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#309502 FA Cup 2015/16
terriersmad
We'd have won the first game but for a disgrace of a display from the referee. We'd be clear in this but for a disgrace of a display from the referee. Instead of being through easily after one game, as it should have been, we're backs to the wall with 10 men for over an hour after a red card that was never, ever a professional foul.
It's mad. Teams like Reading get away with murder. They got away with everything at our place. Three should - not could, SHOULD - have walked before they got back in the game through three gifts from the referee and we should have been a mile clear. The first thing ours does isn't a card, never mind a red, and he ends up down the tunnel.
We won't hold on. Ref won't let us. He'll do something else. Mark my words.
Never mind. Cheating bastard has had his way. 3-2 down from 2-0 up before the cunt ruined it. Hope someone from our backroom staff chins him in the tunnel after and he never refs again.
#308649 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
A major financial crash will come somewhere down the line and a lot of clubs will find themselves in bother as they were from about 2001-2003 as revenues from such as TV dry up. That said, I've been predicting that crash for years and it hasn't happened yet and doesn't show any real signs of happening soon.
#308415 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
#308178 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
They really were. They were set up for damage limitation from the start. They were 1-0 down and had 11 men behind the ball for the bulk of the first half. But a look at their Twitter feed says it all - they posted a video before kick-off of their team 'settling in', and it's obvious that there's no spirit or fight there. That's before they've even started! The most fight they showed was when certain players seemed to be engaged in a race to get sent off. I'm convinced the lad who was sent off did it deliberately, too - you just need to watch the footage of his second booking, all of a minute, if that, after the first, as he goes and boots Bunn in the backside while challenging for a ball in the air.
They've sacked their interim manager today. Interim. And they've sacked him. And only just started searching for a new manager. They really are a mess. I think it's 14 defeats in their last 23 games, with only 2 wins in that time. Their owner has admitted to underestimating the Championship and thinks the fans are 'weird' in feeling they have some kind of stake in the club. It's open warfare between the club and the fans. Their goalkeeper pretty much demanded the sacking of the manager on radio. There's probably going to be a protest against Blackburn a week on Saturday. It's an absolute shambles. If Hull turn up on Saturday it could be double figures if Charlton play like they did against us.
#308062 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
It really was comedy. In the second-half the Charlton team had a race to see who could get sent off first (won by the bloke with the Scrabble name after two of the daftest challenges you'll see - just watch the highlights to see the completely needless high foot for his second, all of 30 seconds after his first for a needless cynical foul). The goalkeeper went to knock it out of play for an injury and managed to skew it so badly he conceded a corner. We scored twice from corners (we take dreadful corners - to concede to two of them should lead their entire defence to retire out of shame). We didn't even play well and we delivered a thumping.
For our part, we played well at times but lacked a bit of spark going forward. Plenty of possession, but we didn't really cut them open as a result of our good play. All five goals were easy goals to score - anyone would have stuffed Charlton last night, to be honest. First one Paterson beats his man easily before putting it on a plate for Hudson. Second, Smith out-battles their lad at the back stick to set up Wells. Third, Holmes allowed to play in Paterson who's allowed to run into a shooting position. Fourth, everyone stands off Holmes. Fifth, they've given up which allows Bunn to get the ball in and Davidson to get across his man. Their goalkeeper was stood for about two minutes at the end not moving, just shell-shocked at his side's performance. Their manager refused to talk to the press, which is frankly pathetic as he had a lot to apologise for.
#307364 FA Cup 2015/16
terriersmad
Because you don't have players taking risks. I really think it's that simple. It's very rare a man in a Manchester United shirt goes past a man. It's rare a man in a Manchester United shirt tries to play a through ball or put a ball into an area - because they're risks. It's all sideways. It's all keeping shape and possession. But neither of those create chances. Watching the highlights tonight, I noticed that on one occasion as Depay broke into the box there were just two up in support, and this is typical of what I've seen this season.
Martial and Rooney aren't poor attackers. Neither is Depay. Mata certainly isn't. Then you've got players who can put a quality ball in - Young, for all his faults, is a fine crosser of a football into dangerous areas. But for an area to be dangerous there need to be players in support - those players have to take risks and gamble, breaking shape. Players have to try to go beyond their man (which Depay did for the penalty). A move might break down. A chance may not come about. A player might lose the ball. But by taking a risk it plays to the strengths of good players. Good attacking players are risk-takers, and Van Gaal has taken that out of Manchester United.
I say the Barcelona model has been warped, and I'll stand by that. Watch Barcelona next time you get the chance. With the ball, they take chances. They support each other. Shape doesn't matter so much in possession, where players run beyond the ball. Out of possession, shape does matter, but not to the point where it becomes a crippling obsession as it has with Manchester United. You have players harrying and chasing and putting pressure on the man in possession, with the result that the ball is won back quickly and Barcelona dominate possession, but with that possession comes a pace and tempo on the ball, where the aim is for a killer forward pass. I really do think that Van Gaal has seen Barcelona and made the mistake of thinking possession is attacking, when the two are in fact be separated.
There's a core of talent at Manchester United that if it took risks would be exciting to watch. Rooney is on the wane, but people are focusing solely on his decline rather than seeing that it has been exacerbated by negative tactics that don't play to any attacker's strength. Martial is a talent and could be a force of nature, but he's been stunted, again by tactics. I can't remember the last time I saw Mata produce a performance of quality. Depay hasn't flourished because he's not been allowed to take risks. But two defensive midfielders always play, rarely breaking forward. I think Schweinsteiger - although he can hardly be said to have been poor - has been limited because he hasn't been allowed to play his natural game. Herrera was subbed today after twice losing the ball while taking the game to Sheffield United. It's a systemic failure down to the management and not the players, and it's harsh to criticise the players when they're not being allowed to show their best.
#307309 FA Cup 2015/16
terriersmad
I'm coming to the conclusion that, with a decent backroom staff, virtually anyone who has ever read Inverting the Pyramid could make Manchester United better than Van Gaal. As an outsider looking in, it seems clear that he just doesn't get it - either the culture of Manchester United or the idea that goals win football matches. He's somehow warped the Barcelona model to be unsuccessful.
#307254 FA Cup 2015/16
terriersmad
Is he called Chris Powell?
#307244 FA Cup 2015/16
terriersmad
#305914 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
#304608 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
Wells had his quietest game under Wagner up to his first goal. After that, he proceeded to destroy their centre-half. He got another through good work from Bunn and had two disallowed and hit a post. His link-up play was good, his movement was great and he thoroughly deserved his man of the match award. The third goal was a complete fluke, Huws scoring direct from a corner. We could and should have had more. Scannell and Bunn missed glorious chances and the final scoreline flatters Preston after the second half.
That said, their goal was very nicely taken, and they should have had a penalty at 2-0 when Smith brought their lad down. Weirdly, they didn't appeal at the time and only later spoke to the ref. Nice to have a bit of luck.
#302900 Star Wars
terriersmad
#302621 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
#301897 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
Still, we shouldn't have lost. Awful luck today - Huws' hamstring visibly went as he took the penalty (which should have been re-taken anyway, due to encroachment by theirs who made the tackle that saved a goal), Wells was bundled down in the box (penalty not given this time) and had to go off injured as a result, and the ball just ran for Bristol when it broke in their box - Dempsey missed one just after Bunn's goal, for example, and it hit the covering defender on his way back and ran wide rather than in which, according to conventional physics, it should have done.
We weren't good enough first half. Two soft set-piece goals (the second of which looked more than suspiciously offside, it should be said, although our marking letting their gangly eight foot centre-half have a free header six yards out is beyond suspect). We didn't get the ball in early enough, took a touch too many, and weren't quick enough in possession.
More worrying is the injury situation - Whitehead out for 2 months, Billing and Murphy still injured, Lynch and Ward only on their ways back, Huws and Wells now going off. Our squad is stupidly light. When everyone's fit, we're fine. But when 7 first-teamers are out we're far too lightweight. We need January to get some bodies in.
#300917 FA Cup 2015/16
terriersmad
The two previous years it was Charlton. Pretty certain this is a downgrade from a boring tie against a side in the same league to a coma-inducing tie against a side in the same league. It'd be nice to get someone we haven't played on a regular basis for a change. Still not seen Aston Villa, Manchester United, or Spurs. Oh well. We'll have one of them in the next round.
#300552 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
Though if you then lost after a poor display it will have had you asking serious questions about why the hell you bothered! I do that for home games, and I'm only 3 miles from the ground, never mind a 700 mile round trip.
#300507 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
I said we'd win, and we did win. Sounds like a brilliant away performance, scoring early, scoring late and outplaying Birmingham into the bargain. Though it should be said that Birmingham won't be in the top 6 in May - they'll be mid-table, like we will be.
#299437 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
I'm not concerned that we're in the bottom three. Play like we did today and we'll be nearer the top than the bottom in May. We played with intensity and pace. Cutting edge was lacking, but it needs to be remembered that Middlesbrough last conceded under Karanka in December 1874. Boro's concentration was outstanding. The only time they put a foot wrong they got away with it when Ayala clattered Wells in the box and the ref inexplicably didn't give a penalty. They were clinical in front of goal and, lucky though they were, you can't knock them for that.
We'll beat Birmingham. I have absolutely no doubt that with performances like that results will start picking up. We have a fairly kind run over Christmas, and we'll be a good 6-9 points clear by the new year and end up comfortably mid-table. We do need a striker, and we also need a bit more depth in the squad, but we're in a position to invest and Wagner has us entertaining again. I can't remember feeling this upbeat after a defeat. Things look unusually bright.
#299071 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
Vaughan's gone
So for the next few weeks we have a goalkeeper. But only have one striker. And he's out of form. We only have a kid for backup.
I wish I could say the plus side is that the transfer window is just around the corner, but we have 8 games until then and everyone knows we need a new goalkeeper, a new right-back, a new centre-back and a new striker (or three). And they know we have money to spend...
#297969 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
Good first 70, collapsed last 20. Should have killed the game. Huws (twice) and Carayol had chances to kill it after Scannell's opener. We'd have deserved to be 2-0 up as well. Wednesday didn't play a single jot of football until the last 15 minutes when McGugan and that Joao came on. We passed and moved, but lacked that killer edge. Our need for a striker was highlighted when we were getting into good positions but couldn't put the ball in. We had bodies in the box, but they were lightweight - Wells had a good game with the ball at his feet, linking the play, but when it went up the centre-halves were a pair of big nasty bastards who were always going to beat him physically.
Whitehead going off made a difference. The ref just picked on him. Warned him after he had booked Bunn for... not a clue, actually. Then booked him for what can only be described as a nothing foul. Then gave him a final warning for... erm... Well, your guess is as good as mine. The ref had a shocker in general. Two or three cynical fouls by either side and bookings were allowed to go, while Whitehead got booked for precisely nothing and Dempsey's booking for timewasting was comical. I'm not going to say we didn't waste time (we did) but that was the least of the offences to say the very least. The Wednesday left-back was also fortunate to escape a second booking for controlling the ball with his hand while on the floor.
Still, plenty of positives. We have 8 first-team players out at the moment, the coach has only worked with them for 2 weeks, and we looked a better football team. 3-1 went beyond flattering Wednesday who only turned up for 15 minutes (although to be fair they had that punch we didn't in those 15 minutes - it's about sticking the ball in the net not playing nice football which is pleasing on the eye). Given another 3 weeks with them, and a few players coming back, we're going to start looking like a good team who play good football and win matches. I'm really buying into what Wagner wants us to do and already see the positives.
#297895 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
#294807 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
Happens every year in this fixture. The ref bottles sending off a Scum player every fucking year. Austin, Delph, Douglas, Michalik, Kishishev and now that Wootton. And it costs us points. We didn't deserve to lose - especially not 3-0. We were powderpuff up front (which will hopefully be solved if Vaughan is fit for the nest couple of months), it didn't run for us, and they got the benefit of the worst ref down here this season. He hasn't reffed us for 3 years because we put in a complaint against him in the past - no wonder he wanted them to win and wasn't prepared to do his job.
#294468 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
In the mean time, Mark Lillis - a Huddersfield Town man through and through, who still goes in the North Stand Loyal when he isn't working - will take charge on Saturday against Leeds. The right man for the right game. Feel-good factor at the club with Wagner coming in, a proper Town man firing them up on the bench, and the leadership experience of Dean Whitehead out on the pitch. Plus, Jabba has written Lillis's teamtalk for him with his disrespectful and delusional comments today. That team will go out and fight to the death on Saturday. I wasn't looking forward to it. Now I am. There's something about having one of us in charge for a game like this. Means more when it's in the blood.
#294233 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
In fairness, we already had replacements in situ - Huws and Paterson. We were changing the way we were playing even before Butterfield left. Now, hopefully, we'll utilise that properly - pace, running at teams, taking risks and committing defenders. We rarely get penalties because we don't commit players. We don't open sides up because we don't pull them out of position. I'm hopeful we'll use our attacking talent in future by getting more movement and that'll benefit us.
#294216 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
Drew 2-2 with Reading last night with a ridiculously young side out. The midfield trio's average age was 20.3. With that in mind, I thought Powell would be given more time. As everyone knows, I've not been enamoured with him recently. Too scared to lose. Not enough trust in his players. Too cautious, and lets games get away from his team by not being prepared to change things. But we'd not been playing too badly, and those things were all remediable.
However, the club statement says that it wasn't a results sacking. The fact gates are down 4,000 on when we arrived in this league and the football hasn't been exciting are probably two of the big factors. If Powell wants a successful managerial career, he has got to learn to take the handbrake off and take risks. We were often hard to beat, but we didn't win enough.
Still, it means Lillis will in in charge against Leeds on Saturday. We'll attack. I expect Lolley to start. He'll scare the life out of their left-back.
#292457 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
Derby are a good side, though. Jed Steer was man of the match after a string of outstanding saves - three of which were absolutely top class. But that's what you get when you spend £20m in a summer. Their midfield alone cost in excess of £11m, which is more than we've spent since coming up into this division on about 30 players. In truth, although we gave a decent account of ourselves and could have nicked a point, Derby were just a better class of opposition. They'll be in the Premier League this time next year playing like that.
We could still have nicked a point after a couple of good penalty shouts were turned down and we didn't make the most of our own chances, generally sending shots straight at Carson. Not to worry - getting anything from today was always going to be a tough ask. We had a go, and didn't quite measure up against a top side.
And we have got to try and sign Jed Steer permanently. He's been brilliant since first arriving on loan. Dare I say it, I think he might be better than Alex Smithies - and sadly, he isn't ours. If it takes a million, then we should pay a million.
#292137 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
We also won pretty convincingly. Presumably MK Dons are making an early run on 'worst side here this season', because despite the fact we were crap we created more chances, scored twice (albeit after some assistance from their defence), and kept them at arms length. They were, unsurprisingly, one of those pointless tippy-tappy football teams with loads of five yard passes and sod all penetration. No doubt their manager will spout his usual shite about dominating play, which doesn't count for anything when they couldn't create a chance against us.
And Vaughan's red from the weekend was put into perspective when one of their lads assaulted one of ours off the ball and just got a booking. Clear a red as you'll see, two hands to the mush.
#289031 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
#288874 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
#288817 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad