A few thoughts on yesterday

[Swannyblade]

The mentality of this team is incredibly fragile at the minute. I think we're crying out for some experienced heads and if I was Wilder I'd be looking for a way to get Ben Mee into the starting lineup, maybe Ings as well given Campbell's current level of performance. We need some calm heads and standard setters.

3 at the back seems the most logical step to force a change in our fortunes. Harrison Burrows is still one of our major attacking threats, so lets free him from his defensive duties (which he can still be a liability) and let him flourish in a more advanced role down the left. It would also allow us to play to Seriki's strengths down the right and remove Godfrey who does not look like a good option at RB. I also saw evidence yesterday that Tanganga is very capable of stepping out of defence with the ball. It might not be the full overlapping CB system we saw during the peak Wilder era, but it would still unsettle the opposition if we have CB's stepping forward into midfield. An extra CB might also help with the problem of us being continuously exposed whenever we lose possession.

O'Hare, despite a lot of effort, was largely ineffectual yesterday and has been all season. I'd like to see him deployed as a finisher rather than a starter as he was during the play-offs and at the back end of last season. This shouldn't be viewed as a slight, he's just far more effective coming on after 60 or 70 mins against tired opposition and given free reign to express himself.

Peck was better in terms of work rate yesterday, but was still way off the level of performance required and Matos does not look to be a suitable partner for him. Peck was at his best when he was the supporting role in a midfield with Souza. I'm just not sure we have anyone in the squad capable of filling the gap left by Souza and this might prove to be Wilder's biggest headache until we get a fit Arblaster or Tom Davies (wishful thinking).

Generally, our movement off the ball has been piss poor. Our forwards are static and making it easy for defenders. Our players in possession are given very few passing options from their teammates. We are incredibly slow, laboured and predictable in our advancement up the pitch and it makes it really easy for the opposition to reset into their defence structure and nullify our attacks. Also, when in forward positions, our players seem incredibly reluctant to roll the dice and have a crack at goal or try a through ball or cross. Instead, we revert to sideways or backwards passes and handing the responsibility on to another teammate.

 

[54yrblade]

OK. But, apart from that, .....

 

[GymClassHero]

The mentality of this team is incredibly fragile at the minute. I think we're crying out for some experienced heads and if I was Wilder I'd be looking for a way to get Ben Mee into the starting lineup, maybe Ings as well given Campbell's current level of performance. We need some calm heads and standard setters.

3 at the back seems the most logical step to force a change in our fortunes. Harrison Burrows is still one of our major attacking threats, so lets free him from his defensive duties (which he can still be a liability) and let him flourish in a more advanced role down the left. It would also allow us to play to Seriki's strengths down the right and remove Godfrey who does not look like a good option at RB. I also saw evidence yesterday that Tanganga is very capable of stepping out of defence with the ball. It might not be the full overlapping CB system we saw during the peak Wilder era, but it would still unsettle the opposition if we have CB's stepping forward into midfield. An extra CB might also help with the problem of us being continuously exposed whenever we lose possession.

O'Hare, despite a lot of effort, was largely ineffectual yesterday and has been all season. I'd like to see him deployed as a finisher rather than a starter as he was during the play-offs and at the back end of last season. This shouldn't be viewed as a slight, he's just far more effective coming on after 60 or 70 mins against tired opposition and given free reign to express himself.

Peck was better in terms of work rate yesterday, but was still way off the level of performance required and Matos does not look to be a suitable partner for him. Peck was at his best when he was the supporting role in a midfield with Souza. I'm just not sure we have anyone in the squad capable of filling the gap left by Souza and this might prove to be Wilder's biggest headache until we get a fit Arblaster or Tom Davies (wishful thinking).

Generally, our movement off the ball has been piss poor. Our forwards are static and making it easy for defenders. Our players in possession are given very few passing options from their teammates. We are incredibly slow, laboured and predictable in our advancement up the pitch and it makes it really easy for the opposition to reset into their defence structure and nullify our attacks. Also, when in forward positions, our players seem incredibly reluctant to roll the dice and have a crack at goal or try a through ball or cross. Instead, we revert to sideways or backwards passes and handing the responsibility on to another teammate.

I agree three at the back would arguably be a sensible move, given we are strong in the CB department now we should use it. I think Tanganga and McGuiness are Wilders preferred pairing but Ben Mee has to start for me. We need his experience and calm desperately to steady the ship and instil some confidence.

Tanganga was one of the few bright sparks for me on Saturday. Carries the ball well, positioning was decent, has pace and he's good on the ball. I'm pleased with this transfer, and was buzzing when we were linked. Could easily see him making the step up to PL.

O'Hare was anonymous, decent work rate but was ineffective. Looks short of confidence.

Peck is floundering without Vini. I think even though we all appreciated how good Vini was, we underestimated how influential he was on the pitch. Strong, powerful and intimidating presence when he was on his game. Must have done wonders for Peck's confidence as a young lad.

Our build up play is laborious, we take an age to get the ball to the final third. When we do get there and one of our wingers beats his man to the byline, instead of crossing early we send the ball backwards. We then pass it across where the same thing happens on the other wing and eventually we are forced back to our own half and the attack breaks down. We just look toothless and devoid of ideas currently.

 

[Stretch]

I agree about changing to a back 3.

This squad screams 3-4-3 as far as I am concerned. Tanganga, McG and Mee, with 2 holding CMs, Burrows and Ogbene providing the attacking width, then Hamer with 2 CFs.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

My thoughts are as follows:

Positives - Marginally more solid at the back. Tang looked good again. No Jack Robinson.

Negatives: Bar sorting the CB position, all of the issues from last season which tripped us up at the death are still there and have not been addressed over the summer. These include, playing a winger system with no wingers, ploddy play, a complete lack of pace and with that an inability to counter attack, no proper right back, Peck continuing to be played when he is badly out of form (IMO and not good enough), playing one up front (which makes Cannon look even worse), Femi not looking any better defensively, trying to accommodate both Hamer and Peck in the same team. This is where I worry about CW coming back. While, he is undoubtedly better than Selles - is he guilty of not learning from where we went wrong last season.

Add to that new issues- a total lack of confidence , lack of physicality, bedding in lots of new players at once, and a loss of form for Hamer, Cooper and Burrows - three of our better performers last season.

I was genuinely shocked at how slow Ogbene was - a few Luton fan-mates told me he was rapid. I am assuming his injury has cost him a yard of pace.

It is a right mess at the moment. The owners should feel embarrassed.

CW I think can really help the situation by switching to wingbacks so we move away from a system we don't have the personnel to play and a system that CLEARLY ISN'T WORKING.

 

[Gavlar]

We started off badly, petered out in the middle and the less said about the ending the better, but apart from that...........

 

[Uganda Blade]

I agree three at the back would arguably be a sensible move, given we are strong in the CB department now we should use it. I think Tanganga and McGuiness are Wilders preferred pairing but Ben Mee has to start for me. We need his experience and calm desperately to steady the ship and instil some confidence.

Tanganga was one of the few bright sparks for me on Saturday. Carries the ball well, positioning was decent, has pace and he's good on the ball. I'm pleased with this transfer, and was buzzing when we were linked. Could easily see him making the step up to PL.

O'Hare was anonymous, decent work rate but was ineffective. Looks short of confidence.

Peck is floundering without Vini. I think even though we all appreciated how good Vini was, we underestimated how influential he was on the pitch. Strong, powerful and intimidating presence when he was on his game. Must have done wonders for Peck's confidence as a young lad.

Our build up play is laborious, we take an age to get the ball to the final third. When we do get there and one of our wingers beats his man to the byline, instead of crossing early we send the ball backwards. We then pass it across where the same thing happens on the other wing and eventually we are forced back to our own half and the attack breaks down. We just look toothless and devoid of ideas currently.

I recall watching the recent Inside Shirecliffe episode, where they were practising getting the ball out wide for a first-time cross to a forward to shoot.

Seems like they forgot about that.

 

[calcalcal]

The return of the 352 please

 

[Panini]

I agree about changing to a back 3.

This squad screams 3-4-3 as far as I am concerned. Tanganga, McG and Mee, with 2 holding CMs, Burrows and Ogbene providing the attacking width, then Hamer with 2 CFs.

wE cAnT bE gUnG hO

 

[Jan Age]

My thoughts are as follows:

Positives - Marginally more solid at the back. Tang looked good again. No Jack Robinson.

Negatives: Bar sorting the CB position, all of the issues from last season which tripped us up at the death are still there and have not been addressed over the summer. These include, playing a winger system with no wingers, ploddy play, a complete lack of pace and with that an inability to counter attack, no proper right back, Peck continuing to be played when he is badly out of form (IMO and not good enough), playing one up front (which makes Cannon look even worse), Femi not looking any better defensively, trying to accommodate both Hamer and Peck in the same team. This is where I worry about CW coming back. While, he is undoubtedly better than Selles - is he guilty of not learning from where we went wrong last season.

Add to that new issues- a total lack of confidence , lack of physicality, bedding in lots of new players at once, and a loss of form for Hamer, Cooper and Burrows - three of our better performers last season.

I was genuinely shocked at how slow Ogbene was - a few Luton fan-mates told me he was rapid. I am assuming his injury has cost him a yard of pace.

It is a right mess at the moment. The owners should feel embarrassed.

CW I think can really help the situation by switching to wingbacks so we move away from a system we don't have the personnel to play and a system that CLEARLY ISN'T WORKING.

I don’t think he was slow but he was certainly not as quick as I thought he was meant to be.

I honestly wonder if he’s been asked to slow it down so the game doesn’t get stretched and the play can catch up with him. Genuinely could hear wilder saying that.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

My thoughts are as follows:

Positives - Marginally more solid at the back. Tang looked good again. No Jack Robinson.

Negatives: Bar sorting the CB position, all of the issues from last season which tripped us up at the death are still there and have not been addressed over the summer. These include, playing a winger system with no wingers, ploddy play, a complete lack of pace and with that an inability to counter attack, no proper right back, Peck continuing to be played when he is badly out of form (IMO and not good enough), playing one up front (which makes Cannon look even worse), Femi not looking any better defensively, trying to accommodate both Hamer and Peck in the same team. This is where I worry about CW coming back. While, he is undoubtedly better than Selles - is he guilty of not learning from where we went wrong last season.

Add to that new issues- a total lack of confidence , lack of physicality, bedding in lots of new players at once, and a loss of form for Hamer, Cooper and Burrows - three of our better performers last season.

I was genuinely shocked at how slow Ogbene was - a few Luton fan-mates told me he was rapid. I am assuming his injury has cost him a yard of pace.

It is a right mess at the moment. The owners should feel embarrassed.

CW I think can really help the situation by switching to wingbacks so we move away from a system we don't have the personnel to play and a system that CLEARLY ISN'T WORKING.

That ain't what the scoreboard said yesters. It said he got subbed!

 

[Davalon]

All about opinions but I've been surprised how many I've seen today saying they thought we were much better.

All our crew and others in the pubs after didn't think there was much improvement.

 

[PrestwichBlade]

I recall watching the recent Inside Shirecliffe episode, where they were practising getting the ball out wide for a first-time cross to a forward to shoot.

Seems like they forgot about that.

Yep, I noticed that too!

 

[Constantly Optimistic...]

The peak of our form in the last season or so was when we had Soutta commanding the area and Vini in front, commanding control behind the hallway line. This gave the attacking 5 the confidence to go forward more quickly and take the game to the opposition. That confidence has wilted. The bravery gone. So we piss about, for want of a better phrase, worried about what will happen if we lose the ball in the opponents half. Confidence is shattered and attacking without fear is lost

 

[Chazzer]

The injury to Souttar was definitely the turning point of the season. Without that it is much less likely we would have suffered the cheap defeats by Hull, Oxford, Millwall and Plymouth which cost us automatic promotion and I am sure Souza would still be with us in the Premier League, probably Ahmedhodzic too

 

[Sheffsteel]

All about opinions but I've been surprised how many I've seen today saying they thought we were much better.

All our crew and others in the pubs after didn't think there was much improvement.

As ever there’s always context.

Regards general play we were better….most of the match we had more possession and looked the better team forcing Charlton back defending. However regards the final third we were the same….loads of attacking but there was zero creativity, risk taking or running into space, it was too much safe sideways, sideways, backwards, sideways passing and we never looked like scoring. Although to be fair, thought Charlton were superb defensively, parked the bus and we had no chance breaking them down. Then they just waited relying on a chance from a breakaway. Brilliant tactics from Nathan Jones and think they deserved their win.

Ogbene went on a few good runs 1st half….went past his man down the wing, noticed no one in the box so he’d always cut back passing it back to a midfielder. We have Ogbene and Barry as wingers but I thought it startling just how good (quick and tricky) their winger Tyrese Campbell was compared to any wingers we’ve had.

 

[TomTheBlade1889]

O'hare is not a top end Championship player for me. What do you want from an attacking midfielder? ... consistent chance creation and ideally a goal threat. He's not really either. He doesn't have the vision and technical execution to play decisive passes. I think his lack of speed takes a lot away from his game too. He receives the ball in spaces where he should pose a threat but opposition players almost always end up catching up with him. I admire his work rate which is outstanding, but we need more output on the ball.

 

[GymClassHero]

The injury to Souttar was definitely the turning point of the season. Without that it is much less likely we would have suffered the cheap defeats by Hull, Oxford, Millwall and Plymouth which cost us automatic promotion and I am sure Souza would still be with us in the Premier League, probably Ahmedhodzic too

I'm not actually that upset about Ahmedhodzic leaving. Never really rated him, felt he was a bit soft

 

[Swannyblade]

I'm not actually that upset about Ahmedhodzic leaving. Never really rated him, felt he was a bit soft

Anel was always a fair weather player for me. During our better periods he looked a very classy CB, but when we were up against it, he never looked up for the fight or led by example.