I'm not sure, even the game against Birmingham there were times we got hemmed in and panic ensued.... oh hang on that might have been against Fenerbache.
They're called friendlies because they're training games with zero consequence and are preparatory, largely experimental and predominantly about fitness.
Several times now means twice. Once being the reserves in the cup. You see what you want to see to fit your agenda.
so what is the reason for conceding unnecessary goals iin friendlies? they do it in preparation for the season ahead? because we wont drop points? as an experiment? or improve our fitness?
Nail on the head. Anyone who thought we played well is truly delusional. I think back to promotion seasons under Bruce and I remember sometimes being 1-0 up and then feeling very comfortable watching the opposition pass around the back while we got back into our structure. West Brom fans would have felt that comfortable today without a doubt. We really missed Philogene. Delap needs to try staying on his feet too. It was a poor game for his standards. All in all, I’m not too worried though. Unless we lose at home to Huddersfield (but I don’t think we will).
Have we improved the playing out from the back ... YES Have we eradicated mind numbing mistakes costing goals... NO Are we pressured into making mistakes at the back in almost every game... YES Are the players comfortable playing that way... DON'T KNOW Are the players capable of playing that way... JURY'S OUT Are the opposition acutely aware of the way that we play and are coached to force the mistakes .. YES Does the manager have a solution to how the opposition set up to counteract it...JURY'S OUT.
We can score goals when we move the ball quickly from defence to attack Opponents score a lot of goals when they move the ball quickly from defence to attack this is because they run into space when our defenders dont have time to get back our opponents prefer us to pass along the back four from side to side and back again because it gives them time to get into their ideal defensive formation
Harry V is ****e...change my mind! We do now though have a run of games, all very winnable. Still glass half full, and think in 4 games time we will be sat in the playoffs. Couple of upgrades to the fringe players in Jan. We are top 10, and with some luck (keeping players fit etc.) will be in and around top 6 IMO. You Ull
I don’t think anyone will be able to convince you that this play style is working whatever they throw at you but seen as I’m bored travelling back from the game I’ll make a generous stab. Rosenior has been in charge for a year now. I believe that was his 45th league game today and yes whilst there’s been a lot of close calls the fact is the “failure” rate is about 1 in 15 games. Not to mention this is the first league game we’ve lost with a mistake from the back. We beat Cardiff and drew with Blackpool but alas that doesn’t fit the narrative. I could also point to the countless times taking risks from the back as converted into decent attacking opportunities such as Leicester (a), Stoke (a) and Blackburn (a) to name a couple from the top of my head. I bet there’s more. I also find it remarkably funny that you talk about risks but lament slow ponderous play at the back which is in itself risk free. Football is a game of risk non more so than the championship. Playing it direct in itself comes with as equal risk than playing it around the back especially when you have the distinct lack of physicality we have in this squad. As much as we did concede the way we did today it would be as equally **** to see Allsop hoof a long one to Tufan to lose it and in transition we get ****ed on the counter. But that wouldn’t be highlighted because Allsop would’ve in theory played the “less risky” pass but in reality it’s lead to the same outcome. The squads strength at this time is technical ability in the middle of the park. Rosenior is rightly playing to that strength by trying to control games and not allow teams a lot of the ball. Without slater we don’t have a box-to-box type with energy to drive the ball forward or win the second ball. we were **** today because the usual key contributors all played like ****. Yes we gift wrapped them a goal but our second also came from a quick transition from trying to play direct and quick. enjoy the ****ing ride and accept that sometimes this team will make errors regardless of play style. If we didn’t make errors we’d be arguing about how much they should be expanding the trophy cabinet to accommodate are ongoing success.
It depends how you define being the better team. We had far more possession and had long spells of it in their half. Corberan looked like the court jester with his histrionics on the sidelines trying to tweak his team to cope with how we were playing. He reverted to five at the back while they were 3-1 up. We gifted them at least two of their goals and they caught us on the break with the other.
