| For all the McKenna talk, very little on the players themselves 13:43 - Feb 17 with 2656 views | Asa |
Let's be honest. Whilst the dominance in our performance have dropped with teams taking up a similar approach against us and results have been poor, which games in this sticky spell have we come away from where it's been all on McKenna's shoulders?
Wycombe defeat - 71% possession and 20 shots to 7. They score with their only proper chance because three players let one man walk through them all.
Oxford defeat - 57% possession and 17 shots to 13. Absurd conditions aside. They score a goal, as well, when a player walks through our defence when he has no right too.
Plymouth draw - 50% possession each and 12 shots to their 10. Last minute deflected equaliser conceded.
Cambridge draw - 73% possession and 15 shots to 6. They scored a 30 yard screamer following some poor defending.
Wednesday draw - 57% possession and 12 shots to 8.
Have the performances been poorer? Absolutely. But even if this bad run we have dominated the ball, the chances on target and the big chances.
McKenna can only set us up to win. If we were losing games I'd be inclined to give him more heat. If we were being outplayed then similarly so. But we aren't. We haven't really deserved to win at Lincoln or Portsmouth but I don't see that as McKenna not setting us up to succeed. He's not conceding penalties, letting players walk past him, crossing the ball to the first defender or missing routine chances.
I get the rotation argument. But as I said the other day, who has made themselves undroppable. The defence make simple errors, not tactical ones, but individual ones. The midfield is flogged to death through a lack of reinforcements and the strikers have been patchy. Some of the players who have been signed for big money have carried a knock or two.
McKenna is setting us up to win and I really feel it's the players who are letting him down badly. Is the best way to get us going again to try something that may or may not work or keep the faith believing it will click again? I can't see much different I'd do to McKenna.
You can argue we should have improved the defence or midfield. Maybe it was forseeable Evans and / or Luongo would have some issues. Blame may well lay there, but could equally be with Ashton - who on the face of it has given McKenna what he wants - we don't know. But I'll assume McKenna was, as he said, happy with the options and we have just been unfortunate rather than negligent.
For all the potential reasons for this slump, it seems odd so much talk is on McKenna and so little on the players themselves. Who was the last player to have two or three good games back to back?
Even our best players can barely string two good performances together in a system they know, with a job they know and with the ability to do it.
It is McKenna's job though to lift these players and get a tune out of them. That will be the fascinating part because, Morecambe aside, the energy seems to get sucked out of us after 10 or 15 minutes if we are not totally on top. [Post edited 17 Feb 2023 13:52]
|  | | |  |
| For all the McKenna talk, very little on the players themselves on 16:00 - Feb 17 with 313 views | BigCommon |
| For all the McKenna talk, very little on the players themselves on 13:56 - Feb 17 by FrimleyBlue |
All managers set the sides up to win.
You have some great points. Others you can only wish you could ask KM questions about.
For example.. the use of the cup games and not using some as opportunities to rest players.
Who's decision was it to play Ball when he was carrying an injury from the previous game.
Which surprised me again that we took the risk with broadhead Tues. If he's not fit enough to start and has a tight hamstring. Why bring him on at all.. be interesting to see if he plays this Sat or if the minutes Tues have done more damage.
But also. I agree the players have let themselves to. The manager can't score the goals for you and he can't stop them from going in. However regarding goals going in. We have a keeper who's shot/save ratio one of the lowest in the league but picked every week.. is that now not a questionable decision?
End of the day. It always falls down to the manager. It's just how it is. If it's not working why not. Good stats are great. But if the end result isn't going enough then still not working.
Look at our Jan window. Opportunity to help the side.
We bring in player who prefers being high and wide. Being developed into a fullback
A striker who loves to play on the shoulder of defenders. Being developed into a 10 and have to be careful of his minutes.
Another striker who's on loan, not fit and hasn't scored since last season ( think that's right ) ..
And a midfielder who either was brought in. Ignored or literally injured since signing...
So he spent £3 mill in the window plus champ wages on hirst and we aren't stronger than we were before the window.
Where as Plymough actually go out and bring in players who compliment their squad and made sure they remain strong despite losing their inform forward. |
Broadhead is an excellent signing. From what I've seen of him he's a coup to get him on a permanent in L1.
If you think a player of his ability wont strengthen our line up. Then I'm not sure what to think...
I'd agree with you on the cup games.. We should have binned them off and just concentrated on the league, imo.. But the fact that we didn't, might, to some people suggest, that top2 this season, wasn't the "life and death" scenario for KM, that some are making it out to be... Just a thought. |  | | |
| For all the McKenna talk, very little on the players themselves on 18:16 - Feb 17 with 229 views | BlueBadger |
| For all the McKenna talk, very little on the players themselves on 15:07 - Feb 17 by FrimleyBlue |
Your opinion is its better. Mine is it's not. It's not nonsense it's a different of opinion. I'm not claiming your opinion Is nonsense. However I don't wish to be personal to posters online. You like those games I don't.
Now for the 1000th time can you stop replying to my posts. Otherwise I'll have to ask the owners to talk to you. Like you did.
Have a good evening. |
Different opinions is one thing. There ain't no 'different facts' tho. |  |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
