[Beefy 1965]

Very poor performance.

I never expected Mozza, Brunt and Evans to be so badly missed, but without them, we really struggle to pass the ball. I'm not sure if that is testament to those players being exceptional, or their replacements being complete dross; but I'm suspecting the latter.

I absolutely detest watching Gardner and McClean. They are so far out of their depth as 'attacking midfielders' it's embarrassing. Surely a basic prerequisite for an attacking midfielder actually has to be able to control the ball, pass to team mates and occasionally try and put the forward through. Apparently not, 'putting a shift in' will do.

Our lack of width stands out like a sore thumb. We have 2 forwards playing together but we aren't able to play through the channels to get high enough up the pitch to supply them with anything other than a long hoof. Saido missed the header, which was terrible, but had little to work with in terms of balls actually provided by the midfield.

Why has Foster just walked back into the team? That's 2 goals in 2 games that he's cost us after coming into no mans land against Newcastle and making the finish easy for Mitrovic. I'd have been embarrassed letting that goal in that he conceded yesterday. In his comeback games against Bristol City he looked a bag of nerves. Although Myhill makes the occasional mistake, I'd have him over Foster any time based on his performances in the past year. At least he's calm and kicks the ball well, Foster seems to lose his head when the going gets tough.

TP has to take a large portion of the blame for selecting square pegs in round holes but the board are not without blame. It was obvious in January that we were geting stretched by injury and we've pulled in 2 loan singings (one of which has only played once at this level). How can we go into a Premier League season with only 1 recognised left back (Pocognoli) who is deemed 3rd choice behind midfielder and centre halfs? We've had 3 windows to address the fact that he wasn't deemed good enough and have done nothing.

The only positive was Saido played 120 minutes and IMO, was the only player who looked threatening going forward. Gamboa also did okay considering he's barely features and on the occasions he did get forward, actually tried to pick someone out rather than just boot the ball anywhere like most of the others.

I can't see us getting past Reading anyway, they're a bit of a bogey team and I don't think we can beat anyone on current form.

So you're blaming Foster for a goal that he made easy V Newcastle yet made 4 or 5 outstanding saves and helped keep the score below a cricket score and got us through to the next round off the FA cup by saving 2 Penalties and conceded from a deflected shot ??? 
MMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmm  

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Morning All,
                Shall we try a put a little perspective on where last night really sat?
We started the game with a back 3, 2 wingbacks, 1 holding MF, 2 creative MF and 2 Strikers. 5,3,2 formation.
Realistically, this was 2 of 3 centre backs who only just passed as being fit, the third a £8 mill buy yet to prove himself, 1 wing back who is a winger whos temperament and defensive ability is questionable at best, but is willing if not too skilful but works hard, 2 "creative" MF who cannot pick their noses without guidance let alone pick a defence splitting pass, or even pick out their own team mates, and 2 strikers, 1 who is out of sorts and out of shape, and another whos confidence is lower than a snakes belly.
Take into account the oposition are mainly talented youngsters in a position where they are not expected to win, but believe they can cause an upset, especially as we go to them off a game where we never troubled the oppositions keeper in 90 minutes, so they are right up for it.
Then after a torrid 30-35 minutes when we were lucky to remain nil - nil and were definately second best, we lose our most consistent CB,G Mac, and we could almost begin to see the writing on the wall. Posh were rampant, and could see we had no attacking threat, so knew they could keep attacking without much danger to themselves, and eventually the goals had to come.
Actually, the loss of G Mac so early was probably the saving of us, as TP had to introduce someone from the bench, and his lucky dip was Sess, who in my opinion, was exactly what we needed, as it gave Posh someone to deal with in defence, and someone who could bring our other attacking minded people into play. McLean started to play as a winger, Chester had , IMO, his best game so far for us, and actually looked as if, given chance, he could make  a half decent CB, not RB.
Rondon did nothing except take up valuable space at the back post, SB should have finished the game in normal time, and Foster was redeemed for missing their goal by performing wonders on the pens.
After a period of 2 games a week pretty much since Christmas, too many important players missing through injury, too small a quality squad, and the fact that the other strugglers around us have spent a bit and are now picking up points means we have a harrowing few weeks ahead, but at least we are still in the FA Cup, with a trip to another lower league side , Reading, who have a bit of a hoodoo sign over us at their place, so lots more for the less optomistic to give vent over.
Life can be so boring.
I do not support the way TP sets his sides up, but can see we only have a limited pool of skill to choose from, and this is getting less each week, we have some difficult games coming up, but I believe we will get through this, survive relegation quite easily in the end, but then need to sit down and decide where we go next season. TP will have fulfilled his mission of keeping us up until the big money kicks in, and then we might see a full change in Squad and style (or so we can hope).
Cheers,
            Kookiebags

Poco actually replaced G Mac , Sess didn't come on until the second half