| Where I think things are going wrong 08:36 - Feb 15 with 2875 views | Guthrum |
Watching that last night, I think we've reverted to the tactics from late last season, where the ball is conatantly being recycled out wide, looking for the perfect cross and finish. It wasn't particularly effective then and is quite toothless now.
We've lost the ability to drive at opponents, which Davis, Morsy and Burns were doing earlier this campaign.
The result being slower play, running the ball across the face of the opposition penalty area and lack of penetration. I don't know if it's a confidence thing or if the team have been told to be more careful about keeping possession in order to deny counter-attacks. Either way, they need to rediscover some freedom with ball at feet.
Passing accuracy was also very low last night, altho a packed defensive area is never going to make that easy. |  |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:38 - Feb 15 with 2119 views | Slimitfc91 |
Passing accuracy and also the first touch of the recipient, I’m not sure the players are technically good enough to play how McK wants them to play, especially when playing against a packed defence. |  | | |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:41 - Feb 15 with 2081 views | Guthrum |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:38 - Feb 15 by Slimitfc91 |
Passing accuracy and also the first touch of the recipient, I’m not sure the players are technically good enough to play how McK wants them to play, especially when playing against a packed defence. |
I sometimes think we pass a bit too fiercely, thus making it harder to control at the receiving end. | |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:43 - Feb 15 with 2048 views | TractorWood |
The players just look like they are instructed to be totally patient and never risk a through ball or shot from distance.
This results in this ponderous and predictable build up play, that generally results in the ball being overworked to wide positions. We then tend to play a ball into box with 1/2 attacking players against 8, well positioned opposition.
We tend to only a bit of zip when we are losing or it's the 85th minute. |  |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:44 - Feb 15 with 2038 views | Slimitfc91 |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:41 - Feb 15 by Guthrum |
I sometimes think we pass a bit too fiercely, thus making it harder to control at the receiving end. |
Agree, the players just aren’t quite up to what the manager requires, big difference in coaching elite players at Man Utd to trying the same methods in league one | | | |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:44 - Feb 15 with 2032 views | Guthrum |
Further to that, when Broadhead came on, he did drive forward with energy and we started to look dangerous again. Tho it was late in the game and the Rovers men could start sitting down to kill the momentum. | |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:45 - Feb 15 with 2020 views | Slimitfc91 |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:43 - Feb 15 by TractorWood |
The players just look like they are instructed to be totally patient and never risk a through ball or shot from distance.
This results in this ponderous and predictable build up play, that generally results in the ball being overworked to wide positions. We then tend to play a ball into box with 1/2 attacking players against 8, well positioned opposition.
We tend to only a bit of zip when we are losing or it's the 85th minute. |
I doubt if that is how they are being instructed | | | |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:49 - Feb 15 with 1960 views | Herbivore |
I don't think they are being told to play at this slower tempo. We started fast last night but after missing a couple of decent chances and the game getting a bit scrappy we lost all momentum and struggled to get going again. It reminds me a lot of some of the times under Cook when he would describe the players as waiting for something to happen rather than making something happen themselves. Too many are doing that right now.
Last night the number of times Davis and Humphreys played the ball between each other down that left channel rather than putting the ball in or trying to beat a man was ridiculous. Similar was happening on the right as well. The two tens did nothing other than recycle possession back to Morsy or the CBs. It's going safety first because confidence has taken a hit, much easier to play a high percentage five yard pass than try something more risky. But it's killing us, our tempo has dropped massively and although we still create - we still had chances last night that the top two would likely have taken - we've lost a lot of the penetration we've previously had. |  |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:51 - Feb 15 with 1934 views | Slimitfc91 |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:49 - Feb 15 by Herbivore |
I don't think they are being told to play at this slower tempo. We started fast last night but after missing a couple of decent chances and the game getting a bit scrappy we lost all momentum and struggled to get going again. It reminds me a lot of some of the times under Cook when he would describe the players as waiting for something to happen rather than making something happen themselves. Too many are doing that right now.
Last night the number of times Davis and Humphreys played the ball between each other down that left channel rather than putting the ball in or trying to beat a man was ridiculous. Similar was happening on the right as well. The two tens did nothing other than recycle possession back to Morsy or the CBs. It's going safety first because confidence has taken a hit, much easier to play a high percentage five yard pass than try something more risky. But it's killing us, our tempo has dropped massively and although we still create - we still had chances last night that the top two would likely have taken - we've lost a lot of the penetration we've previously had. |
Agree, lack of confidence is huge factor | | | |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:53 - Feb 15 with 1925 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:45 - Feb 15 by Slimitfc91 |
I doubt if that is how they are being instructed |
No, they were super frustrated with the lack of options ahead because Rovers were cutting off our lines (which was probably easy to do as we were overloading the flanks, so very predictable). There was a massive hole in front of Morsy all night- I’m surprised we kept plugging away and didn’t try to use that space a bit more, even if to make room for the wider players at times. |  |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:56 - Feb 15 with 1906 views | homer_123 |
As I posted last night, confidence has dropped, self belief is waning a little and our purpose isn't the same as it was early season Guthers. |  |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:05 - Feb 15 with 1831 views | Guthrum |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:49 - Feb 15 by Herbivore |
I don't think they are being told to play at this slower tempo. We started fast last night but after missing a couple of decent chances and the game getting a bit scrappy we lost all momentum and struggled to get going again. It reminds me a lot of some of the times under Cook when he would describe the players as waiting for something to happen rather than making something happen themselves. Too many are doing that right now.
Last night the number of times Davis and Humphreys played the ball between each other down that left channel rather than putting the ball in or trying to beat a man was ridiculous. Similar was happening on the right as well. The two tens did nothing other than recycle possession back to Morsy or the CBs. It's going safety first because confidence has taken a hit, much easier to play a high percentage five yard pass than try something more risky. But it's killing us, our tempo has dropped massively and although we still create - we still had chances last night that the top two would likely have taken - we've lost a lot of the penetration we've previously had. |
Tempo, energy and penetration were three of our most important assets (along with possession and pressing, which we haven't lost). Without those, all we're doing is playing keep-ball and holding the opposition away from our goal. Which is most likely to result in 0 - 0.
That's being overly harsh, perhaps. We do attack. But it isn't as effective. | |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:07 - Feb 15 with 1812 views | LeoMuff |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:38 - Feb 15 by Slimitfc91 |
Passing accuracy and also the first touch of the recipient, I’m not sure the players are technically good enough to play how McK wants them to play, especially when playing against a packed defence. |
They will also take the easy option, often there is a quick but more risky ball on into the middle which they almost never take, will turn and take the 100% safe pass as opposed to the 75 % pass which would open up space and move us forwards quickly.
I’m not sure if this is because they aren’t technically good enough or are told to retain the ball at all costs as you say, but I’m pretty sure they are good enough. |  |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:09 - Feb 15 with 1800 views | Herbivore |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:05 - Feb 15 by Guthrum |
Tempo, energy and penetration were three of our most important assets (along with possession and pressing, which we haven't lost). Without those, all we're doing is playing keep-ball and holding the opposition away from our goal. Which is most likely to result in 0 - 0.
That's being overly harsh, perhaps. We do attack. But it isn't as effective. |
They struggled for contain us in the opening 5 mins and we had a similar 5 minute spell second half where we did raise the tempo and we looked capable of scoring. For whatever reason, I suspect a combination of confidence/form and tiredness in the midfield, we can't sustain it for longer spells and we've become largely hopeless in front of goal. We had enough half chances even on a real off night to have scored, I doubt Plymouth or Wednesday would have drawn a blank presented with what we created last night. That's been a recurring issue even when we're playing well, but it's now a killer when we're also struggling to break sides down. | |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:09 - Feb 15 with 1796 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:45 - Feb 15 by Slimitfc91 |
I doubt if that is how they are being instructed |
I think it is to a degree actually. We seem to want to get control of games with the belief it is inevitable we will patiently eventually break them down and win. I mean the line up last night seemed to be set up for that to me - wear them down and get the likes of Broadhead, Chaplin, Edwards on. I just want to see us start with a really dynamic team now, get after teams, start fast and try and build some momentum.
For any end product faults he may have at times, Edwards scares teams and isn't utilised nearly enough. Broadhead is also a huge upgrade on Harness and far more direct. Aluko as a 10 is absolutely pointless. Nice to watch but he slows everything down in the final third and lacks the dynamism. | | | |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:11 - Feb 15 with 1778 views | itfcsuth |
People are looking to deep for answers, we aren't suddenly a different side, we aren't suddenly trying to play with a different approach.
Simply down to the most important thing in football, confidence and belief - and we've had ours knocked. |  | | |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:13 - Feb 15 with 1762 views | itfcjoe |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:49 - Feb 15 by Herbivore |
I don't think they are being told to play at this slower tempo. We started fast last night but after missing a couple of decent chances and the game getting a bit scrappy we lost all momentum and struggled to get going again. It reminds me a lot of some of the times under Cook when he would describe the players as waiting for something to happen rather than making something happen themselves. Too many are doing that right now.
Last night the number of times Davis and Humphreys played the ball between each other down that left channel rather than putting the ball in or trying to beat a man was ridiculous. Similar was happening on the right as well. The two tens did nothing other than recycle possession back to Morsy or the CBs. It's going safety first because confidence has taken a hit, much easier to play a high percentage five yard pass than try something more risky. But it's killing us, our tempo has dropped massively and although we still create - we still had chances last night that the top two would likely have taken - we've lost a lot of the penetration we've previously had. |
I think we miss an on-form Harness because he is one who is willing to take risks, make things happen from that 10 role whereas the rest are very much either a second striker (Chaplin) or an attacking midfielder who generally plays safe (Aluko).
Broadhead seems to have that ambition to go with the ball and to mix things up but we need to get him fit and durable. |  |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:14 - Feb 15 with 1755 views | Herbivore |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:09 - Feb 15 by tractorboy1978 |
I think it is to a degree actually. We seem to want to get control of games with the belief it is inevitable we will patiently eventually break them down and win. I mean the line up last night seemed to be set up for that to me - wear them down and get the likes of Broadhead, Chaplin, Edwards on. I just want to see us start with a really dynamic team now, get after teams, start fast and try and build some momentum.
For any end product faults he may have at times, Edwards scares teams and isn't utilised nearly enough. Broadhead is also a huge upgrade on Harness and far more direct. Aluko as a 10 is absolutely pointless. Nice to watch but he slows everything down in the final third and lacks the dynamism. |
But we did start fast last night, we just dropped off after about ten minutes. McKenna's style has never really been possession for possession's sake, but our drop in form has meant that's how we've ended up looking. | |
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| Exactly this on 09:19 - Feb 15 with 1725 views | Dyland |
The lack of freedom means little penetration through the middle. We're pretty obvious and without a Celina (is Broadhead the answer?) not too hard to defend against. Oppo will play the percentages, which is ironic in a sense since we are doing the same, 'trusting a process', and essentially playing football by numbers. Watching us regularly shows why stats like XG don't always tell you much, except I guess that we don't create very many GOOD chances. Stats shmats innit.
McKenna nexperience really showing. No reason to moan at players/management at grounds though, it's counter-productive and largely clueless, and the season ain't over. |  |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:20 - Feb 15 with 1708 views | Guthrum |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:11 - Feb 15 by itfcsuth |
People are looking to deep for answers, we aren't suddenly a different side, we aren't suddenly trying to play with a different approach.
Simply down to the most important thing in football, confidence and belief - and we've had ours knocked. |
But by what, to make things switch to this degree and for so long? It's not like we haven't had wins and good performances in the last three months. Charlton was one game, which we didn't even lose. If just that caused a collective mental breakdown in both team and coaching staff, then it demonstrates an alarming (and, frankly, improbable) weakness for high-level sportsmen. | |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:20 - Feb 15 with 1706 views | homer_123 |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:09 - Feb 15 by Herbivore |
They struggled for contain us in the opening 5 mins and we had a similar 5 minute spell second half where we did raise the tempo and we looked capable of scoring. For whatever reason, I suspect a combination of confidence/form and tiredness in the midfield, we can't sustain it for longer spells and we've become largely hopeless in front of goal. We had enough half chances even on a real off night to have scored, I doubt Plymouth or Wednesday would have drawn a blank presented with what we created last night. That's been a recurring issue even when we're playing well, but it's now a killer when we're also struggling to break sides down. |
The last few games have reminded me of us under Hurst a little.
We could look exceptional for short periods, in fact unplayable but then we'd lapse in concentration and energy - concede silly goals and look bereft of ideas and confidence. | |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:25 - Feb 15 with 1652 views | tractordownsouth |
Rovers defensive shape was very good, they were happy to leave Davis free, confident that they’d be able to clear the crosses.
Morsy and Humphreys were too far apart for much of the game and when Edwards and Clarke came on they were playing on their opposite sides so had to keep cutting back in. The half space ended up being crowded out and it was difficult to play either around or through them. |  |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:26 - Feb 15 with 1643 views | Herbivore |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:13 - Feb 15 by itfcjoe |
I think we miss an on-form Harness because he is one who is willing to take risks, make things happen from that 10 role whereas the rest are very much either a second striker (Chaplin) or an attacking midfielder who generally plays safe (Aluko).
Broadhead seems to have that ambition to go with the ball and to mix things up but we need to get him fit and durable. |
Yeah agreed. Harness has always had a pretty awful touch and is prone to giving the ball away, but when he was playing well his direct running and desire to get beyond Ladapo were real assets for us. Since his injury he's barely shown any of the good qualities and all of the bad. | |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:26 - Feb 15 with 1634 views | tractorboy1978 |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:14 - Feb 15 by Herbivore |
But we did start fast last night, we just dropped off after about ten minutes. McKenna's style has never really been possession for possession's sake, but our drop in form has meant that's how we've ended up looking. |
We look very similar to the back end of last season. It's not possession for possession's sake but it is nowhere near direct enough and we seem to still want to score the perfect training ground goal.
I think they quickly realised they needed to tighten up last night and once they did it looked like the same script as most of our away games over the past couple of months. You need players to move with the ball and take risks/break the lines. Admittedly part of that is confidence but I also think there is a real element of how we approach games - control and back our quality to come through in the end. It isn't at the moment. | | | |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:27 - Feb 15 with 1623 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:20 - Feb 15 by homer_123 |
The last few games have reminded me of us under Hurst a little.
We could look exceptional for short periods, in fact unplayable but then we'd lapse in concentration and energy - concede silly goals and look bereft of ideas and confidence. |
And Lambert. Looking pedestrian because we want to play it out, but the movement isn’t quite there and the opposition can shut us down. Every time Morsy got the ball he was looking for a forward pass, but nothing was on. Cue everyone moaning about Morsy for being to slow! | |
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| Where I think things are going wrong on 09:31 - Feb 15 with 1598 views | Simonds92 |
| Where I think things are going wrong on 08:44 - Feb 15 by Slimitfc91 |
Agree, the players just aren’t quite up to what the manager requires, big difference in coaching elite players at Man Utd to trying the same methods in league one |
That would be fine if the same style of football yielded success at Utd. But in reality they had exactly the same problem under Solskjaer as we have currently. So slow in the build up and sideways passing with no end product and no support to the striker. | | | |
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