I thought he just did the basics and made football look easy, I think the instructions were just to play in front of the back 4 and keep possession. I'm sorry for saying this again, week after week, but Roberts again was a passenger for the majority of the game. His work rate is atrocious and he just goes through the motions of trying to get back. To me, he's a luxury we can't afford, especially against the physical sides.
24 hours on I've cooled a bit. I was mad as hell after the game as I felt we should have just attacked more and not tried to see the game out. I'd rather lose games going for it than sitting back. Anyhow, it's not the end of the world. If Leeds and Burnley draw we're actually better off. 17 to go.
We made up points on Boro, Blackburn, Watford and are currently 14 points sure of the play-offs, effectively. I doubt we'll play as poorly again, as we did yesterday and will play much better at Boro ... ... Carrick claims Boro should've won at Preston as he always claims when they lose
Can't get over the midfield setup yesterday. Personally thought Samed was fine, did exactly what he's good at which is winning the ball and keeping it simple in possession. But you simply can't play that midfield 3 against the worst team in the league. Neil was really poor in the 8 position (no surprise considering that is not his position) and Jobe was poor in the 10, again no surprise there. This left Isidor incredibly isolated, 9 touches all game for him just isn't good enough. We deserved to lose really. Can't get my head around the tactical setup.
Out of position or not they can both play there and do much better than yesterday ... ... but they're both young and gaining experience, playing is the only way to achieve that unfortunately. Isidor made endless runs 'off the shoulder' and was ignored time after time .... it was all way too slow and I don't know why.
They can I just don't understand the decision to play them out of their best positions. Especially when we have numerous other players that can play them roles. It was way too slow because of the midfield selections. We didn't have the driving runs from deep by Jobe or the big switches by Neil or the movement by Rigg.
Good analysis mate, the midfield lost us the game, most were for leaving Rigg out of the starting eleven , he should have been playing with Mayenda and Wilson from the off, in a 3/5/2 , It made sense to me before the game and still does. We are loaded with options in mid-field, yet RLB got it so badly wrong , choosing not to use them .
I’d like to see rigg back in against boro and Neil moved back. At least he gets close to the frontman and links with the right hand side
Jobe is not the quickest , or Roberts , Samed and Elf are not up to speed yet so the first 45 minutes were a gift to Plymouth and they grew in confidence as ours sapped away , even so we were only minutes away from winning , and thats the rub.
I’d like the midfield to be neil rigg and jobe again. Go back to what we work well with ELF is not a winger but I think he can really get at ayling in this game boro is never an easy game but this group, especially when they’re frustrated, give me the most confidence I’ve ever had going into an away game against boro
I didn’t think n Roberts was as bad as people made out he just wasn’t much of a threat. Did you see that passage of play between Roberts Le Fee and I think it was Hume on the right side. One touch football that had their defence dizzy. Reminded me of the Amad Roberts days
Just another home fixture where we’re slow and predictable, easy to defend against. The atmosphere was no surprise as we’re boring to watch
