| Is that the first time we can say 17:28 - Apr 5 with 3218 views | Mullet |
McKenna looked out of his depth / rabbit in the proverbial etc ?
I’m not looking to dig him out, more that it just felt like we had the lead, we had the crowd, this was our chance to at least take a swing at survival and we then produced that second half.
The lack of belief, the subs, the way we played all felt like a collective choke didn’t it? That’s probably what hurts the most for me. We just don’t expect that no matter the gap between us and the opposition. |  |
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| Is that the first time we can say on 17:32 - Apr 5 with 2886 views | Illinoisblue |
The Taylor sub made no sense at all. Jack Clarke has been looking better lately yet he doesn’t get on at all. Why not throw Hirst on and keep Delap on too? Nothing to lose at this point. |  |
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| Is that the first time we can say on 17:32 - Apr 5 with 2871 views | GavTWTD |
Once you take Delap and Enciso off, their replacements just aren't as good. Taylor isn't the answer for me either. |  |
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| Is that the first time we can say on 17:34 - Apr 5 with 2832 views | BarcaBlue |
It all started to change with the Palmer error, we looked a different team after that with no confidence, lacking ideas and no leadership. I'm not sure how much it was down to McKenna or just the collective not being able to show the spirit and ability to compete. |  | | |
| Is that the first time we can say on 17:34 - Apr 5 with 2803 views | Mat |
Problem is as many times this season - nobody on the bench improves the 11 on the pitch. What do you do….? |  | | |
| Is that the first time we can say on 17:35 - Apr 5 with 2763 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
Hated everything about the Taylor sub, we were getting pinned back we’re never holding out. They are just miles better though. |  | | |
| Is that the first time we can say on 17:36 - Apr 5 with 2732 views | Illinoisblue |
| Is that the first time we can say on 17:34 - Apr 5 by BarcaBlue |
It all started to change with the Palmer error, we looked a different team after that with no confidence, lacking ideas and no leadership. I'm not sure how much it was down to McKenna or just the collective not being able to show the spirit and ability to compete. |
The problem remains the midfield, and the inability to link with the forward players. (And also the continued inability of those forward players to retain the ball). | |
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| Is that the first time we can say on 17:37 - Apr 5 with 2721 views | pointofblue |
| Is that the first time we can say on 17:34 - Apr 5 by Mat |
Problem is as many times this season - nobody on the bench improves the 11 on the pitch. What do you do….? |
Change the formation rather than stick to the predictable like for like. Why not Phillips for Enciso to solidify the midfield and control the game? Why not play Delap and Hirst together? Why wait until the 81st minute, and 1-1, to make mass changes? | |
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| Is that the first time we can say on 17:39 - Apr 5 with 2652 views | BarcaBlue |
| Is that the first time we can say on 17:32 - Apr 5 by Illinoisblue |
The Taylor sub made no sense at all. Jack Clarke has been looking better lately yet he doesn’t get on at all. Why not throw Hirst on and keep Delap on too? Nothing to lose at this point. |
People were saying the same about Broadhead recently but he was anonymous today. To be honest we just don't have the quality in general on the bench. Our subs just won't have the impact they did previously.
The midfield was poor again today, we could have had 6 up front but the ball was never going to get to them. | | | |
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| Is that the first time we can say on 17:40 - Apr 5 with 2628 views | NeedhamChris |
The Kalvin Phillips loan gets more and more baffling when he stays on the bench whilst our CMs tire. | |
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| Is that the first time we can say on 17:40 - Apr 5 with 2630 views | tonybied |
| Is that the first time we can say on 17:32 - Apr 5 by Illinoisblue |
The Taylor sub made no sense at all. Jack Clarke has been looking better lately yet he doesn’t get on at all. Why not throw Hirst on and keep Delap on too? Nothing to lose at this point. |
I imagine it's for physicality reasons but he just doesn't have the required level of quality to play as a ten for me. I feel a bit for Jack Clarke, as you say he has been much better in the last couple of months and I don't think it's going to do his confidence much good to see Taylor getting the nod over him in a position that's not his strongest. |  | | |
| Is that the first time we can say on 17:41 - Apr 5 with 2601 views | Chrisd |
The way we started that 2nd half we were just looking to hold on to what we had. I think he’s been guilty of that a few times this season. I do think he’s too rigid and predictable in his approach and naturally against better sides they will do their homework and quickly suss you out. I appreciate the squad quality he has at his disposal isn’t as good as other teams, but I do feel he’s been found wanting on occasions this season.
He needs to prove himself again next season, I think a few suitors will need more convincing by him from what he’s shown this season. | |
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| Is that the first time we can say on 18:26 - Apr 5 with 2174 views | Mullet |
| Is that the first time we can say on 17:32 - Apr 5 by Illinoisblue |
The Taylor sub made no sense at all. Jack Clarke has been looking better lately yet he doesn’t get on at all. Why not throw Hirst on and keep Delap on too? Nothing to lose at this point. |
I think there’s an argument you stick them both on and hope Hirst can hold the ball up a bit - for me it’s how passive and reactive we seemed. Whether that’s down to McKenna and his subs I’m not sure, it’s all moot now.
But I think it’s baffling we didn’t put Phillips on instead of Taylor because you could push Cajuste higher if you wanted and have him QBing etc
I thought Johnson played well today but I’d have had him and Broadhead off first and gone with runners like philogene etc it felt like we letting Wolves reset every time and had no change in approach. | |
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| Is that the first time we can say on 18:28 - Apr 5 with 2132 views | Mullet |
| Is that the first time we can say on 17:34 - Apr 5 by Mat |
Problem is as many times this season - nobody on the bench improves the 11 on the pitch. What do you do….? |
I disagree given the bench was strong and the game was set with tired legs and nerves on both sides. | |
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| Is that the first time we can say on 18:37 - Apr 5 with 2009 views | LankHenners |
| Is that the first time we can say on 17:32 - Apr 5 by Illinoisblue |
The Taylor sub made no sense at all. Jack Clarke has been looking better lately yet he doesn’t get on at all. Why not throw Hirst on and keep Delap on too? Nothing to lose at this point. |
Broadhead had to come off as we were carrying him big time (again) but Taylor seemed a halfway house between shoring up the midfield and getting fresh legs behind Delap. He didn't seem to really know what he was meant to do either. |  |
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| Is that the first time we can say on 18:39 - Apr 5 with 1938 views | gtsb1966 |
Spot on. |  | | |
| Is that the first time we can say on 18:43 - Apr 5 with 1869 views | cbower |
For two and a half seasons, McKenna was lauded as a tactical genius for 80+% of the time. During stick spells in L1 and tge Championship, there were some who said he was too inflexible, there was no plan B but ultimately the mantra of 'trust the process' proved successful. This season, however,and more especially since the turn of the year, this inflexibility has probably been a big part in our undoing. No doubt injuries have played a part but the insistence on having one striker with three behind, more often than not with just two midfielders (i know sometimes 3 at the back or 5 if you like) and a back 4 has looked painful to me. Starting from the front : Delap has been so isolated at times and I feel this has almost forced him into feeling he has to do it on his own and his form has suffered. Surely Hirst has warranted more game time and with Delap acting as one of the 10s, coming from a bit deeper we might have had a bit more power and physicality than a very lightweight three we have had behind the striker which just hasn't delivered for 90% of the time.
Looking at the midfield two next. Whatever combination has been used, they've always looked overpowered, overstretched and at times knackered on about 70 minutes. Not once have I seen this counteracted tactically by putting a third midfielder in there to solidify things up a bit. Instead our substitutions are almost always just like for like. Is this not symptomatic of tactical rigidity?
As for our defensive unit. Davis has continued to play in the same manner as in tge Championship and L1. He is no better or worse player than last season, but those gung ho overlaps, charging upfield straight from the kick off sometimes, have simply left us defensively exposed and ultimately punished by the better quality of Premiership teams. Let's, face it. Even last season, as brilliant as it was, we were exposed by Leeds twice, Saints for about 45 minutes, West Brom and for periods by Leicester in both games. The better sides exposed us and we conceded a lot of goals for a team that finished so high. We have never settled on a central defensive partnership and persisted far too long with Muric.
Most observers can see we needed a third option up top, that we were light in midfield and the signing of Philogene in January has added all but nothing to our survival hopes. I know we chased him for several windows but he was definitely not what we needed at the time of the signing.
We live and learn though. |  |
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| Is that the first time we can say on 18:51 - Apr 5 with 1808 views | BloomBlue |
The midfield doesn't provide the link or vision. First half wasn't great but at least we went in 1-0 up. But we kept going down the left when we had space on the right. I thought KM would correct that 2nd half, but Wolves stepped it up in the 2nd half and overran Morsy and Cajuste. I don't recall one moment in the 2nd half where either Cajuste or Morsy made a driving run or a ball to a forward to run onto, neither looked PL class today. Thought it was Cajuste's worst game for us.
Overall, for me, it was the lack of energy, maybe its the home results this season, and the fact it was a must win got to the players. |  | | |
| Is that the first time we can say on 18:57 - Apr 5 with 1747 views | ITFC_84 |
Yep. Completely agree. Looks a little lost. Nobody’s coming in for him this summer. Has been shown up in this league thus far. | | | |
| Is that the first time we can say on 19:05 - Apr 5 with 1679 views | ernie |
| Is that the first time we can say on 17:34 - Apr 5 by BarcaBlue |
It all started to change with the Palmer error, we looked a different team after that with no confidence, lacking ideas and no leadership. I'm not sure how much it was down to McKenna or just the collective not being able to show the spirit and ability to compete. |
Made no difference to the game whatsoever. They had a couple of good chances to score before that. | | | |
| Is that the first time we can say on 06:39 - Apr 6 with 1109 views | PioneerBlue |
Not for me. Looked at the bench and couldn’t see anyone ready to make an impact in what ended up as a game of strength and power. Yes some players looked cooked, no we have consistently not had the bench to secures points. | |
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| Is that the first time we can say on 09:03 - Apr 6 with 945 views | ArnieM |
| Is that the first time we can say on 18:43 - Apr 5 by cbower |
For two and a half seasons, McKenna was lauded as a tactical genius for 80+% of the time. During stick spells in L1 and tge Championship, there were some who said he was too inflexible, there was no plan B but ultimately the mantra of 'trust the process' proved successful. This season, however,and more especially since the turn of the year, this inflexibility has probably been a big part in our undoing. No doubt injuries have played a part but the insistence on having one striker with three behind, more often than not with just two midfielders (i know sometimes 3 at the back or 5 if you like) and a back 4 has looked painful to me. Starting from the front : Delap has been so isolated at times and I feel this has almost forced him into feeling he has to do it on his own and his form has suffered. Surely Hirst has warranted more game time and with Delap acting as one of the 10s, coming from a bit deeper we might have had a bit more power and physicality than a very lightweight three we have had behind the striker which just hasn't delivered for 90% of the time.
Looking at the midfield two next. Whatever combination has been used, they've always looked overpowered, overstretched and at times knackered on about 70 minutes. Not once have I seen this counteracted tactically by putting a third midfielder in there to solidify things up a bit. Instead our substitutions are almost always just like for like. Is this not symptomatic of tactical rigidity?
As for our defensive unit. Davis has continued to play in the same manner as in tge Championship and L1. He is no better or worse player than last season, but those gung ho overlaps, charging upfield straight from the kick off sometimes, have simply left us defensively exposed and ultimately punished by the better quality of Premiership teams. Let's, face it. Even last season, as brilliant as it was, we were exposed by Leeds twice, Saints for about 45 minutes, West Brom and for periods by Leicester in both games. The better sides exposed us and we conceded a lot of goals for a team that finished so high. We have never settled on a central defensive partnership and persisted far too long with Muric.
Most observers can see we needed a third option up top, that we were light in midfield and the signing of Philogene in January has added all but nothing to our survival hopes. I know we chased him for several windows but he was definitely not what we needed at the time of the signing.
We live and learn though. |
Absolutely top post. But my only fear/ concern is WILL McKenna learn? I really do hope so.... |  |
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| Is that the first time we can say on 09:15 - Apr 6 with 871 views | mrshallisfit |
| Is that the first time we can say on 06:39 - Apr 6 by PioneerBlue |
Not for me. Looked at the bench and couldn’t see anyone ready to make an impact in what ended up as a game of strength and power. Yes some players looked cooked, no we have consistently not had the bench to secures points. |
And that's why we have lost 25 points from winning positions. | | | |
| Is that the first time we can say on 09:26 - Apr 6 with 819 views | Ryorry |
| Is that the first time we can say on 17:37 - Apr 5 by pointofblue |
Change the formation rather than stick to the predictable like for like. Why not Phillips for Enciso to solidify the midfield and control the game? Why not play Delap and Hirst together? Why wait until the 81st minute, and 1-1, to make mass changes? |
Lost count of the number of times Glenn and Westy on TownTV audio said Enciso looked absolutely knackered from about 65 minutes and needed subbing. Was amazed when he stayed on and Hirst stayed on the bench.
The key difference between last season and this for me in terms of management has been from brilliant tactical and timely subs, to hopelessly late and unimaginative ones this season. I’m one of KM’s biggest fans, but he seems to have been stubbornly sticking with some kind of ineffective software that wasn’t working, instead of binning it to break the familiar pattern. I hope he either gets Brighton’s software back next season, or we develop our own version that’s even better! |  |
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| Is that the first time we can say on 09:30 - Apr 6 with 786 views | Radlett_blue |
| Is that the first time we can say on 17:40 - Apr 5 by NeedhamChris |
The Kalvin Phillips loan gets more and more baffling when he stays on the bench whilst our CMs tire. |
Phillips looked potentially a good loan for both us & the player, but while he hasn't been awful, he's nowhere near the level that got him the move to Man city. Hard to see where his career goes as he hasn't a hope of getting in the Man City squad & I doubt another PL club will take him on even as a loan given his spells at West Ham & us. |  |
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| Is that the first time we can say on 09:33 - Apr 6 with 748 views | noggin |
KM is in his first season as a PL manager, with a club that before he arrived was lounging in League 1. Of course he's out of his depth at this level, at this time in his career. The squad is also out of it's depth. We all knew this coming into the season. We can only hope that we regroup next season and as KM will be another year wiser, I'm sure we'll come back stronger. (Assuming he stays) |  |
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