There's a hole in my football team, dear Nigel, dear Nigel....

[coaxingstar71]

Picking up on the aftermath of Saturdays poor performance, I've found it difficult to pinpoint one particular area of concern and then realised that our problems are all over the pitch, the defenders are not good enough so we have extra midfielders to protect them, those midfielders are not good enough so we need more of the same on the left and right to keep us solid, because of that we play with no wingers, with no wingers we can't find space out wide, we're not getting the ball forward in the right areas, we're not getting many quality crosses in, we're not getting many chances and therefore we can't score, when you don't score, it puts pressure on the defenders......

 

[BushBlade]

Picking up on the aftermath of Saturdays poor performance, I've found it difficult to pinpoint one particular area of concern and then realised that our problems are all over the pitch, the defenders are not good enough so we have extra midfielders to protect them, those midfielders are not good enough so we need more of the same on the left and right to keep us solid, because of that we play with no wingers, with no wingers we can't find space out wide, we're not getting the ball forward in the right areas, we're not getting many quality crosses in, we're not getting many chances and therefore we can't score, when you don't score, it puts pressure on the defenders......

Which is why most managers build from the back. And why Adkins was desperate to bring in Burn.

 

[Grey Blade]

Picking up on the aftermath of Saturdays poor performance, I've found it difficult to pinpoint one particular area of concern and then realised that our problems are all over the pitch, the defenders are not good enough so we have extra midfielders to protect them, those midfielders are not good enough so we need more of the same on the left and right to keep us solid, because of that we play with no wingers, with no wingers we can't find space out wide, we're not getting the ball forward in the right areas, we're not getting many quality crosses in, we're not getting many chances and therefore we can't score, when you don't score, it puts pressure on the defenders......

Agree with all of this but in addition when we get a quality cross in there's seldom anyone on the end of it.

We do really need a solid central defender ( I know it's been said repeatedly!) so the midfield can be relieved of defensive duties and be a little more positive

 

[coaxingstar71]

Which is why most managers build from the back. And why Adkins was desperate to bring in Burn.

Agree we need a decent CB, but for whatever reason, and I understand one of them is that he's playing in Fulham's first team, he hasn't been able to get Burn. This has been dragging on since last summer and maybe he needs to set his sights elsewhere.... or here's a crazy idea, why not have a few targets instead of just one that appears to be unattainable. He might as well target Kompany for all the good it's doing.

I think our problems are much greater than just a new shiny CB though.

 

[Blade56]

Then fix it dear Kevin dear Kevin dear Kevin
Then fis it dear HRH dear HRH
Fix it


FFC!

 

[BushBlade]

Agree we need a decent CB, but for whatever reason, and I understand one of them is that he's playing in Fulham's first team, he hasn't been able to get Burn. This has been dragging on since last summer and maybe he needs to set his sights elsewhere.... or here's a crazy idea, why not have a few targets instead of just one that appears to be unattainable. He might as well target Kompany for all the good it's doing.

I think our problems are much greater than just a new shiny CB though.

I don't know why we appear to chase unattainable targets but it's not started with Adkins. Another stupid policy imposed on managers by the board? A rigid criteria applied by the board that means our choices are severely limited?

 

[Fiery Blade]

Surely though there are other options out there who are better than what we have and are not called Dan Burn !

 

[groveblade]

In my opinion we are most lacking

- a strong, hard, commanding CB (this should be Edgar - but isn't)
- a mobile, strong, hard midfielder (who can also pass) (in theory Hammond - but... no!)
- a mobile, strong, fast forward who can run the channels - an outlet when you're under pressure so you can just boot it into the corner and still know they're going to be under pressure (Sammon...hahaha)

All we need then is:
Morgan rolled into Jagielka
McDonald rolled into Booker
Agana rolled into Deane

And they all need to be on free transfers with low wages................... then the average/mediocre players in our squad would suddenly look so much better...

 

[BushBlade]

In my opinion we are most lacking

- a strong, hard, commanding CB (this should be Edgar - but isn't)
- a mobile, strong, hard midfielder (who can also pass) (in theory Hammond - but... no!)
- a mobile, strong, fast forward who can run the channels - an outlet when you're under pressure so you can just boot it into the corner and still know they're going to be under pressure (Sammon...hahaha)

All we need then is:
Morgan rolled into Jagielka
McDonald rolled into Booker
Agana rolled into Deane

And they all need to be on free transfers with low wages................... then the average/mediocre players in our squad would suddenly look so much better...

Those three composite players would be playing in the PL and thus wouldn't be available on a free or for low wages.

I know you're only joking but I think there are those at the club who believe there are these kinds of players knocking around and it just takes a decent manager to come in and start finding players like Brian Deane for £30k. It just isn't that easy anymore, you need to work really hard to find good players because other clubs are investing huge amounts in the resources needed to find Seamus Colemans and Jamie Vardys. We're not. We still think it's 1986.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Those three composite players would be playing in the PL and thus wouldn't be available on a free or for low wages.

I know you're only joking but I think there are those at the club who believe there are these kinds of players knocking around and it just takes a decent manager to come in and start finding players like Brian Deane for £30k. It just isn't that easy anymore, you need to work really hard to find good players because other clubs are investing huge amounts in the resources needed to find Seamus Colemans and Jamie Vardys. We're not. We still think it's 1986.

I think you're right but if the likes of Gillingham, Walsall and Burton seem to have players that are adequate enough to challenge for promotion then we surely we should be able to. Like you say, perhaps we're stuck in 1986 - is Peter Beagrie still playing?

 

[BushBlade]

I think you're right but if the likes of Gillingham, Walsall and Burton seem to have players that are adequate enough to challenge for promotion then we surely we should be able to. Like you say, perhaps we're stuck in 1986 - is Peter Beagrie still playing?

I assume they invest in finding these players and have done for a number of years, learning from the process and refining their methods.

 

[Caveblade]

Having watched the football league highlights the sad thing is both goals came from a disastrous first touch from our own players (Brayford being one). I have noticed two trends this season:

1. Our ball control and first touch is poor and we often concede possession when we shouldn't. Simple rule in football, if you have the ball the opposition can't do anything with it.
2. We are very slow to close down the opposition and several goals could have been avoided simply by not allowing teams the luxury of time and space.

I am no coaching guru but its simple stuff that we are not doing well. The Op is right those issues prevail all over the pitch and are a pointer to the lack of quality we have in most positions.