poitier

1 hour ago, bobzy said:

We don't even really need that many more goals.

We've scored 38 goals in the league this season - that puts us at a very modest 9th place in terms of top divisional scorers.

However, the scorers above us have 39, 39, 39, 39, 40 (all outside playoffs), 40, 41 and (Wolves) 50 goals.  Free flowing Derby have scored 3 more goals than us.

We scored 13 in the games against Bristol, Norwich and Burton. So only 25 in the other 23 games, goals are still something of a concern I think.

This isn't trying to prove anything (and indeed, it probably doesn't show much), but everyone loves a graph. Since nobody else has done it, here is our goal difference per league game this season.

I haven't followed this game at all because I really didn't care, not bothered at all about us losing, it's just a shame to do it so embarrassingly.

6 minutes ago, Jareth said:

What is nuanced about enjoying a win then slating the manager? You'll revel in the win but then return to an adamant position you took months ago. It's pretty stubborn. 

It isn't stubborn to not change an opinion that you have formed over a reasonable period of time and large sample of evidence just because we have one freak great performance. 

It wasn't something that our play this season has been building towards,  there hasn't been any groundswell of opinion that some team was going to come to VP and get hammered out of sight because you could tell that we were so nearly getting it right. It came out of the blue, and that makes it less likely to be repeated.

I still want Bruce out, but I accept that it won't happen this season now. I hope he gets us promoted, and I think that 2nd place is still a realistic ambition, although I still doubt Bruce's capacity to achieve that. One great, freak performance doesn't do too much to change my mind on that. If he can continue that form then great, I will be happy to be wrong.

4 minutes ago, Stevo985 said:

I disagree. I don't think we've set up for a draw in any game this season.

We may have set up defensively, but that is not playing for a draw.

I think that is splitting hairs really. Obviously we can be set up and 'hope to nick a goal', but scoring isn't our priority.

He played very well today, and the rest of the team were at the same level so everything clicked.

We always had a number of players in advanced positions when Grealish got the ball, so he didn't need to dwell on it for the rest of the team to move forward.

This is the standard that he, and the others, need to maintain.

An excellent performance, so out of keeping with every other performance that it must be considered a fluke until we manage to repeat it.

Probably the best we have played at home this season. Bristol don't look up for it, as long as we don't gift them anything we should be comfortable in this one.

This has become a massive game, so I expect Bruce to wet his pants.

1 hour ago, Danishlad said:

did you not see how he dribbled the defender to the byline- the defender nearly fell over- then Jack effortlessly chipped the ball to the far post where we had a penalty shout. Who else do we have on the team who can do that?

Sure i saw that. You are pointing to him making a cross that didn't even result in a chance, and saying who else could do that?

But anyway, that isn't really relevant to the point I was making.

If having a slow and ponderous playmaker is a positive because it allows the rest of the team to amble forward, it is just another indication of how wrong the team is set up.

I agree to a point with what you are saying, but I don't think it is really a solution to the problem.

I'm still unconvinced by Grealish, but I'm not writing him off yet.

I saw him a fair bit when he played for Hull, he was very good for them, but he just isn't performing to anything like the same level.

I thought Hutton did ok against him second half after being given the runaround first half. Canos was very good indeed.

Obviously the error that led to the goal was poor, but maybe just a bad touch. I was more concerned by the other error near halfway that nearly led to a goal. It was a poor pass to him, but I fully expected an experienced player to make sure he took everything and didn't let the opponent break through. Sometimes you do wonder if these older players really are wise or just old.

I thought he was cak tonight, got the ball in decent areas and couldn't beat a man. Improved in the last 10 minutes.

I thought in terms of his position on the pitch he was fine, deep enough to be part of the engine room but got into advanced positions for having a shot. It was the lack of quality and failure to impose himself that was the problem.

If he really was rated as the best midfielder in the Championship how would we have been able to buy him for £3m? 

Didn't even flatter to deceive tonight. No productivity.

Whatever.

I still remember Ronaldinho scoring in the Champions League against Chelsea, he was on the decline at that time, think it went in off his arse or something, and two minutes later he was still samba dancing along the touchline like it was goal of the season.

14 minutes ago, 7392craig said:

I do agree with you that those players could and should be playing with a more attacking mindset. My point is that you'd be asking too much of any manager to change much in terms of a style and make it successful in half a season. If you want to change Bruce now then I get it, but you're then looking at promotion more than likely next season. I do think that Bruce could get us up, but I do admit it wouldn't be pretty. However if we don't go up then I know he has to go. I also think that if we do go up, I wouldn't be apposed to bringing in a new manager straight away. It's harsh but it's been done before.

I don't think it is harsh, I think that is what has been planned all along and Bruce is fully aware of it, and on board with it. When he was appointed everyone expected it to be ugly but effective. The fact that it hasn't been so effective is the fly in the ointment, but I think the expectation was to be going up and rebuilding with new players and a new manager, so having to put up with ugly football as a step in the process wasn't an issue.

Good to see them tiring themselves out and having a semi (ooh-er) to deal with. Played very well from what I saw though.

I've always liked Walters, yes I would hope for better, but I think he would do a good job for us short term.