A few observations from the stats (Plymouth):

[Coolblade]

A few observations from the stats:

- we had an xG of 0.63 creating zero “big chances” and losing out in both aerial duels and ground duels. We can have absolutely no complaints.

- very few players come out with credit. Hamer with most key passes (4), most crosses (7), most successful dribbles (4) has the best overall offensive stats. Rak-Saki with joint most shots, second most successful dribbles, one key pass and a great goal obviously stands out too.

- I know lack of service can be used as an excuse (notwithstanding the above) but Cannon with no shots (on or off target), no dribbles, no crosses, no key passes and just 12 touches, demonstrating minimal impact.

- defensively, two players come out ok. Only Vini and Anel had more than one successful tackle (Vini had most and also had joint most aerial duels won - whilst Robbo didn’t win a single tackle - and laid on a great assist for their goal). Anel also had most successful defensive contributions (9) and the highest pass completion rate (90%)

Alas I fear that almost all those named positively above will move on as we fail to win promotion, leaving us with players such as Robbo and Cannon contracted for next season. Coupled with our manager showing obvious signs of pressure makes tonight a dark one. I’m off to get a large glass of red……

 

[Barmyblade]

Thanks to both Deadbat and Cool for finding the resilience to still produce their reports despite the spiralling misery we all are steeped in. As Cool says, the best reason to go up is to keep our best players. My only hope is that staying down gives Arbie, Peck, Seriki, Brooks and One a better chance to develop in the championship next season rather than being thrashed week in week out in the Prem as I suspect would have been inevitable.

 

[Coolblade]

Given the number of posts specifically about our defence, and Robinson in particular, I did a slightly deeper dive into their performance, especially as regards duels won (ground and aerial) as each player should aim to win their own personal battle.

Yesterday Anel won 71%, Robbo won 33%, Clarke won 33% and Burrows won 33% (in fact the only one of our players who won his personal battle was Hamer was 66%

Then let’s layer on % of tackles won:

Yesterday Anel won 100%, Robbo won 0%, Clarke won 0%, Burrows won 0%

So it’s fair to say we have one stand out defender, with big question marks against all the rest. And generally we lost our battles all over the pitch. Of the 12 players ranked satisfactory or above by Footmob based on stats yesterday, Plymouth had nine and we had three (Hamer, Rak-Saki and Vini) with none of our defenders (Anel was highest).

Our defence was very strong before Xmas with Souttar and Gilchrist. To bolster confidence in preparation for the play offs, I would suggest we do our best to replicate that and Holding (the nearest to Souttar) and Alfie (an out and out defender) should come in if possible.

Alfie was on the bench against Millwall last week so I am hoping is close to match fitness and the next few games may be ideal to bed him back in and get him match sharp? Even though he’s been missing for months, remarkably he is still third in our season long tackle stats, and has a tackle success rate of over 80%. We need that level of commitment back.

 

[Barmyblade]

I always fear that players are perceived to be better than they are the longer they are out of the team, but undoubtedly we were far more defensively solid when Gilchrist was in the team. So if he is fit then I like the fact that rather than panicking, sacking half the team and the manager etc we instead try to build confidence back up and do everything we can to prepare for the playoffs, which will be fiendishly difficult regardless of who we play. If we limp into the playoffs without changing momentum I fear a super excited Sunderland, Bristol City, Cov or Boro would turn us over adding to our appalling play off record.

Something has to be done and a shift in team tactics is needed. But sacking Wilder now would be as daft as sacking Wilson just before the playoffs!

 

[SwitchBLADE Smiles]

If we are to persist with the ‘Defense first’ mindset & trying to nick a goal every game, we need to play our best defenders. Robinson & Clarke need to come out for Holding & Gilchrist.

I’m getting a little concerned over Burrows performances of late too. I feel like he’s been neither here nor there in terms of defensive or attacking contributions & genuinely can’t remember the last time he put in a good cross for the strikers to attack. When we’re so reliant on the wide players to make something happen, we can’t really afford so many sub-par performances. He’s definitely dipped since about Christmas, but that maybe on the back of the entire side really lacking.

 

[jono_t2000]

I always fear that players are perceived to be better than they are the longer they are out of the team, but undoubtedly we were far more defensively solid when Gilchrist was in the team. So if he is fit then I like the fact that rather than panicking, sacking half the team and the manager etc we instead try to build confidence back up and do everything we can to prepare for the playoffs, which will be fiendishly difficult regardless of who we play. If we limp into the playoffs without changing momentum I fear a super excited Sunderland, Bristol City, Cov or Boro would turn us over adding to our appalling play off record.

Something has to be done and a shift in team tactics is needed. But sacking Wilder now would be as daft as sacking Wilson just before the playoffs!

We need to go back to being hard to beat, I know people going on about our lack of attacking prowess but let's start by being confident of keeping a clean sheet and then go from there.

I'm not convinced that Holding is the complete answer but Robinson has made so many errors lately he has to come out.

Burrows - Holding - Anel - Gilchrist

 

[Barmyblade]

The alternative, if Wilder refuses to drop Captain Fantastic, must be to revert to the original plan A, a back three of Robbo, Holding and Anel allowing Burrows and Seriki/Clarke to push forward.