Have to agree with Strolls, i thought the first 30 minutes or so were dominated by long/direct balls up to no strikers. Whether they were meant to be into the channels, i dont know but it certainly wasnt pretty.
Encouraging response, fair play. His teammates dug him out and he knows it. Clean it up, self discipline and he could play an important part in our push for promotion.
He had a major chance, with Barbet tiring and Dickie yellow card prone and not as good as at the start of the season. But it will take a lot for Warburton to put him into the team without absolute need now. Shame because he was looking the part, and I was thinking we might make a play to sign him, if we had a big money bid for Dickie at the end of the season. I was worried about Willock yesterday, he really looked off the pace yesterday, I hoped it was because he has played in 3 different roles in his last 3 matches...but fear his " knock" in training, plus the hack he received at the end of the Hull match has done some damage. We need him at full fitness now for the run in
Sanderson was looking pretty good, but he got away with a couple of very reckless challenges, one of which led to the sending off incident, which kind of indicate that he’s not fully in control of himself. The way we set up last night, or at least the decision to go route one, didn’t suit Willock at all. But it was interesting watching on the stream v live. You really do get a much better idea of the shape of the team, how good the movement is etc when you are in the stadium.
How can we play a false 9 when we don't have Adel or his ilk? Willock is a great player but his aerial ability is probably not his best attribute. Still how we played with the extra man in midfield when we had 11 players was good enough for Blackpool, though if we are going to play like that again, we need to refine it, there were too many long balls down the middle where we had nobody with aerial ability and were just giving the ball back to their central defenders or Keeper.
I think with the way we were set up, we were looking to hit the channels with Willock and the wingbacks. But it just ended up with punts up the pitch which Willock could never win against 8ft centre backs. This effectively resulted in us losing Willock as our most influential player. I really hope Warburton doesn’t do that again. After highlighting Moses for an awful game against Millwall, it’s only fair to point out what a good game he had, particularly in the 2nd half. A great turn in defence to set Thomas away to set up the winner. A fantastic moment that only football can give. Still buzzing.
My understanding of a false 9 is a player who repeatedly drops back from a high starting position the receive the ball deep and pull the opposing CBs out of position, while other players from his team move past him. You can play a false 9 alongside recognised strikers as well. I don’t think false 9 combined with route one makes a lot of sense.
After taking the lead and controlling the match, we stupidly gave oursleves a massive uneccessary challenge with the red card. But then our 2nd half performance was very professional, impressive and outstanding. It was organised, disciplined and extremely "gutsy". I think that every players "ran his socks off" and gave everthing. our substititions were also clever and effective. After their equaliser, we could have well settled for a draw and it would have been "a good result under the curcunstances", but no, we showed character and ambition, and we snatched as win. What a wonderful and escatic feeling, and how I wished that I could have been their at LR. Normally, the day after such a result, I would be happy and be walking around with a grin on my face as we are 3rd in the table. But not today. Football is the last thing on my mind. A hundred odd miles east from where I sit is the the Ukrainain border. I still cannot comprehend this it is happening, but there is a war ongoing. I feel for and my heart bleeds for the people of the Ukraine. Their current "gutsy" performance is measured in blood not sweat. It makes me realise that following the R's is only a sport or hobby, a "diversion" from realities and horrors of this world. No appologies that this is not on the "Political" thread, but these are facts.
And what is stopping Putin continueing west past Ukraine. Not enough I fear but hope the sanctions will hold him back. Keep your head down Ski.
Love the full time video of the players doing the rounds... players going up to Amos and saying “it was an own goal bruv”.
To be fair to Warburton, he said afterwards that the players went long too soon and too much. Obviously it wasn't an instruction. Blackpool, for all their limitations, pressed us very well and very high, which definitely forced us to go long quite often. Willock was very subdued first half, so not sure the formation change suited him. Not sure why people are criticising Warbs for bringing Ball on at half-time. We had to bring on a more defensive player after the sending off. Good substitutions after that too. Pleased for Thomas too, who looks a popular member of the squad.
I haven’t seen Warburton’s comments, that’s a bit more encouraging. From what I saw on the telly I’m not even sure we were playing false 9, just Willock up top and Chair buzzing around. But you don’t get a great perspective of these things on the telly. What do you think?
Yes, I agree. Willock up top with Chair off him. Didn't work imo and wouldn't really want to see it again.
