MATCHWATCH : Coventry City (h)

[Hound]

Well I just want to focus on Swift for a minute. Free kick aside he played well but did anyone else find it interesting that our number 10 was frequently the deepest of our midfielders? Pauno has given him a lot of freedom to roam it seems and, actually, I think it works. It allows everyone to push a bit further forward as opposition players know he can pick a pass and they know Joao can get on the end of long balls with ease. They have to press him.

One thing that stood out to me is how quickly he has settled back in to being the 'main man' in midfield. ie we always tend to try to find him with the ball and he dictates the way we try to move forward.

He didnt have his best game bar the wonder free kick and assist, but you can see what we were missing previously. Very good football brain on him.

If you can have Rino and Laurent at their best - thought they were a little off yesterday - there is huge potential in that midfield

[Snowflake Royal]

Yet again. This team lacks the overall work rate and intensity to perform at a consistant level week in week out.

actually agree with this, more often than not we start slowly and allow the opposition to run the show. Usually means Pauno gives them a rocket up the arse at half time, and they come out and pressure a lot more. They need to take control of games from the start rather than give other teams confidence because on another day we would have been 2 nil down and lost that game.

It's getting to the point you have to wonder if it's a deliberate attempt to get teams to play on the front foot so we can hit them in the break and give Joao room to run in behind.

Dangerous game.


Good performance, slow start and Cov should have been up by at least 1 before we were (missed first few minutes). But we always looked dangerous and cov fell apart at 2-0.

Cabral - 7 not called upon a huge amount. Beaten on a couple of efforts they couldn't tuck away, but wouldn't expect a save
Holmes - 7 obviously missed an early horror show because he was fine otherwise. Superb movement and cross beat him for their attempt just before we scored because he was caught moving the line up. Good going forward, peach of a cross, good run. Got away with one and struggles with pace
Richards - 7 torrid time against Dabo, gets help from Ejaria but it's often not great help, not as strong going forward
McIntyre - 8 everywhere
Morrison - 8 commanding
Rino - 8 +1 for the goal, real unspectacular water carrier for the side. Love him for it
Laurent - 8 what a find, runs midfield
Swift - 9 peach of a ball for Joao and great fk.
Olise - 8 had his man on toast all game and worked hard
Ejaria - 8 properly shined his twinkle toes before the game, super unlucky not to score goal of the season
Joao - 8 Joao seems to amble around lazily most the game and then wins it for you with some brilliance.

Esteves - 6 didn't do a huge amount and the game was over moments after he came on
Semedo - 7 lots of good stuff in the middle
Aluko - 6 didn't really seem to do a lot but the game was won
Baldock - 5 -1 for the shot. Lots of effort, not enough quality
Tetek - 7 very involved, lots of good movement and touches

[Hendo]

Can't stop watching that free kick. Is it the best free kick we've ever scored?

Same, I loved Harte's free-kick in the 4-3 win away at Forest in the play-off final season, but the one last night was something special.

[NewCorkSeth]

Well I just want to focus on Swift for a minute. Free kick aside he played well but did anyone else find it interesting that our number 10 was frequently the deepest of our midfielders? Pauno has given him a lot of freedom to roam it seems and, actually, I think it works. It allows everyone to push a bit further forward as opposition players know he can pick a pass and they know Joao can get on the end of long balls with ease. They have to press him.

One thing that stood out to me is how quickly he has settled back in to being the 'main man' in midfield. ie we always tend to try to find him with the ball and he dictates the way we try to move forward.

He didnt have his best game bar the wonder free kick and assist, but you can see what we were missing previously. Very good football brain on him.

If you can have Rino and Laurent at their best - thought they were a little off yesterday - there is huge potential in that midfield

In Morros interview the other day he said something along the lines of "when Swift asks you for the ball you give it to him". That seems to be true for many otlf our players. Give Swift the ball.

[Snowflake Royal]

Poor Olise, between his effort and Swift's, he's not getting another one any time soon is he.

[LightwaterRoyal]

Can't stop watching that free kick. Is it the best free kick we've ever scored?

A few contenders

Ian Harte vs Middlesbrough
Ian Harte vs Doncaster (The one where they put a defender on the line and he still squeezed it between him and the crossbar)
Gylfi vs Ipswich
Liam Kelly scored some great free kicks for U21s
Piazon vs Huddersfield
Drenthe vs Leeds
Yann Kermorgant vs Cardiff (Just because at the time he was playing like a Balon D'Or winner)

[Hound]

Ratings from me - wasn't blown away with the performance tbh. Moments of individual brilliance, plus Cov missing early chances along with suicidal passes across their back 4. But a good solid win, and the defence is looking more solid (2 conceded in last 4 now) - reminded me of some of our early season games, and dare I say it, some of our performances under Stam season 1

8 McIntyre
7 Joao, Morro, Swift, Rino, Ejaria, Tetek
6 Esteves, Rafael, Semedo, Laurent, Olise
5 Richards, Aluko, Baldock
4 Holmes

[URZZZZ]

Comfortable victory in the end, but could have been all so different had Coventry had taken one of their early chances. They were a decent enough side in periods of the game but felt they were too naive and gave away too many opportunities, they caused a lot of self inflicted damage without us having to create too much

8 - Rinomhota Joao
7 - Morrison McIntyre Laurent Olise Swift Ejaria
6 - Rafael Esteves Tetek Semedo Aluko
5 - Richards
4- Holmes Baldock

Felt Olise was the pick of our midfield attacking three, without really causing too many opportunities in the final third whereas Swift was the opposite. Ejaria also improved today on his recent limp performances

Still really unsure about Holmes as a FB - never really viewed him as a viable option there other than filling in for the odd game or two. Not good enough with the ball - almost treats the ball as a hot potato, and his positioning off the ball is suspect too. Think he'll be a solid CB for us but would prefer this experiment to end now with him playing FB

Why a 5 for Richards? I notice he made 9 successful tackles yesterday, the most of any of our players in any game this season.

Just scaring away any Bayern scouts who inevitably read HNA

[Westwood52]

actually agree with this, more often than not we start slowly and allow the opposition to run the show. Usually means Pauno gives them a rocket up the arse at half time, and they come out and pressure a lot more. They need to take control of games from the start rather than give other teams confidence because on another day we would have been 2 nil down and lost that game.

It's getting to the point you have to wonder if it's a deliberate attempt to get teams to play on the front foot so we can hit them in the break and give Joao room to run in behind.

Dangerous game.


Good performance, slow start and Cov should have been up by at least 1 before we were (missed first few minutes). But we always looked dangerous and cov fell apart at 2-0.

Cabral - 7 not called upon a huge amount. Beaten on a couple of efforts they couldn't tuck away, but wouldn't expect a save
Holmes - 7 obviously missed an early horror show because he was fine otherwise. Superb movement and cross beat him for their attempt just before we scored because he was caught moving the line up. Good going forward, peach of a cross, good run. Got away with one and struggles with pace
Richards - 7 torrid time against Dabo, gets help from Ejaria but it's often not great help, not as strong going forward
McIntyre - 8 everywhere
Morrison - 8 commanding
Rino - 8 +1 for the goal, real unspectacular water carrier for the side. Love him for it
Laurent - 8 what a find, runs midfield
Swift - 9 peach of a ball for Joao and great fk.
Olise - 8 had his man on toast all game and worked hard
Ejaria - 8 properly shined his twinkle toes before the game, super unlucky not to score goal of the season
Joao - 8 Joao seems to amble around lazily most the game and then wins it for you with some brilliance.

Esteves - 6 didn't do a huge amount and the game was over moments after he came on
Semedo - 7 lots of good stuff in the middle
Aluko - 6 didn't really seem to do a lot but the game was won
Baldock - 5 -1 for the shot. Lots of effort, not enough quality
Tetek - 7 very involved, lots of good movement and touches

If 6 is average ,you have given some high scores there.7 for Tom Holmes is very high.Borderline 4,but I would give him a 5 for the cross.Estevez to start Sunday.TBF to the lad he is learning his trade and will slip in and out of form.I thought McIntyre was very good last night,but he has had a couple of stinkers.

[Millsy]

It's getting to the point you have to wonder if it's a deliberate attempt to get teams to play on the front foot so we can hit them in the break and give Joao room to run in behind.

Good suggestion.

I started a discussion thread on passing it around the back, which I do not like (and again last night we almost let one in because of this!) but what I got from the discussion is yes it's risky but it's our tactic to draw the opposition team out and create space further up for Joao and that on balance we score more than we concede. So it's fine, and I suspect you may be right there.

However, I do then get confused when it doesn't work and we end up conceding that Pauno says we didn't start the game with enough intensity. Well, which is it? Does he say to them give them hell from the outset and try and get a couple of goals, or does he say just soak it up for the first 10mins, tire them out, create space and then sting them?

[NewCorkSeth]

Comfortable victory in the end, but could have been all so different had Coventry had taken one of their early chances. They were a decent enough side in periods of the game but felt they were too naive and gave away too many opportunities, they caused a lot of self inflicted damage without us having to create too much

8 - Rinomhota Joao
7 - Morrison McIntyre Laurent Olise Swift Ejaria
6 - Rafael Esteves Tetek Semedo Aluko
5 - Richards
4- Holmes Baldock

Felt Olise was the pick of our midfield attacking three, without really causing too many opportunities in the final third whereas Swift was the opposite. Ejaria also improved today on his recent limp performances

Still really unsure about Holmes as a FB - never really viewed him as a viable option there other than filling in for the odd game or two. Not good enough with the ball - almost treats the ball as a hot potato, and his positioning off the ball is suspect too. Think he'll be a solid CB for us but would prefer this experiment to end now with him playing FB

Why a 5 for Richards? I notice he made 9 successful tackles yesterday, the most of any of our players in any game this season.

Just scaring away any Bayern scouts who inevitably read HNA

I agree. He is shit.

[Hound]

Just scaring away any Bayern scouts who inevitably read HNA

It did cross my mind that anyone watching him yesterday would have been pretty unimpressed. Hopefully.

[URZZZZ]

Couple of things :

1. I really, really want to be able to like what Aluko and Baldock bring to the team but they do make it difficult. Not so much Aluko last night, although he wasn’t particularly good, but poor Sam. Clearly, he doesn’t intend to be crap but he’s definitely achieving it. He tries so hard, but his confidence looks so shot.

2. If I’ve understood correctly, our starting 11 was 5 academy products, 4 free transfers plus and Joao. Yet we hear the rubbish about the amount we’ve spent. Maybe someone can put me right if I’ve got that wrong

What Baldock has going for him is his work rate as you say, which, I admit isn’t much. I see a use for him, similar to the way McDermott utilised Church in our promotion season. If we’re holding onto a lead, bring him on and let him run around, whereas if we’re chasing a goal, don’t bring him on anywhere near the pitch

Aluko is different, I don’t think he is particularly useful off the bench whereas I think he does more of a job starting. The problem he has his is his best performances coincide with him playing central (IIRC he’s played one game there - Watford - which was far and away his best performance this season). At best he’s 4th choice there now (behind Swift, Semedo and Olise) and so he’s often shifted out to the wing which then highlights his defensive weaknesses as RB is arguably our weakest position at the moment

Neither will be here next season barring a miraculous run of form for the rest of the season regardless

[Hound]

Can't stop watching that free kick. Is it the best free kick we've ever scored?

Same, I loved Harte's free-kick in the 4-3 win away at Forest in the play-off final season, but the one last night was something special.

just watched it back a few times.

mini lolz at Ejaria's reaction. Not easily excited is he?

[Hound]

Couple of things :

1. I really, really want to be able to like what Aluko and Baldock bring to the team but they do make it difficult. Not so much Aluko last night, although he wasn’t particularly good, but poor Sam. Clearly, he doesn’t intend to be crap but he’s definitely achieving it. He tries so hard, but his confidence looks so shot.

2. If I’ve understood correctly, our starting 11 was 5 academy products, 4 free transfers plus and Joao. Yet we hear the rubbish about the amount we’ve spent. Maybe someone can put me right if I’ve got that wrong

What Baldock has going for him is his work rate as you say, which, I admit isn’t much. I see a use for him, similar to the way McDermott utilised Church in our promotion season. If we’re holding onto a lead, bring him on and let him run around, whereas if we’re chasing a goal, don’t bring him on anywhere near the pitch

Aluko is different, I don’t think he is particularly useful off the bench whereas I think he does more of a job starting. The problem he has his is his best performances coincide with him playing central (IIRC he’s played one game there - Watford - which was far and away his best performance this season). At best he’s 4th choice there now (behind Swift, Semedo and Olise) and so he’s often shifted out to the wing which then highlights his defensive weaknesses as RB is arguably our weakest position at the moment

Neither will be here next season barring a miraculous run of form for the rest of the season regardless

agree fully with both points

[Pepe the Horseman]

Can't stop watching that free kick. Is it the best free kick we've ever scored?

Same, I loved Harte's free-kick in the 4-3 win away at Forest in the play-off final season, but the one last night was something special.

just watched it back a few times.

mini lolz at Ejaria's reaction. Not easily excited is he?

Reckon he hates football, but just happens to be great at it.

[Hendo]

Same, I loved Harte's free-kick in the 4-3 win away at Forest in the play-off final season, but the one last night was something special.

just watched it back a few times.

mini lolz at Ejaria's reaction. Not easily excited is he?

Reckon he hates football, but just happens to be great at it.

Assou-Ekotto vibes.

Maybe he is just stunned and doesn't know how to react, or maybe Swift just does it all the time in training so he's like "meh, nothing new there".

He does give a little fist-pump for Rhino's goal though

[NewCorkSeth]

Same, I loved Harte's free-kick in the 4-3 win away at Forest in the play-off final season, but the one last night was something special.

just watched it back a few times.

mini lolz at Ejaria's reaction. Not easily excited is he?

Reckon he hates football, but just happens to be great at it.

I hear he dreams of being a slam poet but his footballing talent keeps getting in the way.

Side note: has anyone ever heard him speak?

[Zammo]

Can't stop watching that free kick. Is it the best free kick we've ever scored?

A few contenders

Ian Harte vs Middlesbrough
Ian Harte vs Doncaster (The one where they put a defender on the line and he still squeezed it between him and the crossbar)
Gylfi vs Ipswich
Liam Kelly scored some great free kicks for U21s
Piazon vs Huddersfield
Drenthe vs Leeds
Yann Kermorgant vs Cardiff (Just because at the time he was playing like a Balon D'Or winner)

Swift vs QPR was aces, but yesterday......never ever have I reacted to a goal like that in my own living room lol

[URZZZZ]

Just scaring away any Bayern scouts who inevitably read HNA

It did cross my mind that anyone watching him yesterday would have been pretty unimpressed. Hopefully.

As people have said, Dabo looked a threat for them, put in some decent crosses. IIRC he was decent for them back in October too, think he was the one with the shot which Rafael parried for their second goal

Although if Richards does join Bayern (and if he ever plays) he’d be up against the likes of Sancho who may be a slight upgrade on Dabo