Let's be frank - we absolutely dominated Derby today, played them off the park and made them look like they were a division below us. Our midfield made a mockery of theirs, Robbie Savage couldn't get near anyone, and our passing was slick, precise, and superb. We were playing in to feet first time, some nice one-twos and there was a real South American quality to our temp and control. JCR was fantastic - he took the piss out of both their full backs, and worked extremely hard going forward and coming back. That's all good and very reassuring for the run in. If we can play sides off the park like that in the coming weeks I'm sure that we will be fine. El Haimour was very good when he came on, and really added to the attack. Shame his cross that hit the post didn't sneak in. If Macken had been awake he might have got the rebound, but by then he was nackered. The downside was the haunting feeling that remains with me that the old problems are still there though: 1) Powder puff front line - both Misfud and Macken both missed sitters. Macken's was particularly painful as anything at all on target would have hit the back of the net. Misfud missed two one-on-one chances with their keeper (although he worked particularly hard to chase down the second opportunity for himself). 2) Not creating chances. Dominating the game, but passing it endlessly around the edge of the 18 yard box, with little flicks and touches because nobody wants to either i) put it in the box and let the strikers attack it or ii) put their foot through the bloody thing and test the keeper is incredibly frustrating. While we caused nightmares for their midfield, and for their full backs, their centre backs weren't that troubled. 3) FFS Davey - Macken was dead on his feet at 70 minutes and needed fetching off. If Bogdanovic had been used I believe we would have scored. For the last ten minutes it was like we were playing one man up front and an extra man in midfield. Still think that we have a good first team that is under performing. With a better manager we should have a comfortable Championship side (instead of an arse clenching relegation battle).
Hi brf, i agree with most of it but i thought that macken played well. you say macken missed one but is this the one in the second half what they keeper saved.
Point 1) Mackens shot was on target but Bywater got something to it, if it wasnt for him it could have bee atleast 3-0. Point 2) Agreed Point 3) Agreed to an extent. Hindsight is a wonderufl thing. Still undecided on Davey
I agree that Macken was good (trying to play others in rather than actually threatening to score) - but I thought that at about seventy minutes he looked really tired. That's not his fault, he's just at that stage of his career. As for the miss, it was the chance at the back post (second half) that fell to him, ended up going high and wide - didn't see a save, but it seemed to take him an age to put his foot through it. I can't actually remember Macken having any other shots - on target or otherwise. I think it was the moment when everybody was stood in disbelief tearing their own hair out of their heads.
Point 3 isn't really hindsight. It seemed apparent to me and a number of people around me that at about seventy minutes it was time for Davey to change Macken for Boggy. **** knows what goes through Davey's mind. You can probably tell that I've made my mind up about Davey For what it's worth - I think Davey: 1) Is v. poor tactically. I'm not saying I would know better - the difference is, it's not my job. 2) Doesn't know what the **** to do in the final third. I harbour a suspicion that we could sign a prime Alan Shearer and subject him to a five goal season in the championship. We have signed a player who has scored a couple, and looks like a goal scorer, so we don't pick him (wtf?) 3) Will never be able to take us out of the perpetual cycle of relegation battles 4) Won't get fired before the end of the season, and won't get sacked before he relegates us (so if we stay up, I think he will stay, even though I'd like to see him go).
