So it seems that we're not Championship standard after all. Scunthorpe, according to their fans played the worst game in living memory so we won that one but against Sheff Weds, a poor Div 2 team, we came unstuck and were found out, particularly up front.

Our defence had a average game apparently, especially Nelson, I guess he's allowed one off game every couple of years. A shame his last one was also against Sheff Weds!!

Up front we don't have it at all, look at our goals scored; Our seemingly first choice front pairing have managed one goal from open play that being Moore's last night. All our other goals have come from elsewhere in the team or subs. Barker/Moore is never in a month of Sundays going to be a Boyd/ Porter combination.

We have mixed opinions on our two goalkeepers but one things for sure; neither of them are a Dimi and as far as I can make out they're not an improvement on Jim Provett either. In central defence we've fixed what wasn't broken, Bring back Ben Clark! With Antwi in the team (good player though he is) we're back to the Nelson/ Collins scenario; IE two very similar players. Ben Clark adds something different and we're missing it. If someone has to be dropped to make way for Antwi then I'm afraid it should be Nelse. McCunnie seems to be a gem, no complaints there and Elliot is better as a Left back than Humphreys.

In Midfield we're added nothing that I can see, it was already solid.

So in essence we're weak up front and something has to change. Despite his goal last night I still believe that Moore is the weak link. A Barker/Porter or Barker/Brown or even Porter/Brown combination would be better in my humble opinion.

The difference last night seems to be the incisiveness of the attack. Wednesday need a lot fewer chances to score whereas we chuck them away like confetti. I don't blame Porter, he lacks match practice and maybe match fitness but given a run he would certainly be an improvement on Moore.

Nelson was outstanding last night. It was Antwi who had the shocker. Nelson carried the backline for most of the night.

Apart from giving away the late goal you mean ?

He made a mistake yes. Antwi made about 20 and Humprhreys around the same. Yet no criticism for them?

Look at the votes for man of the match-Nelson a few ahead already.

Yeah, but Nelson is a "favourite" so reality goes out of the window when the blinkers are on.

Get a grip ffs.

We all know Humphreys and Brown are the favourites who can do fuck all wrong. Nelson was immense last nigth and everyone bar you could see that.

Whoa Mr Tree... My preferred central defence pairing is Nelson/Clark. I don't think Antwi brings anything we don't already have and I think its grossly unfair on Ben Clark who was arguably the better of the two for most of last season.

Aye.

Just me.

And the others around me at the ground.

But if it makes you feel better then it was just me.

Porter for Moore
Monkhouse for Matty
Barratt for Budtz
Clark for Boland (due to injury)

that's what I'd do on Saturday.

Brown has done little wrong, As for Humphreys, I've said for some time that I think he's playing on reputation alone, I don't remember too many good performances from him recently but I remember plenty of bad ones particularly that shocker at Luton. He's a back up player at best.

Moore had his best game for us last night, he was still cr*p but it was his best game. Joel's first touch involved a fantastic diagonal run and a great little flick, he should never be on the bench and it's worrying that Wilson is sticking with Moore.

I agree that Sheff Wed looked a lot better going forward than us!
I thought our defence did look shakey last night also, Nelse had a what would be described as a 'canny' game, I think we lost a bit of battle when Boland went off injured
and if you look at their equaliser the guy just ran through without one tackle coming in just before he played the through ball for the goal, That was my slight worry

But I do agree we do look light up front, I think Moore isnt getting much of a chance.. From the fans, Wilson obviously see's an ability, I think he should maybe move to the right wing and stick Brown up front instead, Giving you the choice of Brown / Barker / Porter I think thats a good combo.

I didnt think Sheff Wed were excellent last night, They finished there chances... Eventually!

To be fair he has been given 5 games and underperformed in every single one. We have a far better player on the bench and that's what is frustrating.

I'm gonna boo him on Sat'der!!

I've already made the banner

I'm with Mr. I on this one

Nelson / Clark

Barker / Porter

Monkhouse for Matty, Bob brings height, a bit of aggression and the ability to run at people.

Foley on the bench, used (if needed) for the last 15/20 minutes

LB, not seen Elliot, so I'll go with those who have.

Keeper, again not seen Barratt, but Budtz (although he kept us in the game) doesn't inspire confidence,
in me and I suspect in the defence

Not questioning loyalty or anything here, But have you been to all 5 games to judge him on that?

I've seen him 3 times (1 being the Alkmaar Friendly) and I'm siding with what you guys are saying but I'm going to trust Wilsons' judgement

I'm a Joel Porter fan and was very impressed with him last night, He did exactly what we want from a centre forward... Caused problems everytime he ran at them and also defended from the front.. Would like to see him start on Saturday, But Wilson is our manager and if were on a major dip in form with Moore in the side then fair enough things need to be changed fresh legs brought in etc

Last night was the sixth time I have seen him play and it was the sixth time we looked weak infront of goal while he is on the pitch.

All he does is make 'inconsequential runs', exactly like Michael Proctor. He works really hard when he knows he isn't going to get the ball to make him look like a hard working player, he ALMOST gets the ball every time he is near it. When he does get the ball, his arse falls out and he often loses it.

Thank fook, people are making sense.

Every time Butdz comes for a corner I shit myself. His communication with the defenders is poor and he has clattered into them a few times. The defence also doesn't listen to him and ignore him when he does communicate, maybe they've not built up trust yet. Having said that maybe he'll settle down, get to know his defenders, stop being edgey and become a good keeper but at this moment in time I don't trust him. Lee-Barrett came with a reputation for making rash decisions and having a rush of blood to the head and he did that for the reserves and gave away a penalty. I'm also not sure about his punching (having said that I'm sure about Butdz's catching). Lee-B is though a good shot stopper.

Right defence...last night it was clear for everyone to see that there was no shape in it what-so-ever. The defence like Butdz had no communication. Antwi's decision making was awful, he would boot it straight up in the air without getting it clear, giving time to a striker to put pressure on him. Despite what people think I actually believe that the defence was better with Humphreys in it and went to pot when he was moved to midfield. I don't think Nelson, Antwi or Robson had a great game. Nelson has obviously being doing the business for a long period of time, Antwi has shown that he is a good defender and as for Robson I don't feel left back is his best position. McCunnie has been very good.

The midfield is fine. Boland and Liddle work well together and Boland is great at protecting the defence and breaking down play. I obviously don't need to tell you how good Liddle is. When Monkhouse gets back we will have a bit of presence on the left wing and Brown gives that trickery and ability to open up defences, something which every team needs. The midfield has never been the problem.

Now onto up front, as a strike "partnership" Barker and Moore simply isn't working. Moore doesn't read Barker's flick ons. He doesn't link up well. He did well to score a tap in last night. Having said that he does try hard and I respect him for that. Barker has nobody to play alongside like he did with Eifion last season and that is affecting his game. Porter can make the runs and has that bit of creative noose that we lack. However, he does lack a tiny bit of sharpness and I've no doubt that a fully sharp Porter would have scored last night. Now is the time for him to get full games under his belt.

Having said all that, we have a lot of potential and it will be nice to see how the team develops and prove us wrong.

It sounds very much like we have a pretty firm Bunker Consensus XI then.

Lee-Barrett

McCunnie Nelson Clark Elliot

Brown Boland Liddle Monkhouse

Barker Porter

I'd buy that.

And be extremely happy.

I'll be one of those that says Humphreys for Elliot, other than that I'd be happy either way.

While Humphreys was at left back last night it was easy right wing pickings for Sheff Wed.

They targeted him and just knocked the ball past him and ran around him. Dead fkin easy every time.

Not seen enough of Elliott yet to see if his pace / positional play would have countered that. Robson's pace countered it.

In our division Humphreys will probably be ok at full back most of the time until he comes up against the best few teams who have a canny right winger. Saying that like, Elliott struggled with Coppinger.

So probably a toss up for me at left back between the pair for a league game.

Aye well, talking of reality checks, Sheffield Wednesday finished 30 places in front of us last season and they know they've been in a game. It'll do for the short term.

barker was the top goalscorer in our division last year however i think he needs a porter foley (boyd like) partner to assist him in goals moore for all his effort isnt the answer

all sounds nice but you were in the chat
how many games have you seen ?

i know i saw pools reject coppinger tear elliot to pieces and get him sent off

Cracking team that! Pity Wilson doesnt see it this way.

I've seen three this season and one or two in previous ones.

but your post suggests you are basing your thoughts on last night's game 'a reality check you called it
and elliot has played less than two games and you have seen one of them luton non last season
yet you say he is a better left back than humps

Ian, you can all you want but the fact remains that he was moved into midfield last night because he was getting skinned every other minute and the game he played at Luton he was abysmal. Elliott reads the game better, is faster, more tactically aware and a natural left back. Humphreys is too slow for the midfield and the competition is now too strong. Get used to it, he is now a reserve left back.

so your sweeping statement is based on one game that you have seen elliot play
sorry mr i but at home against donny he was abysmal
no pace and a simple side step from copps and he resorted to strangle holds on copps which ended with him going off
if he is that good then why did leeds let him go
by all accounts humps played well in both positions last night against supposedly higher opposition that what we will meet in this division
we will wait and see

From when Humphreys was moved to the centre of midfield onwards last night he was our best player. He hardly wasted a ball.

But Robbie Elliot isn't anywhere near as bad as poolpower makes out either we'd have been far stronger with him and Humphreys in the team last night after Boland went off, our problem was we didn't have a centre mid or left back on the bench. Humphreys was moved because we didn't have a replacement for Boland on the bench, Robson was having as bad a game as I have ever seen him have, it took him until deep into the second half to find a yellow shirt with a pass he looked totally out of his depth. Johnstone on the right for the Wendies was their most threatening player he made the first goal and was lively throughout.

hey lay off him man he's just big boned

how is that a fact?
from the people who were there.... he was moved into midfield because boland was injured
not because you say he is a rubbish left back
not because you say he cant read the game
not because you say he is too slow and getting skinned
moved because he can do a good job in the centre of midfield and that is exactly what he did according to those who i have spoken to who were at the game
some have said our defence got worse when he was moved out of it
look at pjs post who says he was our best player when moved to the centre mid
pj is one of the few that talks sense on here

Spot on.

Cos he agrees with you?

For the record Mr PP, I thought Ritchie did ok in midfield too on Tuesday at Wednesday and wouldn't be upset to see him in that position on Saturday.

But he was easy pickings at full back.

Couldn't agree more.

Which is why Humphreys was struggling on Tuesday. Difference in class of winger as to what he is used to.

And like I said yesterday, there will be times this season against the better teams where the same problem arises. It did when we got relegated from this division and he played at full back.

The main thing he was struggling with was their pace. They just knocked it past him and ran around him dead easy every time.

Aye but in fairness I think no-one would argue with that but it just hasn't been an option so far has it?? We've had to work with what's available and DW has tried all three all three Elliott/Humphries/Robson options now which I'd say means he is highly aware of the situation.

.

Im not going to get into a discussion with regards as who plays and who doesn't that is up to DW.

But I am going to discuss the above quote.

Maybe Humps was placed in to centre midfield,not because he was "getting skinned" every other minute but simply because once Boland went off, and with the players on the bench(Barrett,Porter,Clark,FoleyMonkhouse) the manager actually believed it was better to put Monkhouse on and simply move Humps into centre midfield more tactical than having a poor game,My option would have been Clark as holding midfielder(more a straight swap) but maybe Wilson thought it better to do what he did.And by putting Monkhouse on he could restrict the forward runs of their right back.While putting Clark in wouldnt do that.Im not saying that was the case Im saying it may have been the case,we all see games differently.

He was "getting skinned" every other minute though.

I'd rather give DW credit for seeing this and fixing it as opposed to thinking he was happy with the situation and got a lucky break by moving Ritchie.

In the games I've seen, I don't think it's RH who should be the reserve right back. I think he's probably still the best we've got in that position.
But,tho I missed the match on Tuesday Lumpy's scenario doesn't seem to add up. People who went saw Ritchie being passed a lot. Why should there be another reason for the switch?

boland was injured?
left back is open for discussion

Everything is open for discussion.
What I mean is, there were other, better mid-field candidates (notably the esteemed B Clark) for replacing Boland, and so possibly the Ritchie switch needed another explanation.

Yes, my dear, which bit did you not understand?

I've had a long day already and am a bit tired.

But who is this RW that you are considering as a reserve right back?

CUCKOO CUCKOO

Here grabec, are you any good at driving? [/quote]

I can explain everything. Dibble has been doctoring the posts again, just to make me look silly

can you explain this a bit more?

when you employ old men they go off too easily and take longer to recover

keane is finding that out that is why he is spending today and according to the local press dw that is dw grabec is looking to get someone in before the deadline tonight