Is there a change of style without McGoldrick?

[lakedistblade]

Erm, absolutely essential I would say mate.

Oops see what you mean obs meant Didsy and mcburnie

 

[CornwallBlade]

That was my point.

Based on performances and general play before the new year we DID look like realistic challenges for top 7.
Almost every team we played against performed poorly against us.....we matched or bettered every team we played (including Leicester, Chelsea and Man Utd).

However since Liverpool away based on performances and general player we DON’T look a top 10 side.
We’re still good, tough, organised etc but we no longer look a high quality passing side.....we are slowly morphing into a Burnley style.

Its as though the opposition have stopped under estimating us or have worked our out system or the players are tired or maybe the players are naturally relaxing becuase it looks like we’re safe or without McGoldrick we miss a vital ingredient to our keep possession passing game.

Thats absolutely it - we’ve been sussed. No shame in that as we have a team of massive over achievers but did we really think we’d go a whole season in this league without being worked out? We’re pretty much safe but will need to invest big time in the summer if we want to stay up next season. I fully expect to be battered for this but look at the stats. We can’t score, set piece conversion is zip but we’re a brilliant defensive unit. No shame there but please don’t let us mutate into a Warnock side. Next few games will be a window on how sustainable the current squad is.

 

[SB_90]

i thought it was most creative we had been for a while. but now is not the time to talk about it because this was the toughest period of the season playing the fa cup finalists, arsenal away, double reigning premier league champions twice & champions elect. we are going struggle in this period

 

[Sheffsteel]

Remember the away performance at Spurs where we dominated and apart from the last 10 minutes made Spurs look like the away team.

Today.....out of possession we were great..ensuring our goalie didn’t have much to do.
However in possession we were terrible 1st half...thought we were playing away at Anfield again.
We improved 2nd half but still couldn‘t get anywhere near playing silky possession play.

In earlier seasons we never seemed the same without Duffy and this season we don’t look the same without McGoldrick.
Linking midfield to attack with creativity is an area we still need to work on for next season.

 

[dc_blade]

Remember the away performance at Spurs where we dominated and apart from the last 10 minutes made Spurs look like the away team.

Today.....out of possession we were great..ensuring our goalie didn’t have much to do.
However in possession we were terrible 1st half...thought we were playing away at Anfield again.
We improved 2nd half but still couldn‘t get anywhere near playing silky possession play.

In earlier seasons we never seemed the same without Duffy and this season we don’t look the same without McGoldrick.
Linking midfield to attack with creativity is an area we still need to work on for next season.

The main thing he gives us is another option in midfield when Norwood is being closed down, as he was today. McGoldrick comes so deep that he’s often an option even for our back three or wingbacks when we’re trying to play out from our half. Without him, if Norwood is being closed down quickly, we end up going long more than I’d like.