It did look a bit dark in places, I prefer more of a bright green. I was actually quite pleased with the performance last night. Kind of. I thought a few players were atrocious and showed how desperately we need to sign some key players but the window is still open so hopefully. But what I took away from the game most was that the manager has balls to change things. We moved to 4 4 2 and looked a different side.
Just like last year I didn't think we were going to win the league by Christmas because we won 7-0 after last night I don't think we will be down with the trimmings. We need more that is obvious as it stands I think we have a mid table squad the next 3 weeks will see how much ambition we have. I think they hoped they would get away with it in the short term but last night showed we won't.
Relax was the debut single by Frankie Goes to Hollywood released in 1983 and written in 1982. The song stalled at number 77 but a performance on The Tube in late 1983 helped it to climb to number 35 in the charts. In Jan 1984 Radio 1 DJ Mike Read stopped playing it mid spin refusing to air it ever again. The rest of BBC followed. This move pushed it to number 1. It became the 6th best selling single in the UK of all time. Sorry couldn't resist and thought it would cheer everyone up after the disappointment of last night.
I was really happy last night. Loved being back at the well and at times the atmosphere was brilliant. Think some of our players were still in holiday mode, Mansfield had that just promoted passion and energy about them that caught us cold. Pass and move and we didn't follow their players on the move. Two lovely goals for them. But then we went 442 and we slowly started to get a handle on things. Jon Russell was good, calm, breaking up attacks and getting balls forward when possible. Watters was fast and did some good work, but he is so lacking in confidence, choosing to lay off rather than shoot and shooting timidly when he eventually did. There's a player in there, but he needs to force him to the surface. Second half we came out meaning business. The play was faster, we were winning second balls and the crowd responded. Could/should have had several goals really. O'Keefe needs to back himself, he's fast and nimble, take players on, make mistakes and go back for more. Terrorise those defenders.
I thought it was good to have a manager who reacts to what's happening on the pitch. Seen too many managers who just stick with it until 75th minute then lob a load of subs on to to the same thing
Speaking of the pitch it seems to have been narrowed slightly. After 30 years of staring straight down the ES touchline, last night I found it to be a good yard to my left.
I think a day later, now we've had time to think about it a bit more. And the fact that all the other teams have played as well now. We shouldn't see many more bad opening 20+ minutes like that again, surely Clarke will do his best to make sure of that. And hopefully we are working right now, on trying to grab a striker who can score at this level. Its just disappointing though that if or when we get one, it could be 4 or 5 games in before we get going. Which means the early pace setters will have a head start over us, yet again!.
Great summary. I share the same frustrations about O’Keeffe - that’s why with all his imperfections I prefer Barry. He has a go even when he hasn’t got it right the time before. I think O’Keeffe has it in him but my lad calls him Cut-Back Corey.
I said at the start I'd have preferred to see Lofthouse start at RWB, based on his preseason outings. Look, at the end of the day we're 3 points off the top with 135 to play for!
He looked lively when he came on and I like how he's prepared to run at players, him and Jalo could add a new dimension to our attacking play.
