We looked good until they scored and then it all changed. Whether they got their heads up or ours just went down after conceding I don't know, but something needed to change and that must be down to management. We weren't even a poor second for that last 20 minutes of the first half. Lost with no leadership on or off the pitch. I can maybe accept leaving it to half time to regroup and instill a change of tactics, but we came back out and played exactly the same. McAleny on for Doyle on the hour seemed a reasonable decision, but we actually showed more fight after Whitts went off. Substitutes can change games - they're not on the bench for just injury reasons, and why Ravell was brought on for Kennedy with Whitts off the field I don't know. Slade was trying to play a 4-3-2 with two wide men to service Jones and Ravell and just Gunnar trying to come through midfield. What does Adeyemi need to do to get some pitch time? He should have been brought on not Ravell, especially as we were down to 10 men by then. In fact Adeyemi should have come on for Kennedy the moment Whitts got his marching orders. The guy exudes energy and will run through a brick wall to get up and support a front man. I did go for a win for City in the prediction league on the grounds that we might have learned some lessons recently, but it was more in hope than conviction. We have a huge way to go to compete with the better sides in this division, but the results of the poor teams below us will more than likely save us from a bottom 6 scramble, though that is still not a given.
Got to say Adeyemi hasn't impressed me so far. Lots of effort and energy but little guile. He hasn't shown he is the box to box player we have been crying out for all season. Also, got the wrong side of his man v Blackburn and the move ended up with them scoring. With no Whitts on Tuesday I question who will keep the ball ticking over in midfield. In saying that we are so slow moving the ball around it must be a defender's paradise marking our guys. Doyle needs quick ball along the ground into the channels and just doesn't get it. If he doesn't score soon then we have another ALF on our hands. At least we had a stab at getting even in the last 10 minutes so praise for effort in the 10 v 11 situation and nearly a goal but for a great last ditch header. Okay we went route one as that was the only option with KWJ and Revell up front. Noonie seemed to have his best game of the season. I just wish he had attacked their right back more. The guy should clearly have gone off after his second poor foul on Noone and while there can be no argument against Whitts dismissal for 2 poor fouls there was no consistency in allowing the right back to stay on the park. Jackett made a wise decision to hook him after the second foul. Why oh why do we give the ball away so easily? Connolly was the prime suspect today although others like Gunnar, Morrison, Peltier and even Manga were not far behind him. Communication seems so poor at times. Don't they work on that in training? In summary, we just don't look like a side capable of dominating a game and scoring more than the odd goal. Only 47% possession again. BBC says we had 16 shots - did I miss something?
I'd like to see Ralls in for Whitts next game. A different type of player, but he's gets forward and looks to pass the ball early.
Adeyemi on (or even Ralls for that matter) when Whitts was sent off was a no brainer, in fact I'd have put him on before that for either of the wide men. Kennedy was tricky but became less effective as he tired after the hour, and what anyone sees in Noone this season is beyond me - he's been extremely poor and I'm beginning to regret he didn't go to Norwich in January. Once again the lack of energy in the middle of the park was appalling and Whitts typified it with those ridiculous challenges through sheer frustration. Perversely, leaving Gunnar on his own in the middle of the park didn't work out that bad as Whitts was having no effect at all on the game, but Revell on at that late stage was a desperate gamble. This is all about management. We were sitting far too deep after they scored giving them control of the centre ground and not pressing them higher up the pitch. We were so slow it was bloody painful. Adeyemi on for Whitts on the hour would have given the structure a boost and driven the game forward at Wolves who didn't look brilliant defensively to me. As for Ralls instead of Whitts for the next game remote - well let's put it this way, he couldn't be any worse. I'd still give Adeyemi the job though, although he's different to both Whitts and Ralls. He brings an energy to the side from box to box that we are sadly lacking.
That's common sense and I'd go for that as well, but I'll bet anything that Slade will stick with a two man attack and will definitely give Revell a run out against his old club. I can actually see him starting a Jones/Revell double big guy spearhead with Doyle coming off the bench later.
The thing is Sparkey, Ralls likes to put hi laces through the ball and as you say, Adeyemi gets box to box so it gives us presence in midfield but with players who will push on. Three in the middle will also attract defenders giving the wide players more space as well.
I was trying to be positive in an earlier thread suggesting we can get 65 points. Well, that positivity has wandered off down the road again. 55 points more likely maybe, possibly..well.... Anyway, it all feels we are drifting along until the inevitable financial explosion occurs and we become a nice little lower league 1 or 2 club again with this big empty shiny stadium. Ah well.
