One point from the last two home games isn't great but of greater concern to me is the style of football we have been playing. We've lacked imagination and at times seemed to lack the basic skills and/or confidence required to pass the ball, resulting in the dreaded thump upfield. Contrast this with Stanley's approach on Saturday when their keeper rolled just about every bit of possession out to his defence, confident in his side's ability to pass it upfield. Before the Shrewsbury game we heard that a 'virus' had affected a good few of the team - fair enough but Hessy's comments after the game suggested a lack of fitness. Were they ill or not fit enough or both? Unlikely since most of the players should be fresh from pre-season. Here's an idea - let the players save their energy by not charging aimlessly up and down the park after yet another long ball and instead get the passing going (as every kids football manager shouts every Sunday morning) - LET THE BALL DO THE WORK!!!
I've all ways been a favourite of working the ball from the back i.e. via the keeper rolling the ball out rather than just lumping it out. You keep more possession and the ball is not immediately coming straight back at you. However, this appears to be Hessy's preferred tactics, I remember one game last season, cannot remember who we was playing but Julian kept rolling the ball out to the defence and I think it worked and it was a better style of play, I think we even played better and I could not work out a few weeks later why we had reverted back again. We've got a solid defence, so it might work better giving it to these lads, especially with Martin on the left, use him more effectively.
You really do need the right players if the keeper is going to continually roll the ball out to them. Accrington have adopted this tactic on their visits to Gillingham in the past two seasons but the ball is generally given to Sean Hessey whose distribution is pretty good. I dread to think what would happen if the ball was given to Gary Richards or Matt Lawrence all the time.
or lack of tactics. i was optimistic like everyone else with the signings but it seems like its the same old hoofball. the buzz of the good transfer activity over the summer papered over the cracks of how we finished last season - remember those two 4-1 defeats at home? still letting my heart rule my head and hope Hess can turn it around but deep down is the nagging question of his ability as a manager. i can also see our crowds continuing to shrink with the hoofball on offer.
When Accy had the ball our players dropped off and allowed them to play the ball out from the back, when we had the ball Accy immediately put our players under pressure and prevented them from passing. It was quite common on Saturday to have all 10 of Accy's outfield players in our half, even when we were in possession, result we had to play hoof ball and lose possession. If we had any speed in the team it would be be a good ball over the top, unfortunately Accy new that their defenders could beat all our front men in a foot race.
You do not get out of League 2 playing too much passing football. Just take a look at the video of Morecambe stuffing 6 up Crawley. Long ball and fierce running every time. Gills are missing sheer pace and running power from midfield and the last thing they want is to try and play like Arsenal. Accie played as good a passing as we will see on Saturday but they are probably destined to mid table unless they can find a few more 6 footers to run the legs off the opposition. Dimson showed how not to do it with his team of dwarfs capable of pretty football on a nice day with the sun out but squashed flat in the mud from November to March. The missing ingredient that Hessy is looking for is to get Lee Whelpdale Jackman and Spiller covering the ground like Montrose does...but showing a bit more skill to go with the running. The back 4 and goalie are the best we have had in years. Going back to the point about fitness, i think Hessy has made clear that he was talking about mental fitness. On skill, this lot are as skilfull as any of the teams we are playing but those players with the most skill (like Weston) are showing the least commitment and giving the worst performances as exemplified in the Shrewsbury game. Hessy will probably wake them up eventually so all is not lost.
Point taken regarding the end justifying the means in terms of style but at the moment there is neither( although Simpson also mangeged to play attractive football at homeand get us promoted at first attempt but let's not go there again) Hess did talk about a passing game pre season and given 451 formations isn't it understandable to be disappointed with the hoof ball? Chesterfield went up last season as champs with a passing game after all That said I am sure we'd all accept a scruffy promotion if we get the promotion
