Good performance overall I thought. Thought we had more about us than they did personally when in possession. Thought Ekwah did well after his early yellow and Ballard looks better and better. Dont like this Hume stepping inside bit at all, but that isnt Humes problem, more a tactical experiment but I would knock it on the head and get both full backs to keep the pitch wide. Dack is such a smart footballer isnt he. Really need a centre forward though to stretch the game so the midfield lads can run into space. Nowt wrong with performances though, a good centre forward in, Stewart back and we will be winning matches like this. Signs are good I think.
Probably do Patto the world of good given almost every shot on targets gone in this season (not his fault mind)
Maybe mate, im just judging pritchard on what i saw over last season (probably not fair to do that tbh). Too inconsistent when he starts game as he gets tired n isnt effective - he still has that odd unreal performance from the start so not saying he cant I honestly love him as a sub, love proper players like that, that can take advantage of the space once the game gets stretched. Think thats why he has been good every game so far this season as he can jist give his all for 30 mins without being worried about tiring too early
Easily could have gone either way, big save from Patto second half. Hemir and Ba frustrating to watch, body language poor and they don’t fancy the physical side at all. Fingers crossed there’s no takers for Pritchard this week he needs to be starting.
Anybody else notice the miracle that Ellis Simms didn’t score today by the way? Like 1000-1 odds on that
A point is probably a fair result with neither team really carving out chances. Great save by Patto, thought O'Nien and Ballard were brilliant at the back, Neil and Ekwah played well together and I think it opened up slightly for Coventry when Ekwah went off which shows well for him. Like everyone else had said many times, if we had someone up top to give us an option it would make a great difference. But you can't argue with a point away from home
Was impressed with Dack, wasn't afraid to drop deep for the ball and worked hard going forward and defensively. It really feels like we aren't a million miles away from it clicking into place
I would say that is a really difficult thing to do. It would need a rehash of the old Christmas tree formation that Wilkinson once played with Leeds when he had White and Deane in behind a striker. Obviously Venables did it with England two. If Stewart were ahead of Pritchard and Dack it would then mean we need someone alongside Neil and Ekwah. Then Clarke and Roberts are struggling for a spot. I think we really need full backs in our side for balance and width, so not sure a 3 and a 4 would work, as I am not 100% Roberts sees danger in behind. I just think our personnel right now means it is hard to get them both in and get the best out of them. Nothing wrong with rotating them mind, and against Southampton I would favour Pritchard to start and unsettle Smallbone with his constant harrassing.
Mad when you think the Christmas tree formation worked so well for England. I'd like to keep all 3 lads that have been linked as leaving as there will be games over a long season where they will have a part to play. Take today, Gooch probably would have started had he not been injured, as you say potentially Pritchard is more suited next weekend to press them and the bring Dack on late on. I would even suggest Embo has a role to play this year as well. I appreciate we can't keep them all, but maybe we should be looking at loan moves for some
