get whittaker off or in the back four, we are playing like an away team at home, not pretty and scares the hell out of you when we go forward we look all over the shop at the back
I started typing this before the goal went in, so this'll sound out of place but I don't think it's inaccurate... I don't think it's a case of "waking the lads up", I think the tactics are just hopelessly wrong. We're committing bodies forwards on every attack like it's the 90th minute of a cup final and we're a goal behind. As soon as Brentford pick the ball up, we've absolutely no cover and they're breaking with pace and numbers, up against 3 defenders, or sometimes less. Turner and Cuellar aren't blessed with pace, and we're leaving them hopelessly exposed. Whittaker, or ideally Johnson, need to play a super disciplined holding role and act as some kind of shield, if only to slow the counter-attacks down enough that we can get numbers back. Granted it's not Whittaker's natural role, and there's nobody better available and I can't come up with a better system, but we need to play a more restrained game.
1-1 at half time then. Brentford midfielder taken out (fairly) by Johnson at the end of injury time, why keep everyone the pitch so that he can have treatment, only to blow for half time once the drop ball was taken? Why not blow as soon as the player went down, and let everyone get in the dressing room? As to the half, I'd venture that's the worst I've seen us play so far this season. Redmond has been lively, and his goal was a great individual moment, but beyond that we're so disorganised it's scary. With so much going our way in the division this week, failing to capitalise would be bitterly disappointing. That said, I'm not sure what changes are actually available to Neil. If Bassong is match-fit I'd be tempted to pull Cuellar off, but there's no reinforcements for our problem areas.
Why has the ref waited for two mins for the injured player to be treated then blown for half time without adding it on? Anyway shocking start, lack composure throughout and losing the midfield battle. On the plus side we did start to improve and have created chances. Game is still there for the taking.
yes DH - there's a hole in the middle of the park called Whittaker - same as when he plays at the back. We are hitting and hoping at the moment and require a sense of positioning all through the park.
Just seen a replay of the Brentford goal, and it's Lafferty who is closest to Jota when he scores from the left side of our box. Johnson, Whittaker or Olsson should surely have made it back before he does?
Whittaker just gave the ball away and stopped. He has to be tracking back, even more so as it was his mistake.
to be fair we should be 3-1 down, so maybe, just maybe lady luck shone on us that half. I'm hoping for an improvement this half OTBC
Well I'd almost be impressed if we could get any worse. I agree getting in level was lucky. Like Neyul before him, it seems Neil needs a big half-time team talk.
