Humphries was superb in the first half but then quiet in the second. Typical Josh performance, popping up everywhere and winning critical tackles. Fred looked dangerous and Lubala drove forward well.
Has to go to a defensive player though, as we were far too loose with the ball second half and invited a lot of pressure. Bradley was excellent, whilst Skura did what he had to but was a tad shaky at times.
A couple of fantastic saves from Franco late on, which means I just went for him over Bradley. I’d have to see their goal again to see his positioning but other than that he commanded his box well, which I’m not sure has ever been said before (fairly).
Franco had no chance with that looping headed goal. It was perfectly reasonable I think, within the context of the immediately preceding passage of play, that he was a few yards out from the goal line.
Another very impressive performance and for me he just edges it ahead of several other heroic performances.
Sonny Bradley was simply magnificent. Him and Low are going to scare teh living daylights out of our opponents for the rest of the season. Don’t think Franco did anything wrong, but Sonny was POTM.
That ball from Humphrey’s in the first half through to Scowen was delicious. Shame Fred or King wasn’t the recipient.
I though Grimmer was magnificent, his ball control is really impressive and made a few good runs down the wings in both halves.
And I think we’ve got Fred back! Always a danger, his pace and strength was causing them all sorts of issues.
And Kone was immense. But he’s having to go and get the ball too much. This is the issue with losing Morley, everyone is 15 yards back from where they were when Morley was here as opposed to Morley freeing up Cam to cause trouble through the three channels.
I’m one of I think three people to have voted Fred. He’s frustrated me for the last few weeks as he hasn’t seemed to be taking defenders on but instead turning back inside and passing backwards. I don’t know whether this was under instruction or a loss of confidence or what. Today we saw Fred unleashed.
Good post - I still think a major issue is that Bez is out of position on the wing. Since we insist on Fred and GMac spotting each other on the right, we have had no true wide men for a while out left.
Bez is really good in the box itself, but gets marooned out wide as far as being able to create much. I think it is a case of him being too good of a player for the manager to feel like he can leave out, but I would prefer Fred/GMac as the main men on left and right, with Kodua backing up GMac and Udoh backing up Fred (till Sadlier is back) and both Udoh and Lubala as options for spotting Kone.
You’re absolutely right, we’ve got an embarrassment of riches, but we’re shuffling them around to fit a square peg into a round hole. I commented on this earlier, but Bez is having to take an extra touch or two to get set as he’s out of position and it gives the opposition vital seconds to reset. Sad’s will be game changing when he’s back, working with Harvie and terrorising the midfield, which is and has been our weakest area since Morley left.
But to come away from there, with three points, wow. Successful promotion campaigns were won of those sorts of games.
Until Sadlier returns I would like to see Kodua on the right and Onyedinma on the left of the front three. On their day they are both more than capable of terrorising defenders with their pace and, particularly in Kodua’s case, trickery.
Looking at the highlights, GMac's winning goal was even better than I thought yesterday.
Following a superb delivery from Humphreys, he dribbled the ball into the box moving right to left, surrounded by a triangle of defenders. He then turned and hit the shot back to the right, catching out the keeper and defenders on the wrong foot.
He's done great here since coming in on a short term deal having been given up and ignored by the football world. Not the same age or circumstances but Imagine if Sonny Bradley was still here in 2030 what contribution and sacrifice he'd have to make to achieve that.
I obviously laughably now didn't think it was the choice to make to bring him on right then as we weren't in control of the ball and the game but that's why we love football because it isn't written, and there is never a bad time to take the ball down, glide past players, find some space and bang it in the net. Moments like that aren't easy or predictable or games would finish 10-10 but can change a game more than any coaches speech or formation change.
He's done brilliantly for several years now and deserves whatever credit he gets. As far a MoM goes though, we could have been 5-0 down before then if Bradley didn't stand up to their aggressive forwards.
Early days but it seems I was totally wrong about Sonny Bradley. He looks like a proper player. Didn’t see yesterday - it was perhaps the first game I haven’t watched all season. What a dreadful game to miss by the sounds of things.
Garath has not been in the best of form in recent weeks, hence all the talk of Kodua being given a chance on the right. But class is permanent. You could see from his guttural raw of delight to himself after scoring that the goal really mattered to him. Maybe he had begun to doubt himself - it would be natural at his age to think that maybe the form would never return again. But that goal put any demons to bed. I was delighted for him and now expect many more goals to come (even if they're half as good as yesterday's I'll be very happy indeed).
Comments
I would have gone Fred had he stayed on the whole game. Went for Bradley instead.
Sonny Bradley was excellent.
Bradley was outstanding again and should win this with ease. Humphreys also very good.
Bradley, such a great signing.
What a performance from Sonny Bradley today, especially given (I think it is fair to say) the other three defenders were not at their best today.
The best compliment I can give to Bradley is that I have not heard anything about Caleb Taylor for a while.
Bradley for his non stop winning of aerial duels.
Could make a case for Kone for his non stop work rate. Scrapped for everything.
Has any other player ever won MOTM their first three games?
Not even sure anyone has won three in a row before!
Humphries was superb in the first half but then quiet in the second. Typical Josh performance, popping up everywhere and winning critical tackles. Fred looked dangerous and Lubala drove forward well.
Has to go to a defensive player though, as we were far too loose with the ball second half and invited a lot of pressure. Bradley was excellent, whilst Skura did what he had to but was a tad shaky at times.
A couple of fantastic saves from Franco late on, which means I just went for him over Bradley. I’d have to see their goal again to see his positioning but other than that he commanded his box well, which I’m not sure has ever been said before (fairly).
I know young Gideon has done well coming in as cover at right back but I do hope we get another RB in on loan prior to the window closing.
Franco had no chance with that looping headed goal. It was perfectly reasonable I think, within the context of the immediately preceding passage of play, that he was a few yards out from the goal line.
Another very impressive performance and for me he just edges it ahead of several other heroic performances.
Interesting @BlueBoy. I deliberately avoided reading any of the preceding posts before voting and have just read yours before completing my catchup.
Crikey!! What an overwhelming endorsement.
That Bloomfield bloke knew what he was doing.
Bradley.
Sonny Bradley was simply magnificent. Him and Low are going to scare teh living daylights out of our opponents for the rest of the season. Don’t think Franco did anything wrong, but Sonny was POTM.
That ball from Humphrey’s in the first half through to Scowen was delicious. Shame Fred or King wasn’t the recipient.
I though Grimmer was magnificent, his ball control is really impressive and made a few good runs down the wings in both halves.
And I think we’ve got Fred back! Always a danger, his pace and strength was causing them all sorts of issues.
And Kone was immense. But he’s having to go and get the ball too much. This is the issue with losing Morley, everyone is 15 yards back from where they were when Morley was here as opposed to Morley freeing up Cam to cause trouble through the three channels.
I’m one of I think three people to have voted Fred. He’s frustrated me for the last few weeks as he hasn’t seemed to be taking defenders on but instead turning back inside and passing backwards. I don’t know whether this was under instruction or a loss of confidence or what. Today we saw Fred unleashed.
I'm giving it to Fred, terrorised them in the first half and back to his old self
Good post - I still think a major issue is that Bez is out of position on the wing. Since we insist on Fred and GMac spotting each other on the right, we have had no true wide men for a while out left.
Bez is really good in the box itself, but gets marooned out wide as far as being able to create much. I think it is a case of him being too good of a player for the manager to feel like he can leave out, but I would prefer Fred/GMac as the main men on left and right, with Kodua backing up GMac and Udoh backing up Fred (till Sadlier is back) and both Udoh and Lubala as options for spotting Kone.
You’re absolutely right, we’ve got an embarrassment of riches, but we’re shuffling them around to fit a square peg into a round hole. I commented on this earlier, but Bez is having to take an extra touch or two to get set as he’s out of position and it gives the opposition vital seconds to reset. Sad’s will be game changing when he’s back, working with Harvie and terrorising the midfield, which is and has been our weakest area since Morley left.
But to come away from there, with three points, wow. Successful promotion campaigns were won of those sorts of games.
Until Sadlier returns I would like to see Kodua on the right and Onyedinma on the left of the front three. On their day they are both more than capable of terrorising defenders with their pace and, particularly in Kodua’s case, trickery.
Looking at the highlights, GMac's winning goal was even better than I thought yesterday.
Following a superb delivery from Humphreys, he dribbled the ball into the box moving right to left, surrounded by a triangle of defenders. He then turned and hit the shot back to the right, catching out the keeper and defenders on the wrong foot.
A great piece of skill, so that got him my vote.
He's done great here since coming in on a short term deal having been given up and ignored by the football world. Not the same age or circumstances but Imagine if Sonny Bradley was still here in 2030 what contribution and sacrifice he'd have to make to achieve that.
I obviously laughably now didn't think it was the choice to make to bring him on right then as we weren't in control of the ball and the game but that's why we love football because it isn't written, and there is never a bad time to take the ball down, glide past players, find some space and bang it in the net. Moments like that aren't easy or predictable or games would finish 10-10 but can change a game more than any coaches speech or formation change.
He's done brilliantly for several years now and deserves whatever credit he gets. As far a MoM goes though, we could have been 5-0 down before then if Bradley didn't stand up to their aggressive forwards.
Early days but it seems I was totally wrong about Sonny Bradley. He looks like a proper player. Didn’t see yesterday - it was perhaps the first game I haven’t watched all season. What a dreadful game to miss by the sounds of things.
Garath has not been in the best of form in recent weeks, hence all the talk of Kodua being given a chance on the right. But class is permanent. You could see from his guttural raw of delight to himself after scoring that the goal really mattered to him. Maybe he had begun to doubt himself - it would be natural at his age to think that maybe the form would never return again. But that goal put any demons to bed. I was delighted for him and now expect many more goals to come (even if they're half as good as yesterday's I'll be very happy indeed).