Kenilworth, The only thing that should be causing yourself embarrassment is your opinions on Yesterdays game. The only pathetic thing is your response to Speed's FIRST EVER GAME AS A MANAGER.
Grow up and get a grip.
You are taking it all the wrong way HB. That was not a go at Speed. It was a go at the players and the lack of quality in the squad as well as highlighting how immense the task Gary Speed has. Are you telling me that you are not a tiny bit concerned about this season and the way we have started?
It was the reaction of the players that embarrassed me. I expected a whole lot more fight and determination against a poor, injury ridden side with little or no confidense, paralysed by fear but we couldn't muster more than a couple of chances on goal. Only one of those clear cut.
Ched was like a ghost - he doesn't put himslef about like a lone striker has to, so might as well not have played. Nos was no better than Kozzy (and Kozzy can take a throw in), Taylor has never been a footballer. The midfield did not support the lone striker at all - that's the whole point of playing a 4-5-1 where the midfiled supports the front man - our players kick it long and then stand still.
Only bright sparks for me were Bartley and Cresswell - although Cress was played out of position for most of the game, as usual. Top scorer from last season put wide left - makes no sense to me. Simmo had nothing to do and the finish from Boyd was good - but the rest of them were pants.
Where I am partially critical of Speed is in the lack of reaction during the game around formation and substitutions.
This is where he can try to influence the 90 minutes - Playing 4-5-1 was clearly not working and not creating any chances.
He could have seen how nervous Boro were during the first half and changed to 4-4-2 in an attempt to exploit their situation.
They had a young unproven keeper between the sticks and we did not put him under any pressure. Any free kick or corner was hung up insteead of whipped in - easy for big defenders and a rookie keeper.
Another thing - Yeates is an ex Boro player - discarded by Strachan. Don't you think he might have had something to prove? Worth a try to get some positive reaction. He destroyed Ipswich last game of last season but appears to be out of favour again now.
These are examples of the little things that he could have done to show that he has his own ideas and can manage the situation given the circumstances that present themselves through the course of the 90 minutes. They don't need hours on the training pitch.
By the way - some people have suggested the passing improved in that game. I didn't see any evidense of that. Passing accross the back four when there is no pressure then getting in a panic when you run out of room and lump it into the corner to no one in particular is not an improvement. It shows lack of movement from the forwards and the midfield to give the man on the ball the option. This means that players are hiding and not making themselves availalble. There wqas very little quick interchange of passing in the attaking third. The only one of note was where Ward blazed over after a good 1-2. Wardy apears to be angry at everyone, including himself. He is not making decisions that canexploit his pace - bar the one he nicked the ball from Bailey to set up Ched for his tame pass to the keepeer (contrast Ched's shot with Boyd's and Anelka's vs Wigan).
