Losing well

[tomtheblade]

We just don't do it do we.

Some would argue there's no such thing of course but we can certainly do better than this, that's for sure.

Attacking, competing, missing a few chances and being beaten 2-1 when you should've got a better result hurts but at least it's not as depressing or as mediocre as 1 attempt on target all match.

I would actually be encouraged if we were to lose but play well for once, however for now i think we're stuck with grinding out whatever result we get, whether it be win, lose or draw. I'd really just rather see football as opposed to grinding.

 

[DuncDisorderly]

Whilst I agree with you, I did notice a feature in yesterday's games that is surprisingly common.

Of the 11 games in the CCC yesterday, 10 of them were won by the team scoring first. Only one Preston failed to win, and they got a point. 7 teams who fell behind failed to score.

Of the 12 games in the CCC last Saturday, 9 of them were won by the team scoring first. Only one Derby failed to win, losing at WBA. 6 teams who fell behind failed to score.

Of the 10 games played the Sauturday before that, 8 of them were won by the team scoring first. Only Leicester and Scunthorpe failed to win, both drawing. 7 teams who fell behind failed to score.

Of the 8 games played on the Saturday before that one, 5 of them were won by the team scoring first. Swansea failed to win, instead drawing, and Barnsley, who lost to Plymouth. 4 of the teams who fell behind failed to score.


The point I'm making, in my non 'statistically valid' way, is that this is the nature of the league, teams tend either to score and win, or concede and lose. There are very few 'turnaround wins'. In my sample, just 2 out of 41 games where the team conceding first go on to win the game. I cant really remember our last one, (Bristol City last year, maybe?), I also heard a commentator say that Doncaster haven't got a turnaround win since 2008.

You could draw the conclusion from this that all out attack from the start of the game is the best policy. Score and you have a very high percentage chance of winning the game. It also suggests that the margins of defeat in most games are small, that defences are on top in this league, and that whilst a very aggressive approach to scoring would be important, a cautious approach to defending is equally important.

Unfortunately as in every sport, the other teams approach affects the game as much as our own. They also want to win, and we can't just play how we want to and expect them to be nice enough not to beat us...

 

[DazBlade88]

I agree with you Dunc, statistically it does seem unlikely, but all I ask is that we at least look like we're trying to score. I genuinely only got out of my seat once yesterday for an attempt at goal from Evans, and that's the problem.

If we'd lost 1-0 and were knocking on the door for ages, at least creating a few half chances, people would probably accept it. But, far too often this season we're coming out of away games seeing us have less than 5 attempts at goal, and it's embarrassing.

 

[TopBoy]

Spot on. I really can't recall the last time we played well away from home, this season has been awful and last season despite the 11 (?) away wins it was dire. Forest away last season when we won 1-0 was probably the worst game I've ever seen and it hasn't improved at all since. I can see us getting turned over at Peterborough too.
Blackwell can no longer blame it injuries nor can he blame it on having to make do with previous managers players.

Who would I replace Blackwell with? Well it would never happen but I'd love to see Keegan at Bramall Lane for a couple of years so we can enjoy the ride once again but realistically we'll end up with Southgate.

I'm fed up with vanilla football.

 

[tomtheblade]

Dunc, i think what that shows also is that so many teams in this league live and die by their confidence. One goal conceded and they collapse and can't get back in the game, go a goal up and they go on to win. We seem to be a classic example of this.

I think you're right about the cautiousness of teams as well. All teams could adopt a more open approach but then any team that tempered this by slightly more resiliance in defence would do better, others would follow, and so we'd all drop back into this playing style once again. Going back to my first post, i think this league suffers from too many teams going for the grind as a means to an end. This is unfortunate because there can really be some fantastic matches in this league when teams open up a little, but we see it far too rarely.

 

[oldblade]

I agree with you Dunc, statistically it does seem unlikely, but all I ask is that we at least look like we're trying to score. I genuinely only got out of my seat once yesterday for an attempt at goal from Evans, and that's the problem.

If we'd lost 1-0 and were knocking on the door for ages, at least creating a few half chances, people would probably accept it. But, far too often this season we're coming out of away games seeing us have less than 5 attempts at goal, and it's embarrassing.

That's because away from home we do not try to win games. Our 'plan' is merely to try and avoid defeat.

 

[Stafford Blade]

We just don't do it do we.

Some would argue there's no such thing of course but we can certainly do better than this, that's for sure.

Attacking, competing, missing a few chances and being beaten 2-1 when you should've got a better result hurts but at least it's not as depressing or as mediocre as 1 attempt on target all match.

I would actually be encouraged if we were to lose but play well for once, however for now i think we're stuck with grinding out whatever result we get, whether it be win, lose or draw. I'd really just rather see football as opposed to grinding.

you're right. we should have tried to lose like barnsley did................