Post by andyl on Feb 15, 2017 9:02:58 GMT
Problems loom for PP. In the earlier part of the season he has proved cautious and unwilling to change a team until forced to or faced with an obvious need. We have tended to lose games before has acted. But when he does act we have won well.
OK the three at the back which I wanted has won us one game (Walsall) and not lost one game ( Rochdale). But if he perseveres at Bradford and/or Sheffield we could take a heavy defeat and ditto at Fleetwood, Oxford and Southend especially.
It is I think obvious that Wheater and Beevers are excellent stoppers and at their best when we are circling the wagons but they don't want to receive passes, look uncomfortable in possession and always hump it upfield. Derik is ok when central but struggles when wide right and at best wins 50% of headers. Yesterday Rochdale deliberately exploited his aerial weakness and he lost out constantly to a smaller opponent. Alnwick had lots of opportunities to pass the ball but spurned the lot and with no one at left back, Derik marked, the backs of Beevers and Wheater ahead and only Spearing offering for the ball it's easy to see why? That he aimed several for Le Fondre, several more for their keeper and some for touch made the spectacle worse and of course they were allowed to build continuously from the lost possession
Bradford will beat us easily if we play in this vein.
Spearing is absent. That may well be to our advantage. He has been in headless chicken mode recently doing too much. I think there's a chance to use Thorpe at the back and play Derik and Trotter in front. In their one outing together we ran rampant v Port Vale
Madine was most people's MoM pick last night and under 50% of descending kicks inevitably so and he did quite well. But another decision pends Should PP leave him out? I doubt he will but were we to play a solid deep lying game and use counter attacks via Morais, Le Fondre the speedy Long and maybe Solomon we could succeed? Especially if Vela is on his game in support. Madine cannot be a sole striker. Can Long? Maybe.
Does Howard reclaim his spot. Three weeks ago no but now an argument?
Are Henry and Clayton for the scrap heap? Is Wilkinson on the bench as a deputy stargazer for Madine
It's a dilemma but with our promotion fate heavily dependent on results on away grounds I hope PP comes up with a bespoke strategy. What we saw last night won't cut it.
OK the three at the back which I wanted has won us one game (Walsall) and not lost one game ( Rochdale). But if he perseveres at Bradford and/or Sheffield we could take a heavy defeat and ditto at Fleetwood, Oxford and Southend especially.
It is I think obvious that Wheater and Beevers are excellent stoppers and at their best when we are circling the wagons but they don't want to receive passes, look uncomfortable in possession and always hump it upfield. Derik is ok when central but struggles when wide right and at best wins 50% of headers. Yesterday Rochdale deliberately exploited his aerial weakness and he lost out constantly to a smaller opponent. Alnwick had lots of opportunities to pass the ball but spurned the lot and with no one at left back, Derik marked, the backs of Beevers and Wheater ahead and only Spearing offering for the ball it's easy to see why? That he aimed several for Le Fondre, several more for their keeper and some for touch made the spectacle worse and of course they were allowed to build continuously from the lost possession
Bradford will beat us easily if we play in this vein.
Spearing is absent. That may well be to our advantage. He has been in headless chicken mode recently doing too much. I think there's a chance to use Thorpe at the back and play Derik and Trotter in front. In their one outing together we ran rampant v Port Vale
Madine was most people's MoM pick last night and under 50% of descending kicks inevitably so and he did quite well. But another decision pends Should PP leave him out? I doubt he will but were we to play a solid deep lying game and use counter attacks via Morais, Le Fondre the speedy Long and maybe Solomon we could succeed? Especially if Vela is on his game in support. Madine cannot be a sole striker. Can Long? Maybe.
Does Howard reclaim his spot. Three weeks ago no but now an argument?
Are Henry and Clayton for the scrap heap? Is Wilkinson on the bench as a deputy stargazer for Madine
It's a dilemma but with our promotion fate heavily dependent on results on away grounds I hope PP comes up with a bespoke strategy. What we saw last night won't cut it.
