| Pick the bones out of that one 20:44 - Aug 23 with 2054 views | portmanking |
Defensively, not really troubled, although once again we make a meal of the opposition's only moment of serious danger and hand them a spot kick.
I am concerned about the balance between O'Shea and Greaves though, which I was all of last season too. Neither have the distribution to really get us ticking. Greaves' distribution has been SO underwhelming for me, considering his billing when he arrived from Hull.
I have to say, Palmer's long kicking once again left a LOT to be desired.
In possession is what concerned me the most. Johnson just isn't a RB for a team that needs to dictate tempo and play through the lines. He never will be. Young dictated the game from RB and MUST start next weekend.
On the other flank, Leif looks utterly confused and overly flustered. Like Johnson, he's looked increasingly untidy on the ball. Must do better.
Centre mid is still a big issue. Cajuste must be fit enough to start next week surely?
Philogene continues to baffle. Some good things but utterly lackadaisical link up play with Leif, unforgivable offsides etc.
Clarke, pffft, there's flashes of the old him, but my word that are few and far between. At times today I almost thought he looked to be trying to play badly to force a move, such was his lack of effort tracking back.
Szmodics, for me, just doesn't fit the system. He's not technical enough. We need a proper link man if Hirst isn't going to be starved of service week in, week out. Having a pressing machine is fine if your left and right 10s are flying, but they're not.
Hirst has flashes of brilliance but all too often isolated. Flogging him for 90 mins every game is a dangerous move too...
I still think we're 4-5 players light to be considered promotion contenders. The squad needs to look within at its mentality too. I don't see many mentality monsters in the new crop of signings.
I see a real lack of football IQ in our new side. The back-to-back squad had the nous to find solutions and ways to win, but I don't have any confidence that this lot can do that. [Post edited 23 Aug 20:54]
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| Pick the bones out of that one on 20:50 - Aug 23 with 1899 views | Cheltenham_Blue |
If you look back at our history in both the Championship and in the Prem, we have always struggled in the McKenna system against the high press, and as was the case today, the low block.
With the latter, we just cant seem to find a way to unpick it, today, we kept slowing play down and that gave Preston time to get set and into shape. My worry with Broadhead and Omari gone, is we now don't really have anyone with the technical skill to unlock that kind of defensive set up, I'm hoping that the Norwegian lad is the one to do that. |  |
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| Pick the bones out of that one on 20:55 - Aug 23 with 1833 views | m14_blue |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 20:50 - Aug 23 by Cheltenham_Blue |
If you look back at our history in both the Championship and in the Prem, we have always struggled in the McKenna system against the high press, and as was the case today, the low block.
With the latter, we just cant seem to find a way to unpick it, today, we kept slowing play down and that gave Preston time to get set and into shape. My worry with Broadhead and Omari gone, is we now don't really have anyone with the technical skill to unlock that kind of defensive set up, I'm hoping that the Norwegian lad is the one to do that. |
It was the slowing it down that frustrated me today.
The tempo was nowhere near high enough for most of the match, Preston defended well but were there fort he taking when we drove at them with pace. However, most of the time our attacking players take the safe option of keeping possession and passing it back or inside.
There's just a chronic lack of confidence throughout the team. | | | |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 20:55 - Aug 23 with 1830 views | pablo_canooga |
After watching that, I don’t believe anyone in the squad is safe from being moved on, except for the players who have just joined. It still appears that the squad needs a lot of work and very little time to make improvements. Strap in, it's gonna get bumpy! That Derby game is starting to look crucial now. |  | | |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 20:56 - Aug 23 with 1827 views | EuanTown |
Hirst isolated but also has lost the ability to hold onto the ball. Everything bounces off him.
Front 3 not working close enough to Hirst, gaps are too big. Wide men not attacking enough, no byline and pull backs at all, very few crosses.
Middle two, one growing into it the other looks lost at times. Back line middle two don't look comfortable together. Leif does not look the same player this year. Johnson I don't know.
I do wonder why Clarke is being selected, is it because he cost us so much money, because I am darn well sure I have not seen his ability yet. |  | | |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 20:56 - Aug 23 with 1823 views | davblue |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 20:50 - Aug 23 by Cheltenham_Blue |
If you look back at our history in both the Championship and in the Prem, we have always struggled in the McKenna system against the high press, and as was the case today, the low block.
With the latter, we just cant seem to find a way to unpick it, today, we kept slowing play down and that gave Preston time to get set and into shape. My worry with Broadhead and Omari gone, is we now don't really have anyone with the technical skill to unlock that kind of defensive set up, I'm hoping that the Norwegian lad is the one to do that. |
Thought there was a Real lack of pace in the team.
Confidence and rhythm are clearly lacking atm. |  | | |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 20:58 - Aug 23 with 1799 views | Bigalhunter |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 20:50 - Aug 23 by Cheltenham_Blue |
If you look back at our history in both the Championship and in the Prem, we have always struggled in the McKenna system against the high press, and as was the case today, the low block.
With the latter, we just cant seem to find a way to unpick it, today, we kept slowing play down and that gave Preston time to get set and into shape. My worry with Broadhead and Omari gone, is we now don't really have anyone with the technical skill to unlock that kind of defensive set up, I'm hoping that the Norwegian lad is the one to do that. |
We’ve also struggled against big physical units that push our players around, bit like Everton and West Ham did last season and even Bromley reserves managed a week or so ago.
I guess, as long as the Neanderthal coaches in the Championship play fair and don’t employ the high press, the low block or just field a load of big lumps, we’ll be fine.. |  |
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| Pick the bones out of that one on 20:59 - Aug 23 with 1779 views | cbower |
Excellent post. Have an uppie. |  |
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| Pick the bones out of that one on 21:02 - Aug 23 with 1746 views | delias_cheesy_flaps |
A really good post IMHO.
However, any team that musters 4 shots on target (1 being a penalty) has serious, serious issues!
Your comment about the “system” speaks volumes, I would have thought last year’s debacle would have been a wake up call…evidently not!
Since we got promoted we have become turgid and pedestrian in the extreme, unfortunately this has carried over to this season! |  |
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| Pick the bones out of that one on 21:16 - Aug 23 with 1649 views | portmanking |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 21:02 - Aug 23 by delias_cheesy_flaps |
A really good post IMHO.
However, any team that musters 4 shots on target (1 being a penalty) has serious, serious issues!
Your comment about the “system” speaks volumes, I would have thought last year’s debacle would have been a wake up call…evidently not!
Since we got promoted we have become turgid and pedestrian in the extreme, unfortunately this has carried over to this season! |
I think, ultimately, it boils down to our recruitment for the "system" being well below par. In pretty much all areas, really.
No-one can tell me Palmer has a higher ceiling than Muric. Johnson is an airhead football IQ wise, which is a huge red flag for our important hybrid RB role.
As much as I like O'Shea, he's got real distribution issues, albeit not as bad as Greaves who really struggles to get Leif away. We all know the wide forwards haven't worked although I still hold out hope for Philogene.
If Szmodics gets more than 5-6 goals this season I'll be hugely surprised. Just doesn't knit things together.
And we *still* haven't signed someone to challenge/relieve Hirst! | | | |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 21:49 - Aug 23 with 1474 views | Illinoisblue |
Painfully accurate. We are less than the sum of our parts . |  |
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| Pick the bones out of that one on 22:18 - Aug 23 with 1365 views | redrickstuhaart |
I thought Szmodics was actually our best player and most likely creator today. I think he can probably do the left 10 thing, like broadhead - though in a different way. He's not a chaplin for hte main 10 spot though. Chaplin should be starting. As should Wolf... | | | |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 22:42 - Aug 23 with 1278 views | Dubtractor |
Agree with most of that. Taylor, Clarke and Johnson are too often limiting us rather than helping us perform.
Clarke just seems to hesitate whenever we (he!) lose possession, and the play has already moved on when he starts to track back. Johnson is just a really basic footballer, especially with the ball, and everything is just too slow and safe.
I actually thought that O'shea and Greaves passing from the back was better today, albeit under literally no press at all.
McKenna needs to do something fast to get our attack clicking though, as that was horribly laboured again. |  |
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| Pick the bones out of that one on 22:55 - Aug 23 with 1220 views | Metal_Hacker |
Couldn’t fault any of that
My sentiments exactly |  |
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| Pick the bones out of that one on 23:15 - Aug 23 with 1158 views | HighgateBlue |
I agree with this.
I am heartened that many others do too.
What I find bizarre is that there are so many people who agree that we are 4-5 players short of being promotion contenders, and yet not that many people consider that to be a total outrage given how much money has been spent.
4-5 players, hey? Well, some folks would say those players are Hladky, Burgess, Morsy, Broadhead and a number 9 who can hit the target. Far too much money spent on baubles and trinkets, and far too many quality players binned and dumped seemingly because they're not fashionable.
Luongo would have improved that midfield today. That is a sad indictment. And to have no proper alternative number 9 is just a complete headscratcher. |  | | |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 23:39 - Aug 23 with 1070 views | jasondozzell |
Some fair points but I really don't think that was the horrorshow that it's being painted as.
We look like what we are - a squad full of excellent players at this level who have gone through a lot of change and upheaval. Lots of ability and nice moments but not joined up. Lots of different pairings and new connections right through. That's leading to a little bit of hesitancy in our play at times. The patterns and the understanding will come though.
I thought the most interesting thing today was Preston's decision to sit in completely pretty much all game. Obviously the penalty gave them something to defend but I was still a little shocked at how defensive they were. As others have said, it did feel reminiscent of those league one games against low block sides.Preston are a comfortable championship team and they didn't want to engage at all.
That tells you that we're given a lot of respect and that mid table sides like Preston don't want to play football against us. We totally dominated and it'st he finishing/final ball that needs tidying.
I'm not sure individual players were at fault today. It was one of those where the low block worked and our inishing/final move was not up to scratch. That will come. I still thought that there was lot to like about some bits of our play.
Cajuste makes a big difference. His weight of pass, athletic ability and calmness is so good.
Azor is going to be some player. He's cranking up through the gears with each game.
I don't think coming into a KM team is easy. Lots of players have really l spoken about the demands and learning the patterns.
This team just needs time. No doubt it will be firing soon.
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| Pick the bones out of that one on 23:54 - Aug 23 with 1027 views | Smoresy |
Agree with pretty much every word! And Hirst's flashes were very brief today. | | | |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 23:57 - Aug 23 with 1017 views | LankHenners |
On the defence it'll be interesting to see what we do with Caceres if he comes in - I'm not as down on Greaves as others but he seems the one most at risk of losing his place and the Uruguayan isn't going to come here to be a bit part player.
Johnson is very frustrating - seems to want way more touches and time on the ball than is necessary. Young does everything much more quickly and with more purpose and agree he has to start from now.
Fear we've overcomplicated our left hand side a bit now with Davis' role getting more complex and not giving him the room he once had. If we can make it work then it should be very effective but at the moment feels like we've slightly blunted what was our sharpest attacking weapon.
Matusiwa is definitely improving by the game but needs a better partner in there. Taylor almost fascinates me in the way he always gets about and gets on the ball but somehow manages to have next to no impact or influence on the game. Cajuste's looked pretty rusty in his cameos so far but think we've got to get him and Matusiwa together next week.
Not sure the Clarke at RW experiment is doing anything for him or us. Needs to be the alternative option to Jaden and do something different on the right.
Thought Hirst looked like a bit of a donkey today to be honest. Touch just wasn't there most of the time and barely got any change out of a physical and aggressive back line. Needs proper competition up there and Akpom coming on on the left to then have all his touches about 30 yards from goal with 10 white shirts in front of him seemed a waste.
Think McKenna is right to say a large part of the problem is we've lost almost all the connections we previously had and are sort of starting again which does lead to getting disjointed performances. He's also right to acknowledge we don't have a lot of time to feel sorry for ourselves about that either. Frustrating but not a lot we can do but hope we pick up a few wins over the next month or so and things start to click a bit better. |  |
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| Pick the bones out of that one on 06:52 - Aug 24 with 783 views | portmanking |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 23:39 - Aug 23 by jasondozzell |
Some fair points but I really don't think that was the horrorshow that it's being painted as.
We look like what we are - a squad full of excellent players at this level who have gone through a lot of change and upheaval. Lots of ability and nice moments but not joined up. Lots of different pairings and new connections right through. That's leading to a little bit of hesitancy in our play at times. The patterns and the understanding will come though.
I thought the most interesting thing today was Preston's decision to sit in completely pretty much all game. Obviously the penalty gave them something to defend but I was still a little shocked at how defensive they were. As others have said, it did feel reminiscent of those league one games against low block sides.Preston are a comfortable championship team and they didn't want to engage at all.
That tells you that we're given a lot of respect and that mid table sides like Preston don't want to play football against us. We totally dominated and it'st he finishing/final ball that needs tidying.
I'm not sure individual players were at fault today. It was one of those where the low block worked and our inishing/final move was not up to scratch. That will come. I still thought that there was lot to like about some bits of our play.
Cajuste makes a big difference. His weight of pass, athletic ability and calmness is so good.
Azor is going to be some player. He's cranking up through the gears with each game.
I don't think coming into a KM team is easy. Lots of players have really l spoken about the demands and learning the patterns.
This team just needs time. No doubt it will be firing soon.
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I know you're normally a glass half full chap, but it was pretty grim IMO. 2 shots on target with 73% possession. Powder puff.
Are the players looking excellent for the level? Or are they dining out on past glories? You're only as good as your previous season IMO. The game doesn't care for reputations.
Of course Preston were going to sit in. That's the blueprint for stifling McKenna's system isn't it? Too many Champ teams disrespected us last time and afforded us lots of space to exploit. It won't be so easy this time around.
I think you've got your head in the sand though if you think the only problems are our finishing and final ball. Too many square pegs in round holes, suggests a muddled and confused recruitment strategy IMO.
Right now, I'd be happy to replace Palmer, Johnson, Greaves, Clarke, Szmodics, and dare I say one centre mid. That's half our starting XI that's inadequate for the system.
Worryingly, all of whom have been here for 12+months. None of whom are still 'getting to grips' with patterns of play. They're just dreadful fits for the style and balance of the team. | | | |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 07:08 - Aug 24 with 733 views | PioneerBlue |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 20:50 - Aug 23 by Cheltenham_Blue |
If you look back at our history in both the Championship and in the Prem, we have always struggled in the McKenna system against the high press, and as was the case today, the low block.
With the latter, we just cant seem to find a way to unpick it, today, we kept slowing play down and that gave Preston time to get set and into shape. My worry with Broadhead and Omari gone, is we now don't really have anyone with the technical skill to unlock that kind of defensive set up, I'm hoping that the Norwegian lad is the one to do that. |
I agree with your call out for high press and low block.
For high press
We have to hope our keeper keeps improving and the pattens get more second nature and as Cajuste gets fitter we find it easier to take the ball under pressure, or our out ball to Hirst or say McAteer works.
For low block
There are a couple of ways we have managed to break a low block: 1) moving the ball much quicker across the pitch to create the gaps (Azor has shown a couple of promising glimpses that he will thread a direct pass), 2) range shots (we did none of this against Preston), 3) relay on Stardust (Jaden dancing around the box, not enough, he won the foul on the 18yd line but we fluffed the free kick). | |
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| Pick the bones out of that one on 09:10 - Aug 24 with 461 views | billlm |
As soon as Chaplin starts we will start end of, |  | | |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 09:24 - Aug 24 with 418 views | jasondozzell |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 06:52 - Aug 24 by portmanking |
I know you're normally a glass half full chap, but it was pretty grim IMO. 2 shots on target with 73% possession. Powder puff.
Are the players looking excellent for the level? Or are they dining out on past glories? You're only as good as your previous season IMO. The game doesn't care for reputations.
Of course Preston were going to sit in. That's the blueprint for stifling McKenna's system isn't it? Too many Champ teams disrespected us last time and afforded us lots of space to exploit. It won't be so easy this time around.
I think you've got your head in the sand though if you think the only problems are our finishing and final ball. Too many square pegs in round holes, suggests a muddled and confused recruitment strategy IMO.
Right now, I'd be happy to replace Palmer, Johnson, Greaves, Clarke, Szmodics, and dare I say one centre mid. That's half our starting XI that's inadequate for the system.
Worryingly, all of whom have been here for 12+months. None of whom are still 'getting to grips' with patterns of play. They're just dreadful fits for the style and balance of the team. |
There's clearly a lot of work to be done but I think that's an overreaction because of the frustration from yesterday.
I've seen us play a lot worse than that. It was classic better side can't break down low block. It happens to the very best team's.
I don't think it's square pegs etc. I just think it's a new team. The majority of that side have played so little football for us. Even those that have been here a year are for a variety of reasons like new signings really.
We've had more business going on than we would have liked. Players have decided to move on for fair reasons. So it's a big rebuild.
I think writing off Palmer, Johnson, Greaves, Clarke, Sxmods and a CM is nuts!
Good players. We're not deficient on that front. It's the patterns of play and understanding.
Re teams sitting. This isn't league one. It's pretty rare to see champ sides do that so completely. This is a higher level of football and much harder to do that.
Wc have to solve the issue but it shows our strength that Preston are doing that. We had a very similar game against Lincoln away early 2023. A draw that was very frustrating. There's no need to panic. We've got very good players and an outstanding manager.
Do we have a manager who can make a difference when working with new players to integrate them? A resounding yes. Let him work. | | | |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 09:56 - Aug 24 with 315 views | mrshallisfit |
Very good post. So...Signings that havent been properly intergrated or are not doing what they should be, or are disinterested. Or not being utilised in the right way. Little leadership or nous as a team.This has the makings of a disasterous season. The season when all McKenna's failings are laid bare. I think the brigade that think everything will be fine in a few weeks time are in for a big reality check in the coming weeks and months. | | | |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 10:23 - Aug 24 with 242 views | dirtyboy |
Some sensible comments in the entirety of this thread so far.
I do agree that Szmodics feels out of place in the way we play and whist the 2 CMs by design are protective in their nature, it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have an eye to unlock players making runs and hope that Cajuste will do that, certainty showed a willingness to and speed things up.
Johnson sadly does limit us moving forward and Clarke, sounds daft, but it’s the body language after losing the ball (which is fine when trying to pass a man) but after, if you lose it, show a bit more grit/effort.
Not all doom and gloom, but I get why people are upset, although the levels of upset do baffle me. |  | | |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 10:24 - Aug 24 with 223 views | redrickstuhaart |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 10:23 - Aug 24 by dirtyboy |
Some sensible comments in the entirety of this thread so far.
I do agree that Szmodics feels out of place in the way we play and whist the 2 CMs by design are protective in their nature, it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have an eye to unlock players making runs and hope that Cajuste will do that, certainty showed a willingness to and speed things up.
Johnson sadly does limit us moving forward and Clarke, sounds daft, but it’s the body language after losing the ball (which is fine when trying to pass a man) but after, if you lose it, show a bit more grit/effort.
Not all doom and gloom, but I get why people are upset, although the levels of upset do baffle me. |
Clarke is not just the body language and lack of will to make up for losing the ball, its the inability to hold the ball in the first place.
If he is going to always cut in or go backwards, then he has to be able to hold the ball long enough to make a decent pass. Mostly he doesnt. Giving him the ball wide is an almost guaranteed transition. | | | |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 10:56 - Aug 24 with 129 views | ottovonbismark |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 06:52 - Aug 24 by portmanking |
I know you're normally a glass half full chap, but it was pretty grim IMO. 2 shots on target with 73% possession. Powder puff.
Are the players looking excellent for the level? Or are they dining out on past glories? You're only as good as your previous season IMO. The game doesn't care for reputations.
Of course Preston were going to sit in. That's the blueprint for stifling McKenna's system isn't it? Too many Champ teams disrespected us last time and afforded us lots of space to exploit. It won't be so easy this time around.
I think you've got your head in the sand though if you think the only problems are our finishing and final ball. Too many square pegs in round holes, suggests a muddled and confused recruitment strategy IMO.
Right now, I'd be happy to replace Palmer, Johnson, Greaves, Clarke, Szmodics, and dare I say one centre mid. That's half our starting XI that's inadequate for the system.
Worryingly, all of whom have been here for 12+months. None of whom are still 'getting to grips' with patterns of play. They're just dreadful fits for the style and balance of the team. |
not wanting to sound sarcastic but shouldn't all of this be obvious to KM on the training ground? Especially in relation to Johnson, Clarke, Greaves and Taylor. Why does he do nothing about it? | | | |
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