Ok, I'll admit it, I might have even be tempted to give Slater a rest tonight! As I thought he was ineffective on Saturday. But did actually think he was playing pretty well last night even before his goals. Not sure it's about getting Tufan's head right as much as his energy level. But he certainly did well when he came on last night. Still thought the slagging Slater off just before he turns the game was funny though...
Good job you're not the manager then. Listen to interview after match and it's crystal clear that he rates Slater very highly.
Some random thoughts: 1. Wonder if we might (eventually) see changes at the back to support the emphasis on playing out. Baxter and Figureido are probably the last picks for five a side, and don't suit this style. Maybe we might see Lo-Tutala by the end of the season if he's better at it. 2. First goal was Baxter's fault, not Seri. Not only did he pass to Seri on the edge of the area when he had a player breathing down his neck, but the pass was about a foot to one side giving the marker a better chance to get a foot in and deflect the ball to the guy who scored. 3. First half stats on tackle success (didn't see number for second) were 33% for them and 93% for us. Good to see us out-muscling the opposition for once. 4. Slater was excellent when he moved inside, but he does feel like a temporary solution as a wide player. Post mid-season break wonder who will get that role, but I doubt it will still be Slater. 5. Come January we will have 4 players (Tetteh, Allahyar, M’Hand, Traore) to register meaning we'd have to lose 3 from the current squad even before any new arrivals. Might be the end for the Chelsea loanees (assuming we can send them back early?). There is also Covil, but I'd guess he might go out on loan to give him some regular game time.
I think possession is key for Liam. I noticed that even at Millwall it took them until around the 75th minute to get past 50% possession- despite us having 10 men for half of that period. The opposition not having the ball alongside better defensive shape (from the front back) means we will be better defensively. Not just swapping players in and out. Drawing teams on to us and making them press us high up the pitch also takes the legs out of the opposition. We probably gave them 5 or 6 good positions on the pitch over the course of the game last night from ‘playing it about’ at the back. Through work on the training pitch you would hope this would reduce game by game. This approach ultimately left them with less in the tank. I like the fact that we have a plan and an identity. The spirit in the club seems good. Also interesting to note that it was Dawson and Pardo that suggested Slater switching centrally. The fact that Rosenior took this on board and also credited his other coaches with the idea speaks volumes for LR. I think we’ve made the right appointment.
I think Tufans biggest fault is that at times he literally stands where he is watching the game. It’s not always but he needs to move into wherever he is meant to be, in a move at the last home match in good space he gave he ball wide and stood watching the winger , he had a great opportunity to go for a return but just stayed. He does chase back and his upper body is very strong and he uses it well .
Probably not and he’s our most suited defender to the idea of bringing the ball out. I like to see a full back pushing on and overlapping, which is something he doesn’t do. Can’t argue that he isn’t effective in this role though, and his cross for the first was work class. I m certainly warming to the idea. I’m not sure if he is playing there because we have no left backs fit ( surely if as simple as that, Coyle would have played there), or to give us more height at the back from set pieces. Actually playing there does seem to give him more freedom to venture up the park and he does seem to be a player with a brain who probably fits into Liams ethos.
Some reasonable observations. 1. Baxter I don't think is that bad playing out from the back, he should be used to that at Chelsea. I think it is more about players giving him more options on where to play it safely. I agree about Figureido, he looks totally devoid of what to do with the ball at his feet. I can see Ingram moving on next season, just to get game time, and Lo-Tuala pushing Baxter, if we take up the option to buy. 2. Agree 3. Agree 4 & 5. Slater is better through the middle but I still think he may well feature after the break, as he gives energy and no shortage of pace and some skill. However, when Tetteh, Allahyar, M'Hand & Traore are back, I'm sure there will be more rotation, so players in the side now may find them playing not every game from the start.
I think Baxter is fine, it's Figueiredo that undoes the passes quite often because he's not good on the ball.
There were some views of the best stand and it didnt seem very full either One thing I noticed was Victor Tan not sitting in the director's box. That was supposed to be his first attendance for three years.
You need to listen to his recent interview. Baxter was actually brought up to play this role, he talks about his training during his apprenticeship been around developing as a footballer rather than a goalie. He is very much the focal point of this system, deciding whether the team goes long or short. He talks about relishing this opportunity. He was awful last night and currently looks really nervous, but we know from last season he is very accomplished at it. He also talked about him making mistakes. I noticed after his mistake last night, he didn’t then go for the easy option, which then takes some balls. I guess in his defence, he has players around him not yet comfortable with the ball and hoofing it to a big striker is one option less than usual. I believe he is very much central to this way of playing. If we wanted a great shopper in goal, ingram would be first choice. I remember when Man City started playing this way, it was the end of Harts career there, they brought in a quite average South American goalie to replace him, who was more an extra defender.I also remember they were very uncomfortable playing against the high press initially and made a lot of mistakes. We need to be patient and enjoy the evolution.
Slaters first properly good game in awhile. He’s not a wide player though and that left flank is like a gummy toothless old lady with him and Greaves playing down it. We need to get someone playing the wide left role who can offer some proper width, with current squad will have to be Sinik, maybe move slater central and stick Pelkas on the right. Would play Doc alongside Seri. I think that’s the best we can do with what’s available. It’s going to be a very different team after Christmas once players return and a lot of noises are going to be disjointed by summer. Will be another major overhaul next summer as we move on the majority of this summers signings
Yeah -Greaves has been so poor on the left that he curled in a great cross for our 1st goal last night. And didn't he score one and make one from the same position at Rotherham? Obviously a poor decision to play him there.
A lot of the passes we play between the CBs and GK are careless, hopefully once they are more in the habit they can put more thought in to the pass placement and the weight of the passes they give each other. If its a good pass you don't have to think about controlling the ball and your mind is free to assess and pick the right option.
I’m a bit disgruntled, because he didn’t give me any credit. I had typed that if he wants someone to hug the touchline (almost beresford esq), Slater is not the fella. He was clearly keeping an eye on this board as it was just before the switch. To be fair, I actually said he should be hooked Seriously, moving him inside was a fantastic tactical change.
