Well that was better. Still not entirely convinced by any means but this is at least a platform to build off.
Had a bet with my mate when the lineup was announced that if Sargent scores I would buy a third kit with his name on, and then within 5 minutes he heads the ball home as if he’s prime Didier Drogba
serves me right I guess haha. It was much better from him overall, offered more in the 60 or so minutes he was on than Pukki has in the whole of the previous 3 games. I’d love to see him kick on from here. I mean I still think he’s a donkey but even donkey’s have their uses I guess.
Sinani rightfully man of the match, I think he’s definitely got potential to become a key player for us. I liked him a lot in that 3 behind the striker with Dowell and Cantwell, I thought they moved around each other nicely and the attack actually flowed which it hasn’t really done in the first 3 games. Dowell is another player I can see having a big season in him. Nunez continues too ooze class. Seems to burn out by the hour mark or so which is probably him still mainly acclimatising to English football, but there were times in the first half where he was running rings around the Huddersfield midfield. I also thought for a first league start Gibbs did brilliantly, such a tidy player. Like Nunez seemed to tire in the second half, made a couple of errors, but all in all I liked him a lot. I thought Kenny was ok as a left back, I mean he wasn’t really tested but he dealt with most things pretty well. I do wonder if when Byram is back Deano will decide that between him and McLean we have adequate cover in that position until one of them actually comes back. The only player who I wasn’t massively impressed with was Hanley, who I didn’t think had a terrible game by any means but continues to look unconvincing as a left sided centre back. What he was doing as well for the Huddersfield goal as well I don’t know, just backed off and backed off the guy and then gets easily skinned. I know I’ve said it before but I really would like to see us sign a left footed centre back, neither Hanley or Gibson (who actually is left footed) are impressing at all next to Omobamidele. Hernandez I thought added some urgency off the bench which definitely helped, but man he pissed around with the ball when he gets into the final third. He’ll do something really good initially to beat his man and then instead of make a pass he’s just shimmy back and fourth about 6 times and then by the time he’s done all the passes he had on are gone. I do think he has his uses but in all honesty once Rowe/Springett are fit I’d rather see them given opportunities off the bench than Onel, as lovable a guy as he is.
It certainly wasn’t a complete performance by any means. I think up until Huddersfield went down to 10 men we were looking good but we really should’ve killed them off. The fact is there was a chance right at the end where if their player gets a simple 10 yard pass right then Rhodes probably scores the equaliser, fortunately though he messed it up and we saw out the win. There seemed to be a huge hole in our midfield, partly caused by the fact obviously that with Sorenson and Hayden out we’re missing the only 2 actual ‘defensive’ midfielders I’d say we had, but it was worrying how easily a 10 man Huddersfield team were cutting through us towards the end, against better teams we’ll get punished if we don’t address that.
I have to say as well I think part of that was down to us making 5 subs, I think we really killed the tempo of the game with the constant changes. I kind of think even though we have the option to make 5 doesn’t nessecarily mean we should? Particularly when we’re throwing on players like Sara or Ramsey who are new signings and clearly aren’t fully up to speed. I know he had half an eye probably on Millwall on Friday but I did think Sargent was taken off for Hugill way too early. I also never really know what our midfield shape is when we start making changes and to be honest I don’t feel like our midfielders do either. They all just seem to be thrown on with no-one really having a set role. I know we’re lacking more defensive substitutions because of the injuries we have but yeah I don’t really see the logic in throwing on attacking midfielders just for the sake of it.
All in all though yeah, good to get that first win. I think Millwall on Friday will be the toughest test we’ve had so far so will be interesting to see how we stand up to that. Critical that we build off this win, and if we can make it 6 points from 6 I think everyone generally will feel much more positive about us.
