V West Brom (A)

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Robert’s got exposed when my old mate the ice man came on , the back line was under pressure today because we didn’t / couldn’t retain the ball enough as we have in previous games - cork failed to keep
- control or pass to our players ( heavy legs )

It was a conundrum all round as Cullen struggled in direct reaction to cork having a shocker , as his easy lay offs and one twos couldn’t be played as WBA took the ball of him.

Hard to tell VK what to do , but I think he maybe got the formation wrong , we didn’t expect them to boss it centrally and have the ball for prolonged spells , the midfield got overran and put the defence under much more pressure than it’s used to in our previous games.

We didn’t lose, and should have won really but I think VK will have learnt from that performance a lot about physicality and what needs addressing in games.

Perhaps three games in six days had something to do with it army88.

[sinkov]

I'm a bit surprised no one has yet mentioned the left side of our defence, by which I mean the lack of any sort of defence on our left side. Maatsen and Tella were fine going forward, a real threat, but they didn't have a defensive care in the world, Maatsen was caught too far upfield time and again, while Tella had little interest in covering for him or helping him out. Maybe that's the way Vinni wants them to play, and bollox to the risk, but WBA were having a field day down their right wing and it took an hour for Vinni to respond to it. He hooked both Maatsen and Tella, switched Vitinho over and played Churlinov in front of him. It worked for a while, we were noticeably tighter down that side until Churlinov decided to go walkabout for the last 15 minutes, which to be fair almost paid off, but it was inevitable I suppose that the winner came from yet another right wing cross into the box.

On Jay's penalty, he scored it but I can't say I was impressed. It was one of those 50/50s and he got away with it, if Button had decided to go left instead of right it was an easy save. Why on earth penalty takers give keepers a chance I have no idea, hit them up into the roof of the net like Grezza used to do, take the keeper out of the equation, don't give him a chance.

[Vintage Claret]

I was not impressed with Churlinov last night, he could have laid on two open goal chances, but was too greedy to try and score himself. I also did not like the play acting part of his game, and I hope that Vincent will mark his card before he plays again.

Graham Alexander was the best penalty taker I have ever seen and as Sinkov says never really gave the goalkeeper much chance of saving them.

[wanderlust]

A recurring theme amongst Wanderers fans is the thought that if you want to play like City/Barca you need City/Barca quality players. We certainly don't have that quality but the manager persists in trying to play that way.

Your boys never really got going with the fluent passing moves last night - largely because the Baggies are a big, athletic, physical team who wouldn't let your lads settle - and that's where the quality is needed e.g. controlling, passing and moving when under extreme pressure.
There were passages where it looked good, but one stray pass ruined all the good work.

Vinnie needs to get them playing "murderball" in training

[The Bedlington Terrier]

A recurring theme amongst Wanderers fans is the thought that if you want to play like City/Barca you need City/Barca quality players. We certainly don't have that quality but the manager persists in trying to play that way.

Your boys never really got going with the fluent passing moves last night - largely because the Baggies are a big, athletic, physical team who wouldn't let your lads settle - and that's where the quality is needed e.g. controlling, passing and moving when under extreme pressure.
There were passages where it looked good, but one stray pass ruined all the good work.

Vinnie needs to get them playing "murderball" in training

Quite frankly I thought we were the better footballing side but three games in six days inevitably took its toll, especially when the Latics, Lions, and Baggies insisted on kicking lumps out of our lads.

There was one last night when Bartley scythed Jay Rod down from behind, it had yellow card written all over it, but the eejit referee never even blew for a foul.

[Supersub6]

Quite frankly I thought we were the better footballing side but three games in six days inevitably took its toll, especially when the Latics, Lions, and Baggies insisted on kicking lumps out of our lads.

There was one last night when Bartley scythed Jay Rod down from behind, it had yellow card written all over it, but the eejit referee never even blew for a foul.

BT, Sadly this is going to be the norm because teams have already noted the players that they have to stop by one way or another and they will do so. I don't expect that we will get a lot of protection from officials, therefore, we need to protect ourselves. Unfortunately, I think that we are just a bit too lightweight and do not have an enforcer to give a bit back.
Having said that, look at last night when we had four players booked, one being the ridiculous caution which was given to Charlie Taylor after our keeper was injured, to their one, the goalkeeper, in spite of their having committed more fouls than we did.
We still came away with a point from a ground where we have only won once since 6 December 1969.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

BT, Sadly this is going to be the norm because teams have already noted the players that they have to stop by one way or another and they will do so. I don't expect that we will get a lot of protection from officials, therefore, we need to protect ourselves. Unfortunately, I think that we are just a bit too lightweight and do not have an enforcer to give a bit back.
Having said that, look at last night when we had four players booked, one being the ridiculous caution which was given to Charlie Taylor after our keeper was injured, to their one, the goalkeeper, in spite of their having committed more fouls than we did.
We still came away with a point from a ground where we have only won once since 6 December 1969.

I thought the referee was a 100% homer Supersub6, I'm happy with a point but we should have nicked all three.

I used to play with a lad who would have buried the chance Barnes had with about five minutes to go. He scored 40 odd a season without hardly breaking sweat!

I fail to understand how professional footballers with years of experience have a "rush of blood" and smash it into Row Z when it seems easier to score.

My problem is I was weaned on Ray Pointer and John Connelly.

[Vintage Claret]

BT don't forget Jimmy Robson. You could also include Charlie Austin and Danny Ings who would both have put that into the net.

While Barnes has served us well in the last two games, he looks like a fish out of water.

[sinkov]

I thought the referee was a 100% homer Supersub6, I'm happy with a point but we should have nicked all three.

I used to play with a lad who would have buried the chance Barnes had with about five minutes to go. He scored 40 odd a season without hardly breaking sweat!

I fail to understand how professional footballers with years of experience have a "rush of blood" and smash it into Row Z when it seems easier to score.

My problem is I was weaned on Ray Pointer and John Connelly.

Did you see Patrick Bamford yesterday, one of the best goal-line clearances you'll ever see. They all miss them, I usually watch MOTD, the best strikers in the world on display, the missed sitters come thick and fast, every game, every week.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Did you see Patrick Bamford yesterday, one of the best goal-line clearances you'll ever see. They all miss them, I usually watch MOTD, the best strikers in the world on display, the missed sitters come thick and fast, every game, every week.

I played for about ten years with another lad who ended up at Accrington Stanley just before they got promoted back into League football, he would have buried the one Barnes put into orbit.

WTF do these lads do mid-week in training?