| The problem with rotation is... 09:04 - Aug 10 with 2940 views | itfcjoe |
....you sometimes have to rotate the wrong players into games.
Last night a case in point, Kayden Jackson has proven himself to be very effective under McKenna, either as a second half sub when game stretched more, or against teams that try and push on a bit and he can exploit the space in behind.
But whilst he had 'earned' a start last night and deserved one, it was a game totally not suited to his skillset and we really suffered because of it.
Harper just doesn't suit that deep lying midfield role at all, Cole Skuse on the other side was far superior and when Lee Evans came on the difference between him and Harper was absolute night and day. I'd hope/assume Humphreys or El Miz can have usurped him as 4th CM in the squad as he just looks so far off it.
A game like that really shows up Cameron Burgess as well as he just moves the ball so slowly, fine when it is kick and head it, but in most of our games we will dominate possession and need someone on there who can play the ball at the speed of the rest of the team.
For all the quality in the squad, and it is a good squad there are 4 players who are a level above for me - Walton, Edmundson, Woolfenden and Morsy - if any of the 3 outfielders mentioned are missing we just aren't the same team. Notable mentions for others like Evans, Burns and Donacien who are a long way ahead of their back ups as well.
The need for a striker is clear, Jackson will be a very useful and effective player this season, but if he has to start a run of games and we come up against sides happy to take a point (which is nearly every game at PR) then we will struggle |  |
| |  |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:07 - Aug 10 with 1805 views | Kieran_Knows |
Wonder how many calls Ashton made to Leicester CEO and Hirst's agent last night? |  |
| |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:08 - Aug 10 with 1800 views | homer_123 |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:07 - Aug 10 by Kieran_Knows |
Wonder how many calls Ashton made to Leicester CEO and Hirst's agent last night? |
None, hopefully, as it would have been desperate and massively inflated an already high price. |  |
| |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:10 - Aug 10 with 1786 views | Marshalls_Mullet |
That's more likely when you rotate a whole team. |  |
| |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:10 - Aug 10 with 1787 views | homer_123 |
As I said last night, we still have a big squad and one of the challenges is trying to keep players happy and get them decent game time.
Therefore, this many changes is somewhat forced but the large squad. | |
| |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:10 - Aug 10 with 1787 views | GlasgowBlue |
Don’t disagree with your assessment. We have fantastic like for like options to cover injuries and suspensions who will fit in our starting eleven seamlessly when required. However, that doesn’t mean a complete different eleven will be anywhere near as good as our preferred team.
Regarding Jackson, I’d start him against Mk on Saturday as that is a game that suits him and he was very effective in the away game last season. |  |
| |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:13 - Aug 10 with 1766 views | TractorTom5 |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:07 - Aug 10 by Kieran_Knows |
Wonder how many calls Ashton made to Leicester CEO and Hirst's agent last night? |
Hirst won’t come here! Some fans are just so fickle and last night proved that |  | | |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:16 - Aug 10 with 1744 views | TractorTom5 |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:10 - Aug 10 by homer_123 |
As I said last night, we still have a big squad and one of the challenges is trying to keep players happy and get them decent game time.
Therefore, this many changes is somewhat forced but the large squad. |
Are the players happy though?
It’s now too big a squad. Players want to play
Players want to win
Tonight was embarrassing to watch let alone if you were a player not playing
Money buys done things but not everything Mr Ashton | | | |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:24 - Aug 10 with 1662 views | Guthrum |
I still think the lack of a decent reserve competition in England does not help. Managers use cup games to keep their replacement/fringe/youth players sharp and to "reward" them for working hard in training. When else are they going to be able to? |  |
| |
Login to get fewer ads
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:26 - Aug 10 with 1644 views | monty_radio |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:13 - Aug 10 by TractorTom5 |
Hirst won’t come here! Some fans are just so fickle and last night proved that |
If Hirst doesn't come here it might be because of:
The asking price
The salary on offer
A preference for a Portsmouth team he already knows
Even that he maybe owns a beach hut on Hayling Island
_ but it won't have anything to do with our fans, fickle or otherwise | |
| |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:28 - Aug 10 with 1634 views | J2BLUE |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:16 - Aug 10 by TractorTom5 |
Are the players happy though?
It’s now too big a squad. Players want to play
Players want to win
Tonight was embarrassing to watch let alone if you were a player not playing
Money buys done things but not everything Mr Ashton |
You are a strange one. Constantly negative and go around downvoting anything remotely positive. I know it's the school holidays but try going outside. |  |
| |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:30 - Aug 10 with 1617 views | iamipswich |
Agree with everything you say except I wouldn't say Woolfenden makes that top tier within our squad. I still think he's not physical enough in tussles with strikers who can back into him and lay the ball off, and still he can be too lax on the ball (which is hardly breaking news). Probably put him in the Evans, Burns bracket personally.
Everything else you're spot on imo. |  |
| |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:34 - Aug 10 with 1590 views | davblue |
Jackson, imo is too one dimensional, if the game doesn't suit him like you say then he's not as useful. A good sub option, but we need and all rounder upfront. |  | | |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:37 - Aug 10 with 1577 views | Jimmy86 |
Joe, whilst Woolfenden could be described as a ball playing centre half and is certainly good with the ball at his feet playing out from the back, he loses out in any physical battle... last night he was absolutely schooled by Nouble FFS, who couldn't win a header for sh1t when he was at town.. Nouble is a donkey and still bullied him... I know you're big on the academy, but in my eyes at least Wolfie isn't as good as you seem to make him out to be. He also switches off at vital times and is prone to being caught in possession Just my opinion... | | | |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:38 - Aug 10 with 1579 views | clive_baker |
Yep, agree. For me I see the squad in 4 pots, namely:
1: Walton, Edmundson, Woolfenden, Burns, Morsy, Chaplin
2: JD, Evans, Davis, Ball, Harness, Ladapo, Aluko, Keogh(?)
3: Jackson, Burgess, KVY, Hladky, John-Jules, Leigh
4: El-Miz, Harper, Edwards, Ndaba, Penney
Obviously a couple of those have a little to prove (in both directions), namely Leigh, TJJ and Davis as I've not seen much of them either here or elsewhere. Pot 4 shouldn't be in our team in any capacity, and largely aren't for league football to be fair to KM. Pot 3 are squad players.
If we can add a goal scorer into Pot 1 we have a very strong 'core' 15 man squad between pots 1 and 2 at this level that should largely be who we see on a Saturday afternoon, but that's where we're short right now. I'm not sure Jackson has proven himself very effective either under KM or prior. He's a forward who doesn't score or create a lot, and had we not extended his contract I don't think many would've minded. Would be interesting to see where he ended up but I dare say he wouldn't be 2nd choice striker for a top 6 side in L1. |  |
| |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:52 - Aug 10 with 1517 views | Basuco |
Agree with all of that, but I would also say that getting out of league 1 is far more important than any cup runs, I would be very happy if no first team players were involved in cup games this season and hopefully help get us back into the Championship. I am not at all bothered by Premier League football, I much prefer watching Championship football. Last night was a bad night but in the wider scheme of things I am not that bothered about it. |  | | |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:56 - Aug 10 with 1504 views | PhilTWTD |
For me Jackson has only been effective under KMc when playing in one of the wide roles in the front three, I just don't think he can play as the number nine, so it wasn't really a surprise when he was switched with John-Jules in the first half yesterday.
We obviously need another number nine but just the general failure to take chances from all around the pitch is perhaps a more significant issue, Leigh and Humphreys were the two biggest culprits yesterday. |  | | |
| The problem with rotation is... on 10:00 - Aug 10 with 1464 views | DJR |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:37 - Aug 10 by Jimmy86 |
Joe, whilst Woolfenden could be described as a ball playing centre half and is certainly good with the ball at his feet playing out from the back, he loses out in any physical battle... last night he was absolutely schooled by Nouble FFS, who couldn't win a header for sh1t when he was at town.. Nouble is a donkey and still bullied him... I know you're big on the academy, but in my eyes at least Wolfie isn't as good as you seem to make him out to be. He also switches off at vital times and is prone to being caught in possession Just my opinion... |
I wasn't there last night but having seen virtually every game last season after McK took over, I don't recall Woolf being outfought in any physical battle at all. Of course, he isn't particularly physical but I feel he makes up for this in the timing of his interceptions whether on the ground or in the air. I also don't recall his being caught out in possession. The problem it seems to me is that one error early in the season sets a narrative that for some players that they never seem able to shake off, however well they play.
EDIT: this is Andy Warren's verdict on Woolf
"Back from illness at the heart of defence, the defender performed well during his battle with Frank Nouble. Was pulled around the pitch a little but was always able to sweep up well enough as he enjoyed a good battle with the former Ipswich striker." [Post edited 10 Aug 2022 10:03]
|  | | |
| The problem with rotation is... on 10:04 - Aug 10 with 1441 views | SomethingBlue |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:38 - Aug 10 by clive_baker |
Yep, agree. For me I see the squad in 4 pots, namely:
1: Walton, Edmundson, Woolfenden, Burns, Morsy, Chaplin
2: JD, Evans, Davis, Ball, Harness, Ladapo, Aluko, Keogh(?)
3: Jackson, Burgess, KVY, Hladky, John-Jules, Leigh
4: El-Miz, Harper, Edwards, Ndaba, Penney
Obviously a couple of those have a little to prove (in both directions), namely Leigh, TJJ and Davis as I've not seen much of them either here or elsewhere. Pot 4 shouldn't be in our team in any capacity, and largely aren't for league football to be fair to KM. Pot 3 are squad players.
If we can add a goal scorer into Pot 1 we have a very strong 'core' 15 man squad between pots 1 and 2 at this level that should largely be who we see on a Saturday afternoon, but that's where we're short right now. I'm not sure Jackson has proven himself very effective either under KM or prior. He's a forward who doesn't score or create a lot, and had we not extended his contract I don't think many would've minded. Would be interesting to see where he ended up but I dare say he wouldn't be 2nd choice striker for a top 6 side in L1. |
Need for a striker is glaring when it's put this way. Overall that looks pretty fair, altho I'd probably have Chaplin halfway between the top two pots and if Edwards ultimately leaves this club having not risen *at least* one pot it will be an absolute crying shame. | |
| |
| The problem with rotation is... on 10:11 - Aug 10 with 1400 views | chicoazul |
Harper is such a disappointment. Very good pedigree and you can see just from the warm ups he has loads of talent. I still hope McK can do something with him but as you say Humph has probably gone beyond him now. |  |
| |
| The problem with rotation is... on 10:13 - Aug 10 with 1388 views | SomethingBlue |
| The problem with rotation is... on 10:11 - Aug 10 by chicoazul |
Harper is such a disappointment. Very good pedigree and you can see just from the warm ups he has loads of talent. I still hope McK can do something with him but as you say Humph has probably gone beyond him now. |
I really liked him on his debut and, in fact, during most of our dire early run last season — lovely crisp, "meant" weight on his passes and some fine vision. Really gone off the boil since and that seems to have been the way in his career so far. If we can't get at least one of him and Edwards firing it'll be a huge disappointment for me. | |
| |
| The problem with rotation is... on 10:14 - Aug 10 with 1377 views | BlueBadger |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:16 - Aug 10 by TractorTom5 |
Are the players happy though?
It’s now too big a squad. Players want to play
Players want to win
Tonight was embarrassing to watch let alone if you were a player not playing
Money buys done things but not everything Mr Ashton |
I have it on good authority that they'll only be happy when Penney leaves. |  |
| |
| The problem with rotation is... on 10:22 - Aug 10 with 1338 views | unstableblue |
| The problem with rotation is... on 09:56 - Aug 10 by PhilTWTD |
For me Jackson has only been effective under KMc when playing in one of the wide roles in the front three, I just don't think he can play as the number nine, so it wasn't really a surprise when he was switched with John-Jules in the first half yesterday.
We obviously need another number nine but just the general failure to take chances from all around the pitch is perhaps a more significant issue, Leigh and Humphreys were the two biggest culprits yesterday. |
Agree
Jackson is better in the right hand wide front role in the 3
But to Joes point Jackson doesn’t really suit a lot of games we’ll play this season as the opposition defence sit so deep meaning there are no channels to run in to, no space |  |
| |
| The problem with rotation is... on 10:25 - Aug 10 with 1307 views | PhilTWTD |
| The problem with rotation is... on 10:22 - Aug 10 by unstableblue |
Agree
Jackson is better in the right hand wide front role in the 3
But to Joes point Jackson doesn’t really suit a lot of games we’ll play this season as the opposition defence sit so deep meaning there are no channels to run in to, no space |
Indeed, he doesn't have enough to his all-round game, his pace is so central to it and if he doesn't have space to run into then his limitations show. | | | |
| The problem with rotation is... on 10:28 - Aug 10 with 1263 views | unstableblue |
Good post and couldn’t agree more about Walton, Morsy, Wolfenden and Edmundson.
Morsy and Walton especially, they give us high quality and personality.
I’m hoping Ball and Keogh similarly increase our personality and quality.
It’s easy to write a team sheet with all these back up players mirroring the starting 11 and feel there is competition. But el Miz, Harper and Humphreys are streets away from Morsy.
You would have included Burns in that list of quality dependables, but he’s off the pace at the moment and it’s a concern.
I do hope we see some real game time for the Ladapo, Chaplin and Harness group… they could be key
And I like what I am seeing from Harness… Aluko perhaps flatters to deceive… whereas I think Harness is always looking the quickest attack option | |
| |
| The problem with rotation is... on 10:28 - Aug 10 with 1266 views | hype313 |
| The problem with rotation is... on 10:25 - Aug 10 by PhilTWTD |
Indeed, he doesn't have enough to his all-round game, his pace is so central to it and if he doesn't have space to run into then his limitations show. |
Most teams will come to PR this season and park the bus, it won't suit Jackson at all.
Saying that, I don't think he was ever in McKenna's first XI, more a player to come on with 20 to go to stretch defences.
Playing him as a number 9 showed us why he isn't suited to that role. |  |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
