notnowcato

It really isnt. If Will Smallbone is able to find space in the box, receive a ball from a cut back and calmly score twice I'm sure as hell Vardy and Iheanacho would do the same and some more. Many crosses have fizzed invitingly across our oppos box with none of our strikers remotely close, taking a chance, they're just not natural predators in the mould of rat boy.

Well I'd obviously disagree with that

There are many reasons why. A significant factor / differentiator between us, at quite a fundamental level, is that they have central strikers in Vardy and Iheanacho scoring at much higher rate than 1 goal in every 2 matches. I'm not sure dropping Adams or Mara into Leicester would see them emulate Vardy or Iheanacho's scoring record.

It is making things up when you present opinion as fact. Reread the original post that I responded to.

Yep playing against inferior oppo does help, I think JBs performance levels have increased since the passive centre back we saw earlier on in the campaign.

Coming up against a low block of 5-4 is something we're going to need to find more solutions to. Hopefully having a strong striker will give us more options.

At fault for their second goal, yeah JB played his part as did the rest of the team ahead of him at the moment of making that pass, Edozie caught on his heels not aware of the danger. Not sure what pass was on to JB's right but I don't recall thinking why didn't you pass to KWP, AA or SM. Were the players ahead of him not as brave as they need to be to make an option for JB following the equaliser? It all plays its part and unfair to single JB as the sole contributor to that.

Well, not really

Valuable insights, you're too kind

For the record, m'lud, you swerve straight forward questions like: "Are we not doing this?" and "Do you expect improvement to be a straight line graph to perfection?" but yeah preach away whilst avoiding questions thrown back at your points, on us not using hindsight and tweaks blah blah - like you have some inner knowledge of the workings of the manager and the backroom staff. I've acknowledged we've had better performances in October than last night. Give your Dimbleby-like questioning a rest or enlighten me with your deep knowledge of the game.

The best angle to judge the first was from behind the goal. As the ball is dropping, he takes a step to his right to get sight of the ball, leaving too much of the goal to his left, had he taken a step to his left and therefore being more central I think he saves it - deflection or not. The 2nd was a good finish, sometimes they hit you sometimes they don't, could he have been more off his line to shut the angle? Probably.

I suspect JB is instructed to do both and it's for JB to decide based upon what he sees ahead of him. Being critical of RM based upon something you've made up is unhealthy, and only feeds a narrative not helping anyone.

You've talked about hindsight and tweaks. What hindsight did you garner from Hull? What tweaks should we have made for PNE? What tweaks should we have made that weren't implemented? Are you expecting improvement to be a straight line graph to perfection?

What do you think SM?

I've not seen any post match stuff from RM so not sure if he "continues to hide behind the excuse" as you put it. I could be wrong but I also don't remember it being said in any pre match stuff.

Are we not doing this? Last night was not as good a performance as Hull or Rotherham or Stoke or Leeds but overall October has been significantly better than September, there's also a good chance November will be better than October.

It's hard comparing squads 7 years or so apart, particularly when 1 squad hasn't even played 30% of the season. I don't think this current squad is limited either but equally we should be fair and give them the season to prove themselves.

Fuck me, I nearly agreed with you, the last half of the last sentence let yourself down 😉 Out of curiosity; how do you know what RM's instructions are to JB with regards to carrying the ball out of defence?

I'd like to think so, play offs more likely than automatic. There's a long way to go, the team are showing some strength, we've played most of the top 10 teams - only Cardiff and West Brom to complete the set. Looking forward to seeing Ross Stewart in our red and white.

He did have a fucking good squad too: VVD, Fonte, Bertrand, Soares, Wanyama, Romeu, Davis, Mane, Tadic, Pelle - sure I've missed some out as well

It was under hit, slightly misdirected, yes. Inexcusable? Bit harsh. JB is looking a much better player this season though, more aggressive, more leadership.

In the last 2 or 3 games Sulemana has gotten to the byline in the oppos area and made 4 great cut backs without a striker on the end. An instinctive striker like a Vardy would be lapping that kind of service up. Both our goals v Hull were from crosses or cut backs from the byline, it's clearly something we're trying to do and hopefully Stewart will be helping himself to.

Completely agree, 11 points from 15, having pushed KWP more forward, unacceptable.

As I said, it's a matter of opinion

Erm probably because we played KWP much higher than we did Bree, we've been doing this for a few games now.