There's been nothing spectacular about this month, in fact, it's arguably been very 'just don't get relagatedish' this month. However, I'm definitely having fun getting to know the quality players of the squad, and those who aren't quite cutting it.
A Nice Start
Looking at the stats it's very easy to say we were unlucky. Unfortunately a misplaced pass from Zogbo let Sola in late doors to deny us.
Not convincing
Not happy with this performance, using a rotated squad, but this was very poor.
The first loss
Apparently this seems to be our thing, win the hard games, drop the ball in the easy ones
Shaky stuff
Conceded to Noakes in the 89th minute, when he couldn't score the 3/4 sitters he had beforehand.
So where does that poor stretch put us?
A month without a win is worrying for anyone, it's encouraging to know we took points from United and Forest, but could really have done with a win against Stevenage. All this puts us in 11th with a game in hand on most teams.
Player of the month (September and August)
It's been tricky this month, Connor Willis lead in average rating, and has 100% been integral to the defence. To me however, the real hero of this opening stretch is our new signing Fatuwu Diallo
The kid has had 4 goals and 4 assists in 7(2) games for the club. For a kid who's 19 years old, that is definitely something, and seems like an absolute steal from Leicester. Maybe they just lost the next Mahrez?
Flop of the lot (September and August)
Up and down would definitely describe this lads start at the club. Giving away a win against Manchester United early on, before scoring in the League Cup to assure us the win. Ousmane Zogbo (now nicknamed Zoggers), has had a weird start. It's not that he's been bad consistently, he just seems to be getting punished for his mistakes.
That's all folks
The highlight of the next months worth of football has to be that 4th round tie versus Plymouth, a real chance to take our best game and get a run going.
Jesus Henry Christ - Chesterfield, Plymouth, Wycombe, Colchester, Stevenage all in the top flight at once? Future saves are always interesting. Even Barnsley have more top flight pedigree than that
'A mixed bag' would definitely describe how October went for the MIGHTY DUCKS, as we worked to regain some form and pick up a long awaited win, which, but for a well timed team meeting, may have come a lot later than it did.
Bloody Paris Lloyd
This would have been a fantastic result but for an absolutely stupid, unnecessary tackle by Paris Lloyd our 'captain', which resulted in a sending off and our descent down a downhill slope. We ended up letting it slip deep into extra time, devastating.
But how about this from Antoni Davies in the first minute
Lacking a top striker
Our strikers lacked the ability to be clinical in this game, too many times we got in only to skew the strike wide.
A shocker out of nowhere!
This may have been a second string Plymouth side, but this was a great game out of nowhere, Hutten took Diallo's spot this game and fought for it!
Grind out a win
Sasa shone as the rest of the team played averagely against Liverpool. A huge win to get us back on track in the league.
Continuity is key
A very average month for us, playing every single game at home. Definitely should have stolen the win against Barnsley, but now Lloyd is eternally in my bad books. All this sees us end the month where we begun, in 11th.
Player of the month (October)
This man is 100% the talisman for the team, looking at his form, when he plays poorly, the team struggles, but when he turns up, he brings the team with him. Sasa definitely turned up in the Plymouth and Liverpool game, scoring in each, and didn't play any worse than anyone else in the two games prior.
Flop of the lot (October)
I'm sure I've made this one fairly predictable, you definitely wouldn't get very long odds on this lad getting FOTL this month. Step up Paris Lloyd, for costing us 2 points, and making me very mad. This lad somehow has a higher average rating than Sasa, how football manager? How?
Coming up next time...
You're in for a double headed thriller against local rivals Colchester, a very similarly matched team to ours. I feel a cup run is definitely on, and depending on points, I may sacrifice a Premier League game to be fit for the cup.
News is breaking from the Wycombe camp as some argue the Mighty Ducks won't be so mighty without this lad...
More information
Xaviero Kraise is a man known to the Wycombe masses, having been around for many years now and many hold him as a Wycombe hero! However, the lads fallen out of favor with Naso Muyei after an appalling 0 goal and 0 assists in 5 starts. An abysmal run for any striker!
Fuel was added to the fire after Kraise decided to take to twitter to release some emotion, surely securing the striker a move away, and probably a stint in the under 21's.
I'll tell you what, I can't be dealing with this...
A very decent stretch for the lads leading up to the winter run in, against tough opposition, however there's definitely some room for improvement, particularly in the rivalry.
A good ol bore draw
A well grounded result, we stood firm, and definitely shut down a lot of opportunities from a side that's far above our standard and looked a real threat
Hit em while they're down
A Sheffield side that hasn't been at all like it should be this season allowed us to pick another 3 points. The stats show they had a very decent shot at the game, but 'Mamadou The Hump Zoundi' stepped up and bagged one.
Embarrasing
We ended up playing a FULL STRENGTH side against Colchester, and we did not get the desired affect, ended up getting embarrassed by our rivals.
We go on!
We got through! Still fighting to win it at Wembley in the upcoming months, a great chance at silverware in our opening season in the premier league!
Beat another under performer
We undid another under performing side as Ruiz netted for us, allowing to stay about the Citizens, a result I'm proud of for sure
Staying strong
Now 11 points clear of the relegation zone, we definitely look consistent. Our strikers are definitely still lacking but maybe we can arrange something new in January. For now though, we sit 10th, a decent position still.
Player of the month (November)
This boy wonder has really battened downed the hatches for us recently, hence why we've been conceding very few goals. He's a fantastic young lad and has racked up a 7.72 rating in his last 5 games! Rafael Ruiz step up my boy, future captain I tell you!
Flop of the lot (November)
To be honest, this lad hasn't been that much of a flop, but definitely hasn't lived up to the earlier hype he generated after a fantastic start of the season. To begin with, he fought through every game playing fantastically, but really hasn't kicked on this far into the season, having to be subbed on a few occasions. Sorry Fatuwu Diallo but it's you.
The December run in
Some are winnable, and some are definitely going to be a struggle. As long as we pick up the points where we should, we definitely should continue our movement away from the relegation zone, and continue to look up.
This'll only be a short update, but none the less, a very important one . Currently, one of players and top signing Mamadou Zoundi has been nicknamed Mamadou 'Preach' Zoundi, however, it's time for change. The Burkina Faso star has worked himself up a new nickname after a bizarre celebration after his goal versus Sheffield United, where the winger appeared to 'hump' the air. Of course, this prompted a response from the fans, and what they came up with, is pure brilliance. Introducing...Mamadou 'The Hump' Zoundi
This is based on the fantastic Rizzle Kicks song by a very similar name...
MAMA DO THE HUMP HUMP,
Thanks for reading,
All comments will be returned, tah
For the first time this season, I saw a side to be proud of as I had a striker banging in goals to compliment the fantastic grafting my midfield has done, whilst being held up by a fantastic defence and goalkeeper. To me, this was one of my better months, at the December run in too, when we needed it most.
A classy upset
Truth be told, I never felt any need to shut up shop against a 5th placed Chelsea side in this game, we played fantastically, I felt Zoggers came on a lot in the game, just as much as Ibrahim Cevret, a previously 3rd choice striker did, as he bagged one, fighting for a first team spot as Kraise and Otsuki were sidelined.
The resurgence of Arsenal
I underestimated Arsenal to be honest, they were relegated fairly recently in the save and haven't hit the heights they're at in real life since then. However, they had chance after chance in the early stages of the game and definitely looked like they should have steamrolled us. However, Ibrahim kept us in it, and we almost nicked a point late doors after he made it worrying for Arsenal. 3 goals in 2 games from a Wycombe striker?!?! Who'd have thunk it?
Back to winning ways
We should have had 3 as Davies missed a penalty, but this was a great all round performance for us as we statistically dominated a 20th placed Burnley.
As for Ibrahim's for lately, it goes a bit like this...
Unfair
We fought tooth and nail for a point here at least, we played flawlessly bar Ibrahim's first half dismissal, but even then we dominated statistically. Of course however, Grace, a player who I dream of having up front for me one day, bagged in the 88th minute.
A tragic casualty
Fatuwu Diallo stepped up and did the business for us in Ibrahim's absence, but there's only one talking point worth discussing in this otherwise routine win. Mamadou can no long 'Hump' for 2 months...
Moving on up...
We won the games we should have in that month, beating the lowly Bristol and Burnley, along with picking up a good win against Chelsea. However, the players will be frustrated that an unbeaten month wasn't that far away from them. Regardless, we sit in 9th, 5 points behind Champions League football, and with a game in hand. (Can I get an oooooooooooh)
Player of the Month (December)
God knows where we'd be with out this man this month. Two of our strikers were out with injury and suspension to begin the month and this man truly took it upon himself to save us. With Zoundi out for a few months now, we will have to rely on him further, you've really dropped yourself in it now haven't you Ibrahim Cevret
Flop of the lot (December)
Again, there really hasn't been that many poor performances this month, however, a name does come to mind after a very recent incident on the first day of January. Someone decided to get ahead of themselves about a move to Forest, fortunately, he calmed down after a few stern words, but for a minute I thought we were going winter shopping for a new left back. He's not even been that good on the pitch this month either...Filippo Boni
Don't get ahead of yourself
Here are the fixtures for January that you can expect to see soon, but not in the next update. For that, we have a surprise.
Until then, thanks for reading.
All comments will be reciprocated.
Tah.