| Where I think things are going wrong 08:36 - Feb 15 with 2876 views | Guthrum |
Watching that last night, I think we've reverted to the tactics from late last season, where the ball is conatantly being recycled out wide, looking for the perfect cross and finish. It wasn't particularly effective then and is quite toothless now.
We've lost the ability to drive at opponents, which Davis, Morsy and Burns were doing earlier this campaign.
The result being slower play, running the ball across the face of the opposition penalty area and lack of penetration. I don't know if it's a confidence thing or if the team have been told to be more careful about keeping possession in order to deny counter-attacks. Either way, they need to rediscover some freedom with ball at feet.
Passing accuracy was also very low last night, altho a packed defensive area is never going to make that easy. |  |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:33 - Feb 15 with 684 views | Herbivore |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:20 - Feb 15 by homer_123 |
The last few games have reminded me of us under Hurst a little.
We could look exceptional for short periods, in fact unplayable but then we'd lapse in concentration and energy - concede silly goals and look bereft of ideas and confidence. |
Genuinely don't remember us ever looking unplayable under Hurst, even for 5 minute spells. It's been a bit Cook-like for me, but to be honest it's only really a handful of games where that's been the case. Our poor run of results has been going on for a while but for a lot of that time performances have continued to be decent and it's been a combination of poor finishing and lapses that have been costing us wins. |  |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:38 - Feb 15 with 652 views | Bluesky |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:09 - Feb 15 by tractorboy1978 |
I think it is to a degree actually. We seem to want to get control of games with the belief it is inevitable we will patiently eventually break them down and win. I mean the line up last night seemed to be set up for that to me - wear them down and get the likes of Broadhead, Chaplin, Edwards on. I just want to see us start with a really dynamic team now, get after teams, start fast and try and build some momentum.
For any end product faults he may have at times, Edwards scares teams and isn't utilised nearly enough. Broadhead is also a huge upgrade on Harness and far more direct. Aluko as a 10 is absolutely pointless. Nice to watch but he slows everything down in the final third and lacks the dynamism. |
Totally agree re Edwards. Underused but he can be a game changer given opportunities. We need more of him - perhaps what Butcher sees in John-Jules who used to go get the ball and do something with it. It hurts to watch our dull possession/patience play. Maybe the team should drop all aspirations for promotion and just go out and have some FUN! Might loosen everything up and allow some original expression and bolder chance making. |  | | |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:43 - Feb 15 with 639 views | KrakenBlue |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:27 - Feb 15 by Swansea_Blue |
And Lambert. Looking pedestrian because we want to play it out, but the movement isn’t quite there and the opposition can shut us down. Every time Morsy got the ball he was looking for a forward pass, but nothing was on. Cue everyone moaning about Morsy for being to slow! |
The amount of times morsy got a pass from an inwards running Burns to only then recycle the ball to a cb was monotonous. He doesn't seem able to recieve and play a through ball to unlock the runner into the box so they stop.
Plenty of times in the first half Ladapo had his back to goal and wanted the ball to his feet but Morsey decided not to. Once in the second half he tries a chipped ball over the top into the box and it becomes a threat, he's got it in him but he's far too cautious. |  | | |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:45 - Feb 15 with 632 views | BiGDonnie |
I'd like to see us try two up top. Teams sit so deep against us we really do not need the extra def/mid. Two up top with one in behind. Bit disappointing we've not tried this or anything else to stop the rot. |  |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:49 - Feb 15 with 628 views | Steve_M |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:49 - Feb 15 by Herbivore |
I don't think they are being told to play at this slower tempo. We started fast last night but after missing a couple of decent chances and the game getting a bit scrappy we lost all momentum and struggled to get going again. It reminds me a lot of some of the times under Cook when he would describe the players as waiting for something to happen rather than making something happen themselves. Too many are doing that right now.
Last night the number of times Davis and Humphreys played the ball between each other down that left channel rather than putting the ball in or trying to beat a man was ridiculous. Similar was happening on the right as well. The two tens did nothing other than recycle possession back to Morsy or the CBs. It's going safety first because confidence has taken a hit, much easier to play a high percentage five yard pass than try something more risky. But it's killing us, our tempo has dropped massively and although we still create - we still had chances last night that the top two would likely have taken - we've lost a lot of the penetration we've previously had. |
Yes, I think the key point about last night was that we did start well but visibly slowed midway through the half as confidence and belief drained away. I suspect had we taken the lead at any point then we would have suddenly looked a lot better - it's quite telling though that we've only lead in two matches in this post-Boxing Day run. |  |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:50 - Feb 15 with 613 views | Steve_M |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:13 - Feb 15 by itfcjoe |
I think we miss an on-form Harness because he is one who is willing to take risks, make things happen from that 10 role whereas the rest are very much either a second striker (Chaplin) or an attacking midfielder who generally plays safe (Aluko).
Broadhead seems to have that ambition to go with the ball and to mix things up but we need to get him fit and durable. |
Against Oxford on Boxing Day, Harness looked very good but he's looked lost more often than not since that match. There were some good early signs yesterday, linking up well with Davis before we collectively got bogged down.
I do wonder if he came back a bit too soon but also suspect a goal and he would start looking a lot more confident. | |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:54 - Feb 15 with 605 views | Herbivore |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:49 - Feb 15 by Steve_M |
Yes, I think the key point about last night was that we did start well but visibly slowed midway through the half as confidence and belief drained away. I suspect had we taken the lead at any point then we would have suddenly looked a lot better - it's quite telling though that we've only lead in two matches in this post-Boxing Day run. |
Having taken the lead in all bar a couple of games up to that point. Definitely think the doubts start to creep in now if we don't score early or if there's a scare at the other end because of how so many recent games have gone. We then start playing within ourselves and not taking any risks and it becomes a bit turgid. It's not happened loads but we can't afford for this to become the new normal or the fears that we might even blow the top 6 could materialise and that will be McKenna gone. Need a decent win on Saturday badly. | |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:56 - Feb 15 with 600 views | Dyland |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:45 - Feb 15 by BiGDonnie |
I'd like to see us try two up top. Teams sit so deep against us we really do not need the extra def/mid. Two up top with one in behind. Bit disappointing we've not tried this or anything else to stop the rot. |
I'm probably being simplistic, but this to me is all down to McKenna "trusting the process". Which you can out down to inexperience or a lack of mentorship maybe. Meh, maybe he'll surprise us and change the whole "process" for the next few games. Seems doubtful innit?
P.S. shut up 'process', shut up 'project', shut up 'journey' ffs :) |  |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:57 - Feb 15 with 594 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:43 - Feb 15 by KrakenBlue |
The amount of times morsy got a pass from an inwards running Burns to only then recycle the ball to a cb was monotonous. He doesn't seem able to recieve and play a through ball to unlock the runner into the box so they stop.
Plenty of times in the first half Ladapo had his back to goal and wanted the ball to his feet but Morsey decided not to. Once in the second half he tries a chipped ball over the top into the box and it becomes a threat, he's got it in him but he's far too cautious. |
All true, although a lot of times you could see him looking before or as soon as he received the ball and everything was static in front of him. I’d rather we start again in those situations than aimlessly punt up the pitch. Although yes, he is generally rather conservative. |  |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 10:04 - Feb 15 with 578 views | tractorshark |
This thread is far more reasoned and rational than most.
I think fundamentally it comes down to confidence. I thought a lot of our players lacked it last night (Burns for instance) and were also bullied a bit too easily (eg Humphreys).
McKenna wants us to have patience and possession and sometimes that means the play slows if the opposition have got men behind the ball.
But we created a good chance late in the first half with that approach so it does work if you move the opposition around and execute it with good passing and a decent first touch.
But you do have to be incisive when the gaps appear and that’s where belief and bravery come in.
The alternative is hump it long, look for the scraps and play percentage football like McCarthy.
Judging by some of the comments around me last night, maybe Mick was right and fans don’t care how you play as long as you win.
I think you do have to give some credit to Bristol Rovers though. They’re not relegation fodder, they let our centre backs have the ball and they made it exceptionally difficult for our midfield to pass through them.
They put all the emphasis on us to find a way and we were found lacking. When they did press us, I actually thought they could cause problems but it was clear they just wanted to end their losing streak.
My biggest criticism last night was not bringing on Jackson for Burns. I’m not Jackson’s biggest fan but he deserved a chance.
I like Edwards, he’s very skilful but sadly I don’t think he has any belief any more. And it was infuriating at the end watching him amble over to take a corner when you desperately need a goal with time running out.
But all is not lost. I wanted 13 points from these 5 games and that is still possible even if it appears unlikely.
What is happening right now was perhaps inevitable with McKenna. He was always going to have a wobble and he needs to find an answer.
But I can categorically say the answer is not to fire him and start again. That could set us back another couple of years.
McKenna is intelligent and a good coach, he needs to learn as a manager but his ceiling is far higher than his likely successors.
You have to keep a sense of perspective. We’re fourth and likely to finish in the playoffs. If we win them, his doubters will sing his name and call him a managerial genius.
Give the guy a chance, this is not an instant fix but we are heading in the right direction. | | | |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 10:19 - Feb 15 with 527 views | ketton_itfc |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 10:04 - Feb 15 by tractorshark |
This thread is far more reasoned and rational than most.
I think fundamentally it comes down to confidence. I thought a lot of our players lacked it last night (Burns for instance) and were also bullied a bit too easily (eg Humphreys).
McKenna wants us to have patience and possession and sometimes that means the play slows if the opposition have got men behind the ball.
But we created a good chance late in the first half with that approach so it does work if you move the opposition around and execute it with good passing and a decent first touch.
But you do have to be incisive when the gaps appear and that’s where belief and bravery come in.
The alternative is hump it long, look for the scraps and play percentage football like McCarthy.
Judging by some of the comments around me last night, maybe Mick was right and fans don’t care how you play as long as you win.
I think you do have to give some credit to Bristol Rovers though. They’re not relegation fodder, they let our centre backs have the ball and they made it exceptionally difficult for our midfield to pass through them.
They put all the emphasis on us to find a way and we were found lacking. When they did press us, I actually thought they could cause problems but it was clear they just wanted to end their losing streak.
My biggest criticism last night was not bringing on Jackson for Burns. I’m not Jackson’s biggest fan but he deserved a chance.
I like Edwards, he’s very skilful but sadly I don’t think he has any belief any more. And it was infuriating at the end watching him amble over to take a corner when you desperately need a goal with time running out.
But all is not lost. I wanted 13 points from these 5 games and that is still possible even if it appears unlikely.
What is happening right now was perhaps inevitable with McKenna. He was always going to have a wobble and he needs to find an answer.
But I can categorically say the answer is not to fire him and start again. That could set us back another couple of years.
McKenna is intelligent and a good coach, he needs to learn as a manager but his ceiling is far higher than his likely successors.
You have to keep a sense of perspective. We’re fourth and likely to finish in the playoffs. If we win them, his doubters will sing his name and call him a managerial genius.
Give the guy a chance, this is not an instant fix but we are heading in the right direction. |
Totally agree.The bottom line is if you hire a rookie manager who has a clear way to play you have to either let him see it through or hook him if its clear that it's not working. So many metrics point to it being successful, fine lines are costing us.
It's a frustrating, tough pill to take but we have to trust the process. KMc will be better for this but we have to ride the storm on this get back to winning one or two and see where it takes us. The season could still be a memorable one!
Otherwise to get rid, it just makes a mockery of what the last 14 months have been about. |  | | |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 10:27 - Feb 15 with 521 views | cbower |
The midfield two look shot to me. Morsy is being flogged and Humphreys is being forced into playing 90 minutes over and over and it showed last night. McKenna knows we are lacking depth there but his attempts to rectify matters have been injury struck. Ball, Camara, Evans (x2) and now Luongo leaves a huge gap. The pursuit of Jack Taylor shows he knows it too.
We don't put enough real pressure on the oppositions goal. I know we are one of the top scorers and this XG stuff says we create loads and I am open to correction here, but I don't recall too many opposition keepers performing miracles against us and getting MoM.
Tempo has disappeared completely. The endless recycling across the pitch plays right into the low block teams hands and we never seem to have anything resembling a quick counter attack even if the opportunity arises.
Messing with Central Defenders is a nonsense. That position, indeed the whole defence, needs consistent drilling with partnerships forged over periods of games. As an aside, Burgess is a very limited player who would be way out of his depth in the Championship.
Burns just looks tired to me. He played throughout the summer and hasn't been poor perse but he lacks the zip he had. Walton's form is not good. He's barely made anything but routine saves all season and that fumble last night was poor. Some might say he recovered to make a great save hut in reality that was like Matthew Pennington, a last minute lunge after his own cruddy mistake in the first place. A few games out maybe for him?
Aluko flatters to deceive and it all comes to nothing. He is a bench option to be used to see a game out by retaining possession when leading.
It's all gone very, very flat and I would like to see a bit of formation change. Instead of 2 no 10s, I'd go 3412. Any combination of Ladapo / Hirst / Chaplin / Broadhead / even Jackson up top with any of Harness / Chaplin/ Broadhead / Humphreys behind. |  |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 10:39 - Feb 15 with 490 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 10:27 - Feb 15 by cbower |
The midfield two look shot to me. Morsy is being flogged and Humphreys is being forced into playing 90 minutes over and over and it showed last night. McKenna knows we are lacking depth there but his attempts to rectify matters have been injury struck. Ball, Camara, Evans (x2) and now Luongo leaves a huge gap. The pursuit of Jack Taylor shows he knows it too.
We don't put enough real pressure on the oppositions goal. I know we are one of the top scorers and this XG stuff says we create loads and I am open to correction here, but I don't recall too many opposition keepers performing miracles against us and getting MoM.
Tempo has disappeared completely. The endless recycling across the pitch plays right into the low block teams hands and we never seem to have anything resembling a quick counter attack even if the opportunity arises.
Messing with Central Defenders is a nonsense. That position, indeed the whole defence, needs consistent drilling with partnerships forged over periods of games. As an aside, Burgess is a very limited player who would be way out of his depth in the Championship.
Burns just looks tired to me. He played throughout the summer and hasn't been poor perse but he lacks the zip he had. Walton's form is not good. He's barely made anything but routine saves all season and that fumble last night was poor. Some might say he recovered to make a great save hut in reality that was like Matthew Pennington, a last minute lunge after his own cruddy mistake in the first place. A few games out maybe for him?
Aluko flatters to deceive and it all comes to nothing. He is a bench option to be used to see a game out by retaining possession when leading.
It's all gone very, very flat and I would like to see a bit of formation change. Instead of 2 no 10s, I'd go 3412. Any combination of Ladapo / Hirst / Chaplin / Broadhead / even Jackson up top with any of Harness / Chaplin/ Broadhead / Humphreys behind. |
Aluko is far more suited to play in the midfield two than the 10 for me. It looks so obvious to me especially given our lack of depth there now but hasn't been done yet! | | | |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 10:40 - Feb 15 with 478 views | hadleighboyblue |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:49 - Feb 15 by Herbivore |
I don't think they are being told to play at this slower tempo. We started fast last night but after missing a couple of decent chances and the game getting a bit scrappy we lost all momentum and struggled to get going again. It reminds me a lot of some of the times under Cook when he would describe the players as waiting for something to happen rather than making something happen themselves. Too many are doing that right now.
Last night the number of times Davis and Humphreys played the ball between each other down that left channel rather than putting the ball in or trying to beat a man was ridiculous. Similar was happening on the right as well. The two tens did nothing other than recycle possession back to Morsy or the CBs. It's going safety first because confidence has taken a hit, much easier to play a high percentage five yard pass than try something more risky. But it's killing us, our tempo has dropped massively and although we still create - we still had chances last night that the top two would likely have taken - we've lost a lot of the penetration we've previously had. |
Burns is a perfect example of what's gone wrong .
He used to run at defenders and outdo them for pace , but now he has joined the tippy tappy club playing ineffective passes back .
He used to shoot from distance , now he struggles to get a shot in .
Is the manager too soft with the players , they need to be told some home truths that they need to battle to get out of this division | | | |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 10:48 - Feb 15 with 447 views | ibbleobble |
Pace, width, tempo, movement, overlap, breaking the lines…it was all missing last night or done in fits and starts. It looked ragged after the 10th minute which is a really bad sign we’ve seen all too often before. Thankfully we have Forest Green Saturday. | | | |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 10:50 - Feb 15 with 433 views | Simonds92 |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 10:04 - Feb 15 by tractorshark |
This thread is far more reasoned and rational than most.
I think fundamentally it comes down to confidence. I thought a lot of our players lacked it last night (Burns for instance) and were also bullied a bit too easily (eg Humphreys).
McKenna wants us to have patience and possession and sometimes that means the play slows if the opposition have got men behind the ball.
But we created a good chance late in the first half with that approach so it does work if you move the opposition around and execute it with good passing and a decent first touch.
But you do have to be incisive when the gaps appear and that’s where belief and bravery come in.
The alternative is hump it long, look for the scraps and play percentage football like McCarthy.
Judging by some of the comments around me last night, maybe Mick was right and fans don’t care how you play as long as you win.
I think you do have to give some credit to Bristol Rovers though. They’re not relegation fodder, they let our centre backs have the ball and they made it exceptionally difficult for our midfield to pass through them.
They put all the emphasis on us to find a way and we were found lacking. When they did press us, I actually thought they could cause problems but it was clear they just wanted to end their losing streak.
My biggest criticism last night was not bringing on Jackson for Burns. I’m not Jackson’s biggest fan but he deserved a chance.
I like Edwards, he’s very skilful but sadly I don’t think he has any belief any more. And it was infuriating at the end watching him amble over to take a corner when you desperately need a goal with time running out.
But all is not lost. I wanted 13 points from these 5 games and that is still possible even if it appears unlikely.
What is happening right now was perhaps inevitable with McKenna. He was always going to have a wobble and he needs to find an answer.
But I can categorically say the answer is not to fire him and start again. That could set us back another couple of years.
McKenna is intelligent and a good coach, he needs to learn as a manager but his ceiling is far higher than his likely successors.
You have to keep a sense of perspective. We’re fourth and likely to finish in the playoffs. If we win them, his doubters will sing his name and call him a managerial genius.
Give the guy a chance, this is not an instant fix but we are heading in the right direction. |
I don't disagree with this, its not the time to call for the manager's head but if we fail in our goal of promotion then i think we have big problems and it would be very much justifiable that he loses his job.
Regarding our style of play, we don't need to revert to McCarthy's horrible style but having a midfielder who plays the dangerous passes is crucial in this current team. Freddie is desperate for a ball round the corner to hold off his man and take the shot on. From memory he's had that pass once, against Morecombe from Broadhead, and he scored from it. It doesnt always have to go wide for us to cross it in to 1 forward and 4 defenders. | | | |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 10:56 - Feb 15 with 424 views | bournemouthblue |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:53 - Feb 15 by Swansea_Blue |
No, they were super frustrated with the lack of options ahead because Rovers were cutting off our lines (which was probably easy to do as we were overloading the flanks, so very predictable). There was a massive hole in front of Morsy all night- I’m surprised we kept plugging away and didn’t try to use that space a bit more, even if to make room for the wider players at times. |
For the first 15 minutes or so, we were getting decent joy down the flanks but Brizzle soon realised this and added an extra man in there, which soon seemed to snuff out Davis
One thing which seemed pretty notable until the second half was a lack of movement and runs from the strikers and number 10's in behind, something I'd expect from Harness in particular
Ladapo isn't really a striker who makes those classic runs into a channel so you do need your number 10's to be doing this at times
Aluko again isn't really that sort of number 10, he's mor likely to drop in between the lines and slot through balls through
Burns was pretty anonymous most of the game and looks a shadow of the player we know he can be which really isn't helping us at the moment |  |
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