I think some of us on here are feeling the pressure more than the players. Let's look at the positives compared to previous seasons. We are four points clear of second and six points clear of third with a game in hand over both. They both need to overtake us to condemn us to the play offs and they only have nine games left. We only need four wins and a couple of draws from ten games to get promoted and we have the players to do it. I'm often called a 'glass half empty' type. But at the moment my glass is positively over flowing. Onwards and upwards.
Haven't said I don't think we're still in great position. Like most on here I love the game, I take a massive interest in it tactically. I was confident we'd get over run in the middle against Leicester. I'm know im just a fan, MM has forgotten more about football than I'll ever know. SO why has he made the same mistake 2 home games in a row. We stole that goal against Leicester, we didnt look like we'd score if we played for a month. Ipswich were the first to really show how easily we can be shut down at the CCS. I was away for the BC game so I won't comment on that. Brighton play their own game it suited us and we were the better team and unlucky against them. Derby and Leicester followed the Ipswich blueprint and we played like ****. The remaining teams to visit will do the same until/unless we do something different. There are still obviously a lot more positives than negatives, but I just can't help but feel like we're making this really difficult for ourselves when we have the players to change it. For the record I might be negative (at the moment)on here but I never am in the ground, I think that anxiety from the fans spreads to the pitch quickly. Probably why I have to vent my frustrations here!
I think Leicester played their own game with so many more attacking options than Ipswich or Derby. With Dyer, Woods and Nugent backed up by King they didn't have to play defensively although having Wellens and Drinkwater playing in front of their back four helped. Okay they parked the bus once ahead but we probably did the same at their place. There was little in it at half time but the loss of Hudson in particular gave them inspiration second half when they were much better than us and Marshall kept us in the game - again. Midfield is the problem and we suffer playing 2 wide men. I think it is time to revert to 3 in the middle with Kimbo the obvious addition as he also adds attacking flair with good passing and possession and an ability to go wide on the left.
They're a much better side than Derby but the set up was more negative if anything. Nuggent played wide right leaving Woods up front on his own, giving them the extra man in centre mid. The warning sign was there in the first minute when the ball broke in the middle of the pitch and they had 5!! players within 10 yards of it. They knew if they crowded the middle of the pitch we wouldn't have an answer and we didn't. Derby tbf played pretty much 2 up front, but the other frontman (not Salmon) dropped back in to make the numbers and help crowd us out. For our 2 to be effective both have to have the movement, energy, touch and precision of passing to combat constantly being against an extra man. Gunnar is doing a fair job, Witts (AT THE MOMENT) has none of the 4 required IMO. Believe it or not I'm a massive fan of Witts, he's just not doing it right now and no member of any team should be untouchable in terms of selection.
