| Patterns of Play 09:51 - Nov 29 with 817 views | cbower |
Before tye arrival of McKenna, Cook's side was disjointed, lacked an identity and had no discernible Patterns of Play.
Quite quickly, KMc addressed this, started to develop an identity, recruited and coached to promote that identity and fit the patterns of play he was after. In the L1 promotion season it felt around Xmas and New Year it was a bit stale, rigid and possession for possessions' sake. Boom, the recruitment of Hirst, Clarke, Broadhead and Luongo reinvigorated things and the rest is history.
Are we now in a similar rut where retaining possession IS our pattern of Play? We have become predictable, slow, deliberate and teams can more easily prepare for this. We praise McKenna's substitutions when they work but they are always just a straight change in personnel and rarely a tactical or formation change - practically the definition of predictable isn't it?
Failing to sign Hackney means this team lacks the energy and drive McKenna was seeking. Azon is not a bad player but he's nothing inspiring. Philogene and Clarke are both talented but Clarke in particular is very predictable, rarely going on the outside, he runs into the pack centrally. Walle-Egeli is raw and is a central player for me who is wasted out wide. McAteer is, at best, workmanlike.
The whole team lacks pace and creativity. Very little is done off the cuff. The patterns of play which became such a devastating weapon in the double promotion are now a restrictive and bluntbinstrument as opposition teams have worked them out. Not only do they know how to nullify them, but they have learned to expose them for their own offensively on the turnover or by crosses and throws into our box.
Thoughts? |  |
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| Patterns of Play on 09:59 - Nov 29 with 757 views | jasondozzell |
My thoughts are that everyone forgets 2022 too easily. Lots of draws. It took KM time to build those patterns and to embed them. It's not a quick fix. Players grow their understanding with each other with time.
This is a new squad. It will also take time. Obviously now there's more pressure with sell out crowds and some fans who have become used to instant success..
I actually think we played some really good football at times last night.. Mixed it up well. It was game management and individual error that cost us. |  | | |
| Patterns of Play on 10:03 - Nov 29 with 739 views | Bobbychase |
Goals for this season
Coventry 45
Ipswich 29
Hull 28
Southampton 26
We are still a work in progress but the idea we have no idea in attack, which I am seeing a lot today, is not backed up by the stats. |  |
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| Patterns of Play on 10:16 - Nov 29 with 668 views | Marshalls_Mullet |
| Patterns of Play on 10:03 - Nov 29 by Bobbychase |
Goals for this season
Coventry 45
Ipswich 29
Hull 28
Southampton 26
We are still a work in progress but the idea we have no idea in attack, which I am seeing a lot today, is not backed up by the stats. |
We should judge ourselves against Cov, not a budget Hull side or a failing Southampton side. |  |
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| Patterns of Play on 10:17 - Nov 29 with 668 views | Marshalls_Mullet |
| Patterns of Play on 09:59 - Nov 29 by jasondozzell |
My thoughts are that everyone forgets 2022 too easily. Lots of draws. It took KM time to build those patterns and to embed them. It's not a quick fix. Players grow their understanding with each other with time.
This is a new squad. It will also take time. Obviously now there's more pressure with sell out crowds and some fans who have become used to instant success..
I actually think we played some really good football at times last night.. Mixed it up well. It was game management and individual error that cost us. |
The big difference he's not new to the job now.
It would help if he played a settled side.
I'm not anti KM, but we are lucky the league is so poor this season, and we need to do better. [Post edited 29 Nov 10:18]
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| Patterns of Play on 10:28 - Nov 29 with 625 views | Blue_Uprising |
I think that Philo, Clarke, Sindre, Szmods, Chuba are all instinctively different players than our former front 5. None have slotted right into the role that was previously expected of that position.
If we are trying to coach them differently (it’s possible McKenna thought their instinctive style would be better) then we are back to square one, and it will take time. Hopefully it’s not a case that less successful championship players were more willing to take on McKennas ideas, and more established / skilled players feel that they have less to learn or are less adaptable. |  | | |
| Patterns of Play on 10:31 - Nov 29 with 620 views | Steve_M |
I do think it's easy to gloss over the games that weren't good in that period, much of the second half of 21-22 was low scoring, and a little uninspiring as we weren't good enough to consistently create chances and kept conceding poor goals.
Even the first half of the L1 promotion season, we were better but didn't yet have the coherence we had later on, and that's before considering the run from December to February. In lots of ways, last night was quite similar to the last visit to Oxford, conceding sh1t goals, too slow in our play and not forcing enough chances from the possession we had.
Probably something to do with how we play under McKenna that when it's a little bit off it looks dreadfully ineffective, it did in February 2023 before we embarked on one of the great runs of form in the club's history. Not to see we'll do that again this season but it wasn't linear progress from December 2021 to May 2024.
We definitely failed in the Summer, not enough depth in central midfield but four right backs so we don't bother playing the one that could probably add to our attacking momentum. Too many players who still have work to do to establish themselves, none of them are bad but not sure how many were first choice signings (Matusiwa and SWE perhaps?) we end up relying on individual moments too much.
I think we're showing ourselves to be a top six side rather than a top two one at the moment, plenty of good results and moments within them but not enough consistency to push higher. That can change and only Coventry really seem any better than that at the moment but a definite missed opportunity last night. |  |
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| Patterns of Play on 10:38 - Nov 29 with 576 views | Churchman |
| Patterns of Play on 10:17 - Nov 29 by Marshalls_Mullet |
The big difference he's not new to the job now.
It would help if he played a settled side.
I'm not anti KM, but we are lucky the league is so poor this season, and we need to do better. [Post edited 29 Nov 10:18]
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I agree re playing settled side.
Time in the job doesn’t feel relevant. We are at a different level to when he first came and we’ve had too much (in my view) change in the squad since the January transfer window two seasons ago. Not all McKenna’s fault by any means. Sht happens and in a sense I believe the amount of change on everything from infrastructure, divisions to players has taken its toll.
The close knit bond between the players that was visible in the L1 promotion season isn’t there. Nor is the support of much of the crowd. But as a poster has pointed out that team bond and understanding took in reality over a year to develop. And before anyone p£sses on about Sunderland, they’re the exception that proves the rule.
Lastly, I don’t think the league is poor. The only difference is that all the relegated teams have struggled by comparison with Leicester, Leeds and Saints two years ago. This season, just Coventry are outstanding and will be up by Easter. Well done them.
Wrexham and Oxford both looked organised, fit and in control of what they do. They were not poor. Oxford had poorer players but were the better team last night. They fully deserved their win just as Wrexham more than deserved their point. That’s a measure of how strong even the weakest teams can be and how competitive the division is.
Where I certainly agree is that we need to do better. |  | | |
| Patterns of Play on 10:44 - Nov 29 with 556 views | Herbivore |
My thoughts are that this is a bit of an overreaction. The idea that teams know how to nullify us doesn't really stand up to much scrutiny, unless how they set up is somehow causing our players to miss chances (though not always as we are sometimes talking our chances, just not consistently). In all bar a couple of games we've had very good chances throughout games and we've not always been talking them, the stats also back this up. At the same time, we have a frustrating tendency to gift sides chances that they then do take. Last night was that writ large hence the frustration today. But despite not getting out of third gear yet we've still been the better side in most games, all of the underlying data has us up at the top with Coventry even if results don't, and we're only 3 points off second. People could do with calming down a touch (not necessarily you to be fair, your post is reasonable even if I don't fully agree). |  |
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| Patterns of Play on 10:59 - Nov 29 with 503 views | storm180 |
| Patterns of Play on 09:59 - Nov 29 by jasondozzell |
My thoughts are that everyone forgets 2022 too easily. Lots of draws. It took KM time to build those patterns and to embed them. It's not a quick fix. Players grow their understanding with each other with time.
This is a new squad. It will also take time. Obviously now there's more pressure with sell out crowds and some fans who have become used to instant success..
I actually think we played some really good football at times last night.. Mixed it up well. It was game management and individual error that cost us. |
I thought a few games into the season it seemed to be following a pattern of cooks first full season, players generally top class for the league, when it all clicks we hammer teams occasionally (we had some big wins under Cook), but struggling as a team
It seems to have gone full circle, hope I am wrong and we smash it from now on |  | | |
| Patterns of Play on 11:02 - Nov 29 with 481 views | cressi |
Agree 👍 | | | |
| Patterns of Play on 11:04 - Nov 29 with 459 views | cressi |
| Patterns of Play on 10:03 - Nov 29 by Bobbychase |
Goals for this season
Coventry 45
Ipswich 29
Hull 28
Southampton 26
We are still a work in progress but the idea we have no idea in attack, which I am seeing a lot today, is not backed up by the stats. |
Take 3 games out Sheffield United who were dire
Swansea 2 own goals and qpr there has been some games we totally struggle | | | |
| Patterns of Play on 11:13 - Nov 29 with 415 views | Herbivore |
| Patterns of Play on 10:59 - Nov 29 by storm180 |
I thought a few games into the season it seemed to be following a pattern of cooks first full season, players generally top class for the league, when it all clicks we hammer teams occasionally (we had some big wins under Cook), but struggling as a team
It seems to have gone full circle, hope I am wrong and we smash it from now on |
Under Cook we were in the bottom half of League 1 and performances were getting worse as we hit December. Neither of those things are the case this season. | |
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| Patterns of Play on 11:23 - Nov 29 with 391 views | Marshalls_Mullet |
| Patterns of Play on 10:38 - Nov 29 by Churchman |
I agree re playing settled side.
Time in the job doesn’t feel relevant. We are at a different level to when he first came and we’ve had too much (in my view) change in the squad since the January transfer window two seasons ago. Not all McKenna’s fault by any means. Sht happens and in a sense I believe the amount of change on everything from infrastructure, divisions to players has taken its toll.
The close knit bond between the players that was visible in the L1 promotion season isn’t there. Nor is the support of much of the crowd. But as a poster has pointed out that team bond and understanding took in reality over a year to develop. And before anyone p£sses on about Sunderland, they’re the exception that proves the rule.
Lastly, I don’t think the league is poor. The only difference is that all the relegated teams have struggled by comparison with Leicester, Leeds and Saints two years ago. This season, just Coventry are outstanding and will be up by Easter. Well done them.
Wrexham and Oxford both looked organised, fit and in control of what they do. They were not poor. Oxford had poorer players but were the better team last night. They fully deserved their win just as Wrexham more than deserved their point. That’s a measure of how strong even the weakest teams can be and how competitive the division is.
Where I certainly agree is that we need to do better. |
He was sorting out someone else's mess before, now he's been in the job for so long the excuse isn't there. | |
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| Patterns of Play on 12:02 - Nov 29 with 286 views | BouncebackIpswich |
There was a fantastic exchange of one touch football involving 4 players or so over on the right byline towards the start of the first half. One of the first times I've seen that all season. It caused havoc in Oxfords defence. It's not easy but we need to be working on doing that more. |  | | |
| Patterns of Play on 13:13 - Nov 29 with 247 views | Churchman |
| Patterns of Play on 11:23 - Nov 29 by Marshalls_Mullet |
He was sorting out someone else's mess before, now he's been in the job for so long the excuse isn't there. |
Not really. Cook brought in good players and shipped out an awful lot. McKenna just moulded them into a team. They were better than most of L1 players and once they got momentum and cohesion they became unstoppable - but realistically that was a year after he joined.
He is now trying to build another team. Because he’s been there a while that doesn’t mean players that haven’t are automatically going to launch into instant success mode. People, just in life, expect instant results and to win every week. Entitlement. But we are not entitled to anything. You have to earn it. That means doing the basics - which Oxford did last night. Did we? I don’t think we did.
Progress is not linear but my concern is not where we are or even whether we finish higher than mid table, but is the team forming? Are there signs that this group of players are going to come together? That is what concerned me about last nights ineffective performance.
What is gone is gone and excuses don’t come into it. If people work on the basis of only negatives need be applied then any reasoning, justification or even hope for the future is in the bin. I cannot hold with that. You have to look at where you are, what you have, where you are going and by when and act accordingly. | | | |
| Patterns of Play on 13:23 - Nov 29 with 217 views | backwaywhen |
That’s an excellent post and sums us up to a tee , we have to wait and see what Jan window brings , I’m still confident of success.
Ps what on earth has happened to Leicester right now , that’s how quickly fortunes can change . | | | |
| Patterns of Play on 13:27 - Nov 29 with 196 views | Chrisd |
| Patterns of Play on 10:03 - Nov 29 by Bobbychase |
Goals for this season
Coventry 45
Ipswich 29
Hull 28
Southampton 26
We are still a work in progress but the idea we have no idea in attack, which I am seeing a lot today, is not backed up by the stats. |
We have spent millions on attacking players in comparison to other sides, Coventry included but there are still plenty of games where the opposition keeper doesn’t really have much to do against us. We should be a lot closer to Coventry’s total with the quality of player we have at our disposal. | |
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