| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) 11:26 - Feb 8 with 1297 views | unstableblue |
Been a lot of posts about selection tonight, and our best forward player configuration, and indeed a mention of not playing Celina or Bonne tonight to rest them for MK Dons!
But I had a feeling our front players really aren't getting enough game time, and this is a cause of our lack of cohesion up front, and our lack of chances. Analysis time!
Lets look at recent games:
Bolton 0-2 (3 shots; 3 on target) - Aluko 82mins, Norwood 70, Bonne 90 (Chaplin 8, Celina 20)
Accrington 2-1 (11 shots; 4 on target) - Chaplin 90mins, Celina 90, Bonne 76 (Norwood 14)
Wimbledon 2-0 (8 shots; 2 on target) - Aluko 71mins, Norwood 81, Jackson 71 (Celina 19, Bonne 9, Jackson 19)
Shefff Weds 0-1 (10 shots; 0 on target) - Celina 90mins, Bonne 79, Chaplin 71 (Piggot 11, Aluko 19)
Gillingham - 1-0 (10 shots; 2 on target) - Norwood 90mins, Piggot 79, chaplin 84 (Bonne 11, Bakinson 6)
So in 450mins of football... Bonne has played 265mins; Celina 219; Norwood 255; Chaplin 253; Aluko 172; Piggot 90....
To benchmark - Oxford are a high scorer in this league and doing well... 2 consistent attacking players - Taylor and Bodin: 90mins and 87 Pompey (28 shots; 8 on target); 71 and 77 Wigan (5 shots; 1 on target); 56 and 84 Gills (14 shots/8 on target); 90 and 90 Sheff Wed (17 shots; 8 on target)... consistent attack, strong shots performance
EAT MY ANALYSIS!! Call me 'Data Scientist Blue'
Does this actually tell us anything?!... Perhaps: Celina has played half the time, clearly is not going to be fatigued. How can you expect form from Piggot with such paltry game time, he needs a run. We are switching players A LOT. Still relatively low game time for Bonne and Chaplin, which is surprising.
And clearly something ain't right (midfield and wing back supply one factor) with 2.2 shots on target per game being paltry....
We are all loving the wins... but these performances, especially compared to our peers, is going to come and bite us soon.
Lets settle on some forwards, give them a run, and lets put on a performance tonight. COYB, lets make the MK exodus count!!!
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| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 12:37 - Feb 8 with 1177 views | Marshalls_Mullet |
I think we need a settled team across all positions.
Also, we had very, very inexperienced coaches leading this team for most of the season. So we are still playing catch up. |  |
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| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 12:44 - Feb 8 with 1162 views | iamipswich |
I think this period is reminiscent of when Lambert was rotating the squad and we were picking up unconvincing results. If KM had been here longer and this wasn't his first run of games, he'd be under more pressure for a settled squad. Enjoying the results but feel we're running out of luck with the current strategy. |  |
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| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 12:45 - Feb 8 with 1158 views | Guthrum |
The thing I picked up from the SheffWed game was that it is very difficult to take shots when you can't get the ball through the final third to a position in front of goal, having the space and time to get a shot away. You can't shoot from range, either, as there are too many bodies in the way.
This is not a function of the frontline attacking players, who are overwhelmed, blocked and marked out of the game. Instead the issue is with the midfield (including wing-backs) finding a way through, around or over the ranks of defensive players.
It's no coincidence that when Burns has some freedom, we do well, that when Morsy is missing, we become toothless, that the Left Back problems have impacted on our productivity, as also has Evans' form and the ability of his replacements.
Most of all, we need to find a way of breaking down teams who sit in their third of the pitch, let us have the ball and simply defend all-out, relying upon breakaways for their own threat. |  |
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| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 13:11 - Feb 8 with 1089 views | clive_baker |
I think there's definitely a balance between resting players and not over rotating players out of form. I think we've had such a big squad this season that there's a tempatation to use it too much, while other successful sides at this level with smaller squads tend to have more rhythm, perhaps as a results of familiarity. Cook annoyed me a little when he took Chaplin out after he had hit some form, scored 4 in 5 then after the defeat at Plymouth he didn't start a league game for the best part of a month. Norwood more recently, comes on at Wigan and scores to get us a point, scores against Sunderland to get us a point, scores the only goal against Wycombe, then again at Gillingham. All of those goals were alongside Bonne (who himself scored at Gillingham too). Then it doesn't quite work out against Bolton, and they've not started together in the 4 games since. It looked like they were starting to enjoy playing alongside each other, I was scratching my head why we didn't go with both of them at Hillsborough.
For me we need to stop overcomplicating things. Bonne and Norwood in a front 2, 1 of Chaplin or Celina behind them, Evans and Morsy behind if available. Get the ball forward into the final 3rd, get Nors and Bonne running into the channels, gain territory and start playing much more of our football in the final 3rd. I know the midfield rotation has been forced of late, but I hope we get to a settled side for the run in. |  |
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| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 13:16 - Feb 8 with 1081 views | FrimleyBlue |
I watched the Nottingham V Leicester highlights this morning and one thing you barely see with town is where every player in the final third is driven to get to the opponents area. We seem to be falling into the trap of waiting for someone to do something. Watching these highlights just showed the vast difference in mindsets of players. The amount of attacking intent was crazy. |  |
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| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 13:20 - Feb 8 with 1060 views | jayessess |
| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 12:45 - Feb 8 by Guthrum |
The thing I picked up from the SheffWed game was that it is very difficult to take shots when you can't get the ball through the final third to a position in front of goal, having the space and time to get a shot away. You can't shoot from range, either, as there are too many bodies in the way.
This is not a function of the frontline attacking players, who are overwhelmed, blocked and marked out of the game. Instead the issue is with the midfield (including wing-backs) finding a way through, around or over the ranks of defensive players.
It's no coincidence that when Burns has some freedom, we do well, that when Morsy is missing, we become toothless, that the Left Back problems have impacted on our productivity, as also has Evans' form and the ability of his replacements.
Most of all, we need to find a way of breaking down teams who sit in their third of the pitch, let us have the ball and simply defend all-out, relying upon breakaways for their own threat. |
I can't recall anyone sitting in their third against us really. Gillingham certainly didn't on Saturday, they pressed us high, pushed up onto our back 3. When teams do sit back a bit we're better, because that invites the 3 centre backs to advance, exchange passes with the wing backs etc.
High presses work on us because we're unwilling to play over it and only have one midfielder who can consistently play through it (Morsy).
We don't really get into the opposition 3rd often enough to frustrated by anyone's low block and when we do get there we're incredibly picky about what constitutes a good cross/shot/through ball opportunity. The result is we don't get many attempts to make chances/score, leaving us dependent on individuals consistently making good decisions and executing well. [Post edited 8 Feb 2022 13:21]
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| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 13:28 - Feb 8 with 1023 views | Bluroo |
| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 13:16 - Feb 8 by FrimleyBlue |
I watched the Nottingham V Leicester highlights this morning and one thing you barely see with town is where every player in the final third is driven to get to the opponents area. We seem to be falling into the trap of waiting for someone to do something. Watching these highlights just showed the vast difference in mindsets of players. The amount of attacking intent was crazy. |
Deleted post. [Post edited 8 Feb 2022 13:29]
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| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 13:29 - Feb 8 with 1019 views | Bluroo |
We've picked up more points than Oxford in the last 6 games so I'm not sure this data conclusively proves that a settled side is better...
KMac has more to think about than a settled side. He's got fitness, team spirit, squad development, support and individual match strategy amongst other things to consider. Fans don't have to bear the consequences of their guesses or trouble themselves with the full range of considerations.
I'm personally very happy with how its going in an overall sense because there is more to it than just putting out the best XI and given what KMac has to work with (I think the quality of the squad is over-rated), he's already effected a significant improvement in results straight off the bat. | | | |
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| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 13:35 - Feb 8 with 991 views | jayessess |
Chicken or egg. Are we rotating because no-one's playing well enough to be indispensable or are the rotations preventing anyone from properly getting going? | |
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| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 15:03 - Feb 8 with 831 views | itfcsuth |
| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 13:29 - Feb 8 by Bluroo |
We've picked up more points than Oxford in the last 6 games so I'm not sure this data conclusively proves that a settled side is better...
KMac has more to think about than a settled side. He's got fitness, team spirit, squad development, support and individual match strategy amongst other things to consider. Fans don't have to bear the consequences of their guesses or trouble themselves with the full range of considerations.
I'm personally very happy with how its going in an overall sense because there is more to it than just putting out the best XI and given what KMac has to work with (I think the quality of the squad is over-rated), he's already effected a significant improvement in results straight off the bat. |
I don't understand why a select few are just insistent on picking holes in McKenna's time so far.
So many things are pointing in the right direction at such an early stage. |  | | |
| AMEN on 15:04 - Feb 8 with 825 views | unstableblue |
| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 13:16 - Feb 8 by FrimleyBlue |
I watched the Nottingham V Leicester highlights this morning and one thing you barely see with town is where every player in the final third is driven to get to the opponents area. We seem to be falling into the trap of waiting for someone to do something. Watching these highlights just showed the vast difference in mindsets of players. The amount of attacking intent was crazy. |
Its been a player performance level issue of late (although as rightly pointed out we are still winning, and that's the important thing)
Players are just not on the front foot, grabbing games, being bold, breaking the lines
Forest were to a man, inspired, playing to their limits
We've not been playing to our potential since Gillingham away; and that was against a really poor press | |
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| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 15:08 - Feb 8 with 806 views | unstableblue |
| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 15:03 - Feb 8 by itfcsuth |
I don't understand why a select few are just insistent on picking holes in McKenna's time so far.
So many things are pointing in the right direction at such an early stage. |
I am fully supportive of McKenna, I think he is going to be a brilliant manager for us. I rate him highly. Some of his early tactical and player changes against Wycombe and Gills were inspired.
I believe in him and I think he has the right temperament and intelligence.
BUT, we have been playing poorly for quite a number of games, and we have lost to any decent opposition (bar Wycombe)...
I don't lay the main issues at McKenna's door (although this thread does highlight the rotation up front as a potential flaw)
Our issue is Player Performance.. and it has been all season. Nothing wrong with calling this out.
I hope tonight we get the selection right, the players fund their groove and we win well ahead of MK.
But after Saturday I am not confident.
COYB | |
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| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 15:17 - Feb 8 with 790 views | itfcsuth |
| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 15:08 - Feb 8 by unstableblue |
I am fully supportive of McKenna, I think he is going to be a brilliant manager for us. I rate him highly. Some of his early tactical and player changes against Wycombe and Gills were inspired.
I believe in him and I think he has the right temperament and intelligence.
BUT, we have been playing poorly for quite a number of games, and we have lost to any decent opposition (bar Wycombe)...
I don't lay the main issues at McKenna's door (although this thread does highlight the rotation up front as a potential flaw)
Our issue is Player Performance.. and it has been all season. Nothing wrong with calling this out.
I hope tonight we get the selection right, the players fund their groove and we win well ahead of MK.
But after Saturday I am not confident.
COYB |
I think that's a reasonable response to be fair, and agree with many things you've said.
I'm not expecting us to be consistently good each week whilst we are developing under KM, and at especially when we are so early in his tenure.
I just don't think we need to be even attempting to put negative spins on things right now. | | | |
| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 16:51 - Feb 8 with 673 views | Bluroo |
| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 15:03 - Feb 8 by itfcsuth |
I don't understand why a select few are just insistent on picking holes in McKenna's time so far.
So many things are pointing in the right direction at such an early stage. |
Yup, KMac is the first managerial appointment I've agreed with since Burley and confirmation bias notwithstanding, I think this guy is the real deal and we're very lucky to have him. I expect there will be a lot more supporters on the KMac bus in the fullness of time. To be fair I don't think he's getting a hard time at the moment. Even if there are concerns with the quality of football, nobody can argue he's delivering decent results.
I take all the "I would pick this line up", "chose this formation", "stick to a settled side" opinions with a pinch of salt. As I said earlier, these are consequence free guesses that don't concern themselves with the reality of the many challenges involved in management.
Just because he's quality, I'd like to see more of Celina. But in KMac I trust. | | | |
| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 17:09 - Feb 8 with 634 views | FrimleyBlue |
| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 15:17 - Feb 8 by itfcsuth |
I think that's a reasonable response to be fair, and agree with many things you've said.
I'm not expecting us to be consistently good each week whilst we are developing under KM, and at especially when we are so early in his tenure.
I just don't think we need to be even attempting to put negative spins on things right now. |
Problem is. It's not a negative spin to say performances aren't great. That's been the problem on this forum. You can both be appreciative of results but also concerned at the performance level based on experiences we had under lambert. Most of the comments too aren't about KM it's more about why the players themselves struggle. You can't blame KM for swapping players if they've put in a rubbish performance for example. | |
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| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 14:24 - Feb 9 with 466 views | Bluroo |
| Attacking player game time analysis; plus effectiveness (shots on target.. eek!) on 17:09 - Feb 8 by FrimleyBlue |
Problem is. It's not a negative spin to say performances aren't great. That's been the problem on this forum. You can both be appreciative of results but also concerned at the performance level based on experiences we had under lambert. Most of the comments too aren't about KM it's more about why the players themselves struggle. You can't blame KM for swapping players if they've put in a rubbish performance for example. |
I think these points can be separated out:
The form is good because we have an excellent manager in KMac who knows how to coach and set up his team. With what he has available to him, that's enough to get results in this league.
The quality of the performances aren't generally very good because KMac isn't a magician, we are limited by the fact that a large number of our players aren't very good. They are, mostly, division 1 squad level players. You're going to get poor touches, wayward passes, mistakes, glaring misses, dropping energy levels, indecision and indecisiveness as par for the course. | | | |
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