United – We have seen flashes in recent weeks of some real swashbuckling forward play and we have started creating and scoring goals but more importantly we have been able to keep some clean sheets and look more solid defensively. However, even in this run we have seen games and moments where we have buckled (Leicester, Norwich, and WBA) and the same weak mentality and 2nd half implosions have continued. Tonight was an odd game. We led 3-1 but I think Wrexham had been slightly the better side at this point – we just scored some good goals on the break and exploited their poor defending. We looked like scoring every time we attacked. Sadly, so did they and the way we conceded so quickly after the first and third, said a lot about the lack of leadership and brains in our side. We never kept the ball all game really – other than the pockets of play for the goals first half. We seemed to just turn it over so easily. A lot will be made about individuals at the back and all of the back 5 did not have good games defensively but I do think in front of them we had no protection or control. Wrexham were more physical and got a lot of crosses in and scored from 3 of them but they also played through us a fair bit. We never stopped the ball to source. I might be criticised for this but thought Riedewald and Arblaster were dreadful – they rarely won a tackle/header or challenge all game and for all the mistakes that McCallum, Bindon and Cooper made – I thought that they were given no protection. We never had control of the game – even at 3-1. It is so frustrating, as we played some neat and clever football in the first half hour and scored three decent goals but looked like shipping goals the other way as easy.
The way Moore ragged the defence around was predictable but the other areas we should and could have changed. The full backs had no protection at all and meant they kept overloading down these sides. I also thought that they worked out the balls into the channel and get our slow centre backs turned and then got men around it. We had moments 2nd half (Hamer/Arblaster shot/Campbell at the end) but they had 2 or 3 off the line – had numerous other moments where they nearly got in and genuinely looked like they might score from every attack – particularly after the break. The changes did not help but even long before this – the flow of the game had been set. I am not sure what he does in midfield as Soumare is dreadful. Hamer should have come off for me as he was offering nothing but he won’t take him or Arblaster off seemingly – even though they were two of our worst players? Brooks seems to have been thrown out again after some good performances and we ended up with a Phil Parkinson side completely out coaching us. It was not just about crosses and power despite the obvious Wrexham narrative. They did score goals from these areas but they also played better football than us and kept the ball far better. Wilder seems incapable of changing when teams have advantages and just throws on a striker or winger. We never seem to change shape to combat things and an ordinary Wrexham side put us to the sword. To go from 3-1 up at relatively limited side and lose 5-3 is embarrassing but shows where we are at – nowhere near a playoff side and still in a fair bit of trouble. We have seen some shoots of positivity of course in recent games (Stoke and Brum the main two) but the same weaknesses remain sadly. I would worry if this team is in a relegation battle come the business end as they have the hear of a pea most of them. Players who have been better recently – Bindon and McCallum- were awful and Cooper continues to struggle but for all the errors will discuss in ratings – the lack of control we have over games is an even bigger issue.
We have no legs in midfield (we did not have them with Peck – so even more shown up now) and the lack of height in here means we lost most things aerially too. With Hamer a luxury player, it means that we are often outnumbered and outran in here and simply do not see enough of the ball. When we have it we throw it away. Bamford, O’Hare and Seriki did well first half but the second half I think every single one of the eleven/subs lost their battles and seemed to have no intensity or running power. We looked done again after about 35 minutes. This must be changed – whether it is individuals playing or from the fitness department. We cannot keep our pressing and intensity up for more than like 20 minutes in games. So, if teams move it forward quickly, swarm around the ball and drop on loose bits, we fall apart. The players looked incapable of changing it and with the coaching staff also having the same inertia, it meant as soon as they made it 3-3, we knew what would happen. A good manager surely changes it there and then and we have a different shape to stop the ball coming at us. The fourth goal comes with 15 minutes left but he is essentially one on one? That shows the issues with the shape and lack of control we have in games.
The stats of the game at the end are massively lopsided for them – chances, touches in the box, dules won, passes completed. 5-3 actually flattered us in the end but I suppose after leading 3-1 and having chances, you can argue we deserved to score 3 goals but they could have had even more. They were more powerful, determined, quicker and more purposeful much of the game. 2 or 3 neat moves and decent goals cover us a largely woeful performance and we were well beaten even if they did have to turn it around and scored fairly late on.
I think we have seen enough of this group (under Selles and Wilder) to suggest they are not a side of winners and when the going gets tough, we implode. It is a shame as they is some talent and some experience that should do better but too many players are way too inconsistent too and means we can play well one week and then play like we did tonight and at WBA. Wilder can keep saying he will change things but he will have to change an awful lot -with limited funds to get the side to have a different mentality. He also had to look at some of his own coaching and question why almost every game we get worse after half time? Tonight was as bad as West Brom in many ways – as we had the game won really (but the reality is we never looked like we were comfortable and that sums it up). A lot of players seemed to be looking round at others by full time. They do not seem particularly together as a group and when we concede, we just fall apart. People may say it is only one game but after WBA the other week and many of the game we saw both under Selles/Wilder, tonight has been more the norm than the Stoke/Brum wins, which look more like the exception. This is the 2nd time we have conceded five goals in a game this season. I do not think it will be last sadly.
