Excellent 3 points, if a little bit hairy at times. We really weren't bad though. To be fair people on here seem to recognize how dominant we were, but the mood in the away end was so miserable. We really need to let go of this obsession with speed and urgency. The second they went to 10 men, every backwards or sideways pass was met with groans of frustration. People seemed to think we were entitled to start scoring immediately. It almost never works like that. People convince themselves that whenever we go backwards it's because we don't care or something. That's ridiculous, we obviously want to win and to score as soon as possible, but often that requires moving the ball and probing for a gap. Against 10 men that can be even more the case. We weren't perfect today and relied on some last ditch defending at times, but the buildup play was good and we really need to stop so easily turning against the team out of impatience with the buildup play. It's such a strange issue to have. Today we were essentially complaining about being the team in control.
I must’ve dreamt the last 25 minutes then, including them hitting the post when we were all over the place at the back at 1-1. Don’t get me wrong, we played some really nice football and deserved the win but you can’t gloss over what most people on here can see - that we’re good going forward (final pass excepted) but crazily open and lightweight in transition. Even against a 10 man Blackburn we looked fragile. Or have I misinterpreted all the calls on this board for a physical presence at no6?
Is that a manager issue though? We werent slow and cautious 11 vs 11, but we've seen it all across football forever that playing 10 men all of a sudden becomes a different proposition and there isn't the attacking space to exploit than there is when the other side actually has a go. I just think it took time for the lads on the pitch to adjust. First half hour of the second half we did though. Balance of the side got affected when they scored and we took a defender off for a striker, but I don't think there's a lot to nitpick on that performance overall. It was the right result on balance of play both 11 vs 11 and 11 vs 10. Their crowd clapping them off showed how well they played to make a fist of it. Imagine the MKM doing that if the roles were reversed? Credit to their support.
Personally I thought we were at our worst after we equalised! Even accounting for getting the winner. Up to that point we never really looked threatened and they scored against the run of play. Funny old game, how different people see things very differently
Play 3 number 10s always gonna be slightly slower build up. LR will be on the look out for a couple of pacey wingers.
LR is definitely instilling a slower build up in the team, but you are right in regards to the players when in the pitch. Which is why I made the comment during the game that we ( I think ) lack that bit of experience in the team/squad to make those on the pitch choices easier. LR said post match that he has a young squad that's still learning and I agree with him. Is just like us to bridge that gap in the squad with a little experience but LR doesn't seem to want it
Maybe the business plan depends on developing talent? You tend not to increase investment potential under FFP by buying players in their prime at a premium but can never get your money back on.
They had a go, scored and we took a centre back off for a striker. It got us the goals but also opened us up. That's the gamble the gaffer took and he won it.
No you potentially don't, but 1 or 2 of those players in the championship could just be the difference between going up and not going up and hitting the riches. Experience on the pitch to change things is definitely something we lack ATM.
I think we actually have it in some areas, depending on rotation - but I see your point to an extent.
Delap was brilliant. Why not start them both. I thought blackburn did themselves proud today after going a man down. We will be quicker and better when we have a winger playing on the right. We are missing cyrus christie's play down that right hand side but hes had a slow start to the season and lewie Coyle is fully deserving of his place
Surely the business plan is being promoted. Whilst its great that we are producing some home grown talent with revenue potential and indeed some signings made very recently I agree totally with HT2 that we need something of a rudder for the ship if Acuns dream is to be fulfilled. I recall someone who had spoken with contacts at Derby stating that it was not LR policy to bring in senior players. I wonder even if he would even have wanted Seri and Tufan had he been offered them.
At the back we have what could be reasonably argued as experience. But at the top end we haven't really any. Lots of genuine talent, but sometimes it just takes a little bit of something extra that experience brings to turn draws into wins etc. We did it today so it's a bit of a moot point but I still think the lack of it today made it more difficult then it needed to be.
Well. He's certainly using them and not necessarily looking to replace them - Traore included - so I don't think that's really a relevant issue at the current time. He'll want a balance between youth and experience I would think. Where he sits on that balance might be different to the likes of yourself, HT2 and Kalman, but there's no suggestion of him not being willing to utilise the experience he has.
I don’t disagree. Connolly has a terrific eye for goal. Look at the two he scored today. Terrific stuff.
