One thing I've noticed over the last few games is that we are scared to counter attack at pace now. I think we've been caught out so often with swift counters when we have tried to advance the ball quickly from our half that the players are now taking a few extra touches that allow the opposition time to get back into position. Whilst this is obviously counter productive to getting up the pitch and in behind quickly, it is giving us the safety net of the other team not having too many players in our half to do damage should we lose the ball. Gone are the passages of play of keeper to Leif to Chaplin to Burns to cross, goal, as we are trying to keep it tight at the back. Sadly, this was what made us successful and got us to the prem, but we got punished earlier in the season and now we're a little more cautious about breaking forward quickly for fear of being done with a swift counter in the other direction. Agree that Woolfy looks like our best defender, and Morsy played well. More injuries again adds to the overall narrative of this season of rarely having a fully fit squad. Townsend has sent better crosses in than Davis and currently looks like a better option both in defence and attack.
Agree, I think that's partly a tactical thing partly a personnel thing. We've got quick players but we've also got far more players who prefer to run the ball from deep and dribble with it (Hutchinson, Delap, Philogene). The Broadhead, Chaplin, Burns and Hirst combo was more about passing and moving quickly, we haven't had that as much this season for many reasons. I think it's no coincidence Morsy had a better game when Woolfenden played as they have a good connection. Woolfenden generally moves into the spaces which some defenders wouldn't feel comfortable to and holds onto the ball until he is pressed which moves us higher up the pitch and moves the opposition out of place more, he also knows when to play the ball to Morsy in a way which means he can turn his marker and drive forwards. It's the same for Burgess when him and Davis play together. Burgess and Woolfenden are better when we're in possession then O'Shea and Greaves and I'd argue Burgess has showed more this season than Greaves and for me should have been in the side ahead of him. He's had 1 poor games against Newcastle where his lack of pace was really exposed. O'Shea is a proper defender, decent reader of the ball, strong quick, okay on the ball but doesn't have the class of Woolfenden particularly in possession. Injuries have obliterated us this season and currently we look really thin on the ground especially in the forward positions, we currently have potentially Hutchinson, Ogbene, Burns, Szmodics, Enciso and Chaplin all injured!! No team could cope with that let alone on in our context, it'll be really really tough if we don't see some of these back soon.
Were your injuries all picked up on the pitch or the training ground, under both Jesse and Bielsa we had more than an average amount of injuries, some players are obviously more prone than others, maybe training/coaching staff need looking at
Mostly on the pitch, good point about training but I am confident that our whole treatment, phsyio, recovery, rehab set up will be professional. We have found the sheer physicality demanding, let alone the gulf in quality.
I am pretty sure that this was a issue a few years ago that was discussed on here. People questioning training facilities etc.
