Oldham looked a good side and for the first 10 minutes we were all over 'em, however, for the rest of the half we never had a touch. The problem was Hourihane/Bailey & Berry never worked together - when one went to press, the others stood off and vice versa so it was so simple for them to get in between and then straight at our defence. It's not that they're ***** or bad players, it's just something they need to learn. If we're comfortable with this wingers formation then they need to learn it sharpish. Williams looked quick & thought despite some poor touches you could start to see some pace from Treacy and some good ideas - getting there. Second half we were just as ****, except we scored two goals. We weren't all over them, there were still loads of sloppy play and poor passes but we got two belters. Dunno if that's a sign we were lucky or we're a good side who pulls it back when we're poor - either way, I'll take it. We definitely need this target man Danny's been talking about - not to pump it long to but to give their centre halves something to think about. Winnall worked hard but it's not his game. He was getting some hammer from around me but he was isolated & we were hitting it long to him on his own at some points. Chuffed when he got the goal (which was a screamer if you've not seen it). RE Hourihane, bit disappointed these last few games. When he first came he was busting a b.llock to get up front, get a shot off. Last couple of times I've seen him he's been ok just sat deep, playing sideways passes. Sure that's not forever but few times last night he could've got a shot off but just went sideways. Like a young David Fox... Nyatanga was the worst player on the pitch - that first half they could & should have scored 10 with the chances they got. In fact, they could've scored the same second half too but Ross Turnbull was outstanding. Said last night he'll win us 15 points this year. James Bree was getting a hard time but thought he coped really well with them targetting him - some player now never mind in a couple of years. So in summary, we deserved nowt, we nearly got and we'd dropped our best 2 centre halves. I'll take that.
Do you think we're still expecting too much? In 96-97 we outplayed the vast majority of teams who came to Oakwell and then some. Away from home we did that occasionally, but more often than not we soaked up a lot of pressure and scored some fabulous goals. We only lost 5 games on our travels all season, but we weren't destroying teams for the other 18 games. At Man City in that run of 5 straight league wins at the start of the season they piled the pressure on all game. We got the ball to Marcelle twice, he outpaced the defence and scored on both occasions. Grimsby scored 2 at their place, but we won because Hendrie scored a hat-trick of back-heels. Who does that? And that's before we mention Neil Redfearn. De Zeeuw was one of the best central defenders in the league, ably assisted by either Davies or Moses. Watson was a fantastic keeper. They could handle teams throwing the kitchen sink at us. We then had players like Bullock and Marcelle who could break at pace, plus Redfearn and Hendrie who could score goals out of nowt. We've got Ramage. He may not be as classy as De Zeeuw, but he's just as strong. Cranie will provide him excellent back up. Turnbull has only played a few games but he already looks brilliant. Cole is probably faster than either Bullock or Marcelle and he's got plenty of skill. And if it's there's one thing we're not missing this season it's spectacular goals. This team is nowhere near as good as the 96-97 team, but we don't need to be, we're in a division below. It does have all the same ingredients to get results on the road. We've played 7 away from home now and only lost one in normal time. OK, we lost on pens yesterday, but it's difficult to legislate for that. In the actual game we came back from two goals down to secure a draw by scoring two fantastic goals. That's a good result for me. We did that sort of thing all the time in the promotion season and we didn't always do it by dominating the game, but no one complained (actually some probably did, we just didn't all use the internet to hear them). Yesterday we did it when trying out a new central defensive partnership, who clearly aren't as good as our first choice. We may want to see Barnsley outplay the opposition on our travels, but we're not going to a lot of the time. What we need is the results and we're getting them. Now, to sort out the home form...
Maybe some are, I don't think so though. I think my only expectation last night was that we'd create some chances & we'd put a tackle in every now and again - we did neither. The best thing is that, like you said, we're picking up results away - no one can complain about that. And the fact Cranie & Ramage were missing, we've a side that is still a little light in certain areas and key players like Jennings/Treacy/Lita/Bailey aren't yet fit/firing on all cylinders makes me think there's absolutely f.ck all to worry about - play offs.
Each game is a point in time - just 90 mins of football, so taking 1 game in isolation you can argue that we are as good or as bad as you please (and further hammer those individual players you don't like) - but this season is 46 games long, and argue the toss all you like about the why's and wherefore's but it IS a new squad, and it will take time to work - during that initial period there'll be inconsistancies, some brilliant performances, some awful ones. If we can see progress, individuals getting better, formations/tactics evolving and changing if they don't work then we should (imho) be happy. I don't think we'll get top 6 this season - that may horrify some folk, but meh. It's 1 season out of hopefully a lot that the bulk of this squad will play together. Providing the 'board' and the chief executive etc show some b0llocks.
I suppose you could argue that if you come from 2-0 down and score two good goals you must be doing something right. I'd take what managers say in interviews with a pinch of salt mate.
Had last night's game been in the league we would have been enthusing about ho w we came back from 2 down and snatched a point we scarcely deserved against what on the night looked like a decent team. The mark of a good team we would have crowed. It wasn't though, it was a cup game were we should have gone and had a good go with nothing really to lose, but other than the first 5 minutes, a 5 minute spell after the first goal and a couple of minutes of injury time after the 2nd we offered next to nothing. The ease in which oldham ran through our midfield and defense was at times embarrassing and had there players shown the same composure in the 90 minutes that they did with the penalties we would have been on the end of a proper tonking. IMO last night was as bad as anything we have offered up this season and probably last. We could argue it wasn't our first choice 11, but other than the fulham lad they have all had a decent chunk of playing time this season but for long periods last night they looked like total strangers.
Can't comment on last night as I wasn't there, but I don't doubt your analysis for a second. Thing is, on Saturday, all the things that you've described that were wrong with our game we did right. Not all the time, but for much of the time. And we won the game. Yesterday, despite the poor performance, we got a draw. Two away games in four days: won one, drew one. With such a young team you've got to expect inconsistencies. Away from home we're getting those inconsistencies in the performances, but the results are consistent. We rarely get anywhere close to going 6 games undefeated in 7 games on the road. What we're proving at the moment is that you don't have to dominate away from home to get the results. We may not be playing the best football, but we have players in the team who can get us a result. As long as that continues, I don't have a problem. We're League 1, not the Premier League. The opposition are going to get chances and they're going to miss. We can say 'if they had scored this' or 'if they had scored that' and beat the team up for allowing the opposition goal scoring opportunities, but in this league they often don't convert. Not just against us, against everyone. Defences aren't as good which allow the opposition chances, but strikers aren't as good which means they don't score all those chances. We're used to the Championship where they do, in this league they don't and it's summat we'll get used to. At home it's a different story. MK Dons and Swindon did us, completely. Personally, I don't think we're going to see that sort of quality on a regular basis at Oakwell, but we'll have to wait and see. What we've got to do, against the weaker teams, is put in the kind of performance we showed against Gillingham.
Soon as team was announced it didn't look good. Cranie missing, Ramage should have started to get up his fitness, Dudgeon back in the team, one up front etc. Two weak goals to conceed. Dudgeon at fault for another goal and Nyatanga doing worse for the second goal. We kept a clean sheet last weekend so I didn't expect half the defence to be swapped. Oh well i'm sure plenty are glad we are out of the 'tinpot'. Just disapointing being the worst side in the Radio Sheffield region. Both in league position and others getting further than us in cups.
My main concern is the attitude of the team. I'm not expecting good results or massive team cohesion at this stage but we appear to come out flat often in the first half and always in the second half. When we are behind and expect a response, it usually gets worse before it gets better. I have no idea what's being said during the pre-match and half-time talks but it doesn't appear to be working.
Worry though he's been at fault for something like six goals in his last four or so games for us. If he starts against Bradford
Dys did Brown look anymore a Central Defender than he has at Reight Back despite the poor display. You know were there any positive signs.?
I think it was really difficult considering what, in my opinion, was a really bad performance from Nyatanga. I don't recall any real mistakes so suppose that's a good thing? You forget he's only 22, less games than RNL in his career. He probably needs Ramage more than Bree right now.
We came out flying first ten minutes yesterday, all over them. Same beginning of second half. Not sure you can question the attitude when we've come behind more in games this year than we have for ages - they do work hard, especially the front lads, and when they all do we look much better.
