Think it’s hey we’re average because when Preston attacked they had a lot of bodies playing to one twos right on the defenders shoulders , we didn’t handle it well
What I find baffling about their goal was that Fleming was literally on for a simple pass next to Doc and instead he just flicked it forward. Don’t recall Fleming losing the ball yesterday so would’ve been a very safe pass on the basis of the game. Doc definitely needs a rest, probably the most out of anyone
Neither Doc or Smallwood got a pass completion above 70% which is terrible considering their role and the types of passes they play.
Don’t know the stats but McLoughlin’s passing was cack yesterday. We played some lovely one-touch football against Swansea but reverted to hoofball yesterday.
There's been the odd comment re the crowd noise yesterday, but imho the performance of the team effected that. We were flat, and it spread across the terraces, last week we scored early a d got the atmosphere going. Let's not forget we are in the embryonic stages of getting people back, we have always been a fickle lot, but there's nowt better to get a crowd up then a performance to match. Think the first 20 the crowd while not being exuberant as last week was on board, but everyone could see the way Preston began imposing themselves which in turn knocked the stuffing out the crowd. It'll get better as our team gets better, just have to be patient and stick with it.
Bernard 73% McLoughlin 77% Greaves 63.5% (didn’t expect that) Longman 88% Smallwood 68% Doc 65% Fleming 78% Honeyman 71% Eaves 66% KLP 78% SofaScore is the app I see it on, it’s algorithm for rating players is broken but for stats it’s good.
Not sure I hold much store by those It could mean longman had a good game but he was the invisible man And centre backs stroking it about ups their score
Greaves may have had a lower pass completion but McLoughlin’s distribution did look worse imo. Might be because Greaves was getting rid of it on the left-hand side a lot whereas McLoughlin was playing easy sidewards passes.
So based on those stats all the 'experts' suggesting Mclaughlin gave it away 'all' match may require a visit to specsavers ! I rather suspect that he may have been drawn to the eye cos the longer balls he attempted weren't great. The old adage applies, his job is to win the ball then give it to someone who can pick out the passes. Trouble being looking at them stats those are in short supply !
In any case, we weren’t at the races yesterday. Didn’t play with confidence, didn’t set the tempo, got bullied in midfield and didn’t create many chances.
Yesterday proved what everyone knows, commitment and high energy is not enough in this league. It worked last year but, barring injuries, some of the starters yesterday are going to struggle for game time from now on, and they know that. I expect we'll see several changes for Tuesday night and the team needs it after yesterday's show.
I think the worrying one is Smallwood and Doc given they’re literally ball winners who move it side to side mainly and they have such a low completion. In that role you need to be hitting 80. Honeyman is different as he tries harder passes. players like Longman having higher completions to me indicates he didn’t take many risks or get forward into areas where he’d then pass into space for an attacker to get onto. It always tells you something just whether you can be arsed to read into it further which there isn’t much point.
No way we can judge Allahayar on those few minutes, said earlier he should be given a start we need to see what he has to offer.
I think Shota is doing a good job at managing both us and the team's expectations. He's kept the team more or less as Grant left it, with a few good tweaks, like better formation discipline on the pitch. With yesterday's result he's got the opening to start making more changes and moulding the team has he wants it.
Re Honeyman he often ends up in tight situations comes away with the ball seemigly miraculous on some occassions yesterday it often did not work for him. Sometimes its just down to luck and the run of the game. He did not get the breaks yesterday, still our best midfielder on the day.
