05-08-2023, 22:06
(This post was last modified: 05-08-2023, 23:14 by Slick_Footwork.)
Today's game was a difficult watch...
Although you can't often read much into the first game of the season, I do feel it could well be an accurate representation. Desperately short of quality and desire.
The opposition was a very average Blackburn team who kept trying to play out from the back with very little quality. Any decent team would've picked them off, but we're far from decent.
First half, you could count the players who came out with credit on one hand. Asante, Yokuslu, Mulumby and Ajayi. Everyone else was absolutely useless. Either made mistakes or non existent.
Second half we started better. Scored a good goal. Should've been on terms if Mulumby could finish. But in the end it took poor Blackburn finishing to save us from being embarrassed. They could've easily scored 4 or 5, we were that open at the back.
I thought Corberan did a great job last season with limited resource and injury problems. But today's selection was curious. Couldn't really get my head around Chalobah's inclusion over Swift.
Having said that, when Swift came on, it made more sense. He was an absolute disgrace. You expect a sub to come on and make an impact after watching that dross from the bench. He came on and couldn't be arsed to even jog. A traffic cone would've had more chance of stopping the opposition, at least it wouldn't move out of the way. The lad is a big baby. You'd expect an 18 year old to sulk if he's not selected but not a 28 year old senior pro who is one of the top earners in the division. His attitude sums up the lacklustre squad we have acquired in recent years. Useless primadonna who goes missing for most games but seems to think he's Pele. It seems all we've recruited in the last few years is useless players or tossers like this.
Was also a bit strange to see Wallace named captain after his disappearing act at the end of last season. Sadly, having the armband didn't make him reappear.
Tactics were also a bit bizarre today. When I saw the line up included Yokuslu, Chalobah and Mulumby I thought we'd sit back and try to defend and hit on the counter. But actually, I couldn't really tell what we were trying to do. At times we pressed high. Other times we sat. But we never really pressed as a unit. Was all too easy for a poor Blackburn side to play around us.
Obviously plenty will happen between now and the end of the window, but I'm not sure anything positive can happen for us...
I think we will rue not taking £3m for Palmer. Fair enough he's our first choice but that's not saying much, just that he's the lesser of 3 evils. From what I saw last season, I didn't think he was worth anywhere near £3m. The goal he conceded on his near post today was Sunday league stuff. Actually baffles me how so many other sides at this level can pick up steady eddy goalkeepers for nothing and we have this bunch of calamity keepers just a few years after getting relegated and having parachute payments. Shows how badly mismanaged the club has been.
We still have the same useless lower league full backs that we've had for the last 5 years, with no alternatives.
BTA, as I said, deserves credit for his efforts. But he's not a striker at this level. Not even 2nd or 3rd choice if you're going for the playoffs.
Phillips scored a nice goal, which means we will sadly have to endure him again next week. He's years past his best. No pace. Couldn't beat an egg. Goal aside, he was useless today.
The only real positives I can take is that Mowatt did himself no harm when coming on and Sarmiento showed glimpses. Someone with pace who can carry the ball. That's a novelty.
From a glass half empty side, I think we're miles off even mid table...
In order to be competitive I think we need another goalkeeper, centre back, 2 full backs, creative player and a striker. What will we get, bugger all.
I hope I'm wrong but I think our objective this season will be staying in the division. Far too many useless high earners at the club who couldn't care less.
Although you can't often read much into the first game of the season, I do feel it could well be an accurate representation. Desperately short of quality and desire.
The opposition was a very average Blackburn team who kept trying to play out from the back with very little quality. Any decent team would've picked them off, but we're far from decent.
First half, you could count the players who came out with credit on one hand. Asante, Yokuslu, Mulumby and Ajayi. Everyone else was absolutely useless. Either made mistakes or non existent.
Second half we started better. Scored a good goal. Should've been on terms if Mulumby could finish. But in the end it took poor Blackburn finishing to save us from being embarrassed. They could've easily scored 4 or 5, we were that open at the back.
I thought Corberan did a great job last season with limited resource and injury problems. But today's selection was curious. Couldn't really get my head around Chalobah's inclusion over Swift.
Having said that, when Swift came on, it made more sense. He was an absolute disgrace. You expect a sub to come on and make an impact after watching that dross from the bench. He came on and couldn't be arsed to even jog. A traffic cone would've had more chance of stopping the opposition, at least it wouldn't move out of the way. The lad is a big baby. You'd expect an 18 year old to sulk if he's not selected but not a 28 year old senior pro who is one of the top earners in the division. His attitude sums up the lacklustre squad we have acquired in recent years. Useless primadonna who goes missing for most games but seems to think he's Pele. It seems all we've recruited in the last few years is useless players or tossers like this.
Was also a bit strange to see Wallace named captain after his disappearing act at the end of last season. Sadly, having the armband didn't make him reappear.
Tactics were also a bit bizarre today. When I saw the line up included Yokuslu, Chalobah and Mulumby I thought we'd sit back and try to defend and hit on the counter. But actually, I couldn't really tell what we were trying to do. At times we pressed high. Other times we sat. But we never really pressed as a unit. Was all too easy for a poor Blackburn side to play around us.
Obviously plenty will happen between now and the end of the window, but I'm not sure anything positive can happen for us...
I think we will rue not taking £3m for Palmer. Fair enough he's our first choice but that's not saying much, just that he's the lesser of 3 evils. From what I saw last season, I didn't think he was worth anywhere near £3m. The goal he conceded on his near post today was Sunday league stuff. Actually baffles me how so many other sides at this level can pick up steady eddy goalkeepers for nothing and we have this bunch of calamity keepers just a few years after getting relegated and having parachute payments. Shows how badly mismanaged the club has been.
We still have the same useless lower league full backs that we've had for the last 5 years, with no alternatives.
BTA, as I said, deserves credit for his efforts. But he's not a striker at this level. Not even 2nd or 3rd choice if you're going for the playoffs.
Phillips scored a nice goal, which means we will sadly have to endure him again next week. He's years past his best. No pace. Couldn't beat an egg. Goal aside, he was useless today.
The only real positives I can take is that Mowatt did himself no harm when coming on and Sarmiento showed glimpses. Someone with pace who can carry the ball. That's a novelty.
From a glass half empty side, I think we're miles off even mid table...
In order to be competitive I think we need another goalkeeper, centre back, 2 full backs, creative player and a striker. What will we get, bugger all.
I hope I'm wrong but I think our objective this season will be staying in the division. Far too many useless high earners at the club who couldn't care less.