Post Match Reactions - Round 17

[JB@Norwich]

Missing


Errors


Error Watch
fcp - 2
soc - 2
wba - 2

[Ryan]

Atalanta 1 - 6 Schalke Absolutely shocking result going of stats it were alot closer game and we was better side which is hard to believe looking at this scoreline e think my reign here as come to an abrupt end as I can't do anything to this side feel theyd be better off with someome else or unmanned lol.

[Freddie]

Sociedad 1-0 Bristol City

Bristol started with the tactical advantage but continuing the trend of recent games we started strongly and went into a one-nil lead. There were definitely nervy moments when I thought Jon’s side would get back into it but we managed to hold on for a massive three points. City are a very strong outfit and well managed so to get the win is big for us.
Delighted with Laszlo Benes’ debut, he had to step in for the talismanic David Silva in the centre of the park and put in a classy performance.
Two wins on the trot, challenge now is to keep this up.
Well played Jon, unlucky.

[ChrisS]

Atalanta 1 - 6 Schalke

First match back in FFO and it looked as though the lads had a little extra for the new manager. After going down 1-0 inside 10 minutes I thought it might end up being a long day. Man of the Match S_Terodde had something to say about that putting up 4 goals in the second half.

I echo Ryan's post, the match based on stats was much closer. Atalanta had 14 shot on target to our 11 while Schalke had the edge in possession 55 to 45. Unlucky Ryan.

[Ian]

Villarreal 3- 2 Watford

A goal for the away side in the very first minute of the game left the home fans thinking here we go again. Ian Greaves boys rallied though as the game produced many more twist and turns. By the end of the first 45 Villarreal had forced themselves into a 2-1 lead only for Watford to tie the game back up at 2-2 with the game approaching the hour mark. The home side though ended the game on top finding a further goal to give Villarreal a deserved victory in the end.

[Tim@Leeds]

FC Porto 2 - 0 Middlesbrough
D_Loader (13) M_Lazzari (23) M_Lazzari (sent off 27)

A little fortunate here, a close game on stats and probably a draw on the face of that would have been about right.
We finished our chances nicely, racing in to a 2 goal lead. Then having gotten a red card we managed to see the game out well.

This result send us to the top of the table and flying high. I don't know that this will be sustainable given the amount of minutes we have to try and give to our squad players. I need to look at addressing this from now on really and looking at it, it means that a four man midfield will be necessary in order to share out minutes for my midfield. So a back 5 will be hard to do going forward. It may well be difficult to keep this level in that case, but we shall see.
We are without Horta and Lazzari next game so a few minutes for squad players can start from now.

[Ed@PSG]

Sunderland 1 Cardiff 1
Nothing seems to be working so may as well play A and get some development into the players. Sunderland took the lead before switching to E, which gave us chance to get back into the game. But to rub salt in our wounds we missed a late penalty to snatch all 3 points. We bossed the stats but end up with another useless draw.

[Ray@Wolves]

Wolves 0

Booked: T_Mitchell (45), P_Struijk (58), Melendo (71), Q_Timber (82), R_Oxford (89)

Nottingham Forest 3
J_Lingard (5) M_Niakhate (10) B_Johnson (82 pen)

MotM: M_Niakhate (Nottingham Forest)
HT: 0-2

This was a game we needed to win and should have won if we are to sustain any sort of realistic title challenge. We knew what we would be facing and fully expected Forest to adopt the same tactical and formational approach that they have used all season so far. There is no doubting that we are the better side but as it turned out despite home advantage, tactical advantage and more shots on target we lost and lost heavily to a team that scored on all three shots on target. Star keeper Manuel Neuer had a game to forget. You can tell how the run of play was totally in their favour by five of my players getting booked to none of theirs. Much as I was on the sidelines my players were getting very frustrated out there and wondering what was going on.

This is definitely a game I need to forget about as soon as possible otherwise I'd start to think my time is running out with the amount of randomness that seems to be in the game. I know it has always been an integral and necessary part of the game otherwise every result would be boringly predictable, and maybe it's just me but it seems to me to be to a greater extent lately. Didn't even share my after the game bottle of red with my fellow manager. I just locked the door and kept it and the other bottles stashed in my office to myself so at the moment in my slowly sobering mind the only thing holding me here after this result is the fact I've taken this side on a slow and methodical rise from the bottom of the old 3rd tier Conference to the very edge of promotion to the top division and I'm loathe to let that go without at least trying to see it through. Or maybe the board will take their own action and sack me before I can quit!!!

Not sure how you managed it, but well played Matt.

If I'm here then the next game is a "dead rubber" in the WM Cup against Borussia Dortmund where we have both already clinched passage to the knockout phase.

[AB@Juventus]

FC Porto 2 - 0 Middlesbrough

A poor one for us which sees us record back to back defeats. We saw that FC Porto were missing a FW so thought we'd have a go at going full on at Porto thinking with their reduced firepower, this could see us win the game, I was wrong!

The hosts countered us and scored after 13 minutes, before doubling their lead 10 minutes later.

Their joy was short lived as the scorer of the second, Lazzari, was shown a red card just 4 minutes later and we hoped we could get back into the game but this never materialised and Porto ran out comfortable winners.

Statistically it was an even game but the home team put away their chances and we didn't, good game Tim.

We're down to 4th now but looking at 2 of the top 4 being caretaker teams, this should give hope to those further down the table.

[Neil@Fiorentina]

PSV 1-1 Feyenoord

First game as caretaker, and looking at the stats it probably should have been three points.
Both teams played a passing game, and created some decent opportunities, with the opposition keeper having a good game, maybe we need Mbappe!
Decent performance though, gg dude.
Some potential in this team, tempting to take them on
Hopefully a few changes will bring an improvement in results