MATCHWATCH : Millwall (a)

[Stranded]

This does look like a scrappy 1-0 home win to me.
I would ordinarily agree with Ian and play Laurent at CB but then who plays at CDM as I think Drinkwater has to be dropped?
Either way I would bring in Holmes and drop Drinkwater.

Sadly the outcome was oh so predictable.
I fully expect another defeat on Saturday. I’m hoping for a miracle but I just can’t see it.
It has to be last chance saloon for Pauno because he is taking us down.

He has drawn a short straw with the points deduction but the squad is just an unfit, injury prone mess. The unfitness is at his door. The level of injuries is ridiculous. I don’t believe it’s just bad luck. Conditioning of the players has to be questioned. It’s not acceptable to say they are too tired because they are playing all the time. That’s bollocks. Swift is the only ever present.

Every game we fall away in the second half and no changes are made. FFS bring on the youngsters to give the side fresh legs. Azeez and Ashcroft have come into the side and been fine. Just leaving it until the opposition score and then being too timid to play Clarke and Puscas up front when we need a goal is pathetic.

I was shocked at how weak we were v Blackpool. I thought then we were in a relegation battle. Now I’m certain of it. Wr are in deep trouble.

Zip, our injuries have all been in game. That is shit luck and find me another side who have less than 10 fit established outfield players. Ashcroft did well tonight but just sticking more kids in isn't the answer, we will still have 8 or so playing every minute, every week. That just doesn't happen these days.

We are at the stage where there is actually , in my opinion, much more a manager can do. If he didn't have Covid he might have even made the bench himself tonight.

Even Tim & Mick called it, there isn't an option you know can come on and change the flow of a game, only players you hope might be able to. Did Clarke really touch the ball though? Camara looked lively mind.


With the supposed 9 points incoming, we just need to try and tick over points wise and hope we get bodies back as with options we are much, much better than the bottom 6. With injuries at this level, we are oxf*rd.

[Gunny Fishcake]

Not one shot on target and Puscas has not scored since April, just about sums the current dire sh*t hole we’re in at the moment

[Stranded]

Really sorry to say this, but Pauno is the Stam of a few years ago, we need TWO up front if we're chasing a game - he just doesn't seem willing to change!

We're in the poop for sure - and I'm no longer confident in the manager to sort it.

We did. Swift went up top with Clarke and we switched from 3-5-1-1 to 4-4-2.

[Crowbar6753]

Yes we lost, but there were some positives...the new formation was a breath of fresh air and showed the 4-2-3-1 formation is not the be all and end all and to be honest we looked really good in the first half.
Millwall were always going to change it up at half time and eventually we ran out of steam.

The second positive for me was the introduction of the so called younger players in the squad. Ashcroft played pretty well and didn't disgrace himself by any means, and Clarke and Camara did ok!! So why is Pauno so scared of giving these youngsters a run out, for me we lost the game due to fatigue!! with our injury list actually getting worse rather than better we are going to have to trust in these players even if it is only to rest some wary legs.

If the 9 point deduction is true then its going to be squeeky bum time ahead and back to being in a big relegation scrap.

[windermereROYAL]

Really sorry to say this, but Pauno is the Stam of a few years ago, we need TWO up front if we're chasing a game - he just doesn't seem willing to change!

We're in the poop for sure - and I'm no longer confident in the manager to sort it.

We did. Swift went up top with Clarke and we switched from 3-5-1-1 to 4-4-2.

Then why not leave Puscas on then FFS?

[Zip]

This does look like a scrappy 1-0 home win to me.
I would ordinarily agree with Ian and play Laurent at CB but then who plays at CDM as I think Drinkwater has to be dropped?
Either way I would bring in Holmes and drop Drinkwater.

Sadly the outcome was oh so predictable.
I fully expect another defeat on Saturday. I’m hoping for a miracle but I just can’t see it.
It has to be last chance saloon for Pauno because he is taking us down.

He has drawn a short straw with the points deduction but the squad is just an unfit, injury prone mess. The unfitness is at his door. The level of injuries is ridiculous. I don’t believe it’s just bad luck. Conditioning of the players has to be questioned. It’s not acceptable to say they are too tired because they are playing all the time. That’s bollocks. Swift is the only ever present.

Every game we fall away in the second half and no changes are made. FFS bring on the youngsters to give the side fresh legs. Azeez and Ashcroft have come into the side and been fine. Just leaving it until the opposition score and then being too timid to play Clarke and Puscas up front when we need a goal is pathetic.

I was shocked at how weak we were v Blackpool. I thought then we were in a relegation battle. Now I’m certain of it. Wr are in deep trouble.

Zip, our injuries have all been in game. That is shit luck and find me another side who have less than 10 fit established outfield players. Ashcroft did well tonight but just sticking more kids in isn't the answer, we will still have 8 or so playing every minute, every week. That just doesn't happen these days.

We are at the stage where there is actually , in my opinion, much more a manager can do. If he didn't have Covid he might have even made the bench himself tonight.

Even Tim & Mick called it, there isn't an option you know can come on and change the flow of a game, only players you hope might be able to. Did Clarke really touch the ball though? Camara looked lively mind.


With the supposed 9 points incoming, we just need to try and tick over points wise and hope we get bodies back as with options we are much, much better than the bottom 6. With injuries at this level, we are oxf*rd.

Halilovic, Hoilett and Azeez were soft tissue injuries. We don’t know about Drinkwater or Yiadom. Most other clubs have very few out. So even allowing for the impact injuries we have at least three out with hamstring injuries.

I don’t agree about the tiredness thing. When we played Blackpool it was only the second game back after the international break and the poor little flowers are tired, Bless them. Something isn’t right.

[Stranded]

Sadly the outcome was oh so predictable.
I fully expect another defeat on Saturday. I’m hoping for a miracle but I just can’t see it.
It has to be last chance saloon for Pauno because he is taking us down.

He has drawn a short straw with the points deduction but the squad is just an unfit, injury prone mess. The unfitness is at his door. The level of injuries is ridiculous. I don’t believe it’s just bad luck. Conditioning of the players has to be questioned. It’s not acceptable to say they are too tired because they are playing all the time. That’s bollocks. Swift is the only ever present.

Every game we fall away in the second half and no changes are made. FFS bring on the youngsters to give the side fresh legs. Azeez and Ashcroft have come into the side and been fine. Just leaving it until the opposition score and then being too timid to play Clarke and Puscas up front when we need a goal is pathetic.

I was shocked at how weak we were v Blackpool. I thought then we were in a relegation battle. Now I’m certain of it. Wr are in deep trouble.

Zip, our injuries have all been in game. That is shit luck and find me another side who have less than 10 fit established outfield players. Ashcroft did well tonight but just sticking more kids in isn't the answer, we will still have 8 or so playing every minute, every week. That just doesn't happen these days.

We are at the stage where there is actually , in my opinion, much more a manager can do. If he didn't have Covid he might have even made the bench himself tonight.

Even Tim & Mick called it, there isn't an option you know can come on and change the flow of a game, only players you hope might be able to. Did Clarke really touch the ball though? Camara looked lively mind.


With the supposed 9 points incoming, we just need to try and tick over points wise and hope we get bodies back as with options we are much, much better than the bottom 6. With injuries at this level, we are oxf*rd.

Halilovic, Hoilett and Azeez were soft tissue injuries. We don’t know about Drinkwater or Yiadom. Most other clubs have very few out. So even allowing for the impact injuries we have at least three out with hamstring injuries.

I don’t agree about the tiredness thing. When we played Blackpool it was only the second game back after the international break and the poor little flowers are tired, Bless them. Something isn’t right.

If course it isn't right. Embargo, deductions, injuries its a fcuking mess. Very little of VPs making. We changed formation tonight and it worked for 45mins but the mental tiredness will kill us more than anything.

It is also a 2 way thing , the other lot know that we have little bar hope and expectation on the bench, so unless we have got a goal or two ahead they know they can build up a head of steam. The game changed because they could replace their #6 (who should have walked) with fresh legs and match up to us knowing our legs would just get more tired.

[Zip]

Zip, our injuries have all been in game. That is shit luck and find me another side who have less than 10 fit established outfield players. Ashcroft did well tonight but just sticking more kids in isn't the answer, we will still have 8 or so playing every minute, every week. That just doesn't happen these days.

We are at the stage where there is actually , in my opinion, much more a manager can do. If he didn't have Covid he might have even made the bench himself tonight.

Even Tim & Mick called it, there isn't an option you know can come on and change the flow of a game, only players you hope might be able to. Did Clarke really touch the ball though? Camara looked lively mind.


With the supposed 9 points incoming, we just need to try and tick over points wise and hope we get bodies back as with options we are much, much better than the bottom 6. With injuries at this level, we are oxf*rd.

Halilovic, Hoilett and Azeez were soft tissue injuries. We don’t know about Drinkwater or Yiadom. Most other clubs have very few out. So even allowing for the impact injuries we have at least three out with hamstring injuries.

I don’t agree about the tiredness thing. When we played Blackpool it was only the second game back after the international break and the poor little flowers are tired, Bless them. Something isn’t right.

If course it isn't right. Embargo, deductions, injuries its a fcuking mess. Very little of VPs making. We changed formation tonight and it worked for 45mins but the mental tiredness will kill us more than anything.

It is also a 2 way thing , the other lot know that we have little bar hope and expectation on the bench, so unless we have got a goal or two ahead they know they can build up a head of steam. The game changed because they could replace their #6 (who should have walked) with fresh legs and match up to us knowing our legs would just get more tired.

We have been mentally weak for far too long. It goes back way before Pauno. However this thing about not using the youngsters doesn’t wash. It’s been painfully obvious that our players have been out on their feet and the opposition know that. So I know just keep them on the pitch in the vain hope we can cling on. We never do. He has to use the bench. We need fresh legs however young the players may be. No excuses.

[leon]

First half decent. How Millwall #6 didn't walk I'll never know. Probably should have had a pen for the challenge on Rahman.

2nd half is what happens when you have less than a full 11 of established players available. Tired minds, tired bodies.

Writing Saturday off and hoping we have players back by the Forest game.

Sorry Stranded I think you’re hopelessly optimistic.

You have to blood some youngsters. It is utterly insane to have not done so with our injury situation this season.

He also should have changed the way we play to try and accommodate the only experienced striker we have.

[Brogue]

This the Stranded who lives in Germany and hasn’t watched a reading game live for probably over a decade? Telling a season ticket holder about our tribulations

[Zip]

We haven’t scored since the first half v Blackpool.

[Zip]

Big oxf*rd failure of Pauno who had weeks to find a striker after Joao and Meite got injured and he signed about 3 oxf*rd midfielders.

Yes that was a big error.

[Snowflake Royal]

Only half watched the game.

Their goal was a shambles of defending.

At least we tried something different and switched up the side. Although I had no idea where basically any of the midfielders were supposed to be playing, and I'm not sure they did either.

Pauno is really good at results streaks. Shame he's proving better at the shit streaks than the good ones.

That's about all I can muster for this.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Big oxf*rd failure of Pauno who had weeks to find a striker after Joao and Meite got injured and he signed about 3 oxf*rd midfielders.

Yes that was a big error.

Tbf we'd be even more fcuked right now if we hadn't bought in those midfielders.

[Zip]

Big oxf*rd failure of Pauno who had weeks to find a striker after Joao and Meite got injured and he signed about 3 oxf*rd midfielders.

Yes that was a big error.

Tbf we'd be even more fcuked right now if we hadn't bought in those midfielders.

Most of them are injured! Only TDB is fit.

[Snowflake Royal]

We'd just have Andy Carroll on the treatment table too.

[windermereROYAL]

Away midweek record since the play-off season, P29 W4 D13 L12, not horrendous but could be a whole better that's for sure.

[leon]

We'd just have Andy Carroll on the treatment table too.

He’d take up two tables

[Once upon a time .]

windermereROYAL ———- give your own opinions , don’t go changing mine !

[Millsy]

Really sorry to say this, but Pauno is the Stam of a few years ago, we need TWO up front if we're chasing a game - he just doesn't seem willing to change!

We're in the poop for sure - and I'm no longer confident in the manager to sort it.

Exactly. I've been banging on about this for months and Pauno doesn't seem to learn. I can't believe he doesn't dive into HNA to take my advice!

He did allegedly go 2 up front with Swift and Clarke but a) Puscas was doing FINE and came close a couple of times one of his better games for us... no reason to take him off, didn't look half as tired as Swift b) Swift is not a striker c) as per b we had times where we were streaming forward with Rahman abotu to put a cross in and... no Swift in the box, just defaulting to his midfield position outside the box. Surely you'd keep Puscas up there. He really doesn't like Puscas. If you're going to use a midfielder up front then they better be bloody well drilled to know how to play that role if it's asked of them. Otherwise you're just staying 451 and trying to dick around with formations that won't work.

I understand injuries make it hard, but there's no issue swapping Ashcroft with Clarke, 442 and two out and out strikers up front. Injuries irrelevant there. You've just got to make it work with Puscas you can't take him off when he's doing well.

Really disappointing defeat.