It’s Amazing What One Win Can Do - Notes for Preston Friday, 26th Aug 2016 11:00 by HarryFromBath HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s home game against the Lilywhites by delving into their forums. “The season starts now”, “A brilliant result today. Let’s hope that this can kick-start our season and we can start accumulating some more points”, “Now that we have sorted out the starting line-up, we can hopefully get a couple of decent additions and begin to move up the table quickly.” “We do love playing away from home.” The Lilywhites made a faltering start to their Championship campaign with three straight defeats, but a change of formation and personnel by manager Simon Grayson last Saturday ensured that they left Loftus Road buoyed up after a well-deserved 2-0 win. “We are a small club with a wealthy owner who keeps us in business but will not overspend. We have a manager who has won more promotions to the Championship and led us to mid-table. Fans need to realise that we could be relegated if we get the next managerial appointment wrong.” “A bloody marvellous result”, “We were rock-bottom after 10 games last season and made a very respectable finish. There’s a reason. Grayson is a very professional manager and none of us are. Just back him as fans and push the team on. He’s doing the best he can, given the club’s restrictions.” Simon Grayson“Continuity brings stability, and that’s what leads to success”, “This fella is as good a manager as we could expect to attract in the prevailing climate. Hound him out at your peril”, “Sacking Grayson would guarantee inevitable relegation”, “The manager’s position is light years from being in doubt.” The majority of fans have been fully behind their manager despite a few anxious murmurings after the quiet start to the campaign. The 46-year-old former Leeds boss “seems to have a tradition of spending the first eight matches of a season mixing his team up until he has a coherent outfield 10”. “We should back our man”, “He is definitely the way forward for the next couple of seasons”, “The team as a whole are organised and this is Grayson’s strength. We have always been hard to beat and rarely get turned over easily. Against that, the football can be incredibly turgid and dull to watch.” “We need to keep the faith”, “The football may not be like watching Brazil but Simon has done his job successfully and astutely so far”, “He will keep us up by being calm, sensible organised and by getting the best out of players who are probably a league above where they should be individually.” “One of Grayson’s strengths is his ability to develop players. I struggle to think of many who have gone backwards under him”, “I like Grayson, He comes across as a decent and considered bloke. His choice of players reflects this. There are no egos in the squad and team spirit is generally excellent.” Returning to a Proven Formula“Grayson put together a solid game plan to deal with QPR and selected the right players to carry it out”, “We played two lads who could actually play as wing-backs. We had a left-footed centre-back on the left of the back three, and a holding midfielder allowing the other two to focus on attacking.” LindegaardClarkeWrightCunninghamHumphreySpurrWelshGallagherJohnsonRobinsonBeckford
“That starting XI is pretty much what people have been asking for. Let’s hope it works.” After trying and failing to play with four defenders in earlier games, Grayson’s starting line-up (above) at QPR marked a successful return to last season’s tried-and-trusted 3-5-2 counter-attacking system. “A handy little squad is building up.” Many Lilywhites praised the choice of personnel as much as the changed system. Callum Robinson added pace to Jermaine Beckford’s movement up front, while the introduction of John Welsh’s steel in the heart of midfield freed his central partners to push forward. “It’s amazing what a bit of balance and playing people in their right positions can do”, “Round pegs in round holes are working at the moment”, “The team selection is correct. Wing-backs are getting forward, we have a tackler in midfield and an outlet for counter-attacks. Football is a simple game.” Preston 2 — 0 Oldham (EFL Cup)“Well, that went as well as could have been expected. It was mostly poor with a couple of moments of partial quality that produced two decent goals, entirely uninspiring and instantly forgettable”, “We are through and that is the important thing”, “That was a workmanlike performance, job done.” The hosts went ahead with a low Eoin Doyle strike on 61 minutes and Jordan Hugill doubled their advantage, heading home on 81 minutes after an error by the Latics keeper. “The first half was slow never-ending torture. The second was brighter without ever getting any sort of passing game going.” MaxwellClarkeHuntingtonCunninghamHumphreySpurrWelshPringlePearsonHugillMakienok
Grayson kept the same 3-5-2 shape (above) in his starting XI for Tuesday’s EFL Cup win but switched some personnel, introducing the more physical strike pairing of Jordan Hugill and Simon Makienok. Ben Pringle was swapped into a midfield role before being withdrawn with a knock on 27. “Robinson and Doyle has the extra pace and finishing ability we needed.” Fans felt that the quality of Eoin Doyle and pace of Callum Robinson made a critical difference when both were introduced on the hour mark. “The game lacked any quality and was getting frustrating until the substitutions.” QPR 0 — 2 Preston“We’re off and running”, “A fantastic performance and a great win”, “A bloody marvellous result”, “A huge response to our disappointing defeat to Derby”, “Who would have thought some simple changes would make such a vast difference? We added pace and gave cover to our creative players.” “We’re doing them on the counter. We just need some decent finishing.” Preston went ahead when Beckford reacted quickly to a Paul Gallagher shot to poke home on 21 minutes and QPR defender Nedum Onuoha turned a cross into his own net to double the lead seven minutes after the restart. “Excellent today lads, we had great balance with Spurr wide left and Humphrey wide right. Welsh tackled like a demon”, “There is no problem with 3-5-2 as long as it is used in a positive manner with the right players in the right positions attacking the opposition and going for goals.” Preston 0 — 1 Derby“I’m normally positive but this is awful”, “Deepdale is more like a charity shop than a fortress these days. This will be a long season”, “Derby were no great shakes but managed to steal the points”, “It was sort of entertaining, in the same way that unusual fairground curiosities are entertaining.” “We are in big trouble. It was an improved performance but against a dire Derby side greatly lacking in confidence.” The Rams picked up a first win of the season courtesy of a Craig Forsyth header three minutes from time but home fans left the ground dejected by their side’s listless performance. “Dreadful again, was it one shot on target? We have nothing in the final third”, “The lack of pace in this team is a huge worry”, I’m not usually knee-jerk but this looks like a really poor side we have this season”, “Absolutely no width and no attempt to move forward with width, pace or real intent.” LindegaardGrimshawWrightClarkeCunninghamPringleBrowneGallagherRobinsonDoyleBeckford
Supporters felt that the balance of the team (above) was wrong. The right flank struggled with Ben Pringle operating on the wrong wing ahead of midfielder Liam Grimshaw. Alan Browne also lacked the physicality to operate in a midfield two which struggled to sufficiently protect the back four. “We had a dodgy defence and no fuel in the engine”, “Our attack was powder puff”, “When you had two shots on target in 90 minutes, you generally get exactly what you deserve, nothing”, “Maybe we will revert to the wing-back formation against QPR.” In hindsight, these were to be prophetic words. Goalkeepers and Central Defenders“We need some pace and composure at the back”, “We badly need a younger more mobile central defender.” Preston are without a specialist right-back with Calum Woods picking up a serious knee injury in pre-season. Fans more widely feel that a lack of pace at the back forces them to play deep. “Anders Lindegaard is a good experienced keeper, very vocal and with a good pedigree.” Fans were happy at the news that the 32-year-old former Manchester United keeper signed a one-year deal this summer. “He has done his job well, no howlers but I can’t remember any worldies either.”  Lindegaard arrived on loan from West Brom in January having failed to break into the Baggies first XI and Lilywhites have flagged up one issue. “He is weak at commanding his area and claiming crosses, and that can cost you week in, week out”, “He has to look livelier when the ball is put into our box.” Fans were impressed with 26-year-old Chris Maxwell, a summer arrival from Fleetwood who played in goal against Oldham. “He looked confident and held on to everything he had to”, “He looks a good un’. He was never flustered about receiving the ball and was alert around his box. I was impressed.” “Paul Huntington is our best header of a ball but his lack of pace can be seriously exposed.” The 28-year-old ex-Glover “technically on the ball is very poor. He is always the last one to step up and his positioning is poor. He has a good steady tackle and is decent in the air but he’s League One level.” “Big-hearted and committed”, “Huntington is a decent no-frills defender”, “I love Hunts. I know he has his limitations but plays to his strengths”, “He is a set-piece threat and deals with any ball that comes to him in the air”, “Struggles to use the ball properly, often hoofing it long and giving it away.” “The absolute rock on which the QPR victory was built was Bailey Wright.” The 24-year-old youth product “can tackle and pass the ball, and he is more composed than Huntington with the ball at his feet”, “The best of our three centre-halves, especially in this division where you need to play a bit.” “Wright is part of a core of good players Simon Grayson has assembled within the past few seasons.” The Australia international “is perhaps the best defender on the ball but it isn’t saying much”, “His passing with his right-foot is decent but he slices it out of play far too often with his left foot.” Tom Clarke“Tom Clarke would throw himself in front of a hungry shark for PNE.” The 28-year-old former Huddersfield man “is a blood-and-thunder defender but he’s susceptible to the pace and trickery of forwards at this level”, “He makes the occasional great tackle or great header but positionally he is often in no-man’s land.”  “Clarke gets caught out too often and we have to compensate for his being slow by sitting deeper”, “When a man runs at him with pace he really gets shown up and risks making a mistimed lunge”, “I love his attitude to the game, his spirit and fight and he actually cares about the club and its fans.” Wide Defenders and Wing-Backs“Greg Cunningham is the best left-back I have seen in my 22-year Preston-supporting career.” The 25-year-old ex-Bristol City player “is a very steady player. His crossing is excellent when he is allowed to get forward”, “Reads the game well and works his socks off”, “My player of the year last season.” “Mr Consistent”, “We played better last year when Cunningham was moved to the left of the back three”, “He was top-drawer all round in terms of his performance, attitude and effort”, “We could include Tommy Spurr against QPR by moving Cunningham to the back three and it really worked.” “The commentators were mentioning that Tommy Spurr played very well against QPR.” The 28-year-old summer arrival from Blackburn “is a typical Grayson player, steady and versatile from the back”, “He showed at Loftus Road why he should start and he must have wondered why he hadn’t sooner.” “Spurr had a comfortable game at wing-back”, “It’s good to have another experienced option”, “I think he will be happier at the left of a back three, although his long throw when he plays wide is a real asset”, “Tommy has an awesome Iceland-esque throw which will be useful for our tall strikers.” “Chris Humphrey is a good honest grafter with a low level of genuine skill.” The 28-year-old former Motherwell right winger “is versatile and very aware tactically and defensively, but not good enough going forward or as an attacking winger in this league”, “He’s a willing worker who gives his all.” “Humphrey might have pace and a good work-rate but if there is little or no end product then he’s not cutting it”, “He lacks invention and is poor at dribbling”, “His final ball more often than not is woeful”, “He’s quick, works hard and tracks back well but beyond that he’s pretty poor to be fair.” Ben Pringle“The signing of Pringle has cocked us up a bit so far. He’s a good player, but he needs to be competing with the creative central midfielders for a place. Playing him wide right without a decent right-back has been a disaster”, “Pringle gets dropped and Preston win, is this a coincidence? I think not.”  The 27-year-old former Town loan signing arrived from Fulham this summer. “I wasn’t really a fan before he arrived. For a winger he lacks pace and he is not better than Daniel Johnson when played centrally. It’s a pointless signing, we didn’t urgently require him”, “Pringle struggles as a wing-back.” Pringle had a poor game against the Rams. “Pringle was at fault for their goal, Forsyth simply wanted the ball more than him. A couple of times he tried to play impressive balls but most of the time was chasing shadows. I hate to say it but he needs to get it together. That simply wasn’t good enough.” “What is Pringle’s actual position? He needs to play out wide or not at all”, “A one-season wonder who failed at Fulham. He was sadly a passenger against Derby and looks inferior to what we have already”, “Pringle was abysmal”, “Simply shocking, his attempts at defending are laughable.” Central Midfielders“I like Liam Grimshaw but still feel we need a physically bigger stronger presence in midfield to really stamp their authority on the game.” The 21-year-old former Manchester United youth player “might grow into the holding role, not in the height department but you can tell the lad loves a tackle.” Grimshaw also struggled on the right against Derby. “He isn’t a right-back. He is positionally unaware and loses his man too easily”, “He didn’t have the ability or expertise to exploit the space in front of him”, “He has all the attributes to be a very good player but needs experience and a cynical edge.” “Alan Browne is not the hard man John Welsh proved to be”, “He isn’t really a holding midfielder as he likes to get forward.” The 21-year-old former Cork City youth player “doesn’t impose himself in a two-man central midfield and his positioning isn’t great, although he certainly puts a real shift in.” “Browne does the leg work which the creative midfielders avoid”, “His progress has been little short of phenomenal given he had not even played a first team match for Cork City”, “He beings plenty of energy and a great deal of effort”, “I like the way he has applied himself. He really wants to learn.” John Welsh“Are my eyes deceiving me? John Welsh is starting”, “Not before time, a bit of steel in midfield at last.” The 32-year-old ex-Tranmere man made his season’s competitive debut against QPR. “Every team needs a ball-winner and Welsh is as good as we need”, “Every team needs a player like that.”  “Welsh was outstanding and should never have been dropped”, “It was no coincidence how our best performance coincided with our best tackling midfielder in the team doing the jobs nobody else will do”, “He stopped QPR attack after attack”, “What a difference a real midfield enforcer can make.” Daniel Johnson“Our formation at QPR gives free rein to players like Johnson who are not best suited to defensive duties.” The 23-year-old former Aston Villa youth player “scored quality goals and is great with the ball at his feet but pulls out of tackles and disappears from games”, “Powder-puff performances.”  “Johnson frustrates the hell out of me sometimes. His attitude without the ball is so weak and he never seems to put 100 per cent into tackles but he is one of our biggest goal threats”, “He’s a one-footed player and one the opposition know this he is neutralised. All he has to offer is his left foot.” Paul Gallagher“When given time and space, Gallagher is the epitome of the deep-lying playmaker, breaking up play and spraying the ball around like Pirlo”, “He is tremendous when pinging passes about and is at the hub of our creative play”, “He is perfect for spreading the play in order to tire opponents out.”  “I love Greg Cunningham but Paul Gallagher wins us matches”, “He is always good to watch.” The 32-year-old former Leicester man “has started to learn how to tackle by playing a lot deeper in central midfield. This has made him a more complete player rather than the luxury many regarded him”. Strikers“We have sold far better players than Joe Garner. I have nothing against the player but how many did he score last season from open play? Garner's game at this level just isn't good enough, and we were never going to bring in another striker with six already on the books, so now we have five.”  Lilywhites have mixed feelings about the recent departure of striker Joe Garner to Glasgow Rangers with many trusting Simon Grayson’s judgement. “If we brought Eoin Doyle in for Garner, it’s a bit of a poor swap”, “Yeah, well, what's done is done. Do Rangers want to take Pringle off our hands, too?” “Jordan Hugill has done himself no harm with his recent performances.” The 24-year-old former Port Vale man “is playing well, getting in and around defenders, going for headers and winning his fair share”, “He was closely marked by two Oldham defenders when heading that goal on Tuesday.” “I cannot see Hugill and Simon Makienok working as an effective partnership. Neither are creative enough”, “Big Mak looks okay as long as you don’t mind his headers pinging off in any old direction. He is decent on the deck given lots and lots of time”, “A useful addition who could help Beckford.” “Simon Makienok doesn’t offer a goal threat but his hold-up play is good and he obviously wins a lot in the air.” The 25-year-old Palermo loanee was on loan at Charlton last season. “He definitely needs to learn how to jump because he plays like he has rocks in his boots. He’s more of an impact sub.” “Hugill’s goal against Oldham was put on a plate for him by Eoin Doyle.” The 28-year-old ex-Bluebird was praised for his performance in the ELF Cup on Tuesday but has been criticised for his play earlier this season. “Every time he gets the ball, the opposition are back in possession within five seconds.” “Doyle shoots as though he has never tried to strike the ball with power before. He is very nervous with the ball at his feet. He could not look up or create anything. He set up Derby chances with slow possession before giving the ball away”, “He is constantly taking the wrong option in the final third.” “Callum Robinson scored a good goal against Fulham and followed it up with good games against Derby and QPR. Could he be our man this season?” The 21-year-old ex-Aston Villa man “certainly gives us a bit of pace up front. I like his directness and willingness to shoot when space opens up.” “If you give Robinson licence to roam forward and run at defenders he will cause the opposition problems”, “He looks positive, powerful, explosive and a genuine threat with the ball at his feet. It looks like he always has a plan for what to do with the ball”, “He adds that much needed pace.” Jermaine Beckford“A fit and confident Beckford is absolutely too good for this league.” The 32-year-old former Leeds, Everton and Bolton striker “has the best movement of any striker I have ever seen play for us. He misses chances but he is just so good off the ball that his next chance is never very far away”.  “Beckford’s anticipation means that his partner’s donkey work doesn’t go to waste”, “I have never seen anyone make space so easily”, “He is always finding the right positions”, “He can create that half a yard for a team-mate to score”, “The best thing in a North End shirt since Ricardo Fuller.” “After losing Joey Garner to Rangers, you sometimes forget that Beckford is good enough to build a strike force around”, “We really missed him last season when he had his knee injury”, “His name on the teamsheet gives opponents something to think about”, “His movement is such a strength.” Lilywhites’ Views on ITFC and the Game“Ipswich have a good manager in Mick McCarthy who knows this division inside out. They are a well-established Championship club and strengthened their squad this summer with Adam Webster and Grant Ward”, “I struggle to see us getting a result against McCarthy’s Ipswich at Portman Road.”  “I honestly cannot see us getting anything at Ipswich.” Lilywhites were downcast after their defeat to the Rams but two wins in a week have fundamentally altered their mood. “Oldham was a solid all-round performance from players who came in a did a good job when required. Roll on Ipswich.” Prediction threads currently have 40 per cent of North Enders forecasting an away win with 47 per cent going for a stalemate. Tight 2-1 or 1-0 away wins are the most popular winning margin, but a large proportion of visiting supporters also forecast a 1-1 draw. They are coming to Portman Road with their tails up. Most Preston fans see Jermaine Beckford as their biggest threat but a good proportion have also backed Paul Gallagher to get on the scoresheet while only six per cent of Lilywhites have forecast an Ipswich clean sheet. Freddie Sears and Daryl Murphy are also seen as the biggest Town threats. Lilywhites have had little else to say by way of specific comments ahead of Saturday’s game. I will keep tabs on their message boards and update the forum on Saturday morning if there is sufficient additional comment about either us or the game. I will also link this on my Twitter feed. WebsitesThe busiest Preston North End message board is the polite and knowledgeable PNE Online.
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