Southend attacked on their left a lot

[Silent Blade]

especially in the first half.

Is it because they are their strongest on their left when attacking or were they trying to exploit our weakness they think they have noticed in their scouting reports?

 

[Esablade]

I'll have mi second rant about it...it was very noticeable in the first half hour because Freeman was nowhere near his man, not even challenging.
When he did challenge he got clattered which seemed to wake him up a bit and he started getting closer...

Maybe he was targeted maybe not ..got to give Adkin's some credit for changing things second half and turning the performance round...

 

[UnitedBlade]

You aren't going to get much extra cover from our wide midfielders.

Like most sides that come to the Lane, they looked like they'd done their homework.

 

[sheffielder]

I'll have mi second rant about it...it was very noticeable in the first half hour because Freeman was nowhere near his man, not even challenging.
When he did challenge he got clattered which seemed to wake him up a bit and he started getting closer...

Maybe he was targeted maybe not ..got to give Adkin's some credit for changing things second half and turning the performance round...

What did Adkins do to change things? I didn't see much change apart from an improvement in attitude myself.

 

[Esablade]

It looked to me liked he told them to actually get closer to the oppo, push up the pitch a bit and up the tempo, moving the ball faster...he then pushed Hammond further up the pitch which co-incided with a nice spell of Blades pressure around their box.

 

[JohnDenver]

It looked to me liked he told them to actually get closer to the oppo, push up the pitch a bit and up the tempo, moving the ball faster...he then pushed Hammond further up the pitch which co-incided with a nice spell of Blades pressure around their box.

I've no doubt whatsoever they're told to do that from minute one before every game. But never bloody do.

 

[Dnblade]

especially in the first half.

Is it because they are their strongest on their left when attacking or were they trying to exploit our weakness they think they have noticed in their scouting reports?

I think it's because Freeman is tasked with getting forward to provide width on the right as Baxter plays more narrow on that side and often comes inside..so they new he would leave gaps behind to exploit.

 

[Lane Ender]

I'll have mi second rant about it...it was very noticeable in the first half hour because Freeman was nowhere near his man, not even challenging.
When he did challenge he got clattered which seemed to wake him up a bit and he started getting closer...

Maybe he was targeted maybe not ..got to give Adkin's some credit for changing things second half and turning the performance round...

Don't worry Esa the Beards nearly ready for returning

 

[Trafford]

Neither full back played very well and, as an aside, I can't remember Freeman winning any headers but, to be fair to him he didn't have anyone in front of him and hence it was often just him against the winger.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Can't say I'd noticed it in any previous games, but Freeman was very poor in the air yesterday (in contrast to Bob Harris who's an excellent header of the ball). Maybe he was targetted by the orange-faced one?

I seem to remember the gangly Vincenti getting a lot of joy in a similar position for Rochdale here last season, but can't in all honesty remember if it was Freeman he was up against (could have been The Beard at right back that day).