Another game lost you cannot miss chances like freddie, smith and ogbene did and get results, that is just crap and not good enough. We are where we are because we deserve to be there over the course of a season. For the first 15 mins of the second half we totally dominated created chances and kept them on the back foot, that came from good running and hard work from the front two. Then came the substitution of Freddie for Hirst, we couldn't hold the ball up and they pinned us back for a good 20 mins, yet again another bizarre decision. Yes I know he missed an absolute sitter, but to be taken off a few mins later how will that help his confidence, awful decision awful man management. At least Derby lost and so did wednesday, there is a good chance now wednesday will have something to play for in the last game of the season you never know that may help us in the end.
Smiler I have to come back to you about your comment calling people nut jobs, I thought you were a well educated person but that comment is ill judged. I don't know if you are a qualified psychologist, but I am and in the west we have a enormous issue with mental illness, this is especially bad in the UK and has been made a lot worse by the misinformation and fear pumped out by our government and media during the Covid crisis. The level of domestic abuse including child abuse and suicides have escalated and such an unintelligent comment as calling people who may suffer from mental illness as nut jobs, is no better than racist, gender, sexuality or religious abuse. I hope you reflect on your comment
Clearly, I am not talking about people with mental health issues. I have used a turn of phrase. Just as people on the fringe of politics are referred to the 'lunatic fringe', or daft ideas are called 'crazy'. It is a turn of phrase I will avoid using in future. Conspiracy theories are often ridiculous and they are often dangerous.
Back onto football, Warne has come close to suggesting that 'people' whoever he means dont want us in the division. Is that a conspiracy theory, or just his frustration coming out? I dont know. It is hard not to sympathise with him though.
-- Edited by smiler on Saturday 24th of April 2021 06:04:05 PM
-- Edited by smiler on Saturday 24th of April 2021 06:10:37 PM
Another day we could have reversed the 4-0 defeat at Oakwell under Stubbs. Whether we've shot a robin, run over a black cat or upset someone at the EFL, we appear to be cursed and destined to be blighted by criminally incompetent referees and strikers who couldn't hit the back of the net if their lives depended on it.
The trouble is our forwards are now desperate and are not taking their chances naturally - every time they have an opportunity, the mental pressure appears to get to them.
I do take issue with the fact that we haven't been good enough this season - clearly, our league position says we are third worst. But compared to our last season in the Championship we are so much better and compete on an even level with almost every side. A poster on the MM site listed a catalogue of issues that had contributed to our downfall - many of them outwith our control but a considerable number down to individual errors.
We're still in with a shot at survival after today's results and I still believe we have the ability to earn another season in the Championship. An early deflected goal and a half-competent referee would do wonders for our confidence and, without a doubt, we deserve a bit of luck.
Four games left - only a win and a draw required. Derby have two tricky fixtures left - Swansea and the Owls. Let's get a sneaky point at Brentford and then we have three winable games remaining. The fat lady hasn't even warmed up yet!
The thing is Glenn, we got a flying start against Middlesbrough and still had it wrenched away from us. I admire the fact that after that guy wrenching defeat on Wednesday and playing 75 minutes with ten men, we managed today to overpower and side who pride themselves on their work rate. To have come out of it again with nothing and to have another absurd decision go against us is a heartbreaker. I'm sure they will get themselves up again for the next game and as you say it isnt over yet.
We are close to being good enough, but I don't think that has been good enough. I did think it very odd that freddie went off too.
I do agree we have had 3 decisions in the last 10 games that probably cost us points and we were very unlucky today.
I just can't get away from my experience of sport however. Its how one bouncers back but we haven't shown we can do that in almost any game.
We are very weak at defending our box and yet we have a decent goal difference compared to our position , but this is at a price of defensiveness and being able to score and defend a lead. The way we play does leave us open to frailties .
I understand that PW has decided on a system based on the short comings of the squad , whereas, others are looking to their squads strengths. Looking at the season , I'm not sure we have a strength, and if we have PW hasn't found it.
I have wondered increasingly if smudge should have been kept as the 1 up as I'm not too sure his game has been improved playing in a 2 or off a 2.
We have missed so many chances. On the other hand do we create quality chances? I'm not sure. They are usually scrambled and forced and even the silly ones we miss have a sort of snatching and grabbing quality to most ...I'm just wondering how that pressing and loading the box to feed off scraps has compromised us when the ball comes back ...the shape . The pressure. ..so, I'm just left thinking that despite the effort and togetherness , we are witnessing that gulf in class that perhaps can only be felt when you are on the pitch , or court , or in any walk of life...when you are faced with it one knows how close , but far one can be from winning...Time and time again. For example, and to press the point , we could have 50 games on hand, but if they are against Madrid, Barcelona and man City then I'd be struggling to expect more than a few draws...maybe. I'm just enhancing the point that we haven't won or got enpugh points from our level of competition ...
Of course, much brighter people than me can probably see it by mere observation. It's at that point the questions come: is it poor recruitment , poor tactics and not understanding the strengths of the players or is it the much easier refrain that one can't make a silk purse from a pigs ear.
-- Edited by ian on Saturday 24th of April 2021 07:37:43 PM
-- Edited by ian on Saturday 24th of April 2021 07:45:45 PM
