Maybe a bit early to post this with a few minutes to go in the other games, but how the hell are we still top of the Division! Stevenage and Bradford drawing, Wimbledon and Lincoln both losing.
We won’t be for much longer if we can’t get a shot on goal. Here’s a plan. Less tippy tappy and more shooty shooty.
That's 3 league games on the trot now where in all honesty we've been second best side on the pitch and none of the 3 are exactly world beaters at this level. We got away with it with wins against Orient and Reading, but got our comeuppance yesterday when the better team actually won. Taking comfort from staying at the top of the pile after that performance was more to do with the failings of our competitors rather than any credit to City. On current performances, it won't be long before that changes. So where do we go from here - or rather what is BBM going to do about it? He's gained the early season plaudits, and rightly so, but something has changed from the free running performances that took us to the top of the pile. To me, it's looking more and more that this side is actually being over-coached and restricted. Technical perfection is one thing, but any flair and initiative on the pitch looks to have been sidelined for "method" coaching. Route One may not be the answer, but there are more direct options. Playing out from the back and making a couple of dozen passes before getting anywhere near the opponents box is killing us.
Fair points. BBM stated post match we need to turn possession into chances and have more cutting edge. Turnbull has had enough opportunities to enhance the team this season which he hasn’t taken. He’s a weak link in the midfield. BBM needs to find his most effective CM and stick with it and not tinker. I’ll bang the drum again - the team lacks pace; too many moves break down when approaching the opposition area; the tactics aren’t direct enough and the crossing into the box needs improvement.
From the games I've seen and the extended highlights I've watched, we have been good at getting from back to front reasonably well, getting into good positions, or winning the ball high up the pitch. Then in the recent games we've played, it gets bogged down. Salech is starved of the type of service he needs. The last two games that hes scored in have come from desperation rather than design. Its almost like arsenal of old (not that we're anywhere near that level), looking for the perfect opportunity. Space then clogs up as the time taken allows defenders to get back. Yesterday, we were well behind on shots taken. A different sport, but I remember a successful period the rugby club I played for in Bristol had. The coach split the field in thirds. In the defensive third, he didnt care how slow the ball was as long as it was clean ball for the half backs. In the middle third it was structured, with the forwards tying in defenders and playing to the touch lines to create width. In the final third it was all about quick ball for the backs. If we turned it over occasionally, no worries, try and win it back, but make the game unstructured and challenge the defenders. Don't let them get set defensively, move them about, create mismatches. A relatively simple game plan. Coaching structure for the first two thirds of the pitch, more about individual skill in the final third. It feels as if once get into the final third we need to take the handbrake off. Get crosses in, get shots off. Chalkenge defenders. Take them out of their comfort zone. It has become too tentative. Big strides forward from where we were, but we need to take the next step.
Tan's extreme is probably the opposite end of the spectrum from where we are now. Just need to find a happy medium.
In essence, Tan is right - if you don't buy a ticket you won't win it. Shots whether on target or off can be deflected in or out - we've seen that this season time and time again for and against us. I think the problem with the much quoted "why don't you shoot more" quote was that he asked Marshall.
