Today IMO (with free stats included!)

Blackpool schooled us in the art of short pass and move football. They have some cracking front/wide players, and were always going to be a threat down the flanks.
When I realised we had our worst RB at LB, and our even worse LB at RB, I feared the worst. And lets be fair, we took the lead against the run of play - big time. And it took an absolute DREAM ball from Wonderfield to make it so..
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We then stepped up our own attacking game, and created 2 great chances where on another day you would hope they'd go in. But again, it wasnt to be. I am losing count of the times we have missed sitters when we are in the ascendancy. It cost us again.
Maybe Luke Steele should have done better today, but we are all entitled to an off day. And he was due one after his near exemplary record until now.
The goals all looked avoidable to me, but its rare that they arent.. and again, lets be fair, Blackpool deserved the win way more than we did. They took the few clear chances presented to them - we didnt.
But as an attacking force, we will not see many teams come to Oakwell and play like that. Even at 1-2 they had the back 4 on halfway, looking for the 3rd..
So well done them, they were great.
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As for us, I hate to be critical. And there were great performances from O'Brien - until injured - and Butterfield who fared well despite having to sit a lot deeper than he'd like. And my personal MOTM was ex-Tangerine Rob Edwards. He was exactly what we needed, what we have been missing of late.
But, I have to be myself, and say what I see/saw..
As I said at the start, the decision to play Wiseman left and JayMac right, baffled me. I can understand the cutting-in point that has been made, but Jay is the most one-footed player ever, and is up there with Keith Brown at defending one-on-one. It was early season all over again, and if we need anything in January its a LB.
I dont usually mind Wiseman, but here are a couple of telling stats..
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Bobby Hassell has started 13 league games. In those games, we have lost just twice. Ipswich being one, and Pompey being the other, where he was subbed at half time with the score at 0-0. We then lost 2-0..
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Scott Wiseman has also started 13 games now. And in those games we have lost 8 times. So out of his 13 starts, we have suffered 8 of our 9 defeats..
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Now of course they are both just one part of the team, and not solely to blame for any defeat. But those stats dont lie IMO. When Hassell plays we rarely lose. When Wiseman plays there, we lose a lot.. A helluva lot.
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I hear the argument that we miss Drinkwater, and whilst I agree, I doubt he would have made a big difference today. He cant make the full-backs defend.. and in his 15 starts for us, we won 5, drew 5, and lost 5, conceding 20 goals if you dont count the Ipswich reverse in which he started..
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Stats are **** though. But ProZone is great apparently..
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Im not too down, 3 defeats or not. The issues are fixable.
Bring on the Derbies...
YOU REDS!

 

Drinkwater would have made a massive difference his performances this season have been overlooked to what he brings to the team. Agree with the fullbacks today though out sorts in that area.

 

but hassell got ripped to parts in games when the club won.
posh away been one ect.
wiseman played well again.

 

We started the season badly with Wiseman and JayMac.
Bobby came in and we went ages without defeat. In fact, until we lost to Pompey once Bobby went off at half time.
We then lost 4 in 7 without him.
He came back in and we won 4 on the spin. Then we lost to Ipswich with him, and now we have lost another 2 games without him.
Anybody trying to dispel his effect, or saying that the stats/results are ********, need a word with themselves

 

yes but a win or a loss doesnt mean they played good or bad.

I thought since the start of dec Wisemans impressed in every game ive seen.

hassell had a shocker at london road.
didnt think he or any of the defenders played well against palace until wiseman came on and he seemed to improve things.
hassell had a shocker against ipswich. 9 goals 3 games and hassell got ripped about for 4 of them. he had to be left out.
not aiming this at anyone but with hassell people think with there heart not there head.

 

He was poor against Peterbro I will give you that. But he wasnt alone in that department when Ipswich got 5 goals.
Its got nowt to do with heart Philip. My head tells me that I like Wiseman, but I like Hassell more. And the stats back it up.
Nowt against Wiseman, he should play WITH Hassell.
Its McEveley that wants dropping, permanently if today is how he's going to play

 

I found this thread, where I claimed to like Wiseman. Must have been the xmas alcohol taking effect.
I think the stats I pointed out were very telling though. I'd love to know our win/lose ratio when Wiseman starts. Bet it's worse than Keith's personal record.

 

If it helps YT I always liked sheron

 

As did I.
Think we formed the Mike Sheron Appreciation Society a few months ago in a different thread.

 

Yeah your right mate and if my mind serves me correct it was a very small membership