For season he's had can forgive Vaulks. Ihiekwe tackle against Wednesday was worse but only got a booking. I've already said I'd appeal. It's a man's game isn't it not a kick about on a Sunday morning. Sounds like Newell wasn't in the game. Obvious we needed a left winger but Williams on the right, Taylor on the left from now. Millwall their next 5 league games look as tough as ours so keep plugging away see were we are after the Villa game at home.
I new when he picked Newel it was a bad decision I know some on here don't like Forde but I prefare him. From the reports yesterday it was like playing with 10 men my maths is wrong 9 men. Fear the worst on Wednesday another pasting. I might not always be the smartest tool in the box at home we play higher up the pitch away from home once we get past the half way line we get a nose bleed. In this league you can't suŕrender all of that space these teams think it's party time I can't see us winning an away game this season that is why we are going down the penny has finally dropped for me.
The ones who should be given a public apology are the away supporters having to endure that load of rubbish week in week out the price for the match yesterday £33 highway robbery Dick Turpin was hanged for a lesser crime.
The Vaulks tackle was a bad one. He lunged in with his foot very high and was nowhere near the ball. Their full back wasn't in a position to threaten us at all. It was a tackle that looked like it was out of frustration because he had just given the ball away cheaply. Sadly it killed the momentum we were getting and even more sadly it killed any real chance of us getting anything from the game.
It isn't he managers fault that his captain had a brain freeze.
With the greatest respect to him I don't think losing Vaulks necessarily weakens us. I get his qualities, but with Ajayi in there we have the defensive minded ball winner. Get two footballers (any two from Towell, Crooks and Wiles) in there with Ajayi and we are no worse off (in my opinion). In fact we might look after the ball a bit better and not go long so often.
Talk of us being doomed, prepare for League One next season etc is clearly nonsense. We are within touching distance of three teams in safe positions.
Glenn Miller - if you still read this forum, I urge you to start posting again. Please.
We are still in touching distance. No mistake Vaulks will be massive miss for us but we have got some cover. It's getting the wide men right that's the problem. Forde he's never been good enough. Newell he's lost it. Williams/Taylor go with. I'd have Hinds next choice.
Your first paragraph is exactly as i saw it Smiler. I see what you are saying about losing Vaulks, but Towell and Crooks lack some of the qualities we rely on from Vaulks. Competitiveness, long throw,good in the air, crosses into the box, influence on others and an eye for a goal. No doubt he is our talisman and is vital to how we play. I hope he goes with Crooks on wednesday but feel it could be Towell who for me lacks that first touch and has had an ordinary season.
Definitely agree we are not doomed. Millwall are struggling and are still in the F.A.Cup, Reading have had home games against sides around them and couldn't get a victory. Its all to play for.
Just seen reading scored in the 97th minute so forget what i said about them not beating sides around them. That's put a dampener on my day because i thought they had drawn.
Villa defender just now lost ball, last man dragged Birmingham playing going through back. Only booked. Get an appeal in for the Vaulks sending off. Looking at the match report yesterday Forde came on for Taylor. What's he going to do. Not done anything since he's been here positive. Need a different approach.
The Vaulks tackle was a bad one. He lunged in with his foot very high and was nowhere near the ball. Their full back wasn't in a position to threaten us at all. It was a tackle that looked like it was out of frustration because he had just given the ball away cheaply. Sadly it killed the momentum we were getting and even more sadly it killed any real chance of us getting anything from the game.
It isn't he managers fault that his captain had a brain freeze.
With the greatest respect to him I don't think losing Vaulks necessarily weakens us. I get his qualities, but with Ajayi in there we have the defensive minded ball winner. Get two footballers (any two from Towell, Crooks and Wiles) in there with Ajayi and we are no worse off (in my opinion). In fact we might look after the ball a bit better and not go long so often.
Talk of us being doomed, prepare for League One next season etc is clearly nonsense. We are within touching distance of three teams in safe positions.
Glenn Miller - if you still read this forum, I urge you to start posting again. Please.
Hi Smiler. It's interesting reading the board from afar. Lots of different opinions, varying levels of confidence in the team , an unhealthy inclination to turn on the manager as soon as results go against us and some of the same lines repeated ad nauseam.
For what it's worth, here's my take on the Vaulks incident - stonewall red card. From the moment he misplaced his pass and sprinted in the direction of Baldock it was obvious that he had lost the plot. From the Ref's perspective, he saw the intent, the lunge and the collision with the player and had no option. I called it instantly.
For the team Captain to commit such an offence at a time when there was no threat on our goal and at a stage of the game when we were on top and the most likely side to score the next goal, it was unforgivable. Not only did he ruin our chance of getting something from the game, but he turned the remainder of the game in the dullest footballing affair I have witnessed for years. I'm not sure an apology on Twitter cuts the mustard with me. Perhaps refunding my ticket price and transport costs might go some way, but it's deeper than that.
Vaulks is not a midfielder! He lacks the technical skill, the pace, the sharpness of thought and the composure to operate in that crucial part of the pitch. His passing is mainly awful - as witnessed yesterday. His enthusiasm, energy, long throw, shot, heading ability and goal celebrations are second to none. However, his best position is either right back or CB.
Now that we have to operate without him, it will be interesting to see how Wiles, Crooks, Towell and Ajayi blend together. There's potential there for an effective midfield and hopefully they will help us grind out a few much needed points over the next 3 games. However, thanks to their Captain, the task is much more difficult than it might have been.
-- Edited by GlennMiller on Sunday 10th of March 2019 03:16:28 PM
-- Edited by GlennMiller on Sunday 10th of March 2019 03:17:30 PM
I know what you are saying about Forde gwru but it wouldn't have mattered who we'd have put on yesterday. We hardly got forward after Vaulks was sent off. I am beginning to think Newell is a bit like Palmer, unable to play in the system our management team wants us to play, especially away from home. Both can pass a ball if given time and Newell can deliver a telling cross.. However, its the defensive side and the physical side that both lack.
Ño more talk about horse racing this is a football site on to the real stuff. After the debacle at the weekend looking to the future the most important decision we have to make is the next recruitment guy we are going down but how do we re group. Players will have to go hope we can get some real money for them no sentiment in football dog eat dog there are players out there just do the business might not be end of the world if we go down as long as we have no debt.
Good to see you back Glenn. You had more willpower than I did. My 'read from afar' spell was short lived. Being selfish, I hope you get back into it.
I see Vaulks as I think you see him. We all love to see a sabre rattling, swashbuckling, all action player giving 100% and he does all that. This makes him a fans favoutite so being critical of Vauljs in any way isnt always a popular move. And credit where its due he can head a ball and has a fierce shot on him. He has improved this season. I'm not as black/white as some so I'll recognise the things about him that are good.
On the negative side though I rarely see him demanding or even looking for the ball from the back four in the way that a fit Potter would (and before you say it gwru I know Potter is probably done now), and his passing is poor, particularly in tight areas when he generally bangs the ball long first time. That lack of a yard of pace means he is second to a lot of loose balls and leads to a lot of late lunges and a lot of free kicks conceded. What was going through his head on Saturday I will never know.
I don't want to be harsh on a player who clearly gives his best, but with Ajayi in that holding role my thoughts are that we can find room for someone better on the ball than Vaulks in midfield and it might actually improve us in some respects. That might now be forced on us because of the suspension.
-- Edited by smiler on Monday 11th of March 2019 07:39:04 AM
-- Edited by smiler on Monday 11th of March 2019 07:58:07 AM
Vaulks tackle was a clear red no debate just never stood a chance of winning that ball back. For me our biggest problem is Smith - hes completely ineffective and never scores - no shots on Saturday. We had good possession and had a few decent attacks before the red card and could easily have got back on terms. After the card it was just a cold and dismal affair hoping we didn't get hammered. Until we have a capable strike force we won't do well in any division.
Will Vaulks will be playing championship football next season in midfield more than likely not with us. He's good enough. With better wide players to do something with the ball you wouldn't notice his limitations as much. No outlets in our side at the moment. Vaulks can't do everything. Nobody was moaning when he showed wingers how to cross a ball for our 3rd goal against Blackburn. He's been great for us in his 3 seasons with us. I've enjoyed the ride.
I hear what Smiler says about Vaulks not demanding the ball from the keeper or even looking for it. Thats not been our style since we came back into the championship and for me its the reason players like Palmer and Newell are struggling. We are a route one team with Smith the main outlet with long balls. Vaulks does lack a yard of pace and gives away free kicks, but his energy, long throws,shooting etc have been vital to us getting the points on the board this season. He was instrumental in all three goals against Blackburn and no other player has contributed to our points total more than Vaulks. I agree with Gwru he will be playing in the championship next season and i hope it will be with us.
Vaulks tackle was a clear red no debate just never stood a chance of winning that ball back. For me our biggest problem is Smith - hes completely ineffective and never scores - no shots on Saturday. We had good possession and had a few decent attacks before the red card and could easily have got back on terms. After the card it was just a cold and dismal affair hoping we didn't get hammered. Until we have a capable strike force we won't do well in any division.
Bit harsh on Smith NY. He's definitely struggling with that broken toe (who wouldn't). He's missed a few howlers this season but we focus on those because we get very few opportunities to score; therefore the significance of a miss is amplified. I'll give you another reason why Smith doesn't score more. I sat next to a guy on Saturday and we were debating how many crosses Taylor would manage to put into the box. In the first 25 minutes he had the ball in great wide positions on 4 occasions and never managed to get the ball over once. We stopped counting. Point being, if Smith was given better service, his goal tally would rise and we wouldn't remember, or need to recall, the ones he missed.
Press report pre QPR Robertson is sore. Doubt but I'm hopeful he plays cause we need Ajayi in midfield with Vaulks out. I'd play Towell for Vaulks. Williams at right wing. Taylor is not a winger, how many crosses does he get in? Hinds on the left. Newell miles off his game. All other 3 are right sided, next to useless on the left wing.
The old left sided forward problem rears its head again. No way will he go with Hinds and no way should he. The odd times i have seen him in the reserves he has hardly shone at is preferred position at left back. He is still young so lets hope he has a future at the club.
I agree that Newell is not the answer and feel he will play Taylor and Williams as the wide men or even Forde. One other option is to disturb the back four. Play Vyner at right back and Jones at left back pushing Mattock up to left side midfield. This would mean Vyner takes over as the long thrower in the team to replace Vaulks. I would also leave Ajayi in the middle and play Crooks to replace Vaulks. If Robertson is not fit we have to replace like with like and play Wood. If he plays expect us to get at least a point.
