That’s an interesting stat, last season we had Pedro, Sarr and an over bloated squad of ego’s, expectations were to get promoted, we shipped out something like 20 players brought in less than half that number in the summer in a expense cutting operation, the very fact that the manager was given a new contract when results weren’t good shows the owner has settled on consolidating as much as he can with as little as possible money at risk! we are performing at the moment better than the sum of our parts, that is what the manager is getting judged on, not necessarily our league position!
Yes, he seems very sharp when the ball is flashed in. It's as if Haaland takes over his body in that moment and he executes his finish superbly. But other than that, the guy is pretty useless. Can't jump for the ball in aerial challenges, can't control it, can't make simple layoff passes. He's just not ready for Championship football, as it's too fast for him. He needs a lot more time on the ball than he's ever going to get. That chance you mentioned should have been finished easily, but it's probably the first time he's had a chance where he has time to think and he fired it straight at the keeper. Something Gray or Bayo would do. If he's now going to miss good chances, then that's it, he's going to be of no use to us whatsoever.
Yes, for me, apart from the zonal marking issue, Ismael is doing a very decent job getting a tune out of what is really a low level squad. I think he's only average as a tactician though, but it's his personality and how players respond to him that's the most impressive. But, I can now feel a bad run of results looming. Of the next 8 matches, 6 are away. This will probably have an impact of our run of good results and by the end of that, I think we'll really see where we are as a side. We've had 12 at home and 9 away games so far this season, so it's really twisted things in our favour a bit. We are crap away, and that has to improve or else we will be towards the bottom of the table, there's no doubt about it.
We were crap away, but having won at Swansea and Hull at least gives us confidence that we can go away and put up a good show! Agree. After the next 8 games will be interesting to see where we are!
I just think Ipswich were nothing out of the ordinary at all. All that hype but if you told me they were mid-table it wouldn't have surprised me. I can't understand how they've won 16 out of 21 matches. You have to be incredible to achieve that. Maybe they were leggy, as they had played Boro away on Saturday, travelling down to Watford from that, probably there was some tiredness. For me, I thought Ipswich were beatable, but we handed the points to them.
That's a good thing especially by how poor we "zonal" mark from corner kicks. I hate the system personally, we did it under Silva towards the end and we just never have the players' to suit such a system. Man mark, get tight to whoever is closest to the goal and there you go. Man City Zonal mark and it more or less works for them as they have the quality to perform it. Our problem is still more down to individual errors. That's the second time this season Hoedt has cost us a goal in such a fashion, but I blame Kayembe more as his stray wayward pass to him right into danger with two Ipswich players closing him down was a poor move.
One of those games, nothing to get upset about. We played a team that's comfortably going up but were in the game, probably shaded it but just weren't good enough. They are going to get absolutely marmalised in the Premier League, reminds me of when we went up twice in two years and their promotion will probably come too early for them. Their manager has them really well drilled and seems to be getting the maximum out of some pretty average players but if they try to play like that one league higher, they'll be smashed. Good luck to them though, always like back to back promotion teams.
Agreed, they didn't have much of a sniff at our goal until Hoedt's slip. But the little chances they did have, they finished well. That's probably why they are where they are. I did think that they moved the ball quickly from free kicks which will catch teams unaware.
Also, Lol at the people in the DNSYE spaces blaming the result of Ed Shereen being in the Directors Box with EJ.
With their winning goal, no blame on Hamer as he was left badly exposed, but I had visions of Bachmann saving that. This is one of those situations where Bachmann usually excels. I think it’s time he’s recalled.
I felt sorry for Hoedt who was superb all game apart from when dropping the bo11ock that handed Ipswich their winning goal. That moment aside, it was a very enjoyable match that we were unfortunate to lose. Val has turned us into a decent side and if it wasn't for the fact that our two main strikers are quite possibly the worst footballers of all time we'd have a good chance of making the play offs
Morning @Teide1 Hope you're well? When comparing seasons, I feel it's worth remembering it was around this time last season (coming back again after the World Cup) when our form dipped badly. In fact over the last 25 matches of the season (from Gameweek 22 onwards) we only won 30 points. So while we may be only 4 points ahead of where we were after 21 matches last season (which I still feel is fairly decent tbh after all the upheaval), we have plenty to scope to widen this gap over the coming weeks!
Cheers @Malteser2 thanks for checking on my health I actually have covid so couldn't go last night, but I'm fine didn't want to pass it onto the players as we are thin on the ground anyway interestingly out of our first 10 games this season we got 10 points, with 18 coming in our 2nd 10 games, a huge improvement. The first 10 games results over the whole of the season would see us end up 21st and the 2nd 10 - 3rd based on last seasons table. Put them together and we are where we are 11th!
Its called a joke, which is generally more entertaing to read rather than relentless negativity, that has clearly proven to be wrong.
Just watched the Benjamin Bloom vlog. He was at the match last night and I was interested to hear his take on his team's performance (he's an Ipswich fan in case some don't know). Basically, he's amazed the Ipswich keep winning. Put it down to muscle memory and bl00dy good coaching. Seems like it was a usual performance from them, so it is a surprise to me that they keep winning games as they do. I personally think they'll fade over the second half of the season, but have done enough to be in the top six. I cannot see them going up automatically though.
We're not a top 3 or 4 side which I think we all know but the last few weeks has shown we can mix it with the better sides while beating the lesser teams which bodes well for the season. I thought Ipswich were decent first half especially in midfield where they constantly found space but we hung in there. Second half they fell away a bit and we looked like the most likely winners until Hoedt's brain fart. I think we look a decent side and top half is definitely achievable and if we're in the top half you never know what could happen. As for January I think a replacement for Louza is important. Not so fussed on the keeper front but a goal scorer would clearly be nice. Would like Healey to have more game time to see what he can offer. A back up for Livermore would be nice but I get the feeling we won't any signings in January
Our worst performance of the season by a long long way. A draw would have been the fair outcome, Your left winger in the first half was good. My head hurts.
Yes, I thought it must have been a bad day at the office for you. I didn't think Ipswich were a side capable of winning 16 from 21 games, based on that performance. Clearly you must be a lot better usually. Sadly we also had an off night too, so the two things cancelled each other out.
Yawn. Aug 28: "[Gino] has to be careful, as we’re prime to be relegated. All the signs are there for me. Selling the club as a League One enterprise would be a disaster for him financially, but you reap what you sow in this life." https://wfcforums.com/index.php?thr...-rovers-27-08-2023.60492/page-12#post-3273140 Oct 4: "Finally.....looks like people have realised....we're not going to the play offs, we're not mid-table......WE'RE in a relegation scrap. If nothing changes we're going down. The situation is that bad." https://wfcforums.com/index.php?thr...tford-fc-04-10-2023.60558/page-5#post-3282332 Oct 5: "This is why dysfunctional clubs get relegated, and we are as dysfunctional as they come." https://wfcforums.com/index.php?thr...tford-fc-04-10-2023.60558/page-9#post-3282586 Oct 18: "Just exactly what are we trying to achieve here? A nice hard working team which gets relegated?" https://wfcforums.com/index.php?threads/valerien-ismael-manager.60247/page-26#post-3285442
This type of thing always amazes me. For years, the same people try the same points scoring tactics. I don't understand why you have the energy for this. But thanks for highlighting that I've never said we WILL go down. That's much appreciated.
Saying repeatedly that we could well be relegated is in direct contradiction to your claim that "I've always maintained we'll stay up". If you don't lie to begin with there'd be no need to call you out on it.
Four points is hardly a massive yard stick, and it could be the fact that we won two and drew one of our first three games. It's a tiny margin. I would also expect that that sorry excuse for a side last season would not of won at Hull, lost to Southampton and got hammered a bit more than we did last night. I really like the direction we are going, and as many have said, cut out the silly mistakes that are unforced errors by the opposition and we could finish just outside the playoffs. Although we do need to find a striker who can score from two yards. Still cannot get over that air shot miss.
Just read all the links, just in case you were right about this.....but as I suspected, I've never said we'd get relegated. You've just quoted things out of context to desperately make it sound like I did. It's extremely sad to have these motives, and it's not the first time you've gone for people on this forum for no reason. Spinning the truth for your own bizarre needs. Remind me, how many times have you been banned on this forum? That's a rhetorical question btw. Thinking back (and I'm not into the hours of research like you are on the matter), but I don't think I've ever read a worthwhile post from you.....only this type of crap, so I'll happily put you on ignore knowing when you reply (which you will) I won't see it, which will probably enrage you even further.
The quotes are not taken out of context. The posts are all doom-mongering ones. You claimed that "I've always maintained we'll stay up", which is patently false as you've said on numerous occasions we could well get relegated. Quit digging.
Thought that may be the case, your worst performance of the season vs one of our best, yet we still lost. Hoping you go up as Champions, better than it being Leicester or Leeds!
