1st time observations

[Stannington Blade]

1st time I've managed to get down to a game this season with my eldest, so it's the first opportunity I've had to really see what is going on.

Some observations based on that:

I have zero idea what the idea is for midfield. Sidie looks like he's being told to stay still and not move literally across the pitch to look for the ball while COH and Hamer are asked to go anywhere they want. Leads to a huge amount of disjointed movement with very little connectedness. Basically cut out on transition in both directions.

The amount of times we were isolated without a pass on was amazing. I heard Brooks getting abuse for losing the ball at one bit but when he recieved the ball there were somehow 3 Milwall lads on him and not red and white shirts for 20 yards.

I wonder if they are being "over coached" compared to what they are used to. I say this as conjecture as it often appears players are in two minds looking like they are second guessing themselves or looking for something they have been told to look for as opposed to taking an easier or conventional option.

Thought Godfrey looked good tho.

I dont like going in on players but Cannon - I've never seen someone consistently make the exact wrong choice before. Runs inside when there should be width, runs wide when the play is developing on the opposite wing. Takes someone on when it's too tight, tries a pass when it's not on. Feels the issue is more mental than technical.

And despite being so abject and tactically inept I thought the subs changed us and gave us functional width (if not a midfield still) and we should have scored at least 1 and drew at minimum.

Selles needs a bit of a miracle from here but it would be nice if for once we try something different and it actually worked as opposed to always reverting to type.

UTB.

 

[loyalblade95]

Some good observations there.

Godfrey: instant improvement on one half of our defence (right side) just need to sort the other half out now (left side), bailed Bindon out once or twice but Bindon looked comfortable enough playing alongside him.

Burrows: I'm not sure whats going on with him (maybe it's playing alongside RND and then Robbo) but he looks off the pace at the moment, hopefully with someone like Tanganga/Mee next to him might make him play better.

Cannon: a 2nd choice ST playing RW just highlights the need for a starting RW, I like Brooks but I think he is better off the bench than starting.

Brooks: bit hot and cold when he came on but he was trying to make things happen. Counted 2/3 times in that second half where he'd find himself unmarked in space on the right of the 18yrd box (or just inside) but we didn't give the ball to him. If you give him the ball in that position he'll shoot.

Chances: unlucky in some, a bit more composure in others, as soon as we had that one blocked on the line late on (can't remember who it was) you knew we weren't scoring, that goes in (which 9 times out of 10 it does) and it's a different game.

 

[bertieblade]

It was obvious within fifteen minutes that it was not working and the opening post has explained why.
If we had a decent coach he would have changed it by taking Cannon off and bringing Seriki on as RWB, subsequently changing the formation to 5 3 2.

 

[beatific blade]

Great post.

The manager has stuck with the same “structure” as the Bristol City game.

Effectively 1 midfielder with Hamer and O’Hare seemingly buzzing around trying to make things happen.

Problem is when you give the ball away (anywhere) it’s incredibly easy for the opposition to pick the pass into central midfield because Peck is effectively 1v3 and can’t ever be expected to cover all the space.

Rodri wouldn’t help. We look weak and brittle because the manager is trying to get the players to play a structure that is so ridiculously high-risk for the quality of the back 4. If we had a back 4 all top six or lower PL quality we might be able to pull it off.

Problem is we have a terrible back 4 and the rest of the team is not set up to protect it. Quite the opposite in fact - the front door is wide open.

You can see it in the players’ body language they are absolutely hating this. They don’t believe they can win games because they’re getting run through constantly due to the set up.

From that, the confidence drops and the mistakes happen.

Then the fans get in their back which just doesn’t help in any ways.

It reminds me of the League One days under Adkins where we look really uncomfortable as a team and then the fans get angry at the team because “we should be beating these” or “fuckin rubbish Yoonited” which only puts more pressure on them.

That leads to players playing in their shells and not relaxing into a flow.

If the players can’t believe in the manager’s methods then you have two choices:

1) back the manager and perform major surgery on players who can execute the plan

2) get rid as soon as possible and play to strengths

I feel we will end up in an in between and do neither.

What I really want to fucking see is the manager playing 3 players actually in midfield so that we can control games better and take the pressure off the back 4.

If he continues to play this ridiculous structureless set-up, then he deserves everything he gets.

 

[Stannington Blade]

I can see Bindon coming good as he looked better in the air at times but Robinson really struggled aerially throughout and resorted to pinning his man and wresting - the problem being that they both missed the ball or it would ricochet randomly which is worse than the striker winning it cleanly as at least that can be anticipated by other defenders.

Peck made some, what appeared to be, horrendous passes into space but in reality all (except one which i think was meant for OHare but badly executed) were when he had zero other options.

At the min it's high risk / ni reward football which is very hard to justify.

 

[LS5 Blade]

Moved from John Street to South Stand....not that it makes much difference however.......

We have managed to put together a very small team with the players over 6ft not dominant.

In terms of tactics, it is a rinse and repeat of Jocanovic, he has one way of playing, has inherited a team used to playing a different way, and has no idea of how to translate what he wants, or the players refuse. Only gonna end one way!

I feel as guilty as the majority now in that I was bored shitless last season watching us stifle games all the time, but at least it was a tactic.. I have no idea what we are doing at the moment

 

[Badger Blade]

It's madness persisting with something that so clearly isn't working tactically with the players we have. Wilder used to do it and now Selles is doing it, albeit with completely different tactics.

Football managers are a strange, stubborn breed who would happily cut off their noses to spite their faces.

I don't get why RS can't look at the squad, see what they're good at and find a system to fit, rather than have a system and try and make them fit into it when they can't.

Last season was as drab as hell but got results until our luck ran out with the score a goal and shut up shop approach. This is total nothingness to the point where we need a scrappy 1-0 just to get something on the board to try and gain some confidence

At the moment, it looks like we've appointed a Duolingo David Weir who we won't be wishing Feliz Navidad to, because he'll be out the door.

 

[puppet]

We are looking at the squad in terms of young players as the finished article. Peck, Seriki, Brooks to name three, they're kids who produced some moments of magic last season, when playing in a more suitable (to them, it seems) system, surrounded by better, supportive players. We sell Sousa and Anel leaving Peck and Seriki to hold the fort. No wonder they're playing below par. The lack of investment whilst selling off the spine of the team is absolutely staggering. We've just brought in two more centre halves, three if the Millwall guy hasn't changed his mind after today. So by next Saturday we may have a half decent defence but still with a confused midfield and front line.

 

[Cheeky Blade]

Cannon: a 2nd choice ST playing RW just highlights the need for a starting RW, I like Brooks but I think he is better off the bench than starting.

I’d play Brooks or even Seriki ahead of Cannon RW…let em play through it and into the role.

 

[Stannington Blade]

I’d play Brooks or even Seriki ahead of Cannon RW…let em play through it and into the role.

100% - when Brooks came on he ran at them directly 3 or 4 times. Didn't always come off but it put their left back on his heels a few times and made them think. He was able to press right against Cannon as there was no danger of him trying to run beyond or past him.