Vive La France! Yohan Barbet is rapidly becoming my favourite player. Yes, he can be crap defensively but then his je ne sais quoi sublime skill breaks out. That volley that should have led to a draw at Coventry (maybe he could then have organized the team at corners) and now that perfect curling `go on my son, put that one away` cross for debutant Bonne to head home in injury time on Saturday.Â
Wednesday boss Gary Monk said afterwards that because his team was down to 10 men after centre back Lees went off injured, his players couldn't get out to block crosses. But you still have to be able to pick a cross like that out, even when in the clear. Ryan Manning can do it from time to time and emergency winger Barbet did it after getting a square ball from fellow centre back Dickie. You see on the video highlights that Bonne raises his arm for the ball as Barbet gets the pass from Dickie. The Frenchman has that in his brain and hits his target perfectly. Bonne reacts with a scorer's instinct and muscle memory and without thought heads it in.
It was really pleasing to see fellow striker, the starved-of-service Aussie-Scot Lyndon Dykes, be the first to celebrate enthusiastically with Bonne. No hidden jealousy or bad body language there. Maybe two up front can work with them where it didn't last season with Wells and Hughill. Against that, twin strikers do not sound innovative or trendy enough for what has been dubbed Warbsball.
Wallace is another natural left-footer and despite an error-strewn start to the season and aging legs, is better defensively than Manning. Maybe he could have conjured up a cross like the Frenchie in crunch time but I doubt it.Â
And talking about left-footers, the Wednesday's Barry Bannan has been a Ranger slayer in recent times and his skill created their goal with no-one putting pressure on him. Made me day dream about Warbs detailing Amos to man mark him like Mourinho sometimes used Anders Herrera for Man U. Probably would not have worked but Bannan seemed like only Sheffield player who could really hurt us.
Clive was right to highlight the curious way Wednesday played with their low-risk Route One approach. That Gary Monk of tactical Swansea fame should be doing that with battering ram new Centre Forward Callum Paterson was especially strange. They funneled back and looked to hold on to one-nil for last 20-25 minutes. At least our boss sticks to his ideals even if some of us wish he would be more pragmatic now and then.Â
My final words would be to say that Osman Kakay continues to be a revelation, hitting a level of consistency that many of his teammates would do well to emulate. And then Mass Luongo was fired up and fantastic, a striking contrast to our other former favourite Luke Freeman who did not impress for ailing Forest in that first game.
|  |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
