Bloomfield is. He is proven he can ride a wave. Now he needs to show he can turn around a less good patch. If he can do that as well, he may well have a long managerial career hopefully here and potentially at higher levels.
I do find depressinng the increasing tendency both in society generally and reflected on football fansites towards extremes, conflict and conspiracies. Some seem to revel in spreading negativity, some need to find scapegoats for every problem. We have performed beyond our expected level in the first half of the season with a team playing good football and owners seemingly willing to provide a very high budget for a team of our size. Is everything wonderful - probably not. Is it pretty good - yes absolutely. My expectation is that automatic promotion is beyond us this season at least but I may be pleasantly surprised. We would need a major collapse to miss out on the playoffs so I think we'll probably achieve that. Playoffs are pretty much a lottery so who knows how we would fare in that but of the four teams that qualify I would not expect us to start as one of the favourites. That's cool.
For many of us who started out in the Isthmian League, competing at the top of the third level and agonising on whether we may or may not reach the Championship (or Division Two as I still sometimes think of it) is beyond even the wildest dreams I would have held back then. I intend to enjoy the footballing ride whatever it may bring while reserving my angst for the future of our world as it lurches ever further into fear, hatred and possibly increased conflict. Never too high.................
On the hope it's just a mild one, that has to be better.
Yes, I’m sure he regrets his decision this morning.
He is still, after all, a relatively young manager learning his trade.
That's just as I saw it. Then I realised you were standing next to me!
did lol
I'm taking my daughter. Probably go the chespstow on county road beforehand for a pint.
Try and enjoy it! Could be our last FA Cup at Goodison. If Dyche is still in charge for the game then I'm hoping it's his last game too.
@ryan_w_kirkby2 Who do Everton fans want to replace Dyche?
If you could predict that at 6:45pm last night, please can you predict at 6:45 on Sat 18th - that we are going to play really well?
A bit late to the discussion but ...
I agree that Bradley looked a good signing. If reports that we have signed a young Norwegian (?) are true we will have enough cover if indeed Low moves. Hanlan is not a goal scorer, he should not replace Kone. I think Kone has been isolated in the last couple of games - he needs another forward playing near him, not on the wing. That means only one of Fred or Gareth should be in the team and I have always had doubts about Fred, I reckon only 1 good game out of 4 is what we can expect.
Also agree that last night was a horrible throw back to the lump it up tactics of GA, when we were playing well recently it was because we played the ball on the ground and were making good passes through the lines. So if that means we cannot do it since Morley left we need to get him or someone like him back in sharpish. I don't think Leahy or Bakindon can do it. Problem, MB rates Leahy.
Humphreys can do it but is needed further forward.
We looked tired last night, perhaps the week off will do them good.
Butcher is on a hiding to nothing. He’s barely played, will be totally lacking match fitness and no doubt will be thrust into the game on Friday. If he plays poorly due to his lack of minutes people will say Bloomfield got it right. IMHO he’s been very poorly managed.
Who would you have dropped out of Morley, Scowen and Humphreys to get him significant game time?
POTD 👆
Numerous things I'lltm try and keep it brief.... We're absolutely awful to watch. We don't create anything and rely on set pieces. Most of the signings have been poor.
We set out not to lose rather than win games, against teams we should be beating or having a go at we look clueless. His substitutions are crap.
We've won 3 games in 19, lost to Southampton at home in the league cup.
It's so negative and he's had an easy ride with the press, he's good at getting people to believe he's done a good job when in fact he hasn't.
Best thing I seen a while ago was Sean Dyche is the kind of person to set fire to your house and then take credit for putting it out.
I don't believe apart from maybe Southampton or Leicester that any other team would employ him in the premier league.
Don't hate the fella but he comes out with some shite and the latest one about if you add some wins to the run we've been on then it doesn't look so bad, I think that convinced the final few who still wanted him that his time here is done.
Who not why 😉 But that's saved me an extra question!
The 3/5 at the back system seems to be an itch that MB just can’t scratch. He probably gazes longingly at it in his coaching manual. The problem is finding CB’s and WB’s at our level that can make it work. Currently in the squad, only Harvie has the required athleticism and crossing ability. You also need CB’s who are comfortable in wider areas or pushed further forward. Maybe one day he’ll make it happen. Probably won’t be any day soon.
I wouldn’t have dropped any of them. I might have tried Butcher instead of Leahey when Scowen was injured. And maybe I would give Butcher more than 1 minute v Shrewsbury when 4-1 up, for example.
I guess we can only assume Blooms has his reasons. I don’t believe one of them is poor man management though.
My point is that we now have a player that will be so far off the pace he will not do himself or us justice if we decide to rotate a little on Friday. And that’s a shame for all of us as he’s a terrific player still I’m sure. Now whether that’s bad man management or simply seeing a player off form and therefore no featuring in plans we will never know.
I think we DO know it's not bad man management...Butch was a Blooms player.
A positive spin on the current situation.
In the first half of the season, we got 0 points from the first two games, and then went on to rack up 50 points from the next 21.
We have taken 1 point from the first 2 games of the second half, and could well get another 50 points from the next 21, provided that:
a) We continue to see strong performances from Sonny Bradley (who I wouldn't like to meet in a dark alley after the pubs chuck out);
b) We sign Anders Hagelskjær, whose stats suggest he will be an adequate replacement for Joe Low if/when he leaves;
c) We either get Morley back, or a like for like replacement from higher in the pyramid;
d) We stop substituting Kone, our most effective forward, for Hanlan, our least effective.
I'll say again I can't wait for Sadlier to be back and up to speed. It feels as though earlier in the season we were consistently beating the wide defender and running into the box dangerously, whereas we barely seem to do that now. Sadlier was the reliable version on the left, and GMac was doing it from the right when in better form.
We are missing forwards who will put defenders on their heels out wide and create those dangerous close range balls through the corridor of uncertainty.