saintant

Agree and maybe the link should involve more than just AA. Perhaps our midfield two need to be more ready to get themselves into space to receive from our backline as well as Arma. Jander does a reasonable job and gets on the half turn but Downes has always been happier to just pass the ball back so he might be part of the problem. He still seems welded to Russball. We have to try something because we have become far too predictable. Bragg played the role well against Charlton and I know they played somewhat into our hands but I'd like to see him given a few starts instead of Downes. I think Charles will also improve us once he gets back from injury.

To a certain degree but I believe we have reverted to doing everything slower and being happy to pass sideways and backwards at walking pace. When Tonda first came in it was clear that he wanted the ball advanced forwards at pace without the faffing around and pointless passing between goalkeeper and centre backs. It was a breath of fresh air. The comfort zone for these players seems to be playing a form of Russball and we've sunk back into it and stopped playing on the half turn. I get that we are being pressed more but it shouldn't be as bad as it is. Every free kick in the middle of the park now automatically gets played back and we end up on the edge of our own penalty area - we weren't seeing this when he first took over.

It's nothing to do with their attitude and everything to do with the kind of players they signed - they are a big powerful side who don't get bullied.

They've beaten Ipswich at home and drawn with Coventry, Middlesboro, Leicester and Millwall so they'll not be a pushover.

Time to move in on if anyone will take him along with Aribo, Edozie and a loan move for Downs.

Another draw I reckon. We seem to have reverted to Russball again for some reason. When Tonda first took over we played a lot more vertical passes and our first thought was to get forward. Now it's back to sideways, backwards and walking football and nearly every free kick is played back.

Personally I thought Jander had a good game today and we lost some cohesion when he went off to be replaced by Archer who contributed nothing.

No, it was Manning's fault for not kicking the ball into row Z when he had nowhere to go. He hit a blind pass that went to a Cov player and that was it - doesn't happen if he plays safe but no, he tries to keep the ball alive. Madness on his part.

Coventry were the better side in the first half although we had two good chances that were spurned by AA and Scienza. Nearing half time Manning had a chance to boot the ball into row Z but took the daft option of keeping the ball on the pitch even though he had no pass on - the ball went to a Coventry player and they then played it around got a cross in to an unmarked player who headed home. We'd been poor to be fair but the game changed just after half time when a Cov player went in late and dangerously on Wellington and picked up a deserved red card. We dominated the rest of the game and Wood equalised with a header. Despite a man advantage we didn't really look like getting a winner. Draw was fair result. Lampard got some abuse from the fans at the end and decided to react even though he should know better - there was some handbags but nothing serious. Not a great spectacle - Scienza was our best player by a long way.

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Wolves lost at home to Brentford - 2 points at Christmas 🙂

The Coventry keeper got pinned on his line late in the game but still managed to jump and punch the ball away then collect the follow up shot from Arma.

Their home record is very good so doubt we'll get anything there. Despite the recent six wins we remain very disjointed. For me we need signings in January to freshen things up but not expecting us to do much. Not sure we have enough about us to make the play-offs and an injury to Scienza would be a disaster.

Can anyone explain why we seemed to push Wellington higher up the pitch and play more of a back four for a ten minute spell in the first half? Hinchcliffe commented on it and it was our best spell of the whole game. Unfortunately we then decided to ditch what was working and go back to more of a back five. Couldn't get my head round that - we had Coventry on the back foot and then decided, nah, let's give them back the initiative.

Agree but they were fairly routine and we'd have been horrified if he hadn't comfortably dealt with them.