| Pick the bones out of that one 20:44 - Aug 23 with 2145 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 11:04 - Aug 24 with 90 views | portmanking |
| Pick the bones out of that one on 09:24 - Aug 24 by jasondozzell |
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. |
I've seen enough to say that Palmer, Johnson, Clarke and Szmodics aren't good stylistic fits for this team. No amount of coaching will make them into the players we need. That's just plain bad recruitment.
Greaves is okay but really not as dominant as I expected he would be at this level.
We've downgraded in terms of technical proficiency and are no better off athletically for it. Recruitment has been dire.
Next thing we know we'll be reopening our League One notepad and bidding for Colby Bishop. | | | |
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