Good to get back to winning ways yesterday but I have to call out what I think will be the major factor limiting us from a promotion push this season. 9 goals in 3 games yea ok, it doesn't take a genius to work out we had a problem at the back but my concerns are not just with regards to the formation and more the individuals. So reverting back to a more traditional formation yesterday did lead to us keeping a clean sheet however what it didn't recognise was that a defender last season regarded as a demigod of football by most (including myself) spent most of the first half sat in the back pocket of the oppositions striker who are a team looking like relegation candidates. (Rosenior for anyone who didn't work it out) Faye, although a good defender in the past, is simply too slow. As is Dawson. I love Daws to bits but the writing was on the wall last season for me and I don't like to have a pop at Mcshane after he has played so well in the last couple of games but there was a reason why he was considered crap in the first place. What (if anything) will Bruce be doing to address this? TL.DR Defence is crap, four at the back against a **** team is papering over cracks what's brucey going to do about it?
Injuries are exaggerating our defensive problems with Dudgeon, Chester, Bruce and Hobbs all out. We're reduced to our second string defence so the formation has to compromise through necessity. The 5-3-2 system released the strong potential of this team so hopefully SB will work on it with the players in training until they find a solution to the defensive flaws, but no-one could deny that Bruce has a thankless job trying to get through this period of adjustment with so many defensive injuries.
I agree we have been unlucky. but the problem with playing 3 at the back is that you need to be quick and reliable. One slip and the opposition is through on goal. Neither Faye or Bruce are reliable enough for me to play in that formation. It puts big gaps inbetween the defenders and when the ball gets punted into them gaps it becomes a foot chase to the ball. When that's Faye running against the opposition. I get nervous.
Dawson started well and faded, Rosie started badly and improved, Faye was excellent and McShane was his usual committed, flailing self. We've got four defenders out injured, it's hardly suprising that we don't look at our best, but Bruce is unlikely to do anything, as two are due back for the next game.
Yes Rosey either looked lost or probably more to do with lack of matches.. patched up defence were pretty resolute from what I saw of them although they were probably one of the worst Wed side have I seen - certainly the easiest perormance we have had at Hillsborough. Listened to that plank Jones prattling on about nowt on a South Yorks radio station on way home - glad we didn't get that boring so and so as a manager.
In the first half he was missing simple headers and screwing up his first touch, I think that was more about a lack of game time, rather than who he as up against(though obviously, that won't have helped).
For 5-3-2 you have to have defenders who have pace, good reading of the game and great positioning. We do not have this. Certainly not at the moment. Personally I think we should go 4-3-3. With quinn, koren and mckenna in mid and aluko, simmo, big nick up front. or 4 - 3- 1 -2 with quinn, mckenna and oli in middle of the park and koren in the hole.
Well according to SB he should have most of his first string defence back after the international break, the only big worry being Dudge as they are not sure of the problem at present.
I agree with most of the reasoning regarding formation & injuries, but can someone explain why we won three superb games playing three at the back when according to some our defenders aren't good enough to play this system. It looked good at Leeds.
Reminds you of going up into the Prem: London - 0; Hull - 4......then they got our measure (and Brownie's nerve cracked, too).
With the back 4 we were forced into playing yesterday I was amazed we kept a clean sheet. When Hobbs, Chester, Bruce + Dudgeon are all fit again I reckon we will get back to our mean defensive ways and that will prove the springboard for a promotion push in the new year!
Yes until we have our first choice team, we wont have the consistency needed for a serious promotion push. As long as we can keep within touching distance of the top 6 until our injured players get back, we have half a chance. Still think we need a couple of additions to the squad though
