That also suggests that the guys who were spent didn’t want to come off and that perhaps Bazeley deferred to their opinion, rather than fully refresh the team.
The fight back against Iran was a good one, but we were mentally cooked before and after Egypt scored, against the crowd and the occasion. And a fair few were physically done too.
So the performance against Belgium will define our cup.
We’ve attacked, we’ve played 4 at the back, but the twenty minute period of getting a shellacking from Egypt is strong now.
The good news is maybe the Belgium support won’t be so numerous or so unconditional, given the supporter’s previous criticisms of their team.
Interesting call on Woodsy. I think the Iran game is the best I’ve seen from him against us, both magical goals.
Against Egypt he got two or three balls floated in, but I think even if he’d been more aggressive in attacking the ball the ref would’ve protected the keeper. He’s in a wee scoring dip since coming back for Forest too, certainly compared to his two better seasons for them.
Interesting to add a few things together- the wanting the ball from Eli, choosing to take that free kick when it’s not something we’ve seen a lot from him and how much he was fired up and was talking passion and belief into everyone at the start of the Iran game.
His goals at club are headers, usually not him alone against 4 plus the keeper, which is how we’ve been sending him crosses…but he also does well linking and finishing counters. The purest Wood goal we’ve seen is that lay off for Eli. Fast ball and player movement, making space for someone to shoot before the keeper can get properly set for preference!
There’s been a couple of times he’s been caught between wanting to try to turn and shoot and laying off, when the defenders have been tighter and the options not as good as Eli against Iran.
As as well, we were up against a team featuring Mo Salah. Even a brilliant piece of play, as we saw with McCowatt and Stamenic doesn’t guarantee a goal. Maybe Woodsy needs Bayliss and Randall, lots of shooting, a bit of chaos and disorder and a loose ball or rebound to pounce on and put away.
And the best awareness in the box if he wants a square ball is probably Ben Waine. Though I doubt we’ll see him, but he’s had that knockout success this season!
The fight back against Iran was a good one, but we were mentally cooked before and after Egypt scored, against the crowd and the occasion. And a fair few were physically done too.
So the performance against Belgium will define our cup.
We’ve attacked, we’ve played 4 at the back, but the twenty minute period of getting a shellacking from Egypt is strong now.
The good news is maybe the Belgium support won’t be so numerous or so unconditional, given the supporter’s previous criticisms of their team.
Interesting call on Woodsy. I think the Iran game is the best I’ve seen from him against us, both magical goals.
Against Egypt he got two or three balls floated in, but I think even if he’d been more aggressive in attacking the ball the ref would’ve protected the keeper. He’s in a wee scoring dip since coming back for Forest too, certainly compared to his two better seasons for them.
Interesting to add a few things together- the wanting the ball from Eli, choosing to take that free kick when it’s not something we’ve seen a lot from him and how much he was fired up and was talking passion and belief into everyone at the start of the Iran game.
His goals at club are headers, usually not him alone against 4 plus the keeper, which is how we’ve been sending him crosses…but he also does well linking and finishing counters. The purest Wood goal we’ve seen is that lay off for Eli. Fast ball and player movement, making space for someone to shoot before the keeper can get properly set for preference!
There’s been a couple of times he’s been caught between wanting to try to turn and shoot and laying off, when the defenders have been tighter and the options not as good as Eli against Iran.
As as well, we were up against a team featuring Mo Salah. Even a brilliant piece of play, as we saw with McCowatt and Stamenic doesn’t guarantee a goal. Maybe Woodsy needs Bayliss and Randall, lots of shooting, a bit of chaos and disorder and a loose ball or rebound to pounce on and put away.
And the best awareness in the box if he wants a square ball is probably Ben Waine. Though I doubt we’ll see him, but he’s had that knockout success this season!