Quote Originally Posted by AucklandRover View Post
To be fair, Champs, their goal had a strong element of luck to it.
The first Luton player was clearly shaping to shoot, but when he slipped, the ball skidded forward unexpectedly.
Excellent reactions by the scorer, though.
I was really pleased by Gallagher's goal. Going in where it hurts and getting a foot on the ball is something we've seen far too little of.
I know you weren't a great fan of Graham's but at his best, that was what he provided for us - especially when Mulgrew was taking the set-pieces.
A question for everybody.
If Dack DOES come back, fit and sharp, whose place is he going to take?
My only issue with Graham was he was clearly 12 months past his best. It held back Gallagher and it held back Brereton.
He showed signs of not being able to do what he did before the season prior.
DG was last effective over a season in our first season back after promotion. Him and Dack had forged a decent partnership. I felt it was found out pretty quickly, and we struggled in the second half of the season and we fell away.
before that, DG at his best was superb. And I would struggle to name a better Champ striker who could hold the ball up better. My issue with him, was he was kept well past his best, we had moved on. Spent money. And kept reverting back to him.

See my exact same issue with Downing. Too old, won't make us better. And stops a younger player like Buckley developing. We saw this last season. we have regressed and gone back to something and someone that was not working. Instead of sticking with our expensive academy players.

There is a reason we are going nowhere. These are prime examples. I don't moan for no reason, or continually say the same things on repeat for no reason. It's all linked.
We brought a load of players in over summer all have added zero. Apart from the keeper who seems decent.

You never know? We could be seeing the best of Gallagher in a central role? He has been here going on 18 months now. But has spent 99% of his time played as a winger. Its a no brainer. He wont get better being played out of position.
Brereton has made huge improvements. Why? Its not rocket science. Because he is playing. And getting games.
No point having all these academy players and making expensive signings if all you are going to do it revert back to Graham, Downing, Bennett, Johnson etc. We have never gone anywhere with these sorts of players so far past their best.
Then we go and sign Ayala. And folk then start to winder why our injury list is so long.

And where is Lewis Holtby? Can anyone actually answer that? In Germany? Babysitting? Injured? Covid? Or just cant be arsed anymore.

I keep saying it, I feel its all a bit of a shambles. And if they lose to Preston tomorrow, which they always do, then they will be pretty close to the bottom 3. Much closer to that, than the top 6. We have been in this form since last July. And there will always be an excuse.

i'm bored of the whole thing.