Overall a poor and boring showing from our lads. I thought the defence at times made the wrong decision at the wrong moments. There were balls lofted forward when under no pressure but then sometimes we tried playing out from the back when putting your foot through it would've been a better option. Chambers is doing better in the RB slot but after Tommy's performance I would like to see us try him with Berra in the middle. Gerken, all I really have to say about him was that he should've come for the ball that lead to the goal. I have a mini panic attack every time the ball goes near him so that must mean I don't have any faith in him, 'nuff said. Mings I thought played ok. He tried to carry the ball forwards and made some good challenges. By no means is he the finished article but it looks like there's something there to work with. Smith played well enough but doesn't have as much to offer, or seem as comfortable on the ball as Chambers so I would like to see Luke given a go in the middle. Berra was just Berra, the first defender to be on the team sheet in my opinion. Unfortunate to be on the ground at the time of the goal but at least he didn't lose his man. The midfield were kind of non existent when it came to any kind of attacking play and there wasn't much of a link between defence and attack being made. Hyam played well enough for the occasion. Mick took him off to avoid him getting too heated and being sent off, I don't agree with the decision. Skuse was dreadful, would rather see Tabb or Bru in this spot. Tabb did the best he could out on the wing but would be better in the middle. He at least tries to get or play forward. Anderson I thought was ok, nothing more, nothing less. Henshall when he came on was positive with the ball. He's a ball carrier and not a ball winner and I think it's time that he got to start on the left, with Tabb moving inside at the expense of Skuse. Bru had some good touches and played well enough for someone adjusting to the league, hopefully a better version of Wordsworth. Our strikers were feeding off of scraps today. McGoldrick was trying to make something out of nothing more often than not. He's quality at this level but can't do it all on his own. Murphy has missed a lot of headers recently and should be doing better with the chances he's had. So there we have it, I got up early, went back to bed after the match and had time to calm down. I wasn't impressed by the style of football today and really think a change of formation would suit our current squad more. It will never happen with Mick in charge so opposing managers will know how we set it out well in advance. It's going to be a slog for us again this season unless players step up or some of those on the fringes or due to come back make a difference.
Pretty much agree with your summary and tbh that's how we played against Fulham so can't see it changing that much. Berra is the only player out there for me who could get into most teams in this division, I'm not sure many others would. I didn't think the defence did too much wrong today, I thought the midfield marking was poor particularly down the wings. As for the midfield I'm glad people are seeing how I see Skuse, he needs a massive kick up the backside, the talent is there he's just sooooo timid on the ball, he exemplifies Micks style, has the talent to be progressive but lacks that mentality to take positive risks. Mick Mills was sayng that the sign of a good midfielder is one who offers themselves for the ball and then first looks to play a forward pass and if he can't go forwards to go sideways and if not to go back and that our midfielders do it in the opposite order. This is partly down to the players but a large proportion has to also be down to the manager and how he wants us to play. I'm dissapointed that Wordsworth got sent out on loan, not because I thought he was a world beater but because he offered something different and showed more going forwards in his fleeting appearances than Skuse or Hyam have in their Ipswich careers over many more appearences. I liked Henshall and hope he gets more of a run out in the future, it's a risk to play him but it only seems like such a risk because we're so used to being told putting young attacking players in a team is a risk, it never stopped the likes of Robson, Burley, Royle and even Magilton doing it, so why can't Mick but not just take the risk but stick with it rather than going back to type once that player inevitably makes 1 small mistake? I had mixed feelings about Mings, at times he looked like a complete donkey and other times he looked great, I still feel teams will look to target him as a weak link in our defence
