Stupid from Norwood, gifting a dangerous free kick away. Probably no time for us to have a last attack now because of that.
Good game, fair result, Town gave too many easy fouls. Onwards & upwards. Good tactics, shame Aluko only had 5 minutes on the pitch.
Both 'keepers were good actually, the MK lad was really solid, Walton made some good saves and catches from corners
Sounds like a good performance,we’ve gone toe to toe with one of the Division’s better sides so it looks good for the future.
A point is fine. We can win the next 7 making that a good run of ten games that could secure sixth if we gather enough from the final, much trickier, fixtures.
Progress, progress, progress. Creating many more chances than a few weeks ago. Goal scoring is still the problem. I don’t think chopping and changing up front all the time is doing us any favours but Jackson was a threat today and finally we were able to get in behind. The gap closes another point too, we’ll take that.
Much prefer to have the points on the board and less congested fixtures. As I keep saying the other results and ebbs and flows of form doesn’t change our points target. We need to win 2 out of every 3 and it’s as simple as that. So far that’s exactly what we’ve done.
Still think our strikers are poor, Jackass, Nogood, Pigott and Bonne don't inspire me with confidence at all. We need a new strike force next season, regardless of what division we are in. Get rid of our current strikers and let Bonne go back with our best wishes!
On the evidence of today I’d play Jackson and Bonne together with Chaplin and keep at least two of the three from game to game. Give Simpson an outing coming off the bench. Forget all about Piggott, absolute waste of space.
Like I said 2-3 weeks ago, we do need 1-2 new strikers next window. Norwood almost lost us the game and gave away stupid fouls, in an otherwise entertaining game. Jackson I thought played ok, and gave the others the channels and freedom to go forward. Aluko's first thru ball was a peach, exactly what KM set up for them to do. If Bonne had been fed more passes in previous games, he may have found his form. KM is handling him and he may still have a part to play. Piggot must go, a relic of the old Ipswich. Aluko needs to start, crazy to keep such a talent on the bench. Interesting that most clubs above us have faltered. Oxford's turn yesterday, and Bolton on a good run. Win the next two, and our hopes remain alive. There was a refreshing confidence and enjoyment in our play yesterday, and if we carry that forward and find some goals, anything is possible.
I'm still of the opinion our strikers are good enough for this division at least but its an area McKenna hasn't got quite right yet and I don't think as Yorkie said constantly rotating the strikers helps, we haven't had a striker score since the 4-0 Gillingham win...he split the 'Bash Brothers' up after 1 poor game and hasn't stuck with them since. To be fair most of the season we haven't consistently created a lot if changes in games although that has started to improve in the past couple of games. I was very surprised with the line up yesterday although it sounded Jackson played well I've always said if he's our first choice striker we won't be good enough for promotion but he's a good option to have off the bench, but given the strikers we have I'm surprised he's managed to get in the team. I'd like to see us stick with 2 upfront preferably Bonne and Norwood as I think that's when we've looked at our best and also managed to keep the ball for longer spells up the top of the pitch. Plus I think playing 2 number 10s takes space away fro Burns on the right. A good point yesterday but still lots of room for improvement
I agree that Bonne & Norwood up as front two has, in earlier games been the most prolifice combo. And like others, I prefer 2 up front. Fact is, whatever the reason they have both gone off the boil. KM knows this, and hence his constant changing. Not ideal at any level.
Jackson really gave us an edge, because having a pacey striker who can get in behind makes the defenders’ jobs so much more difficult than just having to be tight and stop the wingers.
I would say they had one off game and chopped and changed since, so you could argue the chopping and changing has caused them to be out of form. Who has the chopping and changing helped? Obviously Bonne hadn't been in a great run of form before that but at that time we weren't creating alot of chances and he was still getting in good positions. I'd say it's not been until the past couple of games that Norwood and Bonne have missed a few chances.
Agree it opens things up but both Bonne and Norwood can get in behind defenders and whilst they may not be quite as pacey they bring alot more than Jackson in terms of their overall game. It's good to see McKenna showing tactical flexibility but sometimes I think he overthinks particularly in that area of the pitch and both Bonne and Norwood I think could be quite adaptable in how they play. As for Pigott, not really seen enough of him to judge but there must be a good player in there and whatever you think he hasn't had the rub of the green this season in terms of having a consistent platform to play. McKenna needs to start finding consistency in his forward positions
Bonne did alot earlier on in the season but I also think it's the role McKenna is asking them to play. For example when Jackson played a couple of weeks ago he didn't get in behind the defence once because that was not the role he was given plus he was playing against a team who sat alot deeper and our build up play was alot slower. All I'm saying is whilst Jackson might be considered the best at that (I don't think he is, although he's the fastest) my personal opinion is its not worth chopping and changing the team because of that when others such as Bonne and Norwood can play that game, I'd rather play a more consistent team selection to play players into form but ask players who play to tweak their game based on the opposition. At least we have a manager aware of the tactical nuisances sometimes that means you can be too clever though
