The better teams

[Slim Man]

Have our number

The outlier is Sunderland which the ref ruined, we don’t know how that would’ve turned out

Wilder and Knill issue, squad issue, or something else?

 

[s20Blade]

As long as the other 21 teams don't have our number we'll be alright.

 

[bakeblade]

Have our number

The outlier is Sunderland which the ref ruined, we don’t know how that would’ve turned out

Wilder and Knill issue, squad issue, or something else?

Squad issues, we've done really well so far but the lack of investment is inevitably catching up with us

 

[bladesince64]

Squad numbers issue.

Wilder has, by some miracle, got us to top of the league with half a squad and half a squad of academy kids.

Four players on the bench today three of whom have barely/never played a minute of football.

Desperate for recruitment NOW before we start to slide down the table.

 

[coolasanidiot]

Vini shouldn't have been in squad he's not fit,we were better when Davies came on. Thread bare for sure but there was nothing in this game, breakaway goal and a spozzy goal did us.

 

[Blademan18891889]

Have our number

The outlier is Sunderland which the ref ruined, we don’t know how that would’ve turned out

Wilder and Knill issue, squad issue, or something else?

It's not an issue, they are just better, not much we can do about it, we've been absolutely exceptional against the rest, Burnley were better than us, Leeds were, boro were and Sunderland were. It is what it is, we've not lost other games though like those clubs have against lower opposition. I think we all will probably admit that leeds and Burnley have a better squad than us for sure, if we finish above either of those we will almost certainly go up.

 

[Loco Blade]

Can’t win them all . Maintaining a 2 point game average normally gets you up . Focus on that not the odd defeat . Lacking firepower but trust JTW will sort it . UTB

 

[coaxingstar71]

Here's my very brief summary : we dominated possession in a game of few chances. First goal was so important between the two teams with the best defensive records. Their first goal was really poor defensively from our point of view and then we're pressing really well early second half, they break, get a free-kick and then score very fortutiously with a huge deflection. After that the game is gone.
Hopefully we'll do the same to them at their place.

 

[Fjortoft's Aeroplane]

Our lack of "exciting" players is very telling against the better teams. Hamer is the only one that shows any glimpses of magic on a fairly consistent basis.

Hope this January we can land a couple more, exciting players.. pacey with some tricks up their sleeve who know where the back of the net is.

 

[FTPE]

Have our number

The outlier is Sunderland which the ref ruined, we don’t know how that would’ve turned out

Wilder and Knill issue, squad issue, or something else?

The other teams must be losing to the teams we aren't then, because last I checked we were top.

 

[Cheesebored]

Have our number

The outlier is Sunderland which the ref ruined, we don’t know how that would’ve turned out

Wilder and Knill issue, squad issue, or something else?

It's simple really. We've been overachieving with the squad we have. Other teams have better players. We haven't been a fluent, good to watch team all season. If anyone watches United it shouldn't come as any surprise that this has happened against the best teams in this league. We're in a great position if we can strengthen in the window.

 

[Toronto Blade]

Helps to have a ref on your side at least once in a season instead of playing against 12 men

 

[Mag-83]

We just need reinforcements, particularly up front. Campbell has been fantastic but was only brought in as a gamble. Moore has been decent. Brewster is sadly not anywhere near Championship standard even when fit.

 

[cahill]

Vini shouldn't have been in squad he's not fit,we were better when Davies came on. Thread bare for sure but there was nothing in this game, breakaway goal and a spozzy goal did us.

Yes, Vinny clearly not as effective as usual, performance improved after Davies came on and then ironically we conceded.

 

[Slim Man]

The other teams must be losing to the teams we aren't then, because last I checked we were top.

They are.

 

[Rodley]

Needs four or five of quality in. Not one or two plus some filler, but genuine quality who can go straight in and improve the first XI.

We (CW & team) have been putting sticking plasters on gaping wounds all season due to budget.

Over to you new ownership…

 

[Roygbiv]

I don't think we are as good as the top sides right now. We shouldn't be. Look at the benches today. Finishing in the top 6 is a brilliant achievement for me.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

I don’t see us top 2 but certainly in the top 6 .. at present we don’t have the squad depth .. I agree that we’ve come up short against Leeds , Burnley , Boro .. got a result against the Mackems but it was even Steven . That said the league table to date doesn’t lie ..and wev3 got results where the afore mentioned haven’t … but we need a few re-inforcements if we wanna be up there challenging

 

[The Bear]

Our lack of "exciting" players is very telling against the better teams. Hamer is the only one that shows any glimpses of magic on a fairly inconsistent basis.

Hope this January we can land a couple more, exciting players.. pacey with some tricks up their sleeve who know where the back of the net is.

There fixed it for you.

 

[gordoncharles]

Maybe those other sides are a bit better (prior to today there was too much hubris about our results on here given our overall perfomances) but in the games against Leeds, Middlesbrough (and even Sunderland) we were far too passive. Today it wasn't just passive, it was stasis.

I'd be glad to accept those sides are better if we'd actually tried to have a go and not look like we were starting the game playing for a draw. It seems to me we're trying to bore our way up, as we did two years ago under different management. And with all the potential problems that will create if we do.

Squad depth from the new owners? Assuming they have the resources I'd settle for a couple of quality players and more adventure from the manager.

 

[Bladezz]

Have our number

The outlier is Sunderland which the ref ruined, we don’t know how that would’ve turned out

Wilder and Knill issue, squad issue, or something else?

Squad issue. They have better players than us. Boro I think we really deserved a point and was more an off day.

Burnley and Leeds I think are just substantially better than us and aren’t carrying youngsters in their side. The experience shows.

 

[YES Blade]

Still got the best record this season, so we can’t be that bad.

Bring in some reinforcements in the window and we’ll be fine.

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

The bench today shows how far behind our squad is. Wilder and Knill have worked a miracle, criticism aside, there's no denying that and the rebuild is far from complete when 3 of your main 11 don't belong to you and another has come from the academy when he's not ready yet and only started playing regularly because of injuries in that position.

 

[Rob86]

I think we are overachieving at the moment.

At the end of last season, I was just hoping we’d recover and rebuild to a top half Championship finish. To be where we are at the moment is an incredible achievement.

The problem with being where we are, is that the expectation is now promotion.

Of the better teams, I’ve watched Leeds a few times and I’m not sure why they aren’t top with a bit of a gap. Sunderland looked alright and similar in an attack minded sense to Leeds, not as good though.

Burnley were very much the same as us but seemed to have better wingers, something we haven’t got. Very little between two defensively minded teams today.

We are in a great position if we can strengthen, but January isn’t generally a great window to make significant improvements. Hope I’m proved wrong though

 

[Varkanoid]

I would not say Leeds or Burnley are better than us. We have injuries and are suffering a little. Burnley didnt look like a side today that would run away with it. Leeds nearly succumbed to an early Stoke goal and again 2nd half Stoke missed again when should have scored. Burnley fans think its us and them top 2, Leeds fans that I know think its us top 2. Personally think its us and Leeds top 2. The ship just needs steadying a bit with the JTW and then we will be reight.

Lets have a moment though to think where we are top end of the table. Enjoy it for the moment. We will be there or thereabouts end of season. Then the real problem comes if we get promoted.

 

[YES Blade]

I honestly can’t understand how anyone could think that Burnley and Leeds are any better than us. We’re half way through the season ffs! Our record isn’t luck, we’re up there because we’re a good team.

We all knew the squad wasn’t as deep as we’d like but luckily we’ve nearly made it to January without it being an issue.

Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland are good sides, but so are we and it’s going to be a close promotion race. I ain’t ready to throw in the towel after one defeat.

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

I honestly can’t understand how anyone could think that Burnley and Leeds are any better than us. We’re half way through the season ffs! Our record isn’t luck, we’re up there because we’re a good team.

We all knew the squad wasn’t as deep as we’d like but luckily we’ve nearly made it to January without it being an issue.

Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland are good sides, but so are we and it’s going to be a close promotion race. I ain’t ready to throw in the towel after one defeat.

It's the inconsistency that's causing concern. 1 defeat in 10. No complaints. Awesome. 1 good performance over 90 minutes in 10. Utter crap. It's not been good enough and we've rode our luck. The performances haven't been good enough. We're not opening up teams, we look toothless in the final third and it's our rock solid defence that's kept us up there. We don't create many clear cut good opportunities in games and many goals as scrappy.

The lack of depth has hurt us as we have nothing on the bench other than academy kids who are only there because we literally have nothing else and not because they're good enough.

 

[robbiez666]

We were top because we were the most consistent team in the league. Doesn't mean we have the best players or squad. Weak squad depth, injuries, suspensions have caught up with us. Peck, for example, is having to play game after game for 90 minutes. Not doing him or us any good.

Without reinforcements the poor performances will start costing us points. By the time the play-offs come around everyone will be shattered.

 

[robbiez666]

It's the inconsistency that's causing concern. 1 defeat in 10. No complaints. Awesome. 1 good performance over 90 minutes in 10. Utter crap. It's not been good enough and we've rode our luck. The performances haven't been good enough. We're not opening up teams, we look toothless in the final third and it's our rock solid defence that's kept us up there. We don't create many clear cut good opportunities in games and many goals as scrappy.

The lack of depth has hurt us as we have nothing on the bench other than academy kids who are only there because we literally have nothing else and not because they're good enough.

Having to play players every game is dulling any sharpness or energy. We tried to press today but they looked so off it.

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

Having to play players every game is dulling any sharpness or energy. We tried to press today but they looked so off it.

I noticed that O'Hare wasn't as manic as usual.