cooperblade
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 7, 2009
- Messages
- 3,182
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1st half was nothing short of a disgrace and it would've been a travesty if we'd got to half time at 0-0.
I'm getting used to us wasting the first half of games through starting a bit slowly but this was on a whole different level.
The formation didn't work whether it was 4-5-1, 4-3-3 or even 4-2-3-1. Forte and Murphy played wide but were isolated and didn't get the ball enough. Robson floated around without really affecting anything. Kitson was totally ineffectual. The back 4 seemed reluctant to tackle and Doyle gave the ball away too easily.
Sometimes you can get through poor halves through workrate and desire but we showed neither of those things. It was just a rank bad half of football from us, a total non-performance and inexcusable from a side in a promotion battle.
Walsall weren't brilliant but they were lively and caused us loads of problems.
Although we improved instantly with Porter's introduction, we were still allowing Walsall loads of chances at the start of the 2nd half and Brandy must be gutted to have not scored today.
The upturn in performance stepped up a level when McFadzean came on for Robson. All of a sudden we no longer looked overrun and the whole dynamic of the game changed as we started to put Walsall on the back foot.
Credit to Porter for the goal even though it was from very close range. He was in the right place, he wanted to get there first and his overall performance deserved a goal.
A shame we couldn't get the second. Forte's turn and shot probably the closest we came, it can't have missed by more than a few inches.
From being in the depths of the despair at half time, I came away from the game with some encouragement. It's time for DW to be brave though - he HAS to leave Robson out on Tuesday and I'd like him to leave Kitson out as well. We're not mobile enough, we're not working hard enough and we haven't been causing defences enough problems. I think Porter and McFadzean can help address these problems.
Hill did OK overall today playing out of position so I'd keep him in the team on Tuesday but move him to left back and leave Higginbotham out for Westlake. We also need to play with a proper front 2, both playing in 'normal' positions - not in a free/deeper role.
Positive performances, other than the 2 subs, came from Long (got a hand on their goal but couldn't quite keep it out but made other crucial saves and stood up well to a bit of physical stuff) and McDonald who is starting to look a bit more like and is showing more desire than most in my opinion. When's the 10 yellow card cut off? I'm not sure we can achieve automatic if he gets his 10th yellow before then (please, please, please don't let it be a needless one if he does get it).
We have to win on Tuesday and I think we can if we pick the right team and, most importantly, the players apply themselves properly.
I'm getting used to us wasting the first half of games through starting a bit slowly but this was on a whole different level.
The formation didn't work whether it was 4-5-1, 4-3-3 or even 4-2-3-1. Forte and Murphy played wide but were isolated and didn't get the ball enough. Robson floated around without really affecting anything. Kitson was totally ineffectual. The back 4 seemed reluctant to tackle and Doyle gave the ball away too easily.
Sometimes you can get through poor halves through workrate and desire but we showed neither of those things. It was just a rank bad half of football from us, a total non-performance and inexcusable from a side in a promotion battle.
Walsall weren't brilliant but they were lively and caused us loads of problems.
Although we improved instantly with Porter's introduction, we were still allowing Walsall loads of chances at the start of the 2nd half and Brandy must be gutted to have not scored today.
The upturn in performance stepped up a level when McFadzean came on for Robson. All of a sudden we no longer looked overrun and the whole dynamic of the game changed as we started to put Walsall on the back foot.
Credit to Porter for the goal even though it was from very close range. He was in the right place, he wanted to get there first and his overall performance deserved a goal.
A shame we couldn't get the second. Forte's turn and shot probably the closest we came, it can't have missed by more than a few inches.
From being in the depths of the despair at half time, I came away from the game with some encouragement. It's time for DW to be brave though - he HAS to leave Robson out on Tuesday and I'd like him to leave Kitson out as well. We're not mobile enough, we're not working hard enough and we haven't been causing defences enough problems. I think Porter and McFadzean can help address these problems.
Hill did OK overall today playing out of position so I'd keep him in the team on Tuesday but move him to left back and leave Higginbotham out for Westlake. We also need to play with a proper front 2, both playing in 'normal' positions - not in a free/deeper role.
Positive performances, other than the 2 subs, came from Long (got a hand on their goal but couldn't quite keep it out but made other crucial saves and stood up well to a bit of physical stuff) and McDonald who is starting to look a bit more like and is showing more desire than most in my opinion. When's the 10 yellow card cut off? I'm not sure we can achieve automatic if he gets his 10th yellow before then (please, please, please don't let it be a needless one if he does get it).
We have to win on Tuesday and I think we can if we pick the right team and, most importantly, the players apply themselves properly.
