And I'm not interested if you're a Man City fan. Despite our 'relative' success this season, I have voiced concern about our play in (now) the last three games - when we have used much 'hoofball'. Today's result shouldn't come as a surprise - despite the 'modest' opposition. We have suddenly got it wrong with our style - and it doesn't help with square pegs in round holes - and the proper shaped pegs not doing their jobs properly. I hate to remind you of my thoughts about Dickenson at LB. Today he got a right roasting from Colchester's No. 11 and 31. Dickenson was beaten time and again - of course THAT only happened when he was anywhere near these opponents - too often he was NOWHERE near - and too often he was 'upfield' and compounded his inadequacy by 'selling' himself - thus leaving gaping holes down our left. I'm actually surprised that Edinburgh waited until half time to take him off. Jackson - lots of pace- and DOES have the ability to cross the ball. What did he do today - try to cut inside all the time - ended up either losing the ball, or going backwards - which meant that the opportunity to get the ball in the 6 yard box was lost. The one time he DID cross the ball, it was a great ball to Dack - who'se header nearly rescued a point. Norris - very well taken goal - but then cocked up his good work with whatever he was trying to do at the corner flag before losing possession - directly leading to Colchester's winner. --- but -- why wasn't he given the responsibility to take the penalty - he's proved recently that he can strike a 'dead' ball. I feel sorry for McDonald - desperately needs a goal - should have done better when he hit the post early in the match - yet he worked tirelessly in chasing the balls launched by Nelson. The overall performance was not good enough - certainly not sharp enough - there was only one team busting a gut to get to the ball first ( it wasn't The Gills ). I will repeat that we need to return to the style of football of the first 3-4 games, otherwise we won't have to wait another 8 league games before we lose again. I'm going to Barnsley next week - I'm almost tempted to do what one Gills fan did last season. He left Oakwell laughing his 'testicles off' - he had travelled half way up the country and seen his team lose 1-4, and yet he was a happy man - why ? - because he had put £5 on Barnsley to win 4-1. The odds were 28 / 1
I don't think you can single out players for criticism, the system was at fault (get ready for the backlash) and Jed lacked any plan "B". We play with a very narrow midfield and that left our defence open, with Colchester playing down the wings and ripping us apart we needed to change our shape, sadly we failed to do that and persisted with a system that has over the last 3/4 games been found out and countered, only luck has kept us unbeaten and today the luck ran out. Jed has even started leaving the likes of Mcglashen out of the 18 man squad leaving a change of formation very unlikely.
Well you know my thoughts last game lads, sounds to me no lessons have been learned. I'm sure the hoards of Cody lovers will tell me I'm wrong.
grumpygit I wasn't singling out any one player for total responsibility. I think that I hinted that our tactics were wrong. I highlighted how some of the wrong tactics were exhibited. I actually forgot to mention that, Loft ( not my most favourite player ), was probably the best of our players - but even he failed to give Dickenson the help he needed. I also didn't say that Dack - despite his enthusiasm and ability, so obviously lost his head for a few seconds immediately after getting booked -by flying into tackles ( as of old ), and being lucky to stay on the pitch. I could also have said that Nelson's kicking, a couple of times, (when not being hoofball ), lacked direction (again). In the last 3-4 games Edinburgh has done the same as his predecessors - not so much as defended the teams' performance, as 'talk it up.' -- when it has been apparent that tactics have been wrong - and, I too, worry about any existence of a Plan B. I don't pretend to have all the answers - but why isn't McGlashan being considered as an option ? If we are going to play hoofball, there's no point in having midfielders ( or need fewer of them ). We might as well try using McGlashan to latch onto the 'missiles' from Nelson, and put crosses into the box - with the team having more than just McDonald ( or whoever ), to convert the chances. Fans can see where and when it's going wrong. I get frustrated when the manager is unable to open his eyes, or act much sooner ( as was so obviously required at Colchester with the left back situation ). So, I'm blaming everyone - including the stewards ( see the ARGS thread ) - the one person I won't blame is myself ( you know I'm alwaysright ).
Very much agree on the Mcglashan point, if there was a game for him it was yesterday. Quite clearly their defence is poor but they have pace and skill up top, so we were always going to concede, we just needed to get round the back of them more, glash would have done this. Having the goals this morning, it's clear that Max was to blame for the first, initially at the game I blamed Dickenson but on the replay you can see Ehmer rushing out to the initial challenge and running into his own man! So he's to blame directly for 2 goals in 2 games. Dickenson was poor I agree, but in my opinion JED should have pre emptied the grilling he would get and doubled up on Massey, he rips us apart every season. Cody is shot to bits, needs a goal fast and then he will be back scoring, you don't however let a player who has no confidence take a penalty at 2-1 down, wait until you've won a game to do that. Dack is consistently getting marked and fouled out of games, if he is to be a top player he needs to keep his head and show his quality through his frustration. We need to stop being so reliant on Jacksons crosses as well, even in the games we've own it's been a very similar story, work it across the space, give Jackson the ball who goes past a man and crosses, yet we haven't actually scored from one of these moves all season, so why do it when we are chasing games, it's a good option but we have to mix it up. Listen I'm happy with our start of course I am, but i see big limitations at present that we need to address if we're really going to compete because quite simply we should not have lost that game yesterday. Just a note on the referee, yes he gave us a pen, but he was by far the most inept and quick to react referee I've ever seen. What exactly were half of those bookings for?! And the wrestling move on Garmston at the end was let go. He stopped our flow by flagging up anytime we brushed one of their players yet their lump at the back got away with murder. The disgraceful refereeing in this country needs to be improved before people become sick of watching it.
Looking at the statisics we deserved at least a point. We have been lucky to still be unbeaten until yesterday but our luck ran out today. We were never going to stay unbeaten.
I was planning to go next week, but you bringing back the memory of the nightmare of that afternoon, has made me have second thoughts.... Nah, not for long. Hope and misplaced optimism spring eternal. See you there.
With teams now targeting Dack for special attention, the time is right for the forwards to start doing what they're paid for. Even after yesterday Colchester still have the worst defensive record in league 1 yet we struggled to put one goal past them, I think if we continue playing wing backs against fast wingers then it needs 3 central defenders.
One of the finest assets that Dack has had, at least up till now, is the ability to find space, and this has been seen not least in the goals he has scored this season. I think that possibly he is now being used as a 'go to' creative midfielder, which in my opinion is not the best way he can contribute to the team. If he can find space, and get the ball in space, he is very effective, but he is not the greatest at taking the ball in a tight situation and beating a player who is closing him down, while still keeping possession of the ball. Like all players he has parts of his game that are stronger than others, and the strong parts of his game are so good that I do think that some part of any game plan should be working out how best to utilize those strengths without exposing the parts of his game that are less strong, and therefore more likely to be countered by the opposition.
Go back to what was working in the first few games.....build around that and quit the hoofball please...
What's wrong with hoofball ? We could play with 8 men 'up front' - might stand a chance of scoring................... mind you, we'd still have a problem in defence - because I expect JE would still play Dickenson at LB -------------- I'm terribly sorry - my post was stupid and should have been put in the correct place (ARGS thread) ..................Hang on a minute - having thought about the formation of 8 strikers - maybe it's not such a bad idea - after all, what's the point of playing hoofball ( as we HAVE been doing ), if you're not going to load up the front line ?
brb - can you ban anyone who uses the term 'hoofball' -- that includes me - because I've got to the stage where -- if we play hoofball at Barnsley, it might be the last away game I bother to see - it's bad enough watching the ball in the sky when we're 'home' - but as I've recently stated, I don't need to get up at 5.30 am, to catch a coach etc, to see the ball in the air all the time------ I could stay at home and watch some Premiership 'Happy Slapping.'
