A few mentions tonight

[MojoMuffin]

A 2-0 win away on a warmish Friday night at Stoke sees us get to 89 points and the most wins in the league this season.

Quite an interesting line-up and a surprise, for me, to see Campbell and Hamza in the starting 11. Really chuffed with the performance, aside from a few wayward passes, and delighted to see no one got injured, especially Brewster who got banged to fucking bits.

Holding and Robbo looked very good together, and although I'm not advocating both of them starting together in the play-offs, it was good to see a clean sheet and another good performance from big coops. Hamza deserves a big pat on the back again, I'd say he's our best player currently 1v1 and he pulled off some cracking challenges in that right the way through. Great to see McCallum get a goal and the build up play for Brooks' goal towards the end was a fabulous bit of football. A good time to rotate and evidently prove we've got some good players that can come off the bench and make a difference where required.

Lastly, what a bloody brilliant show from the away fans who made a good racket all game and so happy they got a good performance and result.

Hopefully Blackburn won't be as physical and we can head into the play-offs on 92 points, a fully fit, sharp squad and rue the play-off conundrum.

Up the fucking blades.

 

[Bell4]

A 2-0 win away on a warmish Friday night at Stoke sees us get to 89 points and the most wins in the league this season.

Quite an interesting line-up and a surprise, for me, to see Campbell and Hamza in the starting 11. Really chuffed with the performance, aside from a few wayward passes, and delighted to see no one got injured, especially Brewster who got banged to fucking bits.

Holding and Robbo looked very good together, and although I'm not advocating both of them starting together in the play-offs, it was good to see a clean sheet and another good performance from big coops. Hamza deserves a big pat on the back again, I'd say he's our best player currently 1v1 and he pulled off some cracking challenges in that right the way through. Great to see McCallum get a goal and the build up play for Brooks' goal towards the end was a fabulous bit of football. A good time to rotate and evidently prove we've got some good players that can come off the bench and make a difference where required.

Lastly, what a bloody brilliant show from the away fans who made a good racket all game and so happy they got a good performance and result.

Hopefully Blackburn won't be as physical and we can head into the play-offs on 92 points, a fully fit, sharp squad and rue the play-off conundrum.

Up the fucking blades.

Holding and Hamza - top class

 

[Jon Bon II]

Hamza was MotM for me tonight, just ahead of Holding. Great utility player.

 

[KiwiBlabe]

Holdings distribution is so much better than anything else we have

 

[Carlton Blade]

Holdings distribution is so much better than anything else we have

Makes a huge difference having another option to get the ball forward accurately. Means you can just about cope with Hamza at RB because his lack of ability on the ball isn't such an issue and you get the huge defensive boost of his awareness and athleticism

 

[Frank the tank]

If we can get holding fit enough to play the three play off games we're going up

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Brewster was excellent for me MOM.

 

[Bladesman]

Holdings distribution is so much better than anything else we have

Actually looks up to see where others are.

He can't be doing that in this team.

 

[KiwiBlabe]

Makes a huge difference having another option to get the ball forward accurately. Means you can just about cope with Hamza at RB because his lack of ability on the ball isn't such an issue and you get the huge defensive boost of his awareness and athleticism

Yep, you're right. It's the fact that his passes are accurate, but more importantly are not aimless sideways/backwards that just bring pressure on

 

[Revolution]

Brewster was not protected properly by the referee. He was hammered from start to finish. Two of the fouls on him were red card worthy. Glad he came through it.

We lost our way after the first subs came on but they were very poor and didn’t test us.

I thought Holding was class.

Hamza can’t pass water but he made some excellent challenges.

A classic Sam McCallum game. Some good stuff, some bad, lots of energy, never boring.

 

[Loco Blade]

Brew Dog Brew Dog … repeat 100 x before going to bed or you’re not a blade

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Chouhdury is better on the ball than a lot give him credit for. He's very calm and composed and usually picks a good (safe) option.

I do like him being in the XI, I think he offers a lot around the park.
I hope he stays, I think he's been a really good signing.

 

[nopigfansintown]

Nice to get a full 90 into a Vini, Holding, Moore. They inevitably tired but will benefit from finishing the game.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Holding and Hamza - top class

Holding looked calm throughout.

 

[Gimli]

Yep, you're right. It's the fact that his passes are accurate, but more importantly are not aimless sideways/backwards that just bring pressure on

Given how ‘fashionable’ it is now to pass the ball sideways and backwards aimlessly for days on end, im always staggered by the amount of players and by association managers who don’t realise that if you don’t do it purposefully then you’re just setting yourselves up to be pressed easily and then put on the back foot.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Holding was my man of match last night, and was up there for it V Cardiff.

We must play him in the play offs, I aren't sure this should be even open to debate.

 

[BangorBlade]

If we can get holding fit enough to play the three play off games we're going up

Yea I'd like to see Holding stay at the Lane, he's cool calm and a reassuring presence at the back

 

[Bell4]

Chouhdury is better on the ball than a lot give him credit for. He's very calm and composed and usually picks a good (safe) option.

I do like him being in the XI, I think he offers a lot around the park.
I hope he stays, I think he's been a really good signing.

Good post - I remember it was mostly you saying how poor he was on the ball before he signed

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Good post - I remember it was mostly you saying how poor he was on the ball before he signed

I knew he wasn't a progressive passer, and he isn't .
I also knew he would contribute zero in the final third, and he hasn't.

I didn't appreciate that he's very steady at giving and receiving in the middle of the park.

It's a shame that the Souza x Choudhury partnership didn't come off.
In theory, it could have been great but the reason neither of them are having PL careers is they can't take it on the turn and advance us up the pitch.

 

[gavtheblade]

Hope we can keep Holding, really brings something to the field.

 

[tincan]

Yea I'd like to see Holding stay at the Lane, he's cool calm and a reassuring presence at the back

His positional sense is excellent, read the crosses very well and cut the angles up so he didnt get done for pace.

 

[DifferentClass]

Hamza was MotM for me tonight, just ahead of Holding. Great utility player.

Shoutbox thought he was Hammondesque

 

[Uganda Blade]

A 2-0 win away on a warmish Friday night at Stoke sees us get to 89 points and the most wins in the league this season.

Quite an interesting line-up and a surprise, for me, to see Campbell and Hamza in the starting 11. Really chuffed with the performance, aside from a few wayward passes, and delighted to see no one got injured, especially Brewster who got banged to fucking bits.

Holding and Robbo looked very good together, and although I'm not advocating both of them starting together in the play-offs, it was good to see a clean sheet and another good performance from big coops. Hamza deserves a big pat on the back again, I'd say he's our best player currently 1v1 and he pulled off some cracking challenges in that right the way through. Great to see McCallum get a goal and the build up play for Brooks' goal towards the end was a fabulous bit of football. A good time to rotate and evidently prove we've got some good players that can come off the bench and make a difference where required.

Lastly, what a bloody brilliant show from the away fans who made a good racket all game and so happy they got a good performance and result.

Hopefully Blackburn won't be as physical and we can head into the play-offs on 92 points, a fully fit, sharp squad and rue the play-off conundrum.

Up the fucking blades.

Thanks for the summary, MM.

Any chance you can do that for every game?

 

[Nick Jansky]

In theory, it could have been great but the reason neither of them are having PL careers is they can't take it on the turn and advance us up the pitch.

Which is why it’s such a shame about Davies & Arblaster, who can both do exactly that. It’s very noticeable that with either of them in the side we don’t play backwards and sideways so much.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Which is why it’s such a shame about Davies & Arblaster, who can both do exactly that. It’s very noticeable that with either of them in the side we don’t play backwards and sideways so much.

Peck has progressively got better at it as the season has gone on, but if he's going to the top then it's an area that he'll need to improve further.

He's got all sorts of attributes that Arblaster doesn't, but Arblaster is an absolute natural when it comes to understanding his immediate space & options.

The first time I saw him playing for us in a pre-season game I remarked to my mate that he reminds me so much of Iniesta / Scholes in style.
It's like they're playing with wing mirrors, turning into space and advancing.
He also puts a lovely zip on his passes and they tend to force the receiver onto them.
It's Premier League level stuff. It stood out immediately when watching him.

Where I think Peck betters Arblaster (this may sound controversial), is in his on-field character.
Peck is the ultimate competitor and his level rarely drops. He rises to the big occasion and he's not afraid to get on the ball and make mistakes.
In my opinion, Arblaster had a few too many anonymous games.

But given their age, they're both wonderful talents and I desperately hope we get at least another season of watching them together.
What a pairing that could be and it would be a great story for the academy if Seriki and Brooks (could he make an effective LWB?) kicked on with them.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Peck has progressively got better at it as the season has gone on, but if he's going to the top then it's an area that he'll need to improve further.

He's got all sorts of attributes that Arblaster doesn't, but Arblaster is an absolute natural when it comes to understanding his immediate space & options.

The first time I saw him playing for us in a pre-season game I remarked to my mate that he reminds me so much of Iniesta / Scholes in style.
It's like they're playing with wing mirrors, turning into space and advancing.
He also puts a lovely zip on his passes and they tend to force the receiver onto them.
It's Premier League level stuff. It stood out immediately when watching him.

Where I think Peck betters Arblaster (this may sound controversial), is in his on-field character.
Peck is the ultimate competitor and his level rarely drops. He rises to the big occasion and he's not afraid to get on the ball and make mistakes.
In my opinion, Arblaster had a few too many anonymous games.

But given their age, they're both wonderful talents and I desperately hope we get at least another season of watching them together.
What a pairing that could be and it would be a great story for the academy if Seriki and Brooks (could he make an effective LWB?) kicked on with them.

Yep, which is why I’d prefer to lose Souza rather than Peck.

Don’t fully agree re character, though. Arblaster was made captain for a reason and has the best footballing brain in our squad by miles. Exactly what’s needed for on field management, he’ll see things that the others won’t.