A lot has been said today both possitively and very negatively about the team. I for one deleted more than a few replies to people today which I gave better thought to.
Emontions are understandably running high but at the end of the day;
1. On our day, we are the best team in the league
2. The other teams wouldn't have wanted to play Fulham
3. We've got the experience of the playoffs now which we didn't have last year.
Let's brush ourselves down, give everyone a bit of slack, get whatever you need too out of your system then get right behind the team. We need to help pick the team up after today. Sing loud both Home and away. It's time for us to do our part.
Great post. Time to calm down and face up to the task ahead of us. COYW
Quote from: JoelH5 on May 06, 2018, 08:58:29 PM
A lot has been said today both possitively and very negatively about the team. I for one deleted more than a few replies to people today which I gave better thought to.
Emontions are understandably running high but at the end of the day;
1. On our day, we are the best team in the league
2. The other teams wouldn't have wanted to play Fulham
3. We've got the experience of the playoffs now which we didn't have last year.
Let's brush ourselves down, give everyone a bit of slack, get whatever you need too out of your system then get right behind the team. We need to help pick the team up after today. Sing loud both Home and away. It's time for us to do our part.
Totally agree - top post
It's been a good season and we are where we are.We need to back the team now. Go up or not we will be watching again next season.
From a personal perspective I've enjoyed the day. Yes, the result was very disappointing and the performance was poor but the atmosphere and our travelling support was brilliant.
The play offs are obviously a lottery. All four teams have reasons for optimism and concern in equal measure but whatever happens it has been a fantastic season and I for one am looking forward to the next one, whichever league we are in.
I agree with all sentiments, but now we are in the play offs, the team has to show up as one.
It's all about good habits, the same habits that got us into third place.
If we want to claim we are the best team left, then the players have to prove it on the pitch starting Friday, and Jok better be right behind them all week reminding them that there will be no passengers from now on.
Then he has to do his job, and pick the best starting eleven available, and that does not include pussycats or the mentally weak.
NOT ONE STEP BACK FULHAM. !!
My frustration and anger have subsided. We are still in this and I still think we are the ones to beat. Up Up and away. It's the only direction for us :62:
We were flat today.. especially in that first half we rode our luck and, unlike V Millwall, we were punished for it on the break.
To lose so convincingly after a run of 24 games has to be a sign of nerves. However the loose cross field balls for me are the sign of fatigue. Therefore it was multi faceted. I think our game is so dependent on technical skill that fatigue can be detrimental to the accuracy of passes, movement etc. Perhaps more so than we first thought.
We have to address the big issue today and against Millwall and that is/was starting slowly. I wonder if AK starting with his hustle and bustle will force teams on the back foot earlier on and give our midfielders the time to adjust to the pace of the game.
I cannot buy this fatigue theory, as we let the ball do the work with short ten yard balls to feet, pass the way your facing. Unlike the long ball merchants who chase and turn and chase and turn again, running the channels.
So we should be as fresh as the next team.
If we are not, then we need to have a close look at their fitness program and their conditioning regime.
Quote from: Statto on May 06, 2018, 09:58:23 PM
I will give you a 3-item list of my own, which is (realistically) the only 3 possible explanations for today's performance:
1. Fatigue
2. Nervousness
3. Players just not giving a toss because they're leaving in the summer
The fact is going 23 games undefeated counts for NOTHING except it put us in a position where, for 4 games starting today, we can get promoted if we play well. And today in the first of those games we played poorly and Whichever of the above is the best explanation, it's not a problem that's going to have been resolved by next weekend.
Had we played well today and not gone up because Cardiff won or because we were unlucky, I could be optimistic but at the moment all the evidence suggests to me this will end badly.
Personally I think what the players need, is a massive kick up the arse, and remindingbthat going up this year was the expectation, not some surprising bonus.
I'll give you number 4. injuries. Bot our full backs, Targett and Fred, were obviously carrying knocks and as the game develped it was clear that neither were making runs or taking on their marker, they persisted in just knocking the ball square. As a result we had little impact out wide, slowed down out attacks, got too few crosses in and Mitro was starved. It was a disaster. On reflection I think SJ got his selection wrong. Assuming he was aware that both players were carrying injuries then, in my view, he took a huge gamble starting both of them and it didn't pay off. We were slow, lacked penetration and made it easy for Birmingham to get men behind the ball. We ended up playing across them far too often in a crowded midfield.
That's my opinion after reflection time.
Quote from: Woolly Mammoth on May 06, 2018, 10:45:54 PM
I cannot buy this fatigue theory, as we let the ball do the work with short ten yard balls to feet, pass the way your facing. Unlike the long ball merchants who chase and turn and chase and turn again, running the channels.
So we should be as fresh as the next team.
If we are not, then we need to have a close look at their fitness program and their condition regime.
Agreed. Plus we had a full nine days recovery time. No way should they be fatigued. and certainly no more than any other team in this division.
I agree, the play-offs can be a lottery but you have to buy tickets to be in it
and we have bought 24 tickets and deserve to be their.
Quote from: Statto on May 06, 2018, 09:58:23 PM
I will give you a 3-item list of my own, which is (realistically) the only 3 possible explanations for today's performance:
1. Fatigue
2. Nervousness
3. Players just not giving a toss because they're leaving in the summer
The fact is going 23 games undefeated counts for NOTHING except it put us in a position where, for 4 games starting today, we can get promoted if we play well. And today in the first of those games we played poorly and Whichever of the above is the best explanation, it's not a problem that's going to have been resolved by next weekend.
Had we played well today and not gone up because Cardiff won or because we were unlucky, I could be optimistic but at the moment all the evidence suggests to me this will end badly.
Personally I think what the players need, is a massive kick up the arse, and remindingbthat going up this year was the expectation, not some surprising bonus.
I think point 3 of yours might be the cause of today's inept performance, TC laying down the foundations, "I am a celebrity get me out of here", most of our players today seemed to agree.
So the best way to attract a big money move is to not give your all in your team's most importance game of the season?
Who would want such a player?
The positive I take today is that the season isn't yet over. 2 more playoff games and a final at Wembley means May will be a great month!
Quote from: davew on May 07, 2018, 12:35:15 AM
Quote from: Statto on May 06, 2018, 09:58:23 PM
I will give you a 3-item list of my own, which is (realistically) the only 3 possible explanations for today's performance:
1. Fatigue
2. Nervousness
3. Players just not giving a toss because they're leaving in the summer
The fact is going 23 games undefeated counts for NOTHING except it put us in a position where, for 4 games starting today, we can get promoted if we play well. And today in the first of those games we played poorly and Whichever of the above is the best explanation, it's not a problem that's going to have been resolved by next weekend.
Had we played well today and not gone up because Cardiff won or because we were unlucky, I could be optimistic but at the moment all the evidence suggests to me this will end badly.
Personally I think what the players need, is a massive kick up the arse, and remindingbthat going up this year was the expectation, not some surprising bonus.
I think point 3 of yours might be the cause of today's inept performance, TC laying down the foundations, "I am a celebrity get me out of here", most of our players today seemed to agree.
You seriously think the players didn't give a toss? Words fail me if that is what our supporters think after one defeat in 24.
I think it was nerves, plain and simple nerves.
Got to pick the players who have the mind set to take a penalty, it's like playing the youngsters, they know no fear. Joka has to work out who those players are in the squad who can cope!
Think back to the Play Offs last season, I felt then that we were more nervous than Reading, but we shouldn't be as this team are capable of beating anyone.
COYW
Fear of failure. When Slav talks about needing to be brave he means be positive, make things happen, be confident.
We have technically very gifted players but lack warriors. Friday will show us what we have and what we lack in this respect. Premier players have the right attitude and temperament, we will see who are Premier League players over the next 2 or 3 games.
I am still angry about our performance. The players must have known that Cardiff were still 0-0 at half time & also at 60 minutes. Why did they not bust a gut to change the game around. It was there for the taking.
I don´t buy the fatigue excuse. They had 9 days to recharge. From the fitness side, if Targett & Fredericks were not fully fit I would not have started them. Slavisa had the option to play Sess at LB & Christie at RB. Norwood could have replaced Johansen & AK47 shoulh have started over Piazon.
On Friday I will be 100% behind the team but they have all to stand up & be counted if they have any real desire for us to be promoted. We won´t have a chance to do it for years if they don´t step up.
Why now and why throughout our entire history should we be suffering from nerves ? Why do lesser teams like Wigan and Millwall handle them so well (how many Wembley appearances have they had between them ?) And yet we handle them so badly ?
We've played 6 play off games in the past and I've been to 5 of them and quite frankly we've choked in all of them what evidence is there that we won't again ?
We've had 3 must win games recently , QPR, Brentford and Birmingham and we couldn't do it, Derby to me looks a much tougher prospect than those 3,
Over to you Slavisa , prove to us that you are the man to take us forward !
Let me leave you with this thought, I got asked by a Fulham supporter at work last night , "Do you think Neil Warnock would have got this squad promoted ? "
Interesting question, what do you think ?
It's a bit ironic that many of our fans are accusing the players of bottling it - yet the over reaction on here after one defeat in 24 would suggest that 'pots calling kettle ....'
Sad very sad but unfortunately predictable
The form book, according to many a posting on here, was followed very accurately yesterday. So why the disappointment?
Quote from: HV71 on May 07, 2018, 08:02:08 AM
It's a bit ironic that many of our fans are accusing the players of bottling it - yet the over reaction on here after one defeat in 24 would suggest that 'pots calling kettle ....'
Sad very sad but unfortunately predictable
:plus one:
I think it was nerves! But we need to get behind the team as fans and not be nervous ourselves!!!
Maybe we are just a bit tooo nice. Fans, club and players ?
Nasty fan make more noise, nasty players win more games and nasty managers are the most successful.
Its the hope that kills you!
Before the games yesterday we could afford to be philosophical about the out come.
If only we hadn't had such a bad start to the season, player recruitment etc etc.
If only this that and the other ............but look how well we have done despite all that!
But any type of loss when Cardiff only drew turns it on its head.
Now there's real doubt.
Can we re light the fire for 3 more games?
Maybe I'm trying too hard to put a positive spin on it but if we had played a blinder and the other result didn't go our way, how would the players reacted to that?
If they did all they could have and still failed! = did the business but wasn't enough, depressed!
But they cocked the whole game up but have another chance in the play offs = depressed at first but determined to recharge and ready to go!
They didn't bottle it - that's unfair
I lost my annual golf singles on 3rd extra hole by pulling my drive - is that a bottle ? No it's just that I didn't have it on that particular hole
The players are only human, not machines or FIFA 18 players, it was unfortunately one of those days where they didn't have it together
Let's hope the pressure is off now and they can really go for it at Derby - like they did in the League and at Cardiff and Sheff Utd
Well said Baszab - they are only human . Some people on the forums must be so perfect in everything they do - they must all have potential to be Nobel winners ( well at least the first part of the name anyway)
23 unbeaten and the moaning continues .... sad and somewhat classless
Having calmed down a bit my remaining anger is not so much losing to Birmingham but more to do with 2nd spot being taken by Cardiff. If it had been Villa or Boro I would have taken it on the chin. Both are a class above Colin´s mob.
Let's all be realistic, we would have taken the arm off anyone offering us playoffs back in December, we are a grey team and beaten everyone in the playoffs already. So chin up lads it's not over yet and we came back pretty strong after our last defeat why should it be any different now.
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Such a disappointing performance and result but it is best forgotten for a while.
The play offs now offer us a second chance , we must fully concentrate on that and make sure there is no repeat of Sunday's performance.