| Where I believe the problem lies 09:16 - Jan 22 with 588 views | Abracadobra |
If I was the rate the team from yesterday on where I think they sit in the league system, it looks something like this:
Walton - Top end League One (although admittedly he’s been performing as an average keeper in this league recently)
Donacien - Average League One
Woolfenden - Bottom End/Average Championship
Burgess - Average League One
Davis - Average Championship
Evans - Top end League One
Morsy - Average Championship
Burns - Top end League One/Bottom end Championship
Chaplin - Top end League One/Bottom end Championship
Harness - Top end League One (albeit with very inconsistent performances
Hirst - Haven’t seen enough but imagine top end league one
I think this is where the real problem actually lies, rather than McKennas system or a mentality problem. For example, If you compare this team with the team Derby put out yesterday, I’m not sure you could seriously say it’s better in terms of quality as a number of their players have racked up a serious amount of games at a higher level.
Of course, all of those ratings are subjective and merely my opinion, but I reckon a replacement for Donacien (Clarke will do nicely) and a replacement for Burgess would go a long way. It’s not just that I think they’re average league one players, but also in terms of style of play I think they’re a bit of a misfit for the demands that McKenna places on defenders in terms of capabilities on the ball.
In addition to this, a bit more cutting edge at the top end of the pitch wouldn’t go amiss, and from what I’ve seen of Broadhead he could be just what the doctor ordered if he can stay fit, and hopefully Hirst can chip in too.
A team like looking like this will accumulate the majority of the remaining points available IMO:
Walton
Clarke–Woolfenden–NEW CB–Davis
Evans–Morsy
Burns–Chaplin–Broadhead
Hirst
So to summarise, no need for drastic changes, but think some personnel tweaks are necessary to get the best out of McKennas tactical ideology.
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| Where I believe the problem lies on 10:38 - Jan 22 with 433 views | pointofblue |
Then maybe McKenna needs to adapt the team to help it out, rather than just keep signing players and hope for the best. I liked the look of the team we put out yesterday; however it ranks man for man, it’s better than Oxford’s XI.
When Cook was sacked, McGreal came in and switched to a back three which McKenna stuck to. From the equivalent weekend just gone until mid March last season, the combination of Donacien-Woolfenden-Edmundson conceded just three goals in eleven games. Edmundson then picked up an injury, Burgess came in and admittedly our defence did see a difference - seven goals conceded in the final nine. In fairness, over our last nine games it’s little worse than that; we’ve let in nine. But I don’t think a back four is working.
We shouldn’t have to spend to solve the problem. The players present have already proven they can defend effectively; they just have to be given either the coaching or tactical approach to do it. |  |
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