Fan's View No.1 20/21 - Wimbledon plus more

Yes, a welcome read and a balanced report on the game. I made the criticism on the day and will repeat here, we don't appear to have come to terms with teams who sit back and allow us possession. Playing against 5-4-1 left us going sideways, backwards and then hopeful forward only to be on the end of a fast counter. Wycombe did it to us and AFC were happy to wait for us to make the mistakes in the same fashion. I hope that, with analysis, KR and his team can come up with a formula to break down this sort of opposition. Hopefully, the alluded to addition of a left sided player will give more options and more incisive forward movement.
Have to say though, we do look like a strong team as it stands.
 
Yes, a welcome read and a balanced report on the game. I made the criticism on the day and will repeat here, we don't appear to have come to terms with teams who sit back and allow us possession. Playing against 5-4-1 left us going sideways, backwards and then hopeful forward only to be on the end of a fast counter. Wycombe did it to us and AFC were happy to wait for us to make the mistakes in the same fashion. I hope that, with analysis, KR and his team can come up with a formula to break down this sort of opposition. Hopefully, the alluded to addition of a left sided player will give more options and more incisive forward movement.
Have to say though, we do look like a strong team as it stands.

Tbf, the under-prepared pitch may have played a part on Saturday as the ball was moving slowly across the pitch. The one thing we have to absolutely improve is defending set pieces though.
 
Tbf, the under-prepared pitch may have played a part on Saturday as the ball was moving slowly across the pitch. The one thing we have to absolutely improve is defending set pieces though.
Absolutely, we neither excel at taking nor defending set pieces. Some teams have made the art of a set piece into their prime attacking play, noticeably those who also practice falling over at regular intervals!
Interesting comment about the pitch, I hadn't noticed before. Grass too long or just soft?
 
I'd not noticed that about the pitch either. There's always something others will see that I've missed. There's so much to pick up on yet football is supposed to be a simple game.
 
A welcome return to well written reports, I thought that despite all the passing around there was very little goal threat, I am no advocate of long ball football, somehow there needs to be more pressure applied to the opposition defenders and get them turning, 20 passes in your own half doesn’t achieve that, if the final pass has no end result
 
Absolutely, we neither excel at taking nor defending set pieces. Some teams have made the art of a set piece into their prime attacking play, noticeably those who also practice falling over at regular intervals!
Interesting comment about the pitch, I hadn't noticed before. Grass too long or just soft?

KR mentioned the pitch in his interview after the game which he said was under-prepared due to the short time between the play offs and this game causing it to be slow. I think one of the players mentioned it as well. I don't remember them saying exactly why it was slow though.

The ball certainly wasn't zipping around from watching the game but whether that was the players or the pitch is guesswork on my part really. A brief look at some highlights from last season to compare against suggests it wasn't as slick moving though.
 
KR mentioned the pitch in his interview after the game which he said was under-prepared due to the short time between the play offs and this game causing it to be slow. I think one of the players mentioned it as well. I don't remember them saying exactly why it was slow though.

The ball certainly wasn't zipping around from watching the game but whether that was the players or the pitch is guesswork on my part really. A brief look at some highlights from last season to compare against suggests it wasn't as slick moving though.
KR said that the pitch was slow because it was very dry.

I'm no groundsperson, but I can think of a remedy for that!
 
OK!!! Now that we have our first FV the season is well and truly under way.

Many thanks, Paul, for this one, all the previous ones, and all the ones to come. They're always both insightful and well written, and a Must Read for me.
 
Sometimes I think that remedy is a tad overused.
Yes, I agree - there have been times at Grenoble Road when I have virtually driven through floods to get there, only to find the sprinklers going full pelt when we get in!
However, given that we were playing at home on Saturday (and so presumably had full control over how wet the pitch was) it was a bit odd that had been overlooked.
 
Absolutely, we neither excel at taking nor defending set pieces. Some teams have made the art of a set piece into their prime attacking play, noticeably those who also practice falling over at regular intervals!
Interesting comment about the pitch, I hadn't noticed before. Grass too long or just soft?
I thought that looked better at taking set pieces.
Moore got on the end of a couple of corners and we looked more dangerous having Atkinson in there as well
 
I thought that looked better at taking set pieces.
Moore got on the end of a couple of corners and we looked more dangerous having Atkinson in there as well
True, they both managed to "show" for corners. Still want to see us being more inventive with our set pieces. The formula seems to have been set in stone with the "big man" coming in at the far post to knock down or crash through. Bit more imagination needed?
Big one though has got to be defending. We still look vulnerable.
 
Yes good read as always. The three if onlys at Wembley, Marcus to his credit did look absolutely gutted at the final whistle and we did have ten minutes to pull it out of the fire..........
 
Seen the highlights, what happened to the flags?
I thought they would be kept out on display.
 
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