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Post by whiteofthesouth on Oct 20, 2021 7:45:37 GMT
I feel that Thomason would have been a good choice coming off the bench when it became clear that short sharp passing was no longer working on a waterlogged pitch. His long cross-field passes can be very effective. However, I agree that Sarcevic should have scored and Kachunga should at least have shot. At 2-1 who knows what might have happened. Also agree the stupidity of our backs passing back on a waterlogged pitch. It’s like they weren’t paying attention and hadn’t noticed the ball was sticking!
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Post by riochforthereebok on Oct 20, 2021 8:39:34 GMT
I’m going to stick my neck on the line now (and probably get slated for it)
We need to draught the old heads in for the January transfer window. In my view, we need at least 3 ‘veterans’ or ‘old heads’ to add some quality, good decision making and steadying of the ship. (Baptiste needs to go and never be seen in a white shirt again)
Someone like Phil Jagielka, or Ryan Shawcross, or even the return of Tim Ream to the defence, a striker like Andy Carroll or Daniel Sturridge, a midfielder like Jack Wilshire, Harry Arter, Joe Allen, Sam Clucas
January will throw up some gems and some bad un’s as well, but Evatt has to be first in the queue if we are to improve on what we have.
Think it was OoM that said we are running on adrenaline from the feel good factor of promotion last season but that bubble has well and truly burst and this worry that Ian doesn’t have the nous to change and adapt a plan B will kill us off completely and could even send us down if we’re not ahead of the game.
I never thought Baka and Ameichi would be the answer at this level as they’ve not shown anything at previously clubs to suggest otherwise but the fact that Richie Wellens got a better tune out of Eoin Doyle in Swindon’s promotion season says a lot about Evatt’s weakness as manager of a decent strike force.
Crikey, if he could at least sort the defence out, as that was his playing position then that would be a bonus
If we fail to beat Gillingham on Saturday we really are heading for troubled waters
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Post by OohMac on Oct 20, 2021 8:49:40 GMT
Said on the main page that these are worrying stats.
Failed to score in half the games this season. Have conceded first goal 11 out of 14 games. Of our 20 goals 6 came in the opening 2 games, 9 more came from two games in Ipswich and Charlton(its great we started the season so adventurous and a real positive that we put teams to slaughter in those games) BUT it means that 15 of our 20 goals come from 4 games! Which means the other 5 goals we scored were spread over 10 games!!! (One of the 5 goals was a penalty. So 4 goals from open play over 10)
Thats shocking and makes me wonder how Evatt could ever think we are among the elite never mind the best.
Over the last 10 games we are in relegation battle form, make no mistake about that. We're 19th in both last 6 and last 10 game form table. 4 relegated so skin of teeth stuff.
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Post by whitesince63 on Oct 20, 2021 9:08:38 GMT
I think we have to all take a step back and accept where we are. I think generally IE has done well with the players he’s been able to bring in considering we were under embargo, specifically the likes of Dapo, Lee and John. Sarce and Doyle were good in L2 but to be honest I think they’re lacking in L1. I’m not overly impressed with Sheehan or Baka and try as I might, I’m still completely at a loss to understand his treatment of Politic. IE spent the whole of his injury telling us how well he’d done and how driven he was to get back, then when he is fit again he loans him out. He was no more unfit than Kachunga yet he’s happy to give him cameo roles to get him back up to speed, so where’s the difference? Sadly, it seems as though we’ve now lost him for good.
I still have confidence in IE generally, though like others I’m concerned about his reluctance (or inability) to make in game changes other than like for like. I would though like to see him shuffle his pack a little to see how players can work together better, maybe try Dapo in the middle rather than wide all the time. What struck me last night, as it has in all our other recent games actually, is just how slow we are getting the ball forward. We never seem to run forward at pace like other teams do. Maybe we just don’t have the players to do that and it’s something we have to improve in the next window but surely the playing it around at the back system is entirely to create space to then make an accelerated move forward but we don’t do that, everything gets fired out wide and then we try and pass our way through but it’s so slow that all the oppositions defenders are back.
The shots on goal attempts are also lacking, even when we do shoot, nowhere near often enough for me, it’s either weak or off target. Last night is just the latest example. Dapo had several attempts yet they were more pass than shot and straight at the keeper, Sarce missed another sitter and Kachunga didn’t even have the confidence to try, just as he did at Wednesday when he put the ball behind Doyle. No wonder he doesn’t score. Is it a lack of confidence or ability? As rftr says, Sharon has to make her mind up exactly what she wants. Either pay the money for the players to get us up or sell the club to someone else who will. I’m afraid running a successful club costs money, you can’t do it on the cheap. This club shouldn’t be in L1, the Championship is our minimal level and we need to get back there ASAP. Every one of the other promotion contenders has invested in quality additions, including Wigan and it’s showing.
We do have to accept that we’ve had a tough run, playing teams in good form but we also have to accept that we have a problem scoring goals. I fear the early results at Ipswich and Charlton were unrepresentative of us generally and using them as markers is wrong. We are wholly inept up front when you consider the number of chances we’ve fluffed. They say attack is the best form of defence and for me it is. We don’t pressure teams enough and it allows them to throw more men forward overrunning our defence. Much to do but I’m still convinced IE is the right man to do it if he learns from his mistakes quickly. I’m sure he will if he reads the right books!! 😌
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Post by OohMac on Oct 20, 2021 10:36:17 GMT
I dont have as much confidence in Evatt whites. This time last season we were diabolical and he kept picking an awful 5-3-2 with Brockbank LWB and we kept conceding soft goals and early in games.
Phoenix got the bullet. FV went and got him the players which meant he couldnt fail(maybe promotion was unexpected but think when you bring Lee, MJ, Dapo and John is. Maddison too albeit didnt work. So many times we held on for dear life and Evatt says "get a grip". Well it was bleeding obvious that better opponents and you dont win those matches and thats what were finding now. We cant play for 1-0 now. Were not good enough at either end. Not solid enough or clinical.
Now we have hit on something this season. We are fantastic on the counter. So lose the possession because Leicester won the league with 30% of it. You dont need it.
Play to the strengths which is hitting Dapo early and direct and letting him attack.
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Post by OohMac on Oct 20, 2021 17:31:11 GMT
Easier way of saying it is I would have more faith in Evatt if he changed the fortunes by keeping and improving the same players rather than a mass overhaul.
Think good managers can make players better, seen with Chris Wilder and Bielsa that some of thier star prem players were League one players and not "this kids going places, remember the name" ordinary players.
Is Evatts plan again to knock on the door and ask for 6 better players in January?
Hes come out again today to distance himself from the defeat(leader of men that he is) and said we passed it too much, tried to play too intricate. Games 90mins and changes can be made anytime.
I asked the question to iles whether the rain would change his thinking. Well Baka for Doyle, but same formation and same old 60% says he had no intention of playing a different way. But reflecting on it says the players should have known.
I know he was on the sidelines but assume he does pre match and half time talks and can get the ear of Atherton.
About time for me IE steps up, takes one for his team and says "ive got carried away in my own hype and tomorrow we start again with the basics".
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Post by chip on Oct 20, 2021 17:51:10 GMT
It's very hard to get the balance right between playing better football and winning games unless you have top quality player's. At the moment we are playing good football and winning games against the so called lesser team's. Yes we have been thumped twice admittedly those two games we have helped the opposition with some rank defending and poor finishing. On the whole we are doing ok for a team just promoted without a pot to piss in so for me if we could just cut out the stupid mistakes and bang a couple in the net they will ding dong do for me. Onwards and upwards stay safe one and all COYWM Roll on Saturday
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Post by whitesince63 on Oct 20, 2021 19:53:16 GMT
It's very hard to get the balance right between playing better football and winning games unless you have top quality player's. At the moment we are playing good football and winning games against the so called lesser team's. Yes we have been thumped twice admittedly those two games we have helped the opposition with some rank defending and poor finishing. On the whole we are doing ok for a team just promoted without a pot to piss in so for me if we could just cut out the stupid mistakes and bang a couple in the net they will ding dong do for me. Onwards and upwards stay safe one and all COYWM Roll on Saturday I agree with that chip, although we didn’t score in games against good opposition, we created the chances to and had we done so would be in a much better position and the criticisms wouldn’t be flying around. Ok, maybe I’m being a bit “if my auntie was my uncle” here because not scoring is part of the problem but apart from Wigan, where we were truly awful, we’ve been in most games. Even last night we could have evened things up but for again missing opportunities. I actually like the way we’re playing even if sometimes I wish they’d up the tempo a bit and if we had a bit of quality up top it would transform us. I’ve no doubt that IE has targets in mind for January and we’ll see how much the board are going to back him with them. If we really want promotion we have to invest, not blindly but enough to bring in the players we need. Im not averse even to rftr’s suggestion of a couple of old heads but not crocks looking for a pay day but players who can still do it and have the right attitude. IE did it with Lee so these players are around and investing in one really good quality striker could return massive dividends if it gets us promotion.
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