notnowcato

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.

you seem to have forgotten one quite important stat from the first half.... other than that I'm with you

Come on, write off Bednarek's great start to the season because of a misplaced pass that ends in a goal for the oppo?? Fickle or what.

Disagree. Football is easy when you can time travel and adjust something which will obviously (I'm being facetious) make things better.

Leeds. It's a matter of opinion. I like the passing, keep possession game, others don't. Whatever floats your boat

Shea had an off night last night, all players do, not necessarily a systems fault. Shea had an off night last time out for NI, definitely not RM's system at fault. Shea is a young man playing arguably the most difficult position on the pitch, experience and game time is crucial for him - we've seen the player he will become, I think his form is more to do with his inexperience than anything else. Bednarek looks a much better player this season than last and the previous one to that. Jack Stephens before he got injured had clearly improved for us. Stu A is finding his form again. Smallbone is at least as good as he was with Stoke. Downes looks a different player the last 3 games. Kameldeen and Alcarez look dangerous and I believe will improve again when they have a central striker in front of them and in form.

6 points. The Wednesday game we played keep ball for the 10 minutes of injury time.

Those moaning about the manager clearly missed the JW message that the style is here to stay, whether it be RM or someone else. Our performance tonight didn’t deserve a point tonight but we deserved more than 1 point from Rotherham.

Adams has been the biggest disappointment. Armstrong hasn’t really played as a 9 this season. Alcaraz did a sterling job leading the line but clearly isn’t a striker but arguably has been the best of the 3 that have played the role. Mara has been poor but not really expected anything different, disappointing but true. Armstrong has played well as an 8 but time for him to shift to 9 and allow Charly to take the 8 spot.