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Match Thread - Millwall
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25-02-2015, 04:02
For pieblade:
 
Removed until we're actually on our way back
Ow! Me head hurts!
I had a few beers last night and in a drunken haze I thought The Wednesday scored three goals and won! Westwood would have kept a clean sheet. First half was dire and Millwall could easily have scored but GTF's effort from a Stick Insect rebound was cleared off the line by Palmer. After that it was looking like a bore-draw. I don't know what happened in the second half but the Owls were kicking towards the Wednesdayites and things started to happen. Strange things like goals from open play and even Nuhiu getting on the scoresheet. SG did something strange too and swapped a striker for a striker and feck me, May scored as well!  Some things never change though, our corners are still WANK! 
25-02-2015, 16:22
I had the strangest dream last night. Wednesday scored 3 goals, all assisted by Maghoma and with May and Nuhiu getting 1 each.
  Think             I'm           losing  it. 
Removed until we're actually on our way back
25-02-2015, 16:49
Looks like one of the Millwall players lost his boot during the build up to GTF's effort saved on the line
"The opinion of 10,000 men is of no value if none of them know anything about the subject." Marcus Aurelius
Road To Nowhere
These three points just about put to rest any chance of relegation. We have a 12 point cushion on Millwall and more on Wigan & Blackpool and all three are pretty hopeless sides that will most likely struggle in L1 next season. Although the result was great, we shouldn't kid ourselves that the performance was. We started sluggishly as usual and were under the cosh for 35 minutes. Gary Taylor Fletcher went close twice with Kirkland pulling off two smart saves & when it looked like Millwall had scored, Palmer got back to produce a spectacular clearance off the line. As half time approached, we created a few half chances. McGugan hit a free kick at the keeper, Nuhui missed a header & Keane shot over from the edge of the box. The second half started more evenly but again it was Millwall creating the better chances. They should have gone ahead but Lees got in a brilliant last ditch tackle as they were about to tap into an empty net. We took the lead through McGugan. A neat one-two with Maghoma on the edge of the box gave McGugan the space to get a left footed shot away while off balance into the corner. From that moment on the match was pretty much over. The Millwall fans turned on their team & Manager and any confidence they had drained away. It was just a question of picking them off. It was soon 2-0. A good run by Maghoma found Nuhui in space on the left edge of the box. He did a return pass flick putting Maghoma in space on the left, from where he threaded a return pass beautifully, giving Nuhui a simple chance from eight yards which he took coolly. Hutchinson replaced McGugan and May replaced Keane. May scored within a couple of minutes of entering the fray. Hutchinson won the ball on halfway and Maghoma carried it towards the penalty area where he slipped it perfectly for May, who held off a challenge and slipped it under the keeper. Millwall got a late consolation, taking advantage of Dielna being down injured but the importance of three points here cannot be understated. Kirkland - 7 - crucial saves when Millwall were on top Palmer - 7 - brilliant clearance off line & key tackles Lees - 7 - match saving last ditch tackle Zayatte - 6 - solid performance Dielna - 6 - bright, got forward well Lee - 6 - was quick to support strikers Semedo - 6 - solid job, as usual McGugan - 7 - goal plus creative Maghoma - 8 - outstanding, after quiet first half created all three goals Keane - 6 - missed half chance Nuhui - 7 - led line well, took chance coolly ......................................................... Hutchinson - 6 - added more snap in midfield, still reckless in the tackle May - 7 - had immediate spark, took goal well Helan - only on a couple of minutes I heard SG say that we fully deserved to win for our second half performance (why do we never play well first half?). While this is true, it would have been a totally different game & possibly a different outcome if Millwall had taken one of several chances in the first half. Also, Millwall are a terrible side and while scoring three is always nice, a similar performance against Boro on Saturday will probably get us one point at best. We have shown a great capacity to put away the three worst sides in this division with four points out of six off Millwall, six out of six off Wigan and three out of three so far off Blackpool. It is the sides above that that we struggle to put away (1/3 off Rotherham, 0/3 off Fulham, 1/6 off Bolton). We started with the usual 442 with Keane being prepared to drop deep at times for the ball. It didn't work well as Millwall dominated possession. In the second half, Maghoma & Lee tucked in much more, turning the midfield into more of a diamond and this helped with all three goals as Maghoma assisted each from a more central position. I was comfortable with the starting eleven. Could have gone with Helan over Dielna but wouldn't argue either way. The substitutions were also right. It made sense to give McGugan a rest at 2-0 and likewise Keane. He resisted bringing on Maguire as we always seem to concede when he comes on. Maghoma was outstanding and a brilliant conduit between the midfield and attack. He plays so much better centrally so why do we never start him there. Much as he is maligned by our home fans, he has been our best attacking player away from home this season. We need to use a formation at home that allows him to play more centrally. Nuhui & May will each get great confidence from scoring and SG needs to find a way to utilise that confidence before it dissipates. We are 20 points off promotion, 16 off the Playoffs and 12 off relegation so with 13 games to play our season is pretty much over. That is probably a good thing because any excitement was likely to be the excitement that we don't want. This means that we can start preparing for next season now which gives us a great advantage over most other teams. The new owners need to decide quickly if they want to stick with SG for next season because if they don't then it makes sense to bring the new man in now. If they are sticking with SG then tell him so that he can start to prepare. He needs to assess the potential of all players that are going out of contract so that he doesn't lose any talent for free. He needs to try different combinations and formations so that we can hit the floor running. We have the players ideally suited for 352 so maybe he should try this after a free midweek for three or four matches. Great Result, Great Opportunities!
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
25-02-2015, 17:10
I didn't hear Maghoma's name mentioned until about 25 mins, and was calling for him to be subbed at HT. Fair play to him in the 2nd half you cant complain about 3 assists
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Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they are determined to be so. For glory gives herself only to those who have always dreamed of her.
25-02-2015, 17:20
I appreciate that analysis MS
Obviously being sat at home listening we sort of get that we weren't playing brilliantly first half but 2nd half was better. This result just feels like a weight off of everyone's shoulders and I think we, as fans, deserve to have a few days where we can be happy before the next game comes around
Removed until we're actually on our way back
25-02-2015, 17:23
MS must not have seen McGugan playing, haha !! Cheers for the report MS.
SG isn't going to change tactics and if the new owners stick with him I will be disappointed. As for Maghoma 3 assists in a game is great but he doesn't do it enough. This is why if we want promotion or play-offs he needs to be let go under SG. Maybe he is playing out of position but like I said I can't see SG getting the best out of him. If we do hold onto him then a new manager might play him correctly. Good result but there are still so many cracks there. Hopefully this ratification gues through soon.
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, you need a team....
25-02-2015, 17:44
(25-02-2015, 16:54)madsteve Wrote: He needs to assess the potential of all players that are going out of contract so that he doesn't lose any talent for free. He needs to try different combinations and formations so that we can hit the floor running. We have the players ideally suited for 352 so maybe he should try this after a free midweek for three or four matches. SG.... try different formations & combinations?
"The opinion of 10,000 men is of no value if none of them know anything about the subject." Marcus Aurelius
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