This... Absolutely bang on with this. Some of these players have good moments, particularly Coyle as he has had a big impact when he's moved up the pitch. He's starting to do it a bit more frequently as well, so I think it's sinking in for him now. These moments however seem to mask the fact all four of them have been pure **** at contributing to the progressive play Walter wants to see... And they're the first phase of it. This is the biggest reason why we haven't really gotten going yet. When these pennies drop or when these players are replaced is when we'll see the biggest improvements.
Countless times each one of them has had forward options and instead they've chosen the safe pass, or the keeper pass, which kills the system and the plan for us before we've started attacking. For those that say they want rid of Giles, he's the only one in that back four who currently progresses the ball forwards just about every time he has it. That's why so much goes down our left, because it's the only side that sends the ball in the correct direction.
Macca at least tries to get himself forwards, off the ball, which helps a bit, but he times it kind of wrong and arrives from deep, rather than creates space for others. Coyle does the same too, usually off the ball, but better than Macca does it. The passing from all of them has been poor though and they either play the safe ball, or give it away with an amateur pass. Jones has been the very worst offender though for me. He's proven he's a very good defender but that's where it ends. We're trying to employ a system where everyone plays ball like a footballer, and some of them are struggling a lot with that right now. Hopefully they come good with more time and confidence, but TW's job right now is to try and change something that's become very instinctive.