Terrible game. Terrible performance. Terrible moment for the young winger. Basically terrible all round. We were always at some time this season going to have a last minute goal against us. The way I look at it is it’s one point dropped.
Agreed. Apart from being able to pass the ball between Fish and Lawlor all game, we created nothing through midfield. I said before the game that that Colwill/Robertson/Turnbull midfield combo would be vital. It was, and it didn't work at all. Their passing wasn't sharp enough and sluggish best describes it. Colwiil junior would have added an edge going forward but BBM failed to take the option.
BBM’s halo has slipped quite a bit after that dismal performance. His constant tinkering with his central and wide midfield is damaging. He should shoulder some responsibility for that display for the team he selected. What were his tactics? It seemed to be like at Port Vale, Luton & Wimbledon: don’t concede and if we score it’s a bonus. City have had a lot to thank for opponents not putting away their chances - eg Port Vale, Orient and Reading. Our ability to keep clean sheets has all but gone so ergo if City don’t score they won’t win. Not one effort on target today as far as I can remember tells a lot. BBM should though expect his players to be able to pass to players wearing the same colour shirt and make the most of scraps; the few times we had a chance to cross (save the one Turnbull wasted) were poor. The constant passing for the sake of it across the back was unnecessary and the lack of urgency and impetus through midfield was striking. Even if it had ended 0-0 my views would be the same. The faults today need to be addressed; cup matches coming up but for me how the team shapes up and plays at lowly Blackpool will be more important. As the commentator said there are no obvious stand out teams in this league unlike last season. So far I’ve seen 3-4 better teams than us yet we’re still @top spot but not for too long without a sea change and/or a good January window.
Earlier in the season we caused the opposition far more trouble. More often than not with a more dynamic midfield of the two Colwills and the reliable if unspectacular Wintle. Colwill senior pulling the strings, Colwill junior providing the dynamism from front to back, with the awareness of Wintle tidying up in front of his back 4. That has all changed since Turnbull has come back on the scene and I was a fan of his. He's been favoured over Colwill junior and has slowed the game down giving the opposition too much time. Today was compounded by the return of Robertson who added nothing going forward other than turning himself inside out and losing the ball. Salech got no quick service from out wide nor even on the floor down the middle and cut a very unhappy figure through sheer frustration. Bringing Robinson on for him the last 10 minutes was a pointless exercise without a service plan. Passing the ball around a la Man City without a clue how to effectively use it cost us the game today. BBM has earned the plaudits up till now and rightly so, but since and including the Bradford City defeat when Joel Colwill was benched in favour of Turnbull, he's lost his grip if not the plot. He talks a good pre and post match press conference, but he needs to get back to walking the walk on the pitch.
We seem to have no inspiration or sparkle. The ability to do things differently. I guess other teams have watched us and realised that with a sensible press we get slowed down and then struggle to increase the tempo again. Lots of possession but mostly tippy tappy back and fore. Where's the player who can drive us forward from midfield at pace? We seemed to be able to do that early in the season but have gone backwards since.
3 highly relevant points. I would add pace out wide. Pace is a killer for opponents. Kellyman, Davies, Ashford and Willock are too slow; Nyamukah is probably the quickest but he showed today he can’t take on a man.
I can’t watch anything remotely concerning that debacle. Hope our next trip to the North West will be better
Davies is certainly not slow. However hes a striker not a winger and Kellyman is probably a 10. We miss Tanner. However im convinced if we put more crosses into the box early then we'd have beaten Bolton.
Davies and Kellyman are being played out of position and it shows. The direct Tanner will make a big difference.
Davies is not quick. Davies is not a striker. Kellyman: we have several options at 10. Tanner is a good option off the bench. We don’t start games well. That’s for BBM to deal with.
I think Davies has off the mark speed but can't sustain or increase speed after 5 yards or so. He doesn't have the touch or ball control to be a striker and certainly could not be relied upon to win or hold up any balls in the air. He is either a winger or someone to play off or close to a striker like Salech. Still early days for Kellyman. He certainly has skill but maybe not quick enough to play out wide. No. 10 could be his role. Give Rubin a break in the cup at Peterborough and play Kellyman there. Tanner gives us more options when fit. Full backs dont enjoy playing against him. We have missed him since his injury.
Agree about Zak's pace only being a factor over 5/10 yards and that's why he's not a winger. That short burst pace is best used in the box to wrong foot and get in behind defenders. Nobody is expecting him to be a target man at 5' 9". He needs to play off one but that would need BBM to re-think the 6 man team structure in front of the back 4. Either that or go for a back 5 with wide support from true wingbacks to get the ball across. The best current comparison I can think of for Zak in terms of stature and style is Sammy Szmodics who's even shorter - now that boy has put plenty in the back of the net over recent years with the right service.
Points taken Sparks although you haven't commented on my remarks on Zak's lack of touch and ball control. Both essential in the role you suggest. It can be argued that Zak needs to be given the opportunity to play off Salech or Robinson. He will only get that in the event of injury or suspension for either of those or if BBM changes his tactics. In terms of comparison with Szmodics, the latter has a scoring rate of better than 1 in every 4 games, including a couple of good seasons in Div 2 with Colchester, 1 in Div 1 with Peterborough and a purple patch of 27 in 44 at Blackburn in the Championship in 23/24. Not done so well since joining Ipswich but that included relegation last season. Isaak has a 1 in 5 record but that is mainly due to his season in Belgium. In fairness his career has stuttered due to injury. If he can stay fit and get regular selection we will get a better feel for what he can do.
BBM needed a strong quick goal scoring winger in the summer window. Perhaps he thought the wide players would be good enough. Personally I don’t believe they are which is a facet of play we’re struggling with. Finding a suitable one like eg NML won’t be easy but one should be right up there on BBM’s January shopping list.
Forget January. We will make a token signing on the last day of the deadline. Isaak isnt a striker to play hold up football. He needs the ball ideally played in front of him. A striker he is though and I think hes the best finisher at the club.
Bluey - I think Zak would need to play off Salech not Robinson. I don't see Robbo as a realistic target man in that sense. I don't think we can ignore his performances in Belgium. Although their Juliper Pro league is way off our Prem standard, he did well in a poor team playing at a level which is probably higher than our current League One. Playing him wide makes no sense in he hasn't sustainable pace, but he can do damage with the ball at his feet in the right areas - and that's in the box.
