Gav says…
Guiu Gets A Goal
We need our strikers scoring goals and pushing for a start, and the fact that Marc Guiu is off the mark is good news. I don’t think he’s quite ready to start a game yet, but it puts him in the conversation ahead of Saturday and, importantly, it means he’s opened his account. Given his background I’m expecting big things from Guiu this season, but we know he’s playing catchup fitness wise and this will be another box ticked as he gears up to getting more and more involved in the Premier
League.
Masuaku Surprised Me
I have to admit that I winced slightly when I saw we were giving Arthur Masuaku his first minutes of the season at centre half, but he did a fine job and I was pleasantly surprised with how he did. He played some great long passes out to the wings and looked fit and strong, which is good news given we’re going to need him ready to go and contributing in the first team as soon as possible.
Going Out To Lower League Opposition
Alright, we probably were the better team over the full game and I was relatively happy with most of what I saw in the second half, but we still went out and it was a League One side that put us out, so naturally that’s going to attract negativity from those who seek it. I’d much rather we’d won, we’d had far more selection headaches to contend with as we headed into the Brentford game, and that we’d won the penalty shootout, but it wasn’t to be. Oh well.
Another Injury To Huggins
Poor lad. He went off at half time and Régis Le Bris confirmed after the game that he picked up an injury – Niall Huggins just cannot catch a break.
Malc Dugdale says…
Minutes For Many Fringe Players
A lot of the lads who got us up last season have been deprived of match time, and they got some today, which they will have appreciated despite the result. Some used it better than others, but it was a good run out for many, including decent showings from the new signings.
Adapt & Shine
We were awful first half, but Regis showed he can adjust shape and personnel and turn a game around (nearly), yet again. Wilson looked awesome down the left, and Milan wasn’t too bad there either, albeit against an opponent we should dominate in our Lynden. Guiu scored and should have had a pen. One of the new lads almost did a Ballard at the back post too. A second half with loads to be positive about… and we are out of a cup on pens which we don’t give a shit about, to help us focus on the Premier League. Nee bother.
442 Was Poor
Regis was tactically outthought in the first half, and arguably, he could have changed things sooner. Maybe he wanted to use the cup game to see how we were in other areas while using that shape. It was a crap first 45 anyway, but he sorted it over oranges, and we almost progressed.
Niall Huggins
It’s a shame that Niall Huggins went off with an injury at half time. That said, he didn’t have a great half, though no one did. Hopefully he remains fit and well after he gets over this latest little niggle, and is just building up match fitness steadily. The poor sod needs no more medical issues, that’s for sure.
John Wilson says…
Obviously, there were plenty of minutes in the legs of the players outside the main starting XI, but it was a pity we got knocked out so early, as future opportunities have now been lost until the new year. The second half was more uplifting after certain players were put into their favoured positions.
Plus, it was good to see Guiu get his first goal – it can only benefit his confidence.
I’m not sure that the urgency I expected was evident at all in the first half. These are mostly players who should want to make a statement to Régis Le Bris, but it was an awful first half. The second period was better, but with little guile to break the Huddersfield defence.
It has been highlighted recently about knee-jerk reactions and criticism for the sake of criticising by some fans on social media. Criticism was deserved tonight for the first half, but some comments I’ve already come across are unnecessary and unhelpful to anybody. We go again on Saturday. It’s going to be a long, battling season where the fans will be needed. If you’re having a meltdown already, it won’t be good for your mental health!
