Too clever by half

[Revolution]

As dull as many were predicting. Two managers who are trying to get their teams to play in a way that their players are unfamiliar with, and which doesn’t lead to goals.

Swansea are playing this ridiculous deep possession stuff that carries no threat whatsoever. No width, no long set pieces, no pace, passing dangerously around the back. One corner and one shot on target. Of course this is a ground where Leon Britton is revered as some sort of football God so they may get away with it for longer than other fans will tolerate but my God it’s turgid.

Speaking of turgid, that was a little better from us, but they were there for the taking and we did not have enough about us to do it. Slow, slow, slow build up, little urgency, awful finishing, and by and large we were unable to get the ball to the forwards even though we were playing what is in theory an attacking formation. So disjointed. The midfield cries out for pace, power and creativity.

Ramsdale: did what he needed to do, which wasn’t much
Baldock: lots of endeavour but not really doing much as an attacking force
Robinson: patchy. An attacking black hole
Egan: see Ramsdale
Basham: played out of position. Wasted as a centre half in a 4 but that’s it for him now I suspect.
Berge: very deep - too deep - first half. 3 errors, caught in possession and a misplaced pass, saw him disappear for 45 minutes. A little further forward in the 2nd half. A few runs but it’s not enough, as ever.
Norwood: a bit better than last week but still needs replacing if we are to score goals. Set pieces improved from disgraceful to mediocre
Brewster: played out of position. Tried hard and got up and down well, I thought. My MOTM
Burke: played out of position. If I’d never seen him play before I’d think you were joking if you told me he was fast. Very poor and needs leaving out
Sharp: feeding off scraps. Ok I suppose. Looks quicker than Burke. Should have scored
McGoldrick: this formation doesn’t suit him. Profligate.

Osborn: the most energetic player on the park when he came on. Found space and used it quite well. Should not be allowed to shoot from distance
McBurnie: carried on where he left off last season. Niggly fouls more interesting to him than finding space in the box. Still waiting for a decent display from him this calendar year
Bogle: meh

Slav: Bryan Robson rides again. I know the squad is a poor one, and lacks key elements, but there were too many players out of position and there seems to be no thought as to how chances might be created. It’s also turgid to watch.

A point is something, but if we play like that on Wednesday WBA will destroy us.

This is nowhere near a top 6 team. We won’t get 60 goals.

 

[knowsnowt]

I thought Berge was very disappointing. I actually felt sorry for him.
Im not sure he was the rolls Royce in a banger race some would have us believe, but he looked very out of the game for some reason.
I hope it comes good for him, meaning it does for us too.

 

[Rodley]

It’s two games in. We were better second half. We’ll be better again in the next game. Rome wasn’t built in a day and if you wanted to move away from CW’s style which had ground to a halt tactically, you need to give the new man time.

 

[Jacobsenthecrab]

As dull as many were predicting. Two managers who are trying to get their teams to play in a way that their players are unfamiliar with, and which doesn’t lead to goals.

Swansea are playing this ridiculous deep possession stuff that carries no threat whatsoever. No width, no long set pieces, no pace, passing dangerously around the back. One corner and one shot on target. Of course this is a ground where Leon Britton is revered as some sort of football God so they may get away with it for longer than other fans will tolerate but my God it’s turgid.

Speaking of turgid, that was a little better from us, but they were there for the taking and we did not have enough about us to do it. Slow, slow, slow build up, little urgency, awful finishing, and by and large we were unable to get the ball to the forwards even though we were playing what is in theory an attacking formation. So disjointed. The midfield cries out for pace, power and creativity.

Ramsdale: did what he needed to do, which wasn’t much
Baldock: lots of endeavour but not really doing much as an attacking force
Robinson: patchy. An attacking black hole
Egan: see Ramsdale
Basham: played out of position. Wasted as a centre half in a 4 but that’s it for him now I suspect.
Berge: very deep - too deep - first half. 3 errors, caught in possession and a misplaced pass, saw him disappear for 45 minutes. A little further forward in the 2nd half. A few runs but it’s not enough, as ever.
Norwood: a bit better than last week but still needs replacing if we are to score goals. Set pieces improved from disgraceful to mediocre
Brewster: played out of position. Tried hard and got up and down well, I thought. My MOTM
Burke: played out of position. If I’d never seen him play before I’d think you were joking if you told me he was fast. Very poor and needs leaving out
Sharp: feeding off scraps. Ok I suppose. Looks quicker than Burke. Should have scored
McGoldrick: this formation doesn’t suit him. Profligate.

Osborn: the most energetic player on the park when he came on. Found space and used it quite well. Should not be allowed to shoot from distance
McBurnie: carried on where he left off last season. Niggly fouls more interesting to him than finding space in the box. Still waiting for a decent display from him this calendar year
Bogle: meh

Slav: Bryan Robson rides again. I know the squad is a poor one, and lacks key elements, but there were too many players out of position and there seems to be no thought as to how chances might be created. It’s also turgid to watch.

A point is something, but if we play like that on Wednesday WBA will destroy us.

This is nowhere near a top 6 team. We won’t get 60 goals.

A good balanced summary.

I’ve no doubt we will get better as fitness improves but the system worries me.
If as reported the Ben Davies deal is done and we stick to a back 4 then that’s Basham sidelined - he’s the only player I would trust to play well at the moment and improved the back line last night.
Also if we want to play this way we need 2 wide players bringing in but haven’t been linked with this type of player.
Personally I would go to a back 5!3 until we have the players Slav wants, the players know the system and we were better with it last season than we are playing at the moment.
Also in a weaker league we should convert more of the chances we create.

I’m not questioning the manager as he’s had a massively disrupted pre-season so he’s having to work things out in games that matter, but a few chats with Hecky might help him get there a bit quicker as he knows the limitations of some of these players.

 

[Wards]

It’s two games in. We were better second half. We’ll be better again in the next game. Rome wasn’t built in a day and if you wanted to move away from CW’s style which had ground to a halt tactically, you need to give the new man time.

Whilst still not brilliant I thought the improvement from the first to second half was fairly obvious. This alone gives me optimism. Created 2 or 3 good opportunities all squandered by Didzy but some signs we were getting there. Never felt threatened by Swansea for the entire 90 mins which is a stark improvement on the defensive shitshow of last weekend.

As ever, people will focus on the negatives but two or three good additions to this side might see it throw off the malaise of the past 18 months.

 

[Oreyt]

This is nowhere near a top 6 team. We won’t get 60 goals.

If we carry on like this we won't get 30.

 

[SouthStandGBlock]

A good balanced summary.

I’ve no doubt we will get better as fitness improves but the system worries me.
If as reported the Ben Davies deal is done and we stick to a back 4 then that’s Basham sidelined - he’s the only player I would trust to play well at the moment and improved the back line last night.
Also if we want to play this way we need 2 wide players bringing in but haven’t been linked with this type of player.
Personally I would go to a back 5!3 until we have the players Slav wants, the players know the system and we were better with it last season than we are playing at the moment.
Also in a weaker league we should convert more of the chances we create.

I’m not questioning the manager as he’s had a massively disrupted pre-season so he’s having to work things out in games that matter, but a few chats with Hecky might help him get there a bit quicker as he knows the limitations of some of these players.

If the Davies deal is done, and Basham isn't needed in defence, then put him in midfield. He's got drive, energy and loves getting up the pitch. Viera in there with him, and Berge driving at the opposition, should be a good midfield combination.

IMO no point judging the manager until the end of September until he's had time to assess everything and get some additions in.

 

[Silent Blade]

McGoldrick: this formation doesn’t suit him. Profligate.

That was my thinking too. Would be surprised if we drop him soon

 

[espoo blade]

Basham: played out of position. Wasted as a centre half in a 4 but that’s it for him now I suspect.

Breaks my heart to see Bash having to return diligently to his CB position after the last few years of him roaming free down the right Still it was good to seea few of those meandering runs forward that we're used to.

 

[The Vicar]

Goals win games, & with a combined figure of 59 from the last 2 seasons the issue is obvious. Hence the relegation.

WBA, Fulham & Boremuth have scored at least 4 already & are in pole position at the top.

The Sky reporter commentated last night about our lack of goals & whether it might be an issue, & it is & it will be.

We have no one who I am confident could score 15 goals, even when chances are created, & there were some last night! We have numerous attackers, but no goal scorers, BS & DM are past it as far as regular players/scoring is concerned. LM & OB are just crap & stealing a wage, & OM & RB just cannot put it in the net.

So basically I see us wasting a season, moving on the crap & reshaping the team, & losing a years parachute payment, & then trying without any guarantee of success of mounting a challenge next year. Then we will really see what our owner is like!

Or maybe we have had our chance & years of obscurity once again is what we face?

 

[bakeblade]

If the Davies deal is done, and Basham isn't needed in defence, then put him in midfield. He's got drive, energy and loves getting up the pitch. Viera in there with him, and Berge driving at the opposition, should be a good midfield combination.

IMO no point judging the manager until the end of September until he's had time to assess everything and get some additions in.

Bash is shocking in midfield, I wouldn't be against having him at right back though

 

[St Albans Blade]

As dull as many were predicting. Two managers who are trying to get their teams to play in a way that their players are unfamiliar with, and which doesn’t lead to goals.

Swansea are playing this ridiculous deep possession stuff that carries no threat whatsoever. No width, no long set pieces, no pace, passing dangerously around the back. One corner and one shot on target. Of course this is a ground where Leon Britton is revered as some sort of football God so they may get away with it for longer than other fans will tolerate but my God it’s turgid.

Speaking of turgid, that was a little better from us, but they were there for the taking and we did not have enough about us to do it. Slow, slow, slow build up, little urgency, awful finishing, and by and large we were unable to get the ball to the forwards even though we were playing what is in theory an attacking formation. So disjointed. The midfield cries out for pace, power and creativity.

Ramsdale: did what he needed to do, which wasn’t much
Baldock: lots of endeavour but not really doing much as an attacking force
Robinson: patchy. An attacking black hole
Egan: see Ramsdale
Basham: played out of position. Wasted as a centre half in a 4 but that’s it for him now I suspect.
Berge: very deep - too deep - first half. 3 errors, caught in possession and a misplaced pass, saw him disappear for 45 minutes. A little further forward in the 2nd half. A few runs but it’s not enough, as ever.
Norwood: a bit better than last week but still needs replacing if we are to score goals. Set pieces improved from disgraceful to mediocre
Brewster: played out of position. Tried hard and got up and down well, I thought. My MOTM
Burke: played out of position. If I’d never seen him play before I’d think you were joking if you told me he was fast. Very poor and needs leaving out
Sharp: feeding off scraps. Ok I suppose. Looks quicker than Burke. Should have scored
McGoldrick: this formation doesn’t suit him. Profligate.

Osborn: the most energetic player on the park when he came on. Found space and used it quite well. Should not be allowed to shoot from distance
McBurnie: carried on where he left off last season. Niggly fouls more interesting to him than finding space in the box. Still waiting for a decent display from him this calendar year
Bogle: meh

Slav: Bryan Robson rides again. I know the squad is a poor one, and lacks key elements, but there were too many players out of position and there seems to be no thought as to how chances might be created. It’s also turgid to watch.

A point is something, but if we play like that on Wednesday WBA will destroy us.

This is nowhere near a top 6 team. We won’t get 60 goals.

Double impressive…

“if we play like that on Wednesday WBA will destroy us”

“Bryan Robson rides again”

You’re on fire!

 

[St Albans Blade]

It’s two games in. We were better second half. We’ll be better again in the next game. Rome wasn’t built in a day and if you wanted to move away from CW’s style which had ground to a halt tactically, you need to give the new man time.

…like three seasons’ time!