Stretch
A member of average proportions
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2013
- Messages
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Ok so we can all agree that the Swansea performance was largely awful but that first half tonight took the biscuit. As bad a 45 minutes and defensive display I have seen since Clough's second season, possibly longer.
Wilder I am sure won't go with that starting line up again, he can't surely?! The midfield is anonymous and neither shields the defence, controls the tempo, nor creates anything for the strikers. However overall the team looked worryingly flat and disinterested. Whether players have had heads turned, or the [alleged] pre season bust ups were more serious than many thought remains to be seen. What got me the most was how easy heads seemed to drop at 0-2, not at all characteristic of a Wilder team and despite a few positive performances from the first half [McG, Baldock and Henderson - it could easily have been 4] , had the game ended at 45 minutes I would have been much more worried than I feel at this minute.
A few players to highlight:
Egan - needs to get his head in the game, and quick. I didn't think the whole 'record signing' razzmatazz was a great idea at the time, as it just heaps pressure. But at the end of the day he is an experienced player who Chris brought in to fix a problem. On first impressions he is making it worse. He needs to understand that a lot is resting on him this season.
What I would just add is that Stearman got off to a shaky start and then became as solid a performer as we have had in recent years. If things don't improve soon for Egan then Stears must come back in surely.
Stevens - poor as usual, misplaced passes, out of position and our left flank looked exposed yet again. I would love to see Lafferty or Bryan have a go and give Enda a little break.
Lundstram and Evans - sorry to lump them together but I am afraid they are not effective as a midfield duo. Neither seem to move the game forward and their tackling is clumsy at best. Lundstram looks unfit and Evans is too easily knocked off the ball.
Clarke - has been getting dog abuse all night and that may be partly deserved as he looks well off the pace at the moment. Remember though Blades he does score in streaks and I expect a few goals from him yet this season, but I think a little spell on the bench wouldn't harm him. Chris however seems to like him in the starting 11.
The second half, at least gave me some cause for optimism.
Woodburn is a lively little player, with some great touches and movement. Find a system and attacking partner or pair around him and we could be in for a treat with this lad.
As soon as Duffy came on the game came alive for us. Ok Boro were happy to sit back, but they tend to do that whenever they are in the lead under Pulis. Fleck looks a different player with Duffy on the field. The understanding that 2 of them forged [along with Coutts] cannot be underestimated. Our game instantly shifted 20-30 yards up the field as we pinned their team in. We looked like the team that used to start each game on the attack in previous seasons. I have said many times that whilst Fleck is our best player, Duffy and Coutts are the two most influential players, as they bring the best out of everyone else. Duffy is the anchor point around the opponent's 18 yard box and final 3rd that the whole team revolves around. Take him out and we look flat, every single time.
Leonard looked good, albeit in a short cameo. He had the energy and bite that neither Lunny or Evans seem to possess at the moment. I would consider giving him a start.
Assuming Chris has learnt from the last 2 games I seriously hope he plays to our strengths against QPR. Here is how I would like to see us line up, on the attack. I am assuming / hoping we get one more AM in and hopefully a striker. In any case a couple will miss the squad entirely.
...........................................................................Henderson................................................................................
.........................................Bash..............................Egan...................................JOC...........................................
...Baldock.............................................................................................................................................Lafferty....
.......................................................Leonard...............................Fleck.................................................................
...............................Woodburn....................................................................Duffy.................................................
........................................................................McGoldrick...................................................................................
Alternatively stick Duffy in the no.10 role and push Woodburn up as the second striker.
Subs:
Moore
Freeman
Stearman
Bryan/Stevens
Evans/Lunny
New AM or New Striker
Sharp/Clarke
Wilder I am sure won't go with that starting line up again, he can't surely?! The midfield is anonymous and neither shields the defence, controls the tempo, nor creates anything for the strikers. However overall the team looked worryingly flat and disinterested. Whether players have had heads turned, or the [alleged] pre season bust ups were more serious than many thought remains to be seen. What got me the most was how easy heads seemed to drop at 0-2, not at all characteristic of a Wilder team and despite a few positive performances from the first half [McG, Baldock and Henderson - it could easily have been 4] , had the game ended at 45 minutes I would have been much more worried than I feel at this minute.
A few players to highlight:
Egan - needs to get his head in the game, and quick. I didn't think the whole 'record signing' razzmatazz was a great idea at the time, as it just heaps pressure. But at the end of the day he is an experienced player who Chris brought in to fix a problem. On first impressions he is making it worse. He needs to understand that a lot is resting on him this season.
What I would just add is that Stearman got off to a shaky start and then became as solid a performer as we have had in recent years. If things don't improve soon for Egan then Stears must come back in surely.
Stevens - poor as usual, misplaced passes, out of position and our left flank looked exposed yet again. I would love to see Lafferty or Bryan have a go and give Enda a little break.
Lundstram and Evans - sorry to lump them together but I am afraid they are not effective as a midfield duo. Neither seem to move the game forward and their tackling is clumsy at best. Lundstram looks unfit and Evans is too easily knocked off the ball.
Clarke - has been getting dog abuse all night and that may be partly deserved as he looks well off the pace at the moment. Remember though Blades he does score in streaks and I expect a few goals from him yet this season, but I think a little spell on the bench wouldn't harm him. Chris however seems to like him in the starting 11.
The second half, at least gave me some cause for optimism.
Woodburn is a lively little player, with some great touches and movement. Find a system and attacking partner or pair around him and we could be in for a treat with this lad.
As soon as Duffy came on the game came alive for us. Ok Boro were happy to sit back, but they tend to do that whenever they are in the lead under Pulis. Fleck looks a different player with Duffy on the field. The understanding that 2 of them forged [along with Coutts] cannot be underestimated. Our game instantly shifted 20-30 yards up the field as we pinned their team in. We looked like the team that used to start each game on the attack in previous seasons. I have said many times that whilst Fleck is our best player, Duffy and Coutts are the two most influential players, as they bring the best out of everyone else. Duffy is the anchor point around the opponent's 18 yard box and final 3rd that the whole team revolves around. Take him out and we look flat, every single time.
Leonard looked good, albeit in a short cameo. He had the energy and bite that neither Lunny or Evans seem to possess at the moment. I would consider giving him a start.
Assuming Chris has learnt from the last 2 games I seriously hope he plays to our strengths against QPR. Here is how I would like to see us line up, on the attack. I am assuming / hoping we get one more AM in and hopefully a striker. In any case a couple will miss the squad entirely.
...........................................................................Henderson................................................................................
.........................................Bash..............................Egan...................................JOC...........................................
...Baldock.............................................................................................................................................Lafferty....
.......................................................Leonard...............................Fleck.................................................................
...............................Woodburn....................................................................Duffy.................................................
........................................................................McGoldrick...................................................................................
Alternatively stick Duffy in the no.10 role and push Woodburn up as the second striker.
Subs:
Moore
Freeman
Stearman
Bryan/Stevens
Evans/Lunny
New AM or New Striker
Sharp/Clarke
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