Walsall Vs Brighton & Hove Albion ***Official Match Thread***

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

That is the alarming thing for me. Not being disrespectful to Walsaĺl but we should have enough strength in depth to score a goal from open play against a L1 side, even with all the changes made.

Let's hope the early momentum hasn't been lost.

Walsall are a decent outfit with a fair wind behind them I wouldn't be that concerned if our first team got narrowly beaten by them. However, it is frustratthat we had an opportunity to go ahead again but wasted it.

 

[Bwian]

Come on. They are a good team, playing well. We have shallow resources. Not many changes are needed before we end up with a team looking like last season.

If we wanted to keep the momentum - keep the team together.

That was my point. I didn't want it to sound like I was under-valuing Walsall.

 

[jimbob5]

Walsall are a decent outfit with a fair wind behind them I wouldn't be that concerned if our first team got narrowly beaten by them. However, it is frustratthat we had an opportunity to go ahead again but wasted it.

yep. not that we lost but …. the WAY we lost …….. as per fire king usual!

 

[saafend_seagull]

Ipswich still playing which can only help

 

[fat old seagull]

Made me sick. However it may have been the onions.

Oh God, Tripe and Onions....now I also feel sick!

 

[Lush]

Oh look. Joe Bennett has scored for Villa.

 

[GT49er]

No I disagree, O'Grady needs to be told he was utter tripe!

I gather Warren more or less said COG was tripe? COG vs. Warren - I wouldn't fancy Warren's chances against fit young footballer COG, should they meet, and COG objected to Warren's comments.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Got a feeling that Palace despatched Walsall rather effectively last year and have a much stronger squad, so hold on the delight

I suspect the delight was that it was Walsall that might be losing to Palace.

 

[fleet]

I have been a supporter of COG on here on many threads, but it sounded like he was dire tonight so why did someone not stop him taking the pen? Maybe tonight makes it even more likely that he will depart in this window. Great shame as I have seen a lot of good qualities in his play

 

[John Bumlick]

I gather Warren more or less said COG was tripe?

i've read a couple of references to that now. can anyone share the gist of what Warren had to say?

 

[Marlton & Hove Albion]

Ipswich still playing which can only help

Not sure about that. The team they're playing won't be playing us on Sat and they're enjoying shooting practice - now 4 -1 up.

Some things never change. Let's be honest, we were lucky vs. Southend but for some reason, we decided to field a weaker team vs. Walsall (who are better than Southend). This was the only realistic chance for silverware this season and CH decided that wasn't important. 4-5-1.

I'd like to say he found out about our true lack of depth, but not sure about that. Some good early season results - all happy - but I think we're looking at midtable. I think Saturday will be more educational as we never do well at Portman Road and they're looking good.

Team tonight included 5M pound CB, England U21s, former PL defender, Finnish International, 1.5M pound Winger - AND WE LOST.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

There must be a lot of young posters on here.

To me the League Cup is/was an important competition, being undermined by the moneyed clubs and their cosseted tarts, which was held in high regard.

Clubs like ourselves have been sucked into viewing it as a nonsense event. If we were to get through to semi or even the final all of a sudden it would take on another viewpoint.

When it was relevant to clubs and more importantly us the fans it was played over two legs, and this was in the days of smaller squads, only one sub named, heavier pitches and so on. These days with better facilities, pitches, fitness, half a team on the subs bench, three subs and so "these" big clubs have decided through greed to devalue the competition. Shame on them.

 

[Acker79]

It really depends to what extent the manager ( perhaps with the agreement of the board ) wish to go for it in the League Cup.

If the club had wanted to pursue interest in this competition, I suppose it is down to the manager to have selected a team to do so but by NOT selecting any more than one or two league starters does not, to my mind, demonstrate intent or perhaps it demonstrates naivety on the part of the manager bringing on subs when basically the horse has bolted !

I didn't expect us to win, and expected some resting of players, but 10? Don't we want that money spinning prem side in the next round?

That is the alarming thing for me. Not being disrespectful to Walsaĺl but we should have enough strength in depth to score a goal from open play against a L1 side, even with all the changes made.

Let's hope the early momentum hasn't been lost.

Should we?

Compare our starting 11 v last season's

Maenpaa </= Stockdale (I think the jury is out, but it seems on two games he isn't as strong
Calderon - Calderon
Dunk < Dunk (dunk last year had form and momentum, dunk today has been out for a couple of weeks and has been dealing with a circus)
Rea < Greer (Greer is an international with experience, Rea was making his second full team start)
Rosenior >/= Bennett (On paper, Rosenior should be better than Bennett, but not sure he has shown it with us so far, this is the one possible position we're stronger)
March = March
JFC = JFC
Ince = Ince
Murphy >/=/< Lualua (Jury still out)
Holla = Holla
O'Grady = O'Grady

That is our depth, that is the team we started - that is a weakened version of the team that just avoided relegation last year. Any team struggling at the bottom end of the Championship is not a team that "should" be beating a top on form League One side. They are the sort of team top League One sides look at as beatable.

Ipswich into extra-time which can hopefully work in our favor.

Too often in these circumstances (see also: "They had to play mid week, we've had seven days to recover") it doesn't benefit us at all.

Why didn't JFC take the second pen ?

And if he missed? It would have been so obvious. The keeper would have known he was going to that side because he did it last time/he wouldn't hit it in the same place both times (*Delete as appropriate). If O'Grady had scored, as he did the last penalty he took for us, no one would question the idea of different penalty takers.

 

[Driver8]

I have been a supporter of COG on here on many threads, but it sounded like he was dire tonight so why did someone not stop him taking the pen? Maybe tonight makes it even more likely that he will depart in this window. Great shame as I have seen a lot of good qualities in his play

I have never seen O'Grady look even remotely like scoring, which is his job.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

i've read a couple of references to that now. can anyone share the gist of what Warren had to say?

He was not getting into the box. His runs were too straight. His movement was terrible. He was running at defenders rather than into space. His control put team-mates in trouble. His penalty was five yards over the bar. Not his night.

I was only half-listening and switched off at the final whistle so there may be more.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

i've read a couple of references to that now. can anyone share the gist of what Warren had to say?

Er.. think its been said

 

[Bladders]

Oh look. Joe Bennett has scored for Villa.

We'd go up automatic with his one goal per season

 

[Buckley's Mad Eye]

I have been a supporter of COG on here on many threads, but it sounded like he was dire tonight so why did someone not stop him taking the pen? Maybe tonight makes it even more likely that he will depart in this window. Great shame as I have seen a lot of good qualities in his play

I think it might make him less likely to depart. He is apparently on a high wage with us, his poor form won't persuade any team to match or improve what he's on here.

 

[Bwian]

There must be a lot of young posters on here.

To me the League Cup is/was an important competition, being undermined by the moneyed clubs and their cosseted tarts, which was held in high regard.

Clubs like ourselves have been sucked into viewing it as a nonsense event. If we were to get through to semi or even the final all of a sudden it would take on another viewpoint.

When it was relevant to clubs and more importantly us the fans it was played over two legs, and this was in the days of smaller squads, only one sub named, heavier pitches and so on. These days with better facilities, pitches, fitness, half a team on the subs bench, three subs and so "these" big clubs have decided through greed to devalue the competition. Shame on them.

Totally agree with all you've said.

This is the one cup that clubs like ours have a chance of doing well in-it should be taken seriously. If not for that, then at least for the poor sods who schlepped up to the Midlands on a Tuesday night to support the team.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Christ on a bike . . . some games still playing (OK, penalties). It's the kiddies I feel sorry for.