0-0 at half time and the JTW

[cooperblade]

We've had 12 games this season which have been 0-0 at half-time and our record in them is W4 D3 L5.

I think this has been a real problem for us, if we don't get in front early, we struggle to break teams down and I can think of games (weds at home being the classic example) where the second half has just drifted away from us.

One of the main reasons for that has been our lack of options from the bench. We play a high energy style and when our players have tired, we haven't had quality options on the bench to try and change it. Going forward, we'll likely have 3 of Duffy, Dowell, Sharp, McGoldrick, Madine and Hogan on the bench. That's a massive difference from where we've been. Against weds for example the bench was Clarke, Baldock, Stearman, Coutts, Johnson, Washington, Moore - good but really lacking in gamechangers.

Wilder has done brilliantly to address this under the constraints of our relative lack of spending power.

All we need now is for Henderson, Basham, O'Connell, Stevens and Fleck to play the vast majority of the remaining games (I'm very worried about Basham's upcoming 2 game ban).

 

[LoughboroBlade]

We've had 12 games this season which have been 0-0 at half-time and our record in them is W4 D3 L5.

I think this has been a real problem for us, if we don't get in front early, we struggle to break teams down and I can think of games (weds at home being the classic example) where the second half has just drifted away from us.

One of the main reasons for that has been our lack of options from the bench. We play a high energy style and when our players have tired, we haven't had quality options on the bench to try and change it. Going forward, we'll likely have 3 of Duffy, Dowell, Sharp, McGoldrick, Madine and Hogan on the bench. That's a massive difference from where we've been. Against weds for example the bench was Clarke, Baldock, Stearman, Coutts, Johnson, Washington, Moore - good but really lacking in gamechangers.

Wilder has done brilliantly to address this under the constraints of our relative lack of spending power.

All we need now is for Henderson, Basham, O'Connell, Stevens and Fleck to play the vast majority of the remaining games (I'm very worried about Basham's upcoming 2 game ban).

I don’t think this can be overstated. We probably for the first time now have strength and depth across our squad that is a decent standard for the division. We’ve had that in the first team throughout, but not the squad, and not crucially as you say with an ability to make an impact. It looks as though we have that now – Bolton will actually be a decent test of this, as I expect it might be another frustrating one if they set up defensively.

Re: the Basham ban, there isn’t a good time for this really. I think the least worst option is for him to survive Saturday and get a booking at Villa to then miss the Boro and Reading home games.

 

[cooperblade]

Re: the Basham ban, there isn’t a good time for this really. I think the least worst option is for him to survive Saturday and get a booking at Villa to then miss the Boro and Reading home games.

That's probably right although I'd be a little bit nervous about him getting to 15 bookings then. Assume suspensions for bookings carry into the play-offs?

His booking at Norwich was an absolute joke as well. It should've been our free-kick for a foul by Pukki, the referee got it totally wrong and the linesman, who had the perfect view, didn't have the balls to correct him.

We're not in a financial position to have perfect cover for every position so it's not a criticism but I do feel that our system is very reliant on a few players who we don't have a similar replacement for.

 

[S15Blade]

Basham's yellow at Norwich was possibly the worst decision I've ever seen, absolute farce.

Re. the bench. Fully agree, other than 2 or 3 Leon goals I can't remember a sub scoring this season. Plus, we don't have to worry about Sharp, DM or Duffy tiring as they may have done at their ages being asked to play 40+ games with very little rest.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

That's probably right although I'd be a little bit nervous about him getting to 15 bookings then. Assume suspensions for bookings carry into the play-offs?

His booking at Norwich was an absolute joke as well. It should've been our free-kick for a foul by Pukki, the referee got it totally wrong and the linesman, who had the perfect view, didn't have the balls to correct him.

We're not in a financial position to have perfect cover for every position so it's not a criticism but I do feel that our system is very reliant on a few players who we don't have a similar replacement for.

He’s a vital player. Cranie to his credit though while offering us less hasn’t let us down. If he doesn’t get one in the next two games I could see him missing the derby – I’d prefer he didn’t.

 

[Revolution]

Basham's yellow at Norwich was possibly the worst decision I've ever seen, absolute farce.

Re. the bench. Fully agree, other than 2 or 3 Leon goals I can't remember a sub scoring this season. Plus, we don't have to worry about Sharp, DM or Duffy tiring as they may have done at their ages being asked to play 40+ games with very little rest.

I was interested enough in the subs scoring point to check it. I think subs have scored 4 goals:

Sharp at Reading
McGoldrick at QPR
Clarke at Brentford
Clarke at home to Derby

One big advantage of these new signings is the we can give a break to the 3 you mention: but it will only work if they actually do the business. I have bad memories of James Wilson playing in the home derby whilst Sharp sat on the bench. Wilder must remember who has goalscoring form and who doesn't.

For all the money spent on them Hogan and Madine have a combined total of zero goals this season. They need to hit the ground running.