Reading the posts in the News there is debate as to whether the strikers are wanting or the problem is more the poor service from mid field. There is also the suggestion that we are losing more than 50% of the 50-50 balls in mid field although prima facie the good defensive record of late would suggest the contrary. Usually lower league mid fielders fall into two categories; the scrapers (not usually creative) and the more creative passers (not usually ball winners). Where do you feel our problems lay with regard to the lack of goals and into which category do you place our mid field players?
A hard one to answer PDU....on saturday there was too much of a gap between what appeared to be a lone striker and the midfield and we sat too deep. I think (and accept totally it's easier in the stands) that it's choices of pass/final ball, slowing down when we should speed up and not slowing down at times to re-work a position that are not great. I think we have a good midfielder in Diagouraga on loan nut have heard he may be going back to Brentford. He can hold well but also has the odd buccaneering run in him. Our strikers need service and it has to come from all parts of the pitch - and that includes each other - at the moment that is not quite working as well as it could. I guess we should remember that this is still a fairly new team and indeed upfront just over 4 weeks old - so I will be patient and not point at either area yet - but to score you need to shoot - and we do not shoot enough.
I've come to the conclusion that there are only two ways of playing in this league:- 1). 4-4-2, where the midfielder's sit just in front of defence, try and win the ball off your oponents and then hoof it up the middle or down the wings in the hope that someone gets onto the end of it. 2). 4-5-1, where you have two deep midfielders winning the ball then giving it to two others who act as link men to overlapping full backs or the font men. You have to have quick thinkers with good close control and one-touch ability to succeed at the second one, although lesser teams can succed against opponents who play this formation, as we did against Chesterfield the other night. You have to have big men up front who can find the spaces and beat their opponents in the air for the first. Most teams in this divison are incapable of playing either system really well, which is why most of the games we watch are dire. That's the only conclusion I can draw from the season. Our problem is we are not used to such fare and, I suspect, are just too unaccepting of the reality.
I think we have been lacking in all areas......it has come together better on occasion lately........but its like as soon as one area (defence) gets shored up....cracks start appearing else where! I was quite pleased with another pretty sturdy defensive display on sat.......but our choice of passing and final ball in were not good.........I was pleased to see carson distributing thr ball better rather than just hoofing it up field, keeping possession is a must, we have do not done that all season, but lately its much better. I am not convinced about Taylor or Jervis, Jervis shows signs there could be something there.......but neither are looking like natural goal scorers to me......and big pat holds up well but looks like he is past his prime to me. We desperately need a couple of out and out strikers who know where the goal is. On sat, I noticed our strikers seem to get drawn to where the ball is rather than looking for the space in front of goal, or looking to attack the back post, crosses often fizzed across goal with no one there! I can see what RB is trying to do, I would say with a few players and some time he could put a decent team together. For the remainder of this season I am hoping for a decent run in, finish upper mid table and then build for a proper go at it next season. BP
