Back now. My thoughts: SU lined up 5-3-2 against our 4-1-4-1. There was some debate at half time with Tel and Roller as to whether we played 4-2-3-1. But never on God's green earth was that 4-2-3-1. Scowan was right in front of the back 4 with, from left to right, Eze, Freeman, Luongo and Smyth and Sylla up top. First 20 minutes we were awful, never able to keep possession whilst Ingram's kicking reminded me of Rob Green, only worse!! Ingram really looks lacking in confidence, although he did pull off an excellent save in the 2nd half. We did look organised in that shape, but found it hard to keep possession. SU kept the ball better than us, but never really looked dangerous. In truth it was a pretty average encounter. As the half wore on, Rangers started to look quite dangerous on the break, with Freeman starting to pull the strings and Eze making their keeper save from a volley after good work from Sylla. Eze was a little isolated at times on the left, but every time he got the ball the crowd lifted and he tried to make something happen. Then, after a good move down the left and a blocked shot, the ball came out to Eze who hammered it home. 1-0 maybe slightly against the run of play. Eze had another couple of efforts go close too. All 1st half SU looked likely to get in down our left as Bidwell was left quite exposed, with Eze being more attack minded. Eventually that's what happened as the ball was played inside Bidwell, crossed from the byline and tapped in by Sharpe. Not sure who didn't pick up Sharpe. 1-1 at half time. The 2nd half began with SU completely on top. Rangers looked like they were still in the dressing room!! Eventually, their pressure paid off with the award of a penalty. All I could see from all the way away in the upper loft was that there was some sort of contact into the back of a SU player. I'm sure others who had a better view can enlighten me. Rangers had replaced the hard working but ineffectual Smyth at half time with BOS, who looked lively but didn't really produce much. With 20 minutes left Smith replaced Sylla, who apart from a couple of good pieces of hold up play, did very little. Unfortunately, we hardly ever got out wide to deliver to Smith, instead just aiming straight balls at him fro deep. BOS and Akay tried to get crosses in, but never really managed it. The game petered out with SU diving, play acting and wasting as much time as they could get away with (couldn't really blame them, having lost their first two games of the season). All in all I don't really know what to make of that. It's hard to know what we're trying to do and I'm not convinced I like 4-1-4-1. I think I'd prefer Luongo deeper with Scowan, with Freeman, Eze and BOS interchanging behind, preferably an on-lone striker who can hold the ball up. I like the German skipper who looks a good player and Kakay has bags of energy without really producing much going forward. Freeman tries to make things happen and played well today, but we need to find a way of getting our best player, Eze, on the ball as much as possible as far forward as possible. Early days, but I do fear for us if we don't get a forward in on loan and improve around the pitch. We looked quite lethargic today and didn't move the ball quickly enough or forwards often enough. Player ratings and comments: Ingram - 6 - Looks very nervy to me and his kicking was absolutely dreadful. Made one excellent save down to his left. Kakay - 6 - Lots of energy, but didn't really produce anything going forward. Defended well. Lynch - 4 - Just very poor. Won headers, but looked like a Sunday league player who'd been on the piss the night before. Constantly gave the ball away. Leistner - 6 - Looks a good player and good both in the air and with his feet. Bidwell - 6 - Solid and put some good crosses in during the first half. Left exposed, a lot! Scowan - 6 - Worked his nuts off, but was over-run at times with the other midfield players caught further forward. Made a lot of good interceptions. Smyth - 5 - Worked hard, but just ran with the ball with his head down. Needs to play the ball earlier and get his head up. Young with good pace though. Luongo - 6 - Played quite well and worked hard. Tried to get forward into the box. Freeman - 7 - Had a good game and was the player who tried to quicken the pace and drive forward. Eze - 7 - Our best player. Had nearly all our attempts on goal and scored too. Has a great knack of beating a player and making room to get a shot in. We must get him on the ball more. Sylla - 5 - Hardly did anything and we really do lack a decent centre forward. Subs: Smith - 5 - No service and as a result, ineffectual. BOS - 5 - Tried to get at their defence and looked lively, without really creating anything.
Basically they were bigger and stronger and nastier than us. We need to be tougher. They started well and had all the possession early on, but we grew into the game and Eze had two or three good efforts before scoring. We really needed to see it out to half-time, but as ever conceded just before the break. Eze, playing wide left, showed his defensive naivety by losing his man, who crossed for a tap-in for Billy Sharp. The game-changer was their penalty, which looked very harsh. A dangerous cross to the far post and the ref saw a push that nobody else did. Cue 25 minutes of time-wasting. BFG2 looked strong and tidy, if fairly basic. Kakay was very good, as was Scowen, but Luongo looked off the pace. Sylla was a waste of space, as was Smith when he came on. BOS replaced Smyth at HT and played on the left leaving us a bit lop-sided with Eze and Freeman both occupying the centre. A draw would have been a fair result. Just seen that Col has posted, so I'm going to hit post on this before reading how much he and I disagree.
All in all very disappointing. We've still got a few weeks till the loan window shuts but we are there for the taking at present. The longer we go without getting off the mark the more the confidence will drain. Next up will be our annual embarrassment in the League Cup, Posh are flying at present so it'll be a surprise if we get past them and away to West Brom after that, I'm getting depressed already...
Early days it seems SM claims it was an improvement This league already looks very strong this year I expect a early split by that I mean 8 teams will leave the rest for dead Boro Leeds Brentford Villa WBA Swansea Forest Bristol I reckon
Just seen the Leeds result. I have my doubts, but if those players get what Bielsa wants them to do and are consistent, they will destroy this league. And I’d love to see it, he gets teams playing proper football, just a shame it’s Leeds.
Does the formation really matter at this early stage ? If as it seems we can’t keep the ball and string passes together ? What was the defensive shape like ? When SU had the ball ? Were SU able to play through us and create chances? Ie did we force them to play across the pitch a lot ?
Luongo didn't look at his best today. He missed a couple of half chances he might well have put away at the end of last season, and didn't seem to be winning the ball as much as before. Too much sitting on the bench this summer maybe!
I agree this could be Leeds year but I am still backing Pulis over the season they will have plenty of 1-0 scorelines. Pulis is the master of controlling matches , not pretty
Not that it matters, but it really wasn't 4-2-3-1. Scowan was constantly in front of the back four, on his own. Luongo was very often the furthest forward midfield player. I'd like to see us play a genuine 4-2-3-1 As I think we'd get Eze on the ball more and further forward. At times in the 2nd half he dropped back next to Scowan in an attempt to get on the ball more.
When I studied it in the first half, I thought it was 4-2-3-1 too but you're right about Luongo getting further forward, especially in the second half, when arguably it was more like 4-1-4-1. Hence the confusion!
No, they were able to pass through us, as Scowan was isolated in front of the back four. The defensive shape was ok, but we hardly won any 2nd balls and our midfield were caught too far forward at times, leaving spaces behind.
I was only responding to Col re his half-time discussion about formation. As you (and he) say, it doesn't really matter.
He has changed so much at the club (leeds). He is some guy to be fair. Commenting on how hard the fans work to be able to pay to watch them and then making the players pick litter up and tidy up to repay the fans.
Thanks for the report Col. Always look forward to and appreciate your opinion. Did we seem to play with any width? I ask because we tried to away at Preston but failed quite miserably.
