Paul B
Well-known member
- Joined
- 14 Dec 2017
- Messages
- 1,250
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.
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!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?
KR said that the pitch was slow because it was very dry.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.
There’s a hole in my bucket, dear Henry!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!
Sometimes I think that remedy is a tad overused.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!
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!Sometimes I think that remedy is a tad overused.
I thought that looked better at taking set pieces.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?
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?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