Starting line up last night V starting line up in August

[BiggerBladeThanThou]

I was surprised to learn that our starting line up last night was nearly the same as it was on 30th August when we smashed playoff hopefuls Reading 4-0 at The Lane.

Apart from Berge in MF and Lowe at LWB, everyone else was the same last night as they were on 30th August against Reading.

Following that game V Reading we went on a 4 game unbeaten run and a 3 game winning streak going top of the league…with just two players different to last night’s 11.

Injuries are playing a part but what else is playing a part?

-Berge’s influence and composure and ability to offer us some solid shape?

-Heck’s subs? Although that’s always been shoddy

-other teams have found us out? Upping their game against us/Norwich?

-other teams have found their stride?

-Just a blip and we’re all overreacting?

-what else?

 

[Wards]

All of the above. Blips happen. A constantly changing starting XI does not help at all either.

 

[coolasanidiot]

Nothing Berge and Lowe play last night we win-

Macatee- poor lost kid- nothing like the impact of Berge

Osborn - atrocious last night -

For me last night Outfield Anel/ Egan/Norwood/ Doyle / Ndiaye played well rest were rubbish you cant win a match with half the players performing badly.

 

[metalblade]

The set up last night was to contain Coventry WTF? that's the difference no attacking intent last night just contain and nick a goal maybe.
Not good enough, not good enough by a long way.

 

[MobileBlade]

The set up last night was to contain Coventry WTF? that's the difference no attacking intent last night just contain and nick a goal maybe.
Not good enough, not good enough by a long way.

 

[Wards]

View attachment 146055

Which were the shots on target? I'm genuinely struggling to remember one.

 

[MobileBlade]

Which were the shots on target? I'm genuinely struggling to remember one.

Definitely three plus two others that hit the woodwork. Very negative.

 

[pommpey]

Which were the shots on target? I'm genuinely struggling to remember one.

McBurnie's post hit, N'Daiye's shot from an angle which was saved. Suppose Norwood's freaky free kick?

pommpey

 

[Wards]

Definitely three plus two others that hit the woodwork. Very negative.

Ndiaye's shot was on target to be fair, just watching the highlights. I haven't seen two others.

I'm not arguing against us trying to attack, I think we did (especially 2nd half) - we were pretty bloody awful at it though.

 

[Wards]

McBurnie's post hit, N'Daiye's shot from an angle which was saved. Suppose Norwood's freaky free kick?

pommpey

Shots against the post aren't considered to be on target in the stats game, and correctly so I guess. Surely they aren't counting that free kick

 

[MobileBlade]

Ndiaye's shot was on target to be fair, just watching the highlights. I haven't seen two others.

I'm not arguing against us trying to attack, I think we did (especially 2nd half) - we were pretty bloody awful at it though.

My response originally was to the post saying there was no attacking intent and it was negative. It wasn't to you. First half both sides were awful. I thought in second half there only looked one winner and wrong side won.

 

[Geordie Blade]

The 'Wilderball' 3-5-2 system is a very finely tuned machine. When it works well, it's as sweet as anything, but when just one cog is out of place, the whole thing grinds and crunches.

 

[Jan Age]

Tactically we are poor

We rely very heavily on individual moments of brilliance to win games or score goals

 

[Snowflake]

McBurnie's post hit, N'Daiye's shot from an angle which was saved. Suppose Norwood's freaky free kick?

pommpey

Egan’s header straight at the keeper ?

 

[onslowblade]

The 'Wilderball' 3-5-2 system is a very finely tuned machine. When it works well, it's as sweet as anything, but when just one cog is out of place, the whole thing grinds and crunches.

Exactly this, the balance of the team has changed so much, losing vital cogs.

Baldock has been isolated and shown up to be performing poorly without the assistance of Berge and Anel, as good as Doyle has been he doesn't offer the wide overload.

Same on the left side which has been has been completely decimated.

Like last night, we're currently muddling through and relying on some individual brilliance from Ndiaye, or somebody else to be brave in attack.

At the end of October last season we were 17th and Forest were 18th, we know the rest.

The razor blades are remaining in the cupboard, we'll be just fine.

 

[HarryHaslam]

I was surprised to learn that our starting line up last night was nearly the same as it was on 30th August when we smashed playoff hopefuls Reading 4-0 at The Lane.

Apart from Berge in MF and Lowe at LWB, everyone else was the same last night as they were on 30th August against Reading.

Following that game V Reading we went on a 4 game unbeaten run and a 3 game winning streak going top of the league…with just two players different to last night’s 11.

Injuries are playing a part but what else is playing a part?

-Berge’s influence and composure and ability to offer us some solid shape?

-Heck’s subs? Although that’s always been shoddy

-other teams have found us out? Upping their game against us/Norwich?

-other teams have found their stride?

-Just a blip and we’re all overreacting?

-what else?

Exactly, the injury excuse is a load of bull, yes we have injuries but they way it is being used to cover bad performances is a joke, I even saw one post last night about the manager and performance saying “what do you expect with the Reserves’ …like the whole team was out injured, absolutely baffling as every single game we are nearly full strength bar one or two spots.

 

[robbiez666]

Which were the shots on target? I'm genuinely struggling to remember one.

Anel hit one from our own half. Egan headed softly into the keeper's hands. McBurnie had a header back across goal when should have got a shout from McAtee

 

[CTRL ALT DE LAET]

McBurnie's post hit, N'Daiye's shot from an angle which was saved. Suppose Norwood's freaky free kick?

pommpey

Do you know what 'on target' means?

 

[RecordBreakers]

McBurnie's post hit, N'Daiye's shot from an angle which was saved. Suppose Norwood's freaky free kick?

pommpey

I thought shots that hit posts/bar are off target?

 

[RecordBreakers]

Anel hit one from our own half. Egan headed softly into the keeper's hands. McBurnie had a header back across goal when should have got a shout from McAtee

That header from mcburnie should've been better, Blackpool striker scored Saturday with an almost similar header. Must say tho felt for mcburnie last night never stopped looking at the clouds with all the pointless balls lumped upto him.

 

[Danny_Blade]

I was surprised to learn that our starting line up last night was nearly the same as it was on 30th August when we smashed playoff hopefuls Reading 4-0 at The Lane.

Apart from Berge in MF and Lowe at LWB, everyone else was the same last night as they were on 30th August against Reading.

Following that game V Reading we went on a 4 game unbeaten run and a 3 game winning streak going top of the league…with just two players different to last night’s 11.

Injuries are playing a part but what else is playing a part?

-Berge’s influence and composure and ability to offer us some solid shape?

-Heck’s subs? Although that’s always been shoddy

-other teams have found us out? Upping their game against us/Norwich?

-other teams have found their stride?

-Just a blip and we’re all overreacting?

-what else?

This is exactly what I've just been starting to think recently. Yes the frequency of injuries have been terrible and still are but it's not as if the whole starting 11 has been out at the same time at any point. Hopefully it's a blip but it could also likely be that we had a great start to the season and are only play off contenders/hopefuls at best.

I'm wondering (but it may not even happen at some point this season) that if we had every player available would we start winning matches comfortably again like we did in the first ten games? Maybe, but I'm not necessarily 100% confident.

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

Do you know what 'on target' means?

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

McBurnie header. Egan header. Ndiaye shot from tight angle. From memory.

 

[Champagneblade]

Nothing Berge and Lowe play last night we win-

Macatee- poor lost kid- nothing like the impact of Berge

Osborn - atrocious last night -

For me last night Outfield Anel/ Egan/Norwood/ Doyle / Ndiaye played well rest were rubbish you cant win a match with half the players performing badly.

If McAtee wasn’t on loan from City, would he be getting picked ahead of Arblaster? Makes me wonder.

 

[Keen Blade]

McBurnie's post hit, N'Daiye's shot from an angle which was saved. Suppose Norwood's freaky free kick?

pommpey

I don't think they count as on target if they hit the post , but others might correct me

 

[Badger Blade]

Exactly, the injury excuse is a load of bull, yes we have injuries but they way it is being used to cover bad performances is a joke, I even saw one post last night about the manager and performance saying “what do you expect with the Reserves’ …like the whole team was out injured, absolutely baffling as every single game we are nearly full strength bar one or two spots.

Going to bottom of the league Coventry with the aim from the first minute to contain and "try and nick one" type attitude was pathetic. It reminded me of some of the pitiful displays from two seasons ago where a two goal defeat at Fulham or Palace was seen as a decent result.

Granted, it's not the best side we can put out but in comparison to the ones we're playing against every week, it should be enough to get past some of the dross who are making up the numbers.

Hoofball down channels, hoof to McBurnie, percentage football, inability to control the ball, inability to test the opposition keeper (common theme for a long time), not committing bodies forward, tippy tapping around the box, negative substitutions.

Make the opposition worry about us because rest assured, there are no Man City's in this league to worry about, they're all very beatable.

 

[robbiez666]

That header from mcburnie should've been better, Blackpool striker scored Saturday with an almost similar header. Must say tho felt for mcburnie last night never stopped looking at the clouds with all the pointless balls lumped upto him.

That was perfect for McAtee but he didn't give him a call. McBurnie was leaning back and never going to get the power on it.

The whole lump it up to McBurnie tactic really was odd. So many poor long balls which favoured the defender.

 

[Geordie Blade]

Exactly this, the balance of the team has changed so much, losing vital cogs.

Baldock has been isolated and shown up to be performing poorly without the assistance of Berge and Anel, as good as Doyle has been he doesn't offer the wide overload.

Same on the left side which has been has been completely decimated.

Like last night, we're currently muddling through and relying on some individual brilliance from Ndiaye, or somebody else to be brave in attack.

At the end of October last season we were 17th and Forest were 18th, we know the rest.

The razor blades are remaining in the cupboard, we'll be just fine.

We've seen it happen loads of times over the last few seasons, where small changes make the whole thing stop working:

• Wilder's bizarre insistence on trying the flat three midfield approach in the first two Championship seasons (the attacking threat completely dried up).
• Replacing JOC with a series of LCBs who didn't push forward (we became imbalanced and easy to snuff out).
• Playing Berge in the deep midfield role (much as people don't like Norwood's long passes, the quick balls out to the wide fullbacks are vital for the system to work).
• Playing any midfielder / wingback who isn't capable of quick triangles and one-twos (Osborn is an example, and we can never work situations to find an overload).
• The long spell of games where McBurnie's appearances meant that we felt compelled to lump it forward to him (our system doesn't allow numbers to pick up the knock-downs).

The bottom line - and crux of the problem - is that we don't have an effective Plan B.

 

[Toronto Blade]

I don't think they count as on target if they hit the post , but others might correct me

It is on target if the ball would have gone in the net if it hadn't been stopped. Goalposts and the crossbar are not on target.

 

[AWetFlannel]

I was surprised to learn that our starting line up last night was nearly the same as it was on 30th August when we smashed playoff hopefuls Reading 4-0 at The Lane.

Apart from Berge in MF and Lowe at LWB, everyone else was the same last night as they were on 30th August against Reading.

Following that game V Reading we went on a 4 game unbeaten run and a 3 game winning streak going top of the league…with just two players different to last night’s 11.

Injuries are playing a part but what else is playing a part?

-Berge’s influence and composure and ability to offer us some solid shape?

-Heck’s subs? Although that’s always been shoddy

-other teams have found us out? Upping their game against us/Norwich?

-other teams have found their stride?

-Just a blip and we’re all overreacting?

-what else?

Form.

Loss of momentum.

Players that aren't 100% playing.