What frustrated me the most last night was that no one was really showing for the ball - there was no movement and when we did manage to get it forward to Clarke, they were just content to watch him try to get past 2 or 3 defenders. It was only when Pritchard came on that there was an option for him
‘…just be patient…” is that what we (the players) are doing? Sideways and back, waiting for the opposition to make a mistake?
True he might not score as many, but as a natural right footed player, I think he could create more goal scoring opportunities.
i think so, as i said last night we saw three lads waiting on the edge of the penalty area and another one a little further back all ready to run in and i watched the ball go over to the left side, then back across to the right side and back again to the left (not the only time)...'being patient' is fair enough but i feel it is exactly why our play is so slow now as they are stuck in this mode, once or twice we made good forward passes but they really need to mix it up more.
He would yeah, we need to ease the expectation on Clarke and get our strikers scoring. It's all very well when he's up against a defence that can't handle him but plenty can.
However we shape up on Saturday I hope we can start playing people in their natural positions. Proper full backs, proper midfielders and chose a striker and stick with him for 10 games (injuries aside) I know I come across as an O9 hater, but I just don't see what he gives us on the pitch that is so unique he has to play. Seelt has shown he is more than capable of bringing the ball out of defence/comfortable in possession and surely he offers more at set pieces (attack and defence) Jobe needs a rest and a few games watching Dan Neil/Alex Pritchard in how to retain the ball and use the ball. Roberts needs hooking for a few games as he is offering us nothing right now. Inuries permitting I'd go: Patterson Hume Ballard Seelt Huggins Neil Ekwah Ba Aouchiche Clarke Mayenda Subs: Bishop, O'Nien, Triantis, Jobe, Rigg, Pritchard, Roberts, Burstow, Hemir Clarke and Ba need a directive to hit some early crosses - not every time, but mix it up I want to see AA and Neil threading balls through to Mayenda - give the kid something to run on to Hume and Huggins pushing on to create space for Ba & Clarke. Tighten up at set pieces. Stop the needless sideways passing. Stop looking for a hollywood ball/dribble when there is an obvious ball over the top/diag to play Basically, mix it up, stop overplaying and stop being so predictible I'm sorry Luke, I love you but you aren't good enough to make the starting XI
Just watched the goals back and boy were they both horrific: 1. 3 players going for same ball from the corner, none of them get it (Jobe out of position and beaten way too easily in the air. Hume is bullied). Not sure who/what/where Ballard is marking, but he's ball watching and doing nothing. Smallest man on the pitch (Roberts) is on the post. Seelt in no-mans land and it's left to Roberts to compete with their 6'3" centre half. 2. Neil let's his man run past him (again) albeit with a half-hearted attempt to muscle him off the ball. Ballard dangles a leg in a 5-a-side style challenge. Jobe has tracked back well and makes an excellent challenge but then O9 and Hume just look at each other, expecting the other one to clear it and their player nips in. So many individual errors, but you have to question the set up. Our 2 tallest players appear to be zonal marking at a corner (and thus completely taken out of commission by the deep cross). Shortest players on the post. Then player letting their opposite number run past them, standing and watching, not taking control of the situation. Not good at all Jobe surely had time to take the ball round the keeper. It was such a poor finish but I don't know why he waited to long to take the strike. urgh. Such a frustrating evening
A couple of observations about the team and last night: It feels as if we play with a bit of an air of arrogance about us, like 'we know we are better players than you'. Then teams take great pleasure in giving us a metaphorical punch in the gob. I agree that we don't look to play the strikers through enough. Do the players not spot or not look for the runs? Too used to the patterns we play, maybe. The fact that all of the strikers are either young and/or from abroad might mean their voices are not heard / don't feel able to shout up - on the training pitch and in a game.
Maybe the players that they got rid of last season are not the ones TM would of got rid of, or the ones that were brought in ( young foreign kids ) were not the ones TM would of brought in. Let’s just blame TM for not being top of the league, sounds common sense
Keep playing like they did last night and we will have no worries. Clarke needs to learn when to pass the ball and not try to do everything himself all the time because when the opposition have 2/3 players round him then we must have spare players for him to pass to?
Exactly. When Clarke’s faced with 3 players, work the ball quickly over to the left. Then while the opposition are trying to switch across to cover, there might be opportunities to play in one of the forwards or an another player making a run through. There wasn’t enough movement in the forward areas either, last night. Strange how Clarke resisted the shot a few times when he cut inside. Defenders were trying to block but it would have been worth a crack once or twice.
I thought the main problem was the shape last night, players just drifted all over the shop so I don’t get how you can do zonal marking when everyone kinda had a free role. Also think it’s taking away from a few players games the lack of shape Hume for example hasn’t been anywhere near as good as last season when he was just defending and attacking not trying to go into the middle etc. that in turn leaves Robert’s alone and kinda explains why he’s way off it this season. He finally played Adil but where the **** he was meant to be playing is anyone’s guess. I’m hoping that’s not him dropped again as he tends to do that and it can’t be good for confidence imo.
I think that is pretty unfair mate. It sounds like you dont think he is coaching, just letting them give it to one or two players and hope. It really wont be anything like that. Whether he is putting the correct patterns of play into players, or the right sessions to beat a press or break down, who knows. But it will be really well thought out, planned thoroughly and put on in a really positive manner. Elite coaches dont leave anything to hope anymore.
Here’s the team I would like to see in these positions with the players currently available. Patterson Hume. Seelt. Ballard. Huggins O’Nien. Aldi. Neill. Clarke. Mayenda. Roberts. Pritchard to come on when Aldi tires. All holes filled with round pegs. Ballard and Seelt could be swapped round if it’s their preferred position. Hume to be RB only with none of this going to the middle stuff. Both Hume and Huggins to get used to doing overlapping runs with Jack and Patrick who will be able to put crosses in on their correct feet side.
I would like to see that formation and team, given a chance, and told to quicken the pace of attack now and again.
