Our style of play was summed up after 3 seconds of the game today, we took the kick off and rolled the ball into the right back spot where it was launched 50 yards up the pitch and possession lost. This typified our first 45 mins in particular, hoofing the ball up and aimless passing. To be honest the players didn't look as though they knew what they were doing.
Nick Barnes summed up PP perfectly in his pre-match slot with Benno, When announcing the team he said it was exactly what he had predicted on Friday night, he also said PP is conservative with a small c when it comes to making changes and he pretty much picks the same team week after week regardless of results with injuries being the main driver for change.
PP had made his mind up on this team a week ago and put it out against Hull, a game in which we couldn't score, yes a few decent chances missed but most teams in the football league miss chances every game, it's hardly a stat to celebrate and to get excited about.
PP puts out his 2nd team in effect vs Aston Villa under 21's and obviously the result was as expected but we've played other under 21's before and struggled. What else were the likes of Wyke and Scowen expected to do in order to get in front of Dobson and Grigg? Both played well over the 90 mins and deserve to be in front of those 2 players in the starting 11.
Will Grigg finished last season out of the team and outscored by big Charlie but after scoring less goals in pre-season than Wyke is somehow promoted back into the starting 11. I'm sorry but I saw enough against Hull to confirm that he is never going to score goals for us unless it is literally put on his toe 8 yards out.
Maguire and Gooch scored 25 goals between them last season yet he drops Gooch from the starting line up which is crazy, he made an instant impact when came on and is one of our best players and deserves to be in the starting 11.
As expected none of the young lads got anywhere near the squad, they may as well get Mumba's number and find out how he coped with being frozen out completely. I predict none of these lads will get anywhere near the 16 for months.
To summarise, the players are too comfortable under PP, if your in the first 11 you are safe as houses and there is little pressure on you to deliver as he never makes a change at half time let alone changing his starting 11.
He should have had the balls to start Graham, Scowen and Arby for me, get all the new lads in and send a message to those who have ultimately failed last season. How is Graham going to get match fit, surely not be playing 15 or 20 minutes here and there.
It's one game but he is already on borrowed time, that starting 11 needs to change next week at Oxford with Graham, Gooch and Scowen as a minimum having to start.
