Good spot & I agree. But why didn't we do this on Saturday? Is this perhaps a big lesson learned by TC?
Preston are a big, strong, physical side and probably TC was trying to avoid playing to their strengths. What we lacked was enough width and pace to stretch them (Preston) fully on the flanks. Don't know if you noticed, but we always had someone hugging the touchline tonight. So yes, he is learning, but I'm encouraged by the fact he made tonights team selection work, when after 15 mins it looked like we were second best. I've said previously that Fulham were the best team in possession to visit ER last season. This season I actually think they have improved but TC managed to almost share the possession stats 46% to 56% whereas last season we were totally dominated and only had around 30ish per cent. Definite improvement in both our style of play and the ability to adapt to the challenges on the day. The good thing though is we're still a massive work in progress and there are still 43 games to go.
Roofe was on fire pre-season. Tonight he was awful. Just didn't get involved. It was as if he didn't want to be there. Almost like a kid with a monk on. Seriously, I'd have rather played Doukara. Dallas on the other hand was superb when he came on. I know he's not everyone's favourite, but he's prolly our best crosser of the ball, & it showed. Wonder if he's earned a start on Saturday? I hope so. Was glad to see that Pontus was a lot sharper tonight. Not quite there yet, but getting there (phew!). Shaugnessy had a great game - even without that big tackle. As good as Pennington has performed, I'd say. When that boy clears, he clears! None of your tapping it out of the box - it's belted out. Like an old fashioned CH. DMs did fine, IMO. No complaints there. Alioski & particularly Saiz played very well, but I'm not convinced that Pablo is a winger. Tended to wander, and did not hug that touchline as he should have. Still produced a lot of good stuff, but didn't give us the width we should have had.
Oddly enough, I've just posted a criticism of Pablo for not hugging the touchline enough. I thought he wandered too much. Not suggesting for a moment that he went missing, or wasn't trying, but to me he just didn't have the discipline of a winger, so it affected our shape. Have to say it's just occurred to me that he was 'acting under orders'. Possible, I guess.
Agree, I think TC is still feeling his way to his best 11, and league matches are probably the only way to achieve it....
You're not wrong. Pablo and Samu interchanged a lot and we definitely found it harder to have natural width down the left. As a consequence though some of our more intricate play developed on that side but we didn't get the quality crosses in due to Borthwick Jackson being benched, probably due to having a knock. Allioski's work rate was phenomenal and there was a marked difference when Roofe replaced him. I really thought there were so many positives to come out of tonight that I'm only slightly disappointed we didn't pick up all 3 points.
Funnily enough, I left ER feeling fine about the result. Not often I settle for a draw that easily. Both teams were very good & lots of end-to-end footie, which was most enjoyable. Think we would have had more penetration if BJ started instead of Anita. Anita to me is not a natural FB, but is a reliable fill-in. Even at this early stage, I think BJ is even going to be better than Berra at LB, and I love Berra! I think he's better than Taylor ever was too. That's quite an accolade, but I acknowledge it's early days.
Forgot to mention .... Was stuck in traffic at ER on way to match with Leeds60. We noticed a chubby dwarf (apols if not the PC term these days) in a Leeds shirt waddling down to ER, when quick as a flash, Leeds60 retorts "Christ! McContracts here already"! Perhaps you had to be there. I'll get me coat!
Thought Siaz and Alioski were our best players,and although they were tired,would have taken Hernandes and Philips off for Dallas and Bridcutt
Agree about Hernandez, but not Bridcutt - he's a DM's DM - all defensive & negative. Not a creative spark in his body & gets a nosebleed if he crosses the half way line. Not a bad thing, but Phillips was getting forward a lot & that couldn't be matched by Bridcutt. Yes, you could have changed O'Kane's role to accommodate Bridcutt, but why do that when he was playing so well? Now if Viera was on the bench, that might have been a different conversation!
There seems to be lots of contentment about last nights performance and result. If you are happy with bang average then I can see why. We were at home and were battered into playing on the counter, pretty in parts but not carrying too much of a threat. Four points below autos, four points above relegation. Cant see us ending anything above 13th if we keep woods 16th if we dont.
Bang average my arse,Fulham are one of if not the leagues best teams,they battered us both games last season,this season,same result but we probably deserved to win.Our 2 best players were both new guys the improvement was plane to see,unless you can't see.
It's going to take time to undo the damage caused by Bates, GFH and Cellino. We've been fleeced, we've had our ground sold and rented back, with stripped out too much from the background and we've chopped and changed and been force fed the loan route. As far as I'm concerned we're ahead of schedule, Rads has signed players on contracts, he has brought the ground back and employed a backroom setup to assist all departments. We might finish mid table but next season we won't be starting again, we won't have 4,5,6 loans returning and we're doing it all within a sensible budget. These players are going to take time to settle, the coach is going to tweak it here and there in order to find his best 11 and we have early injuries to contend with. If Rads can't do it then at least we haven't got an owner from hell, we have a guy in charge who is respected, we are an attractive buy, we own our ground, things today are ten times better than what they were this time last season.
The best side had twice as much ball as us for the first half, and at best we had 50% in the second half. We hardly carried a threat to goal all night. What were you watching.
On the basis Rad started over this season why dont you think he will do it again next year? TC is not up to it IMO. I accept we MIGHT (not convinced) have better players but we look scared, and I am reminded of McDonuts playing style of three years ago. If McGreedycnut comes back that will prove we are not going forward.
Early days Davy, but if we're to take a play off spot , never mind autos we need to nick three points at home. Fulham at least IMO came here to play, unlike Preston who were negative, but again we should know how to break teams like the Prestons down. A lot of positives though to take from last nights game. It just shows you how far we've come when we're pissed off with just a draw. Anyway, can wait for another difficult game against the Mackems.....
