MATCHWATCH : Brentford (h)

[Zip]

VP saying Meite will be monitored on a weekly basis and a decision on Swift after his MRI scan tomorrow, not too encouraging .

I read somewhere two weeks out for both of them. I cannot see it. Fully expect both out for at least a month. It’s a big blow.

[NewCorkSeth]

So what we saying? Beaten by a better team? Spirited performance? Missed our chances?

[Hound]

VP saying Meite will be monitored on a weekly basis and a decision on Swift after his MRI scan tomorrow, not too encouraging .

I read somewhere two weeks out for both of them. I cannot see it. Fully expect both out for at least a month. It’s a big blow.

whats actually wrong with them - any ideas?

Seem to suggest Swift was a hammy strain again. Whats up with Meite?

I'd be surprised if its as long as a month for him - maybe just a reaction to his 30 mins at Stoke

[Zip]

VP saying Meite will be monitored on a weekly basis and a decision on Swift after his MRI scan tomorrow, not too encouraging .

I read somewhere two weeks out for both of them. I cannot see it. Fully expect both out for at least a month. It’s a big blow.

whats actually wrong with them - any ideas?

Seem to suggest Swift was a hammy strain again. Whats up with Meite?

I'd be surprised if its as long as a month for him - maybe just a reaction to his 30 mins at Stoke

Yep it’s Swift’s hamstring again. Meite has a groin injury.

[muirinho]

So what we saying? Beaten by a better team? Spirited performance? Missed our chances?

All of the above

[Zip]

So what we saying? Beaten by a better team? Spirited performance? Missed our chances?

All of the above

I’d add losing crucial players pre match which meant the bench options were not as strong.

[Hound]

So what we saying? Beaten by a better team? Spirited performance? Missed our chances?

All of the above

I’d add losing crucial players pre match which meant the bench options were not as strong.

yeah its a bit simplistic the original question. They ended the better team and outlasted us. It was more than a 'spirited performance', it was a high class performance where we outplayed them for an hour. They brought on fresh legs in the shape of Canos and the tide started turning as we tired, and we were starting to cling on by the time they scored.

We didnt have many chances where you think we should have scored tbh. Neither did they - in fact they only had 2 shots on goal until the 85th minute I think.

[karbota]

VP saying Meite will be monitored on a weekly basis and a decision on Swift after his MRI scan tomorrow, not too encouraging .

I read somewhere two weeks out for both of them. I cannot see it. Fully expect both out for at least a month. It’s a big blow.

Yes a real blow. In the tunnel, at the start of the Stoke game I thought Swift looked really up for it, with that vigorous warm up routine!.

[NewCorkSeth]

All of the above

I’d add losing crucial players pre match which meant the bench options were not as strong.

yeah its a bit simplistic the original question. They ended the better team and outlasted us. It was more than a 'spirited performance', it was a high class performance where we outplayed them for an hour. They brought on fresh legs in the shape of Canos and the tide started turning as we tired, and we were starting to cling on by the time they scored.

We didnt have many chances where you think we should have scored tbh. Neither did they - in fact they only had 2 shots on goal until the 85th minute I think.

How dare you.

[Millsy]

Hunty hit the nail on the head I think with the wisest thing said all evening, when he said not to be disappointed because the performance was so great it is very encouraging for the rest of the season.

Would we rather a crap/lucky win against Brentford with a mediocre performance or a defeat with a stellar performance that we can repeat for the rest of the season? ... with two key men ruled out just before the game.

I'd take the latter.

I'm rather confused that Mick and Tim, who usually speak sense, were going on about how autopro is pretty much out of reach now. Did they forget the first few games where we ended 7 points or so clear of 2nd place? Or the followign games where we plummetted? A lot can happen very quickly. There are EIGHTEEN games left ffs, it's almost half the season.

To write off autopro based on a defeat but an amazing performance is ridiculous.

We were very VERY good for the majority of that game. If we can keep Joao fit, I wouldn't be surprised if we hava good go at autopro.

[Zip]

I’d add losing crucial players pre match which meant the bench options were not as strong.

yeah its a bit simplistic the original question. They ended the better team and outlasted us. It was more than a 'spirited performance', it was a high class performance where we outplayed them for an hour. They brought on fresh legs in the shape of Canos and the tide started turning as we tired, and we were starting to cling on by the time they scored.

We didnt have many chances where you think we should have scored tbh. Neither did they - in fact they only had 2 shots on goal until the 85th minute I think.

How dare you.

Not to worry Sethmondo. I think Houndy is inferring you’re simplistic rather than the question.

[Hound]

yeah its a bit simplistic the original question. They ended the better team and outlasted us. It was more than a 'spirited performance', it was a high class performance where we outplayed them for an hour. They brought on fresh legs in the shape of Canos and the tide started turning as we tired, and we were starting to cling on by the time they scored.

We didnt have many chances where you think we should have scored tbh. Neither did they - in fact they only had 2 shots on goal until the 85th minute I think.

How dare you.

Not too worry Sethmondo. I think Houndy is inferring you’re simplistic rather than the question.

bit of both tbh

[Zip]

How dare you.

Not too worry Sethmondo. I think Houndy is inferring you’re simplistic rather than the question.

bit of both tbh

Fair.

[hughsies no.1]

Few thoughts, most already mentioned -
Positives -
- Knew ahead of the game that we were playing the best team in the league and we had to be in on our absolute 'A game' to compete with them to get points - and that first half was probably the best performance I have seen from us for years - the intensity of our game was incredible and you could see how fired up everyone was (including the staff in the technical area!)
- Passion, the fight the players showed in the game was a joy to see. All playing together for the team and fighting the cause - long may that continue!
- Semedo, the kids on Twitter threw the toys out the pram when he was listed on the teamsheet at 6pm, I thought that was probably his best game for us, to be thrown in against Brentford after not making many starts of late I thought he did very well. He offers something going forward and added protection for Laurent and Rino. Him going off messed up the balance of the team and I would say lost us the game.
- Yiadom, saw glimpses of the player we used to have last night - great to have him back (although was harsh on Holmes being dropped). Wonderkid Esteves from Porto now looks like our third choice RB.

Concerns -
- Lack of depth, Brentford bought on Canos who I think changed the game for them, we bought on Aluko (know he usually is a scape-goat and has actually done alright this season) and he looked so far off the pace of the game. Pauno made it clear he wanted bodies in Jan and I'm sure the owners would have provided them if they could - FFP must have been the reason.
- Injuries - with the point above, without Swift and Meite our bench is bare. Really hope these guys are back within 'weeks' as we were told
- Burnout - the players gave their absolute all last night and to come away with nothing will be a massive blow. To get them turned around and feeling fresh and in the correct mindset for Millwall on Saturday will be massive - huge task for Pauno. I'm concerned about Millwall on Saturday - must win in my book but can see it being a draw with fatigue from last night being a cause.

Overall thoughts -
If someone said come 11th Feb after the shambles of the summer we had with the manager leaving etc that we would be disappointed not to close the gap on the automatic spots whilst sitting 8pts clear of 7th I thought you would have been on an absolute wind-up. This team has come on leaps and bounds - if we play like we did in that first half last night every week we will comfortably make the play-offs and still have a real chance for automatics. 54pts left to play for - and it is very exciting times to be a Royal again!

[NewCorkSeth]

Not too worry Sethmondo. I think Houndy is inferring you’re simplistic rather than the question.

bit of both tbh

Fair.

Et tu, Brute?

[Zip]

bit of both tbh

Fair.

Et tu, Brute?

Well it is March next month.

[NewCorkSeth]

VP saying Meite will be monitored on a weekly basis and a decision on Swift after his MRI scan tomorrow, not too encouraging .

I read somewhere two weeks out for both of them. I cannot see it. Fully expect both out for at least a month. It’s a big blow.

whats actually wrong with them - any ideas?

Seem to suggest Swift was a hammy strain again. Whats up with Meite?

I'd be surprised if its as long as a month for him - maybe just a reaction to his 30 mins at Stoke

Meite was def stretching his adductor on the pitch after a shot(?) Last game. Was rubbing it with a grimace.

[NewCorkSeth]

Fair.

Et tu, Brute?

Well it is March next month.

The damn Ides. I forgot to beware it.

[Pepe the Horseman]

I read somewhere two weeks out for both of them. I cannot see it. Fully expect both out for at least a month. It’s a big blow.

whats actually wrong with them - any ideas?

Seem to suggest Swift was a hammy strain again. Whats up with Meite?

I'd be surprised if its as long as a month for him - maybe just a reaction to his 30 mins at Stoke

Meite was def stretching his adductor on the pitch after a shot(?) Last game. Was rubbing it with a grimace.

As were you.

[Norfolk Royal]

I'm no doctor but with Swift's hamstring injury what can you actually tell from an MRI scan? A major tear or inflammation maybe but it's only really the player who knows how it feels. Not sure MRI will say much about 'tightness' in the tendon.

In my experience the best thing to do would be to get Swift on his front on a massage table and hand a bottle of embrocation, horse liniment or the like, to a horny handed son of the soil Norfolk farmer type who will squirt it on the back of his leg then get the thumbs into it big time.

This is proven to work with a variety of livestock. It will be agony for Swift initially but I can guarantee he'll be up and about a few days afterwards wondering what all the fuss was about.