grim

Just a thought but seeing as this guy was a product of the youth system,worked under Sir Joe and also played at the top level aswell as still being involved now why is he not in the running for the big job?With an experienced assistant could he not be worth a shot?

We didn't score by ourselves though,the keeper through it in.

Thought the two lads in midfield did well tonight,my criticism would be why didn't we make a couple of changes after an hour when Brown and Marsh- Brown began to tire?New lad on the bench and Reid could have come on and freshened us up for the last half hour.Also if Mellor's best position is in midfield than would he not be worth a chance in there thus freeing up the room for a new full back?Speaking of which thought we should have tried to keep Sheehan here a couple of seasons back,he looked decent.

I thought, just like the rest of the team, for 65mins KMB was excellent.

He then tired massively & began to look a little dissinterested

 

iMO he shouldn't have been on the pitch to make that challenge, it was he who should have gone off for Reid; not Taylor. Another :censored:e sub from PD

 

Completely brain dead, idiotic challenge and a red card all day long.....i'd fine him for it

Agree totally,cant believe he stayed on beyond an hour when he became tired and wasnt in the game.

The thought of getting rid of Dickov is laughable,he's doing a good job on a next to nothing budget.Yes we should have got to Wembley but sometimes you don't get the luck you deserve.Tonight first half we were very good,midfield is a concern moving forward as we can't rely on Taylor and Adeyemi as a partnership although I thought they did okay.What's going on with Furman,we were told he just missed out on the JPT game and yet a two week break and he still isn't fit?!!Oh and nice one Alex although you made a dogs dinner of their goal.

Disappointed not to get the win today but three key injuries really stifled us. With Furman and Wes in centre mid we would have won comfortably, with one of them we still dominated the midfield but with neither of them we really lost a lot of bite and our play suffered. I'll make it clear that this isn't a dig at Adeyemi who had a good game today especially when he was the only recognised centre midfielder. Simpson going off badly affected any clinical edge that we had and I seriously hope that all three are back for Chesterfield as they will make the difference. The fourth injury is Diamond who has played well recently and was missed on Wednesday, but he wasn't missed today as Mvoto and Tarkowski were very good. I'd bring Diamond back in for next Monday but Tarky deserves a run in the side in the league afterwards.

 

Barring a great double save from Cisak early on we dominated the first half with the wind but needed to put our chances away, second half was fairly even thanks to the wind and our injuries but we still had the opportunities to create chances. As has been said by others we didn't play too badly as a team but we lacked the finishing touch. Exeter were similar to how they've been when I've seen them on other occasions this season: poor. They've lost key players from last season but their style is a shadow of their former self, woeful distribution in the 1st half and only a bit better in the 2nd. They'll struggle to stay up and were lucky that we were hamstrung by the injuries during the game.

 

Cisak was excellent and is definitely the most solid 'keeper we've had in years, destined for a higher level, as is Lee who was much better today at right back. Black did OK and I'd not be too disappointed if he stays in at left-back, but we could do better. Kuqi worked hard and led the line well but is badly out of form in front of goal. Listening to Dickov on BBC he sounds like he's going to stick with him through this bad patch and I'm OK with that. Taylor was dangerous on the right and put in a shift in the middle as well as providing the moment of the match with his fantastic goal saving block. Smith can certainly win flick on's but needs to work on his heading in front of goal, not sure whether a run in the side is required for him yet.

 

The three players who didn't impress me were Morais, Scapuzzi and Parker. Dickov talked about improving decision making and that should apply to those three strongest of all. Parker was slightly unlucky as was seemingly asked to drop deep in the Simpson role when putting him on the last defender to chase through balls would've been the simple thing to do, but still could've been better when on the ball. Morais and Scapuzzi got into good positions but often frustratingly slowed the tempo around the edge of the box. These are players who in the team to make the right decisions to break teams down, they simply aren't doing this.

 

Not much that needs changing for Chesterfield though, we just need to put the chances we'll inevitably create away. After that, we have a good run of home games in February to pick up lots of points to keep us well clear of the drop.

Disagree today about Morais,thought he was the only one providing quality balls into the box particularly first half,must admit though it shows how out of form our players are that in the last two games Tarky,who has hardly played all season is contender for man of the match in both games.Also shows we would be better off spending Nathan Clarkes wage elsewhere,Tarky is good enough and has proved it.

Kuqi is ploughing a lonely furrow up front with no one beside him. Simpson, as good as he is, is playing behind him and Kuqi is too often isolated. Not an easy role at the best of times but at his age ?

Good point,can understand Simpson dropping deep when we have posession to find space but when we don't Kuqi at the mo is chasing down both centre halves,Simpson should help him out more in that respect.That way Kuqi wont look knackered after an hour and save some running for when we do have the ball.

Wouldn't put any money on Wes being fit,his shoulder will pop out time and time again,big problem for the lad unfortunately.Cisak was superb,best keeper we have had for some time.Thought we played quite well today,little more luck and compusure and the game was ours.Kuqi did better today but as mentioned looks low on confidence and I thought Parker was far more affective as a striker,think Reid coming back will be a big plus.Chesterfield game now massive,our season could hinge on it.Anyone else wonder why we go to pot after the new year,it has happened for the last 5 seasons under different managers?

I dont understand why some slate Black so much. IMO he is a pretty decent LB for a medicore league side - which is exactly what we are im afraid.

I hope his recent absence is down the injury and him not being 100% fit. If its a sign that PD has finally felt he isnt upto it; im concerned. Lee isnt a left back, Parker isnt a right back. Adeyemi has surprisingly done well there at RB but again is square pegs round holes. We currentky look unbalanced and the switches have unsettled what was a relatively stable team

 

Black at LB and Lee at RB please PD - stop messing around with something that wasnt broken in the 1st place

Agree mate,remember when Shez was gaffer and I think we were top,Lomax was full back and doing a steady job,he brought Jones in who was the first of many loans that disrupted a decent side.Can't understand it.Dropping Black for Parker at full back just doesn't make sense.

Looks like Lee at LB again tomorrow according to the Chron! Square feckin pegs!

How about Winchester at right back then,still don't understand neither Mellor or Black being left out.Looks like Diallo out for the forseeable too.

Black should be playing on Saturday,Lee is wasted at left back as he is simply not as affective going forward.The side looks unbalanced hence losing to a team that is bottom of the league largely cos we have to many players playing out of position.

Been to both games,went corporate in the league game.Included a stadium tour,meal and decent seats at top of main stand.Went in the away end last night,decent facilites and atmosphere.Having a 10600 capacity isn't a problem if they fill in the corners if they ever get in the Championship.

Went last night,team selection baffles me.Let me get this right,our best right back plays left back,best left back is a sub and a guy bought as a striker plays right back.Mr Dickov you have dug a big hole with these selections,can we please have players in their proper positions and start winning a few games.

Looking forward to the game tomorrow,is not as if they have signed some top class player.I just hope we are more positive with our approach than on Saturday and try and take a lead back to BP.Don't like all these Wembley what if topics on here,lets get there first then we can all enjoy the buzz of arranging trips down and where were all sitting.

I am not questioning Kuqi,I feel that because of his work rate,age etc Smith would be better for the last 20-30 minutes.Simpson makes a big difference,cant help but think we wouldn't have lost today if Robbie had played.

Morais and Smith should have been on after an hour for Parker and Kuqi in my opinion.Morais may lose the ball or try one or two daft passes but his final ball is far better than any of our other wide men.

I'm convinced Parker was only in the team today to take throw ins,the game today as a spectacle was very poor from both sides,nil-nil would have been right.

Thought at Chesterfield recently Smith got better as the game went on,feel if were looking to rest Kuqi then he deserves his chance.Also Kuqi runs his balls off so after an hour he looks as though he's ready for subbing,having Reid back may make a difference over the next few weeks.

Morais recently has scored twice and made a couple of others.Parker is a shocker,yet to see him have a good game,today Huddersfield were there for the taking second half and with a sub or two on to freshen things up we would have had at least a point .Their managers sub won them the game,ours was given three minutes to save it.

Cisak has all the makings of a good keeper.Sure he has faults after all he is still young,I feel he doesn't get out quick enough to balls played over the top,his starting position looks a bit deep,keepers now are basically sweepers.Remember Gerrard as a kid,he was weak at kicking but overall a superb keeper.Just the guy to bring on young Alex.

Yeah they say they don't need to sell him but from experience I reckon hes going,money talks.The Simpson goal tonight will live long in the memory,nearly up there with Adams and Pointon!!

Bearing in mind he scored another five goals tonight would be surprised to see him line up agains't us next week.Think he will be on his way to the Premiership,and he was born in Oldham.

Well said mate.

You're linking Hillsborough to what happened tonight? Really?

 

I'm :censored:ing furious at what's happened tonight. We should all be reflecting on what was a great performance against a quality side; on how the scoreline flattered Liverpool and we never deserved to lose 5-1; on how our supporters did us proud, outsinging the Kop for pretty much the whole match. Instead all anyone's going to want to talk about is the Adeyemi incident, i'm going to have to go into work on Monday and argue that he's always come across as a great kid and there's no way he'd make that up, and then i'm going to be going to the match in a couple of weeks trying to persuade people that Liverpool isn't a town full of racists. And on top of that you're using the incident tonight to sling mud over Hillsborough? Like a couple of dickheads shouting racist abuse tonight somehow means that it must be Liverpool's own fault that 96 of their fans died horribly and needlessly at a match 23 years ago?

All will be revealed in time,feel for Tom though he will probably remember Anfield for the wrong reasons.Think the booing of him thereafter was strange,I was at the other end of the ground and had no idea what was going on.Hope the muppets who were sat near me tonight who gave Bellamy dogs abuse aren't passing comment.

Agree with you on Smith,I went to Chesterfield where he started and he looks like he could be a player with some games,also Kuqi looked knackered after 50 mins,think Simpson felt his hamstring second half or Smith would have replaced Kuqi.