Are the players the problem?

[him behind you]

One thing I'm beginning to worry about is whether we've got a serious problem with the players at set pieces. One thing Adkins said on the radio was that it wasn't just the cb's at fault with the first 3 goals and that we weren't marking who we were supposed to be, and he has a point. Gillingham players were simply getting far too much room in and around our box and always reacted quicker.

You can make all the plans you like but if the players don't follow them then there is little you can do. Having been involved in junior football, watching united at times reminds me of a common issue with youngsters at set pieces where they will be marking someone but then the attacking players move but their markers don't. We had that problem all last season and it continued yesterday. Perhaps the players have simply lost the ability to defend. If so, Adkins has one hell of a job on his hands.

 

[robbiez666]

The goals we conceded from corners reminded me of watching Sunday League games in the park. Whilst there was an obvious breakdown (or utter void) in communication between the Keeper and defence, it looked as though no one knew who to mark. Which for me, is a training issue.

 

[him behind you]

The goals we conceded from corners reminded me of watching Sunday League games in the park. Whilst there was an obvious breakdown (or utter void) in communication between the Keeper and defence, it looked as though no one knew who to mark. Which for me, is a training issue.

Agree Robbie. It's not just the defenders though. Everyone who is back has a job to do and we constantly see midfielders and forwards lose their men. They need to switch on and stay focussed.

 

[robbiez666]

Agree Robbie. It's not just the defenders though. Everyone who is back has a job to do and we constantly see midfielders and forwards lose their men. They need to switch on and stay focussed.

agreed. the whole set-up, for a team who have allegedly been focussing on defending set-pieces, was farcical. In training there must be no holding, barging or movement.

 

[sheffielder]

Speaking as an ex keeper myself, my CB/Captain of the defence would tell me what he wanted me to stay and come for. He would manage the other players around him and ensure the danger was picked up. Long should not be marking a player for the 1st goal. I am not saying he wasn't at fault or partly responsible but this isn't even school boy defending, because even back then you would adapt to the danger.

For the first, did Long not ask for a player to mark the player or was it ignored? The bench I am guessing were bellowing at this point.

 

[him behind you]

agreed. the whole set-up, for a team who have allegedly been focussing on defending set-pieces, was farcical. In training there must be no holding, barging or movement.

It's those cardboard cutouts they play against - they don't move so it's easy to beat them to the headers

 

[Tyler Durden]

They are definitely the problem in my view. And it's not just the laughable positional play or the fact that we've got a team full of munchkins who'd be blown away by a sturdy fart.

It's the entire mentality. They're content to be in the 3rd division and as long as they're with a club that's big enough to play a decent wage.
They'll happily get their game on when it's a high profile cup fixture yet they think they can stroll it past the teams in our division. Look at the home games against Fleetwood and Crewe last season, not even the slightest desire to win and win convincingly, and the worst bit is that the opposition didn't even look like they wanted it much more than us, yet we got turned over.
The only two exceptions to this are Done and Brayford, who genuinely give a shit about the shirt they wear, but sadly both are crocked.
Some teams have a problem with lack of confidence, but we have the opposite. We have lazy, passionless cunts who think that they only have to turn up in order to fulfill their job role.

I don't ask the players to love the club like we do, all players are mercaneries in this day and age after all. Only the supporters stay constant in this game.
But I DO expect them to give their absolute utmost to succeed while they wearing our shirt and receiving our money.

Our fans invest a lot into this club, both practically and emotionally, we deserve no less.

 

[robbiez666]

We have a huge squad, but Diego apart, you never hear much about players being unhappy about being left out. Normally, in this kind of situation, there would be a lot more players demanding to leave to play first team football. They just seem content whether they play or not.

 

[Ashtonsmashton]

And Long can't catch

 

[Preecey]

Let's just bare in mind that we can't form any sort of meaningful attack from corners and free-kicks, so how can anyone on the training pitch gauge whether we can defend them or not? Every single fan at the club knows, and I think it's time for the staff to start hurting people's feelings. Put Bash and Baxter on the bench, get 2 solid, fit midfielders (think of what we list when we didn't get Coast back) and ship out NC and JM and replace them. That's the only way to get anything out of this season if you ask me.

 

[Preecey]

And yes, the squad is far too large and is probably hurting our FFP