Ok, I'll say it.

[sit_down_jack]

It’s not a case of random websites though. The stats are the stats. They’re a matter of fact.

We paid a decent sum for Widell and he’s contributed 1 assist and no goals this season.

That’s not good enough. It would be different if he was a teenager that we paid a quarter of a million for. Like Bobby Wales. That’s a wait and see.

And I like him as a player, but we have to start producing an end product if we want to achieve anything at all. Widell needs to substantially improve next season. As do many.

We are completely reliant on Vipotnik and Tymon. And probably Vigs. And I suspect Vipotnik will go in a few weeks.

Agree with this, it is important that we bring players in who can start producing straight away. My mindset always tends to be “time is needed for development” but with their ages and the amounts we paid for them, it isn’t unreasonable to ask for more end product. I think in this particular season, a couple of players who offered more G/A would have definitely gotten us top 8 if not competing for playoffs.

I don’t think any of the first team quality players we brought in last summer have been outright failures and some will go on to be good for us but the overall recruitment of players needs to be more impactful for us if we’re going to climb the table.

I’m not sure I fully trust the process going on behind the scenes though. A lot of turn over and you don’t tend to see that at successful clubs. They need to get this DoF appointment spot on.

 

[K23]

Indeed the difference in our press at the top end of the pitch with and without Widell is night and day
He and Franco together usually set the tempo off the ball, when they both move up thats normally the cue for the wingers to join the press.

And boy was it noticeable against Saints when he was subbed. Our energy dropped, our tempo dropped, our pressing stopped. Oh yes, and we conceded a late goal. If Matos likes to play a high pressing game then I have seen several times that it only really works when Widell is on the pitch. And that's an eyeball test.

 

[J_B]

And boy was it noticeable against Saints when he was subbed. Our energy dropped, our tempo dropped, our pressing stopped. Oh yes, and we conceded a late goal. If Matos likes to play a high pressing game then I have seen several times that it only really works when Widell is on the pitch. And that's an eyeball test.

Indeed.
The problem that Matos has is that Widdell can't keep that up for 90 minutes on Saturday/Tuesday/Saturday.
The replacements need to be as high intensity as Widdell is.
That's a problem going forward.

 

[malc]

Our substituions were needed they had equalised we were losing control of the game
Taking Flynn Downes bringing on Shea Charles helped them .
Ward , Yalcoue , Nunez were the right subs Yalcoure for Cullen helped he brought some control wasted a couple of good attacking moments .
Nunez was really poor sloppy in possession no threat .
Ward not able to attack like Parker .
We started to defend too deep inviting the crosses into the box .
Franco had a really good chance to make it
2 - 1

 

[J_B]

Ronald (and I have been critical) was a better option than Nunes IMO.

 

[malc]

Yes i would have brought Ronald on Nunez did well at Sheffield United so can understand why the boss chose him
Unfortunately he had a mare .

 

[Neath_Jack]

If we judge a fish on how well it can climb a tree, it’ll always come up short.

 

[jacabertawe]

Vigouroux for me. Literally saved our skins on many occasions.

 

[3swan]

If we judge a fish on how well it can climb a tree, it’ll always come up short.

Eric Cantona is alive and well and posting on this forum.

 

[Londonlisa2001]

If we judge a fish on how well it can climb a tree, it’ll always come up short.

Of course. But it’s not unreasonable to expect more than one assist and no goals from a player that has been playing a position in the team where climbing trees is pretty much the primary aim.

If your point is that the club have signed a stupid number of fish and no one capable of climbing a tree despite climbing trees being what gains us points then that’s a bigger problem in many ways.

And leaving the analogies aside, Widell is hardly a defensive midfielder.

This is the problem. We have a number of players that run around in the middle, looking busy, but not contributing to the scoresheet at either end.

No marks for artistic endeavour.

 

[Treehuggerjack]

Of course. But it’s not unreasonable to expect more than one assist and no goals from a player that has been playing a position in the team where climbing trees is pretty much the primary aim.

If your point is that the club have signed a stupid number of fish and no one capable of climbing a tree despite climbing trees being what gains us points then that’s a bigger problem in many ways.

And leaving the analogies aside, Widell is hardly a defensive midfielder.

This is the problem. We have a number of players that run around in the middle, looking busy, but not contributing to the scoresheet at either end.

No marks for artistic endeavour.

I do think Widdle will come good and see him improve little bits every few weeks.
If we looked at Vipi stats last year, they were not great but he’s is settled and it has clicked for him.
I can see the same happening for Widdle. At least I hope so.

 

[Londonlisa2001]

I do think Widdle will come good and see him improve little bits every few weeks.
If we looked at Vipi stats last year, they were not great but he’s is settled and it has clicked for him.
I can see the same happening for Widdle. At least I hope so.

Hopefully.

As I said in the post about him earlier:

“And I like him as a player, but we have to start producing an end product if we want to achieve anything at all. Widell needs to substantially improve next season. As do many”

I stand by that.

 

[Swans Jack]

Ronald (and I have been critical) was a better option than Nunes IMO.

It's a headache I imagine for Matos. Nunes played well the match before while Ronald as been declining. Then Nunes then goes and performs pretty bad.

 

[Londonlisa2001]

It's a headache I imagine for Matos. Nunes played well the match before while Ronald as been declining. Then Nunes then goes and performs pretty bad.

If neither of them are playing well he could always change shape…

 

[Swans Jack]

If neither of them are playing well he could always change shape…

I'll give him a call