| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? 07:53 - Apr 20 with 1361 views | Steve_M |
One excellent performance, one absolute stinker and a really good competitive match yesterday from which a draw was probably about right. It's going to take another two weeks to discover if four points from those games was enough.
I enjoyed most of yesterday's match, two good but slightly flawed sides showing why they have both been at the top of the division all season but also why neither has been quite good enough to be where Coventry are.
After a fairly even start, I thought we were just starting to get on top when we conceded the first goal, an annoying one as we cleared the initial danger and then were too weak to stop the ball coming back to us. Still we responded well, and scored a really good goal, such a good finish from McAteer. Boro responded very badly to that and we had 10-15 minutes when we really ought to have scored.
Second half was much more even, although I think Boro probably edged it in terms of chances before their second. Utter carelessness in possession against a side too good to allow freebies. Our reaction to that goal was disappointing, we were crap for 20 minutes and that was Boro's time to put the game out of reach.
They didn't and we just about came back, having seen the penalty back it's clearly a foul. An utterly stupid piece of defending from Malanda (who had had a really good second half) as Hirst was getting nowhere near the ball. Might have won it after that but didn't really manage a chance, ref let Boro off several fouls on Hirst but we could have lost it again in that time too. A missed opportunity for both sides perhaps.
The biggest concern for me yesterday was the number of players who faded badly in the second half, Azon (excellent build up play, still can't finish), Jaden (not quite got going since the injury), Nunez (some lovely balls but gave it away under no pressure too often) and Matusiwa. All have been injured so no surprise but it's a lot of players at the moment. And then Mehmeti came on and played like he had already done 120 minutes. Lovely run and cross for the penalty but he didn't do a lot else.
It's still just about in our hands, the last three matches have all been tough for different reasons in a way that I don't think the next two will be. That is no guarantee we take the six points we really want, or even four, but there's that opportunity for us again.
And in case anyone is misremembering April 2024, we followed a defeat at Norwich with home draws against Watford and Middlesbrough and then drew a match we really should have won at Hull. It's the time of the season when things get really tight. [Post edited 20 Apr 9:15]
|  |
| |  |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 08:55 - Apr 20 with 1236 views | BseaBlue |
'Boro responded very badly to that and we had 10-15 minutes when we really ought to have scored'
I think this has been one of the main issues this season (Midfield problems aside) We have probably done enough to be pushing Coventry all the way, but we have missed so many chances at different phases of games. I've seen the other thread about our strikers and big chances missed. We just seem to lack that killer instinct to get the momentum of games to swing in our favour.
Hopefully we can do enough to over the line because I'm sure we don't all want to harp on about January ala no striker again! |  | | |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 08:55 - Apr 20 with 1240 views | Steve_M |
One other thing, Taylor was excellent yesterday. Aggressive at winning the ball back and at driving forward on it and he had to cover for the weaknesses of a lot of other players yesterday.
He's not as good on the ball as Morsy but that was possibly the closest he's played to Samy in terms of driving us forward. | |
| |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 08:59 - Apr 20 with 1219 views | nrb1985 |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 08:55 - Apr 20 by BseaBlue |
'Boro responded very badly to that and we had 10-15 minutes when we really ought to have scored'
I think this has been one of the main issues this season (Midfield problems aside) We have probably done enough to be pushing Coventry all the way, but we have missed so many chances at different phases of games. I've seen the other thread about our strikers and big chances missed. We just seem to lack that killer instinct to get the momentum of games to swing in our favour.
Hopefully we can do enough to over the line because I'm sure we don't all want to harp on about January ala no striker again! |
This is the biggest difference for me between this team and the 23/24 team.
The 23/24 team would have gone in 2-1 perhaps 3-1 up at HT.
Boro were rocking and we just didn't do enough. We should have stamped on their throat and ravaged their carcass in that 15 mins before HT. |  | | |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 09:02 - Apr 20 with 1204 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 08:55 - Apr 20 by Steve_M |
One other thing, Taylor was excellent yesterday. Aggressive at winning the ball back and at driving forward on it and he had to cover for the weaknesses of a lot of other players yesterday.
He's not as good on the ball as Morsy but that was possibly the closest he's played to Samy in terms of driving us forward. |
Jack Taylor deserves loads of credit. He does have limitations to his game but what he does give you is unbelievable energy. He always wants the ball and looks to play forward and he's strong in the tackle.
He has sort of saved our midfield this season. |  |
| |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 09:19 - Apr 20 with 1128 views | seblue78 |
I'm actually feeling quite positive today. I think we'll get 4 from the next 2 and are perfectly capable of getting something from the Southampton game. Much has been made of our poor record against the bottom end teams, but our record against the top 6 has been excellent. Only one defeat (to Boro). Beat Cov and Hull twice. And drawn the rest. The main concern is the midfield as Azor clearly isn't 100% (he must be knackered if nothing else), especially if Cajuste is now no longer in the frame. I think he'd have been a useful sub yesterday on 80 as the game stretched and we were hitting them on the break. Taylor was excellent but looked shot at the end. Thought Clarke was excellent also when he came on for that very reason and still think the Jaden starting and him coming on combo works best. Personally I'm feeling quietly confident... | | | |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 09:21 - Apr 20 with 1106 views | SomethingBlue |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 09:19 - Apr 20 by seblue78 |
I'm actually feeling quite positive today. I think we'll get 4 from the next 2 and are perfectly capable of getting something from the Southampton game. Much has been made of our poor record against the bottom end teams, but our record against the top 6 has been excellent. Only one defeat (to Boro). Beat Cov and Hull twice. And drawn the rest. The main concern is the midfield as Azor clearly isn't 100% (he must be knackered if nothing else), especially if Cajuste is now no longer in the frame. I think he'd have been a useful sub yesterday on 80 as the game stretched and we were hitting them on the break. Taylor was excellent but looked shot at the end. Thought Clarke was excellent also when he came on for that very reason and still think the Jaden starting and him coming on combo works best. Personally I'm feeling quietly confident... |
I'm with you re Saints, I think we are more than capable of getting something from that and the chances are that even a draw would be decisive.
My concern this week is less the opponents themselves than the absolutely terrible Wednesday night to Saturday lunchtime turnaround. Feels to me that the next slip, assuming it comes, is more likely to happen at the Hawthorns than St Mary's. | |
| |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 09:30 - Apr 20 with 1051 views | tractorboy1978 |
Some of it is probably down to fitness but it's been the story of the season for several players - inconsistent. 8/10 one week and 5/10 the next. Philogene is a prime example. We need a few of them to really step up and put 4 games together in a row now. | | | |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 09:32 - Apr 20 with 1038 views | portmanking |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 09:30 - Apr 20 by tractorboy1978 |
Some of it is probably down to fitness but it's been the story of the season for several players - inconsistent. 8/10 one week and 5/10 the next. Philogene is a prime example. We need a few of them to really step up and put 4 games together in a row now. |
You could see after about 10 minutes that it wasn't going to be Jaden's day. That's what he's like, unfortunately.
I'm still adamant we could play him as the central 10 with Clarke on the left. Philogene presses all day, great with both feet and a good finisher. Why couldn't he play centrally? He could go both ways and give defences a torrid time. | | | |
Login to get fewer ads
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 09:46 - Apr 20 with 984 views | seblue78 |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 09:21 - Apr 20 by SomethingBlue |
I'm with you re Saints, I think we are more than capable of getting something from that and the chances are that even a draw would be decisive.
My concern this week is less the opponents themselves than the absolutely terrible Wednesday night to Saturday lunchtime turnaround. Feels to me that the next slip, assuming it comes, is more likely to happen at the Hawthorns than St Mary's. |
Agreed - that's why I think a draw would be a good result. Clearly we need to put our strongest team out against Charlton and get the result. Wishful thinking I'm sure but let's hope we have a suitable cushion and can bring a few off early. Hopefully Wes will be back in the mix (sounded like he was close). Obviously we've Kipre and Johnson who didn't feature. Clarke and Jaden we can interchange which keeps one or other fresh. Similarly Hirst and Azon. It's Azor that is the one that's hardest to replace. Neil did ok yesterday I thought despite what some said, but isn't really a direct replacement. | | | |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:09 - Apr 20 with 904 views | Garv |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 09:32 - Apr 20 by portmanking |
You could see after about 10 minutes that it wasn't going to be Jaden's day. That's what he's like, unfortunately.
I'm still adamant we could play him as the central 10 with Clarke on the left. Philogene presses all day, great with both feet and a good finisher. Why couldn't he play centrally? He could go both ways and give defences a torrid time. |
Lightweight? |  |
| |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:13 - Apr 20 with 872 views | portmanking |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:09 - Apr 20 by Garv |
Lightweight? |
What, and Nunez/Mehmeti aren't?!
I just think Jaden in the 10 would give us just as much guile and probably more finishing ability from the edge of the box.
At this stage of the season, pick your best 11 and back them to win. | | | |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:16 - Apr 20 with 838 views | mellowblue |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 08:55 - Apr 20 by Steve_M |
One other thing, Taylor was excellent yesterday. Aggressive at winning the ball back and at driving forward on it and he had to cover for the weaknesses of a lot of other players yesterday.
He's not as good on the ball as Morsy but that was possibly the closest he's played to Samy in terms of driving us forward. |
Definitely one of our more driven players. Really should have started at Portsmouth, he is a good athlete and did not need resting. | | | |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:22 - Apr 20 with 806 views | farkenhell |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 09:19 - Apr 20 by seblue78 |
I'm actually feeling quite positive today. I think we'll get 4 from the next 2 and are perfectly capable of getting something from the Southampton game. Much has been made of our poor record against the bottom end teams, but our record against the top 6 has been excellent. Only one defeat (to Boro). Beat Cov and Hull twice. And drawn the rest. The main concern is the midfield as Azor clearly isn't 100% (he must be knackered if nothing else), especially if Cajuste is now no longer in the frame. I think he'd have been a useful sub yesterday on 80 as the game stretched and we were hitting them on the break. Taylor was excellent but looked shot at the end. Thought Clarke was excellent also when he came on for that very reason and still think the Jaden starting and him coming on combo works best. Personally I'm feeling quietly confident... |
Ordinarily I would say 4 points from the next 2 would be a good return from 2 away games in 4 days. However, if we draw against Southampton (which would be a very decent result against them and at the end of 3 away games in 7 days) and beat QPR in the final game, that won't be enough if Millwall win their last 3 games.
I don't want to be a prophet of doom, but we shouldn't discount Millwall just yet. | | | |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:29 - Apr 20 with 766 views | billlm |
Would you name Davis in that utter carelessness as he was and has been in many matches this season,
He might run fast and cross the occasional ball, but his bad positioning and carelessness costs, |  | | |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:32 - Apr 20 with 742 views | billlm |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 09:21 - Apr 20 by SomethingBlue |
I'm with you re Saints, I think we are more than capable of getting something from that and the chances are that even a draw would be decisive.
My concern this week is less the opponents themselves than the absolutely terrible Wednesday night to Saturday lunchtime turnaround. Feels to me that the next slip, assuming it comes, is more likely to happen at the Hawthorns than St Mary's. |
Where I am ref saints,
If we can get at least four points a from Charlton and wba then at least a point at Southampton that would derail them, | | | |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:33 - Apr 20 with 746 views | Steve_M |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:29 - Apr 20 by billlm |
Would you name Davis in that utter carelessness as he was and has been in many matches this season,
He might run fast and cross the occasional ball, but his bad positioning and carelessness costs, |
Yes, principally him there. It was a dreadful ball.
It really hasn't been ideal for him to have played only twice since early March either. | |
| |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:34 - Apr 20 with 741 views | SomethingBlue |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:32 - Apr 20 by billlm |
Where I am ref saints,
If we can get at least four points a from Charlton and wba then at least a point at Southampton that would derail them, |
Everyone is (understandably) scared of Saints game but I think the bigger teams tend to raise it for these matches against each other. It's a match-up that will I think suit us nicely, we've proved that in similar encounters this season. So if we go into that one needing something I'm not especially apprehensive – beyond the baseline of bricking it that accompanies the broader situation. [Post edited 20 Apr 10:35]
| |
| |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:40 - Apr 20 with 705 views | _CliveBaker_ |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 09:19 - Apr 20 by seblue78 |
I'm actually feeling quite positive today. I think we'll get 4 from the next 2 and are perfectly capable of getting something from the Southampton game. Much has been made of our poor record against the bottom end teams, but our record against the top 6 has been excellent. Only one defeat (to Boro). Beat Cov and Hull twice. And drawn the rest. The main concern is the midfield as Azor clearly isn't 100% (he must be knackered if nothing else), especially if Cajuste is now no longer in the frame. I think he'd have been a useful sub yesterday on 80 as the game stretched and we were hitting them on the break. Taylor was excellent but looked shot at the end. Thought Clarke was excellent also when he came on for that very reason and still think the Jaden starting and him coming on combo works best. Personally I'm feeling quietly confident... |
I wouldn't go as far as confident right now, but if you look at it objectively we're still in 2nd, still have a better GD than others, and still have a game in hand.
If we do our bit there's nothing others can do to stop us. I said before the Boro game if we won it I'd be 85% confident, we didn't and therefore I'm not, its a bit more of a coin toss now IMO given the fixtures and Southampton's form, but its still in our hands. We simply have to beat Charlton, anything less and its likely advantage Southampton / Millwall. If we can it sets up a season defining game against a potentially already safe West Brom. A game where a win puts 1 foot in the PL needing 3 points from the last 2, and makes Southampton a complete free hit, irrespective of what happens elsewhere.
We have to go to Charlton and get the win. No ifs or buts. |  | | |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:40 - Apr 20 with 705 views | surreyblue |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 09:19 - Apr 20 by seblue78 |
I'm actually feeling quite positive today. I think we'll get 4 from the next 2 and are perfectly capable of getting something from the Southampton game. Much has been made of our poor record against the bottom end teams, but our record against the top 6 has been excellent. Only one defeat (to Boro). Beat Cov and Hull twice. And drawn the rest. The main concern is the midfield as Azor clearly isn't 100% (he must be knackered if nothing else), especially if Cajuste is now no longer in the frame. I think he'd have been a useful sub yesterday on 80 as the game stretched and we were hitting them on the break. Taylor was excellent but looked shot at the end. Thought Clarke was excellent also when he came on for that very reason and still think the Jaden starting and him coming on combo works best. Personally I'm feeling quietly confident... |
5 from the next three won't necessarily be enough if Millwall get 6 from the next two - away to Stoke and Leicester so very plausible they come away with wins from both of those games. Potentially helpful that both of those games are before ours so we will know what they have done.
It would suck if we did enough to hold off a charging Southampton only to let Millwall back ahead of us! | | | |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:49 - Apr 20 with 670 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:13 - Apr 20 by portmanking |
What, and Nunez/Mehmeti aren't?!
I just think Jaden in the 10 would give us just as much guile and probably more finishing ability from the edge of the box.
At this stage of the season, pick your best 11 and back them to win. |
I feel like we've given the lower end teams too much respect away from home. We need to start fast in the next couple of games. Best attacking line up possible, get out of the blocks, commit players forward and put them under early pressure. Get it won in the first half rather than playing it strategically with the idea we can win it from the bench.
Southampton is obviously a different game and will probably be more of a chess match. [Post edited 20 Apr 10:49]
| | | |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:51 - Apr 20 with 656 views | Garv |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:13 - Apr 20 by portmanking |
What, and Nunez/Mehmeti aren't?!
I just think Jaden in the 10 would give us just as much guile and probably more finishing ability from the edge of the box.
At this stage of the season, pick your best 11 and back them to win. |
No, they aren't. Nunez looks more brittle recently admittedly but Mehmeti is deceptively strong I think. Philogene is often brushed off the ball too easily. | |
| |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:53 - Apr 20 with 642 views | portmanking |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:51 - Apr 20 by Garv |
No, they aren't. Nunez looks more brittle recently admittedly but Mehmeti is deceptively strong I think. Philogene is often brushed off the ball too easily. |
Baffled by that. Nunez is as weak as a kitten. Jaden is as strong as Mehmeti at the very least. | | | |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 11:45 - Apr 20 with 551 views | seblue78 |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:22 - Apr 20 by farkenhell |
Ordinarily I would say 4 points from the next 2 would be a good return from 2 away games in 4 days. However, if we draw against Southampton (which would be a very decent result against them and at the end of 3 away games in 7 days) and beat QPR in the final game, that won't be enough if Millwall win their last 3 games.
I don't want to be a prophet of doom, but we shouldn't discount Millwall just yet. |
Absolutely not. 3 wins from 3 with 2 away however is not straightforward at this stage. | | | |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 12:16 - Apr 20 with 466 views | BlueOura |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 08:55 - Apr 20 by Steve_M |
One other thing, Taylor was excellent yesterday. Aggressive at winning the ball back and at driving forward on it and he had to cover for the weaknesses of a lot of other players yesterday.
He's not as good on the ball as Morsy but that was possibly the closest he's played to Samy in terms of driving us forward. |
Totally aree and said the same to my mate at the game, shades of Morsy about his performance in terms of drive and aggression. |  | | |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 13:11 - Apr 20 with 372 views | billlm |
| Been a mixed week and a bit hasn't it? on 10:33 - Apr 20 by Steve_M |
Yes, principally him there. It was a dreadful ball.
It really hasn't been ideal for him to have played only twice since early March either. |
In a big game like that not at all, | | | |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
