This is on the manager. We could have won that game. Winning creates a winning mentality. There was no need to sabotage a good game.of football. Did we even have a midfielder in the second half? We played the first half with an identity. Im so fed up of loosing at the Well.
I don't want any first team players playing in a meaningless joke of a competition like this 100% agree with the decision to (mostly) play the kids
yeah, i didn't put the result in either category. It wasn’t that important to us. But both teams changed a ruck of players. Ours didn't look good enough individually or as a team 2nd half - just a fact whatever the reason
Well it was certainly our changes that changed the game. I said in an earlier thread that Nejman wasn’t in the game. I felt we were very comfortable all over the pitch first half without playing particularly well. The second half was painful to watch
I do think Nejman was really poor, the last 3 times I've watched him he's probably been our worst player, which isn't a great sign given he's actually 20 year old, 21 in about 3 week
It goes above the manager. The whole focus is on the youth and the academy to uncover our next John Stones, lack of proper first team signings because of this so called golden generation. It's pie in the sky stuff all instigated from the boardroom. Ultimately the manager is the one who will eventually get the sack but I don't blame him. The squad is threadbare and the youngsters are our only back up.
I think it was more alarming how some of the first team players didn't look up to it. Marsh and O'Keefe in particular. I think only Lofthouse, and because he scored twice, Yoganathan come out with any credit, and even they were much less effective when moved positions in the second half.
If you’re honest, I think most of us would have enjoyed the first half. Particularly enjoyed watching lofthouse and yoganathan working well together and actually creating (and taking) chances. Thought the defence looked ok and Wilkinson certainly should be happy. however….too many changes at half time and any cohesion and threat we has was gone. that said, a decent strike and a wonder goal left us hoping for penalties as we knew we wouldn’t score again. First half taught us good things Second half reinforced that we don’t have strength in depth. oh and o’keefe shouldn’t play for us again
Agree with this. I’ve never seen a player as one footed. Seems to constantly slow the game down & give it away. I’ve at least seen some promise from most of the other youngsters but I’ve watched Nejman a handful of times now & haven’t seen anything that suggests he should still be with us in his 20’s.
Paint pot trophy games if level after 90 minutes go to penalties. Losing team get the 1 point as a draw. The winners get 2 points instead of 3 for outright win
Yes, Nejman looked absolutely lost from the moment he came on, poor lad. I thought Dyer struggled too, was looking forward to having a look. If the academy model is to find a Golden Egg, then Vimal looking like the only one who'll give us a good return. And it won't be for Stones type money either.
It’s not the line up that upsets me, it’s the so called senior players who played the full 90. The 5 who almost finished that game can leave tomorrow, and be replaced by some players with a backbone. They let the young lands down badly. You can see why McCarthy and Lopata dont get into the first team on that performance. We probably needed a couple more senior players on the bench to help out.
Completely lost control of the game when Benson & Russell went off. I thought the lack of discipline was pathetic. Bland was lucky to stay on but then O’Keefe completely disgraced himself. Yoganathan looks a better forward than midfielder to me, Lofthouse is going to be a useful player this season with his versatility & clear ability. I suppose it’s minutes for most of the squad players but I can’t imagine that’s done much for confidence. I’m not sure I see what Bobby sees in Bland. I’d like to see the goals back but I thought he was at least partly at fault for two of them. That’s the worst I’ve ever seen Marsh play. He looked like getting goals & assists last season in this competition. Tonight he looked terrible. I don’t see anything in Nejman. First look at Dyer & McCann so I won’t be too harsh but neither played well. On a positive note a massive congratulations to Oliver Wilkinson. What an achievement.