Between the lines. Home to Reading, Sat 21st Sept/ 3'oclock.

[BWFC_Insane]

So my prediction was wrong, we did not play with fear as I expected (happy to take this on the chin)

The team showed commitment throughout the game = Good.
IE appeared to have relented and let them "off the leash" = Good
However:
- IE still does not appear to have a game plan and could not see any tactics being employed
- All but one of our goals were set pieces.
- We took our foot off the gas after 30 minutes
- Second half reverted to type and Reading effectively dominated
- IF Reading had a little more quality, we would have been lucky to survive - Their pass and move was far more effective and despite the errors still looked like a game-plan was being followed and was attractive to watch

IE achieved a positive result which was good for the morale of the players. It does not change the view I have held since he arrived. Let's see what game he saw through his rose tinted glasses and how far away from reality he now is.

Hang about. We're adding "scoring from set pieces" to the pile of sticks with which to beat Evatt now???

I’d say the opposite. If we want to go up we need to become a much more efficient team and that means sometimes playing for and scoring from set pieces.

There are games where simply put you won’t score in open play too often. And a set piece makes the difference. We need to improve drastically there but today we did that.

[BorsdaneWhite]

Couldn’t even bring myself to participate last weekend. Was unsalvageably sad. That negativity, I’m afraid, has washed through to this weekend. All just feels so ugly. And I think it’ll get uglier. 0-4 again, for me. I’d love to be wrong. And for you to tell me how wrong I am. How nihilistic. How brittle. Please.

I was wrong. Delightfully wrong.

[GhostoftheBok]

I understand the criticism, but that's not a result from which to judge continuing form. It wasn't about control, shape, etc.

The manager asked those lads for a reaction. He told them to go out and prove they would play for him, the shirt and the fans. That was there in spades today.

All of them went out and wore their hearts on their sleeves. Johnston, Thommo, Sheehan, Schon and Vic especially went for everything. They flew into 50/50s, won it back when they gave it away and generally gave their lot.

We will have to be better from a technical point of view. We can't play with that emotional intensity over 46 games of a season. However, we know Evatt can deliver "drilled" sides. The question marks are over the passion, the determination and the desire.

If they can show up like that big games, with the addition of offering their technical level, we've got a chance.

It's one game. They have to show they can call on that side of the game when it's needed. They also have to show they can be the drilled team that dominated the lesser sides last season.

Big performance, though. Really big. Ballsy.

[BWFC_Insane]

I understand the criticism, but that's not a result from which to judge continuing form. It wasn't about control, shape, etc.

The manager asked those lads for a reaction. He told them to go out and prove they would play for him, the shirt and the fans. That was there in spades today.

All of them went out and wore their hearts on their sleeves. Johnston, Thommo, Sheehan, Schon and Vic especially went for everything. They flew into 50/50s, won it back when they gave it away and generally gave their lot.

We will have to be better from a technical point of view. We can't play with that emotional intensity over 46 games of a season. However, we know Evatt can deliver "drilled" sides. The question marks are over the passion, the determination and the desire.

If they can show up like that big games, with the addition of offering their technical level, we've got a chance.

It's one game. They have to show they can call on that side of the game when it's needed. They also have to show they can be the drilled team that dominated the lesser sides last season.

Big performance, though. Really big. Ballsy.

The first twenty five minutes where we got the ball forward quickly, put it into the box from all angles, and won the possession back quickly is the template for how to play in this league. No surprise that spell won us the game coupled to Readings woeful defending.

But we have to ditch everything else, and try and play like that game after game. Let players do it. Stop trying to be a technical side. Because that’s failed. Put decent players in the opposition half and stuff happens. Put the ball into the box and stuff happens. Win the ball and stuff happens.

We’ve seen the evidence. League one is all about muck and nettles. We showed muck and nettles for twenty five minutes. And it paid dividends.

I’m afraid that is the template, the way. Evatt is going to have to swallow it because any attempt to return to ‘technical’ and we won’t get anywhere. Play with intensity, tempo and a desire to get the ball into the box. We might have a chance then.

[TANGODANCER]

Couldn’t even bring myself to participate last weekend. Was unsalvageably sad. That negativity, I’m afraid, has washed through to this weekend. All just feels so ugly. And I think it’ll get uglier. 0-4 again, for me. I’d love to be wrong. And for you to tell me how wrong I am. How nihilistic. How brittle. Please.

I was wrong. Delightfully wrong.

Being wrong isn't a sin and admitting it a credit. I think a lot of us were surprised at the score-line because the penalties apart, 3-1 was still a fair assessment. We absolutely needed the win and points to stay in contention ; we're already nine points adrift on the front runners, and some of the other scores show how unpredictable life in this division is. The mid-week trip away to a Premier giant is doing us no favours at all followed by a southern dash down to Crawley. I think few are much about the Gooners game relative to three precious points in lower London. As ever, Que Sera..

[Prufrock]

What odds that if I went back and listened to Sam's latest podcast he used the phrase "muck and nettles"?

[DJBlu]

What odds that if I went back and listened to Sam's latest podcast he used the phrase "muck and nettles"?

I'm lumping Sam in with the response yesterday. He's always gone on about taking the heat off the players as a manager. His comments were squarely at Ian Evatt which maybe unnecessary as I'd say 99% was already on him but it also gave the team a "feck you, we can"

He's spoken of doing this before with his comments at Leeds when he said he's as good as Pep and Klopp.

Game was excellent.

My only worry is I think Santos's head has gone. Might be the first out the door in Jan?

[officer_dibble]

Re santos I think GT has been doing the captain role anyway. I’d of sorted it this summer - much more of an issue doing it mid season. It was clear at Wembley/ after the game Santos needed the break.

I hope he hasn’t been attacked by the dickheads - I see Evatt said his 12 year old kids had been sent messages yesterday. What kind of feck* does that?

[Bertie Wooster]

I really like Santos, he's going through a bad spell but he's a top player at this level IMO. He will probably be annoyed by losing the captaincy and his form, but the fans and manager need to really get behind him.

[BWFC_Insane]

I thought Thomason was everything as captain we’ve been missing. Into everyone on the field, always showed, demonstrative when needed.

I still think it’s sub optimal that a 23 year old still learning the game is having to lead a bunch of senior pros.

When I look through the team I think Johnstone is the right stuff. He’s tough. Gets on with it. I get probably too early returning from injury but he also seems to be leadership and captain material.

On another note - where is Gethin?

[The_Gun]

Captain is a virtually meaningless role in modern day football. I couldn’t even tell you who Man City’s captain is.

Thomason played in exactly the same way as he always does yesterday. I’m sure he’s proud, and hopefully Santos isn’t too down, but I really can’t see the captaincy having any bearing on our success, or otherwise, this season.

[DJBlu]

Think we knew who our captain was yesterday.

Screenshot_20240922_095034_YouTube.jpg (997.81 KiB) Viewed 1837 times

As the 5th went in.

[TANGODANCER]

Captain is a virtually meaningless role in modern day football. I couldn’t even tell you who Man City’s captain is.

Thomason played in exactly the same way as he always does yesterday. I’m sure he’s proud, and hopefully Santos isn’t too down, but I really can’t see the captaincy having any bearing on our success, or otherwise, this season.

This. Just a heads or tails candidate and even that is pretty irrelevant. Instructions come from the bench/manager, and do any of them need to be told how to play football? Every game is different and should be played according to the hand dealt you. Go out there and do your best. What if the designated captain is hurt/injured or indisposed? Thomason is about attitude and any player needing that shouldn't be wearing the shirt..

[Worthy4England]

I understand the criticism, but that's not a result from which to judge continuing form. It wasn't about control, shape, etc.

The manager asked those lads for a reaction. He told them to go out and prove they would play for him, the shirt and the fans. That was there in spades today.

All of them went out and wore their hearts on their sleeves. Johnston, Thommo, Sheehan, Schon and Vic especially went for everything. They flew into 50/50s, won it back when they gave it away and generally gave their lot.

We will have to be better from a technical point of view. We can't play with that emotional intensity over 46 games of a season. However, we know Evatt can deliver "drilled" sides. The question marks are over the passion, the determination and the desire.

If they can show up like that big games, with the addition of offering their technical level, we've got a chance.

It's one game. They have to show they can call on that side of the game when it's needed. They also have to show they can be the drilled team that dominated the lesser sides last season.

Big performance, though. Really big. Ballsy.

The first twenty five minutes where we got the ball forward quickly, put it into the box from all angles, and won the possession back quickly is the template for how to play in this league. No surprise that spell won us the game coupled to Readings woeful defending.

But we have to ditch everything else, and try and play like that game after game. Let players do it. Stop trying to be a technical side. Because that’s failed. Put decent players in the opposition half and stuff happens. Put the ball into the box and stuff happens. Win the ball and stuff happens.

We’ve seen the evidence. League one is all about muck and nettles. We showed muck and nettles for twenty five minutes. And it paid dividends.

I’m afraid that is the template, the way. Evatt is going to have to swallow it because any attempt to return to ‘technical’ and we won’t get anywhere. Play with intensity, tempo and a desire to get the ball into the box. We might have a chance then.

There was a huge difference in what we saw first 25, to what we've seen for yonks. For me coaches do well drilled but I'm not showing up to see well drilled. Managers do well drilled, passion, determination, inventiveness, surprise and desire. We don't generally have that balance right on too many occasions.

I agree, no team is doing that first 25, 46 games a season for the full 90. But it was a much better watch than most of the boring shit we churn out.

Was it 45% possession? The Pepanistas will need a cold shower...

[GhostoftheBok]

Think we knew who our captain was yesterday.

Screenshot_20240922_095034_YouTube.jpg

As the 5th went in.

Schon's reaction to winning a freekick (from which Sheehan scored) was everything.

[BWFC_Insane]

I understand the criticism, but that's not a result from which to judge continuing form. It wasn't about control, shape, etc.

The manager asked those lads for a reaction. He told them to go out and prove they would play for him, the shirt and the fans. That was there in spades today.

All of them went out and wore their hearts on their sleeves. Johnston, Thommo, Sheehan, Schon and Vic especially went for everything. They flew into 50/50s, won it back when they gave it away and generally gave their lot.

We will have to be better from a technical point of view. We can't play with that emotional intensity over 46 games of a season. However, we know Evatt can deliver "drilled" sides. The question marks are over the passion, the determination and the desire.

If they can show up like that big games, with the addition of offering their technical level, we've got a chance.

It's one game. They have to show they can call on that side of the game when it's needed. They also have to show they can be the drilled team that dominated the lesser sides last season.

Big performance, though. Really big. Ballsy.

The first twenty five minutes where we got the ball forward quickly, put it into the box from all angles, and won the possession back quickly is the template for how to play in this league. No surprise that spell won us the game coupled to Readings woeful defending.

But we have to ditch everything else, and try and play like that game after game. Let players do it. Stop trying to be a technical side. Because that’s failed. Put decent players in the opposition half and stuff happens. Put the ball into the box and stuff happens. Win the ball and stuff happens.

We’ve seen the evidence. League one is all about muck and nettles. We showed muck and nettles for twenty five minutes. And it paid dividends.

I’m afraid that is the template, the way. Evatt is going to have to swallow it because any attempt to return to ‘technical’ and we won’t get anywhere. Play with intensity, tempo and a desire to get the ball into the box. We might have a chance then.

There was a huge difference in what we saw first 25, to what we've seen for yonks. For me coaches do well drilled but I'm not showing up to see well drilled. Managers do well drilled, passion, determination, inventiveness, surprise and desire. We don't generally have that balance right on too many occasions.

I agree, no team is doing that first 25, 46 games a season for the full 90. But it was a much better watch than most of the boring shit we churn out.

Was it 45% possession? The Pepanistas will need a cold shower...

Aye - you can’t do that full 90 but you can and must have spells of it each week.

The bit to then crack is how to manage the game at say 2-0 when we need a breather. Slow the game down, win set plays etc.

I’d be perfectly contented if we play for spells like that in each game and the criticism I have for Evatt would largely be gone. It’s effective and necessary and was genuinely entertaining in a way the standard stuff we play is not.

I did think we’d try and do that but we showed how effective we are. For me it’s now about keeping the ego in check and accepting that’s the way to get results and abandoning the ‘league one Man City’ experiment. Do that and match days will be much better.

[Worthy4England]

Not sure my criticisms would be gone. As others mentioned, it felt like we tried to revert to type second half...

Wouldn't surprise me at all if we weren't already heading back towards possession, coz that's the books they're reading.

[GhostoftheBok]

An element of Evatt's management has always been about his "brand" with an eye on elite football.

A huge part of getting a big job (and then succeeding in it) is how people see you as a coach. English managers have struggled to get big jobs because they've been labelled "hoofball merchants" early on and can't change that perception later.

We have to have the ability to control games through technical play, but yesterday was much more like Evatt's Barrow side and his better periods here - when players were allowed more freedom to make things happen. He has always wanted to stretch games, but for whatever reason we've done that less and less.

In trying to avoid the usual "talented English coach" trap of being more direct he's probably tried to micromanage things too much - which is a trap Pep fell into and quickly realised wouldn't work here. He's preached patterns and the players have stopped playing the obvious, damaging pass - as pass a team like City would always play.

If he got stuck in his own head then recent trials may have shaken something loose. Being "too direct" won't cost you as many jobs as being shit will.

There were times yesterday when we went direct at the wrong times or to the wrong places. Baxter's long kicking was pretty dreadful at times. However, we turned them around well and we have to be able to keep asking questions with quick outs when they're on.

Both Schon and Cogley, though not perfect players, will stretch teams in wide areas all day. Vic, equally, would chase down a seagull that stole a chip off him.

[BWFC_Insane]

An element of Evatt's management has always been about his "brand" with an eye on elite football.

And that’s exactly why I’ve been so annoyed by it all.

Club has to come first and results. Nothing else matters.

[Prufrock]

Oh aye?

Maybe he'll resign to spend more time with his family then?