Particularly enjoyable at the moment these matchday recaps Thought it was interesting what Moncur said about every player knows their job on and off the ball now something that didn't happen last season.
That's something that Hecky used to bang on about and for 12 months or so it seemed exactly the situation. Makes you wonder what went wrong last season. Too many new faces with too much collectively to learn I guess.
Had to smile at the BBC Sport website summary of the match that included 2 paragraphs...."supplied by Press Assocation".. "Bradford, who included nine summer signings in their starting line-up, almost equalised two minutes later when Hope Akpan crossed from the right and Sean Scannell just failed to connect with the goal at his mercy. They continued to probe the visitors' defence both before and after half-time but struggled to create clear-cut chances and Barnsley put the result beyond doubt with their second goal in the 69th minute." They make it sound like they were on the offensive most of the time. Perhaps I was watching a different game but apart from one near own goal situation I don't remember them so much as struggling to create cut chances but not creating any never mid "probing our defence" The reds totally dominated game overall. In fairness they did say we controlled the game after the 2nd goal.
Good watch that. As I said yesterday you sense that this team are " together" and what's more, they all appear to rate their Coach, which in football is half the battle. In my view, as Reds fans if the team can keep this early momentum going, we are in for a decent season. Come on you Reds.
Hecky never the same manager after being linked to the Sunderland job - became too cautious (perhaps protecting his CV?) Oddly only glimpse we then got of his coaching ability was against Sunderland on New Year's Day. Lost his way - perhaps that's what he is reflecting on during his year long sabbatical.
If they keep this momentum going, we are in for an Awesome season. Be so nice if they do keep it up and we went on a really good early run.
Absolutely first class this. I actually started welling up at the end. Early days yet, but I think we will easily be in one of the top two positions. Our management team is first class. Our assistant, who does the pressers is clearly management material himself. Happy days. We'll win 3 more & lose to Torquay in front of the cameras.
Picked up on that in his full interview (as well as saying about Wimbledon (his first club), good luck Saturday, you're going to need it!) I think 2 things happened last season. First, PH tried to create a team in the way he had previously that just weren't suited (then he tinkered to death). And in so doing, browbeat them into thinking they weren't very good. Indeed, some of his interviews he said as much explicitly. There were a few times we seemed paralysed with fear after a few good initial results and we just lost all creativity. Without Hourihane to rescue us with amazing set pieces and a great shot, we struggled. But what PH did do was persistently focus on the opposition and probably scare these players he'd browbeaten, to death. Then came Morais who seemed to do no detail, no planning, nothing... and the players who were so used to being forcefed detail on the opponent felt totally lost. What I like about Stendel and his assistants, they are focusing on us. What we want to do, and make the opponent worry. They've been good with substitutions too and really impacted on the two games with them. It feels more like Barnsley. Don't worry about the opponent too much, just beat them by imposing ourselves and pressing and working hard. It's how we've always bloodied noses. Breath of fresh air, and I suspect that's why the players are noticeably enjoying it again.