| Hmmmmm… disappointing… we have some issues… 5 key things 17:57 - Nov 22 with 1552 views | unstableblue |
1. We started well and had some impetus, but it almost forced Wrexham into an even lower block than they already had planned, and that inability to create real chances seemed to almost deflate us - our energy levels and impetus became really poor for the remainder of the half.
2. Taylor who was one of our better performers, was still not at his recent best, and it started to become a little unclear what the plan was without him linking effectively.
The early joy we had from going wide with Egeli and Philogene fizzled out. It’s clear when Taylor, Davis and Philogene overload we cause big issues… then if Kipre pushes forward we become really dangerous - he played another great threaded ball to feed Philogene into the box, a highlight.
3. That lack of energy and attacking guile was frustrating and the linkages from Walton out whilst good in moments, frustrated. A highlight from today was O’Shea, probably his best performance in a Town shirt. And whilst people will be frustrated by today - we reduced Wrexham to nothing.
4. The number 9 to number 10 relationship wasn’t right today - Azon did some great stuff but was isolated. I actually thought Akpom worked really hard, but he just wasn’t effective and became frustrated
5. Furlong was OK, but I wonder if Young would suit Towns ‘game plan’ (a plan that remains a bit unclear) more… Furlong doesn’t connect well enough with Egeli
We need 6 points from the next 3. |  |
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| Hmmmmm… disappointing… we have some issues… 5 key things on 17:59 - Nov 22 with 1502 views | TRUE_BLUE123 |
The fact that Jack Taylor has had to come in to save the midfield is a pretty damning indictment of the recruitment in my eyes.
He is not a bad player by any means but in these games where teams are happy to sit in, he can’t be the answer. |  |
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| Hmmmmm… disappointing… we have some issues… 5 key things on 18:01 - Nov 22 with 1468 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
That’s not O’shea’s best performance in a town shirt, all he had was a bit of tidying up to do lol. Wrexham had nothing. He looked assured and stepped out with it a few times but come on, look at the context of that game. |  |
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| Hmmmmm… disappointing… we have some issues… 5 key things on 18:10 - Nov 22 with 1367 views | Blue_Uprising |
McKenna seems to have quite an aversion to adopting a more chaos approach. Would we have done any worse if moving to standard non inverted wingers and putting as many crosses across the box as possible from close to the byline, with 2 in CF positions. Force more loose balls, more corners, maybe an own goal, disrupt more of the defensive pattern.
In the premier league I get it that the chaotic loose ball ends up with break and the ball In your own net. Not so much in the championship. But embracing chaos might be needed against low block teams. |  | | |
| Hmmmmm… disappointing… we have some issues… 5 key things on 18:13 - Nov 22 with 1333 views | Joey_Joe_Joe_Junior |
| Hmmmmm… disappointing… we have some issues… 5 key things on 18:10 - Nov 22 by Blue_Uprising |
McKenna seems to have quite an aversion to adopting a more chaos approach. Would we have done any worse if moving to standard non inverted wingers and putting as many crosses across the box as possible from close to the byline, with 2 in CF positions. Force more loose balls, more corners, maybe an own goal, disrupt more of the defensive pattern.
In the premier league I get it that the chaotic loose ball ends up with break and the ball In your own net. Not so much in the championship. But embracing chaos might be needed against low block teams. |
Certainly more of it was needed today. | |
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| POST OF THE DAY on 18:33 - Nov 22 with 1158 views | unstableblue |
| Hmmmmm… disappointing… we have some issues… 5 key things on 18:10 - Nov 22 by Blue_Uprising |
McKenna seems to have quite an aversion to adopting a more chaos approach. Would we have done any worse if moving to standard non inverted wingers and putting as many crosses across the box as possible from close to the byline, with 2 in CF positions. Force more loose balls, more corners, maybe an own goal, disrupt more of the defensive pattern.
In the premier league I get it that the chaotic loose ball ends up with break and the ball In your own net. Not so much in the championship. But embracing chaos might be needed against low block teams. |
I’m not fully agreeing we need to just full go gung-ho Chaos theory to break open these teams… but it does feel the only way currently we are likely to break these low block teams down is when the game gets tired and loose, and it does go a bit chaotic… when a Jack Clarke can come in and navigate the chaos
I think what I’m trying to say is we need to mix it up and bit… and what we really need is to attack with waves of energy and a bit chaos | |
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| Hmmmmm… disappointing… we have some issues… 5 key things on 18:56 - Nov 22 with 1016 views | NthQldITFC |
| Hmmmmm… disappointing… we have some issues… 5 key things on 18:10 - Nov 22 by Blue_Uprising |
McKenna seems to have quite an aversion to adopting a more chaos approach. Would we have done any worse if moving to standard non inverted wingers and putting as many crosses across the box as possible from close to the byline, with 2 in CF positions. Force more loose balls, more corners, maybe an own goal, disrupt more of the defensive pattern.
In the premier league I get it that the chaotic loose ball ends up with break and the ball In your own net. Not so much in the championship. But embracing chaos might be needed against low block teams. |
Crosses maybe, but also more pot shots from the likes of Taylor and Nunez and Philogene and Clarke and Egeli (which Azon is a master at following up, judging by his highlights reel) - we're trying to develop a perfect intricate lock-picking style on the edge of the box but at the moment it's too slow and we lose the ball against packed defences 9 times out of 10. |  |
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| POST OF THE DAY on 19:05 - Nov 22 with 991 views | Blue_Uprising |
| POST OF THE DAY on 18:33 - Nov 22 by unstableblue |
I’m not fully agreeing we need to just full go gung-ho Chaos theory to break open these teams… but it does feel the only way currently we are likely to break these low block teams down is when the game gets tired and loose, and it does go a bit chaotic… when a Jack Clarke can come in and navigate the chaos
I think what I’m trying to say is we need to mix it up and bit… and what we really need is to attack with waves of energy and a bit chaos |
Yes not gung ho, but some at least.
And different vs Wrexham set up with back 5 and 3 dms vs Charlton set up to counter quickly with 5 breaking on us. pick the battles. They were really comfortable absorbing attacks today.
Was noticeable in the premier league how timid we were (e.g refusing to use the overlap, refusing to cross when an option, in case of losing the ball) vs other teams playing stronger opposition. Just want us to be more willing to take more 50/50 final balls rather than waiting for the 90% final ball. [Post edited 22 Nov 2025 19:07]
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| Hmmmmm… disappointing… we have some issues… 5 key things on 19:34 - Nov 22 with 851 views | bournemouthblue |
Pace was the most obvious absense today, if we'd had Burns down the wing today we would have ripped them apart
Walle Egeli is talented but never wanted to take their left back on in a foot race
Philogene for all his talent, wastes so many opportunities to slot Davis in, I'm not surprised how Leif's assists have dropped off |  |
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| Hmmmmm… disappointing… we have some issues… 5 key things on 20:14 - Nov 22 with 745 views | Churchman |
I see it slightly differently. We have better players than the opposition. We did today. But Wrexham were very well organised, tight, fought for each other. Every player knew their job. I agree with Mills - they fully deserved their point. We are easy to play against. Play as Wrexham and Watford did and you’re pretty much guaranteed a point.
We played in front of Wrexham most of the time. Lots of passes around the back, up to midfield and back again, but up the field the ideas ran out. Davis doesn’t really go beyond Philogene when he cuts inside, so if options run out the ball winds up at our keeper. On the other side, Egeli did some good things and was also a bit scruffy at times, as you’d expect at his age. However he was offered very little options or runners making space.
We even had times with Walton where he wanted to throw the ball out but every single player was static with a marker. What’s he supposed to do?
Right, to the players. Walton, nothing to do. Davis, ok but didn’t hurt them in the way he has done to teams in the past. Kipre and O’Shea - no problem. Matisuwa - not his best game. Looked swamped at times but he’s a classy player. Furlong - we’ve had worse. Solid but his end product is not the best. Taylor - neat, tidy, but like Mitisuwa sort of filled the gap but that was it. Philogene - offered a threat. Egeli, much the same.
The two big concerns for me: Akpom - looked cumbersome and slow. At one point, Wrexham gave the ball away on the edge of the box (a rare thing). It was a perfect opportunity for a snap shot. Boom. But no, he stumbled about at the chance was long gone. He wanted the rest of the afternoon. Azon? There won’t be anything on the highlights reel from that.
The team is actually better balanced in some ways than the promotion team. We have more better players too. But we lack spontaneity, drive and certainty about who is where and what we are trying to do. It’s one paced - slow.
So what would I do? Firstly, Nunez would be first pick fitness permitting every game. Aside from free kicks he has a drive and aggression to him we otherwise lack. I’d also bring Chaplin back who provided something different; a link we just don’t have. If Hirst is fit, play him.
All in all, we didn’t lose. It’s not the worst performance ever. Compared to watching hapless Douglas, Skuse and Hyam stumble about, it’s like watching Real Madrid on a good day. We are trying to play football.
Lots of games to play. Let’s hope McKenna’s players fulfil that obvious ability most of them have. It took half a season for the promotion team to show any consistency, if not longer. Maybe its the same with this lot but it’s very frustrating at the moment.
Two goals in the last four home games against organised but bang average Championship teams tells its own story.
That’s my take, the positive and the areas to work on. Now a break from the forum as i have no doubt the quiet since Watford bedsheet boys will be in full rage mode.
Edit: couldn’t resist a quick peek. Yep, the wet pants brigade are all building up a head of steam. There’s even one hero waving Southampton about as a model of what to do. A couple of good results and let’s all hail St Mary’s. McKenna out, Ashton out! Booooo. Money wasted, waaaaaaah.
Ttfn. [Post edited 22 Nov 2025 20:30]
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