[frearsghost]

Last Monday morning I got up with the delicious prospect of a week playing two struggling teams and six points. And why not? The football has been terrific and no-one has outplayed us. In fact, playing Colchester and Walsall was a bit of a relief from the recent high profile games. Six point should put us nicely back in the top six.

Sure, I was aware that Cook had been talking down the results lately and he wanted to work on the balance but I didn't see balance as the problem. My thinking is that we are simply two quality players short of challenging for a play-off place and that we need better players in those areas, mainly the defense. Continuing to play the kind of football we have must, surely, bring it's rewards against the less fancied teams.

My belief was strengthened when we went 1-0 at Colchester from, which moment, it has all gone pear shaped and, mid second half, I just looked and thought, we've got problems. The big pitch exposed the vunerability of our back four and Johnson's exclusion meant he was not there to compensate by taking pressure of them. When Johnson came on we moved up a level but it was too little too late. Also the switching of the Jones and Clucas partnership when they working well together destroyed our impetus as we pressed for a second goal.

Walsall were ripe for the taking yet they were the better side and deserved their victory. They were unlucky not to score a second. It was a smaller pitch and Johnson's ability in the tight situations would have given us an advantage yet we were chasing the game again. Gobern did the job he was brought in to do but we lost creativity as we went negative and lost by a single goal again.

Johnson may not be our future, but the decision to leave him out has angered me. Cook saw the folly of this at Colchester yet repeated his mistake. Experiments should be done on the training ground or in behind closed door games. Dropping a player of his talent with four games of his loan still to go (12 points at stake)is a no no and a travesty. While you've got him, play him. Don't gamble with league points.

Good mananger as he is, strange substitutions, switching players round that destroy impetus and leaving out quality players, reveals an achilles heel; a temptation to change and tamper when it isn't necessary.

So I began the week expecting a good chance of witnessing more exciting passing football, six points and a return to a play-off place. I've ended it looking at two performances that remind me of games in Sheridan's relegation season. Is this really the side that pinned Preston back in their box for 30 minutes? Let's hope it's a temporary blip.

This post has been edited by frearsghost: 26 October 2014 - 11:37 AM

[Wooden Spoon]

frearsghost, on 26 October 2014 - 11:13 AM, said:

Also the switching of the Jones and Clucas partnership when they working well together destroyed our impetus as we pressed for a second goal.

. Cook saw the folly of this at Colchester yet repeated his mistake. Experiments should be done on the training ground or in behind closed door games. Dropping a player of his talent with four games of his loan still to go (12 points at stake)is a no no and a travesty. While you've got him, play him. Don't gamble with league points.

Good mananger as he is, strange substitutions, switching players round that destroy impetus and leaving out quality players, reveals an achilles heel; a temptation to change and tamper when it isn't necessary.

Spot on. Ive said it before, but the left side with Clucas and Jones works.

The CM pair work.

The CB pair work (ish).

Johnsons(Roberts when he has gone) balls through for Doyle works.

The right side of the pitch is our problem area. If we cant get a quality RB in on loan, then play Boco to help cover the RB position. When/if Talbot is ready, him and Dave as the right sided pair works. Then we have Doyle with Gardner to change as subs and Roberts/JOS to play/sub the attacking midfielder.

[warfey is a spireite]

frearsghost, on 26 October 2014 - 11:13 AM, said:

Last Monday morning I got up with the delicious prospect of a week playing two struggling teams and six points. And why not? The football has been terrific and no-one has outplayed us. In fact, playing Colchester and Walsall was a bit of a relief from the recent high profile games. Six point should put us nicely back in the top six.

Sure, I was aware that Cook had been talking down the results lately and he wanted to work on the balance but I didn't see balance as the problem. My thinking is that we are simply two quality players short of challenging for a play-off place and that we need better players in those areas, mainly the defense. Continuing to play the kind of football we have must, surely, bring it's rewards against the less fancied teams.

My belief was strengthened when we went 1-0 at Colchester from, which moment, it has all gone pear shaped and, mid second half, I just looked and thought, we've got problems. The big pitch exposed the vunerability of our back four and Johnson's exclusion meant he was not there to compensate by taking pressure of them. When Johnson came on we moved up a level but it was too little too late. Also the switching of the Jones and Clucas partnership when they working well together destroyed our impetus as we pressed for a second goal.

Walsall were ripe for the taking yet they were the better side and deserved their victory. They were unlucky not to score a second. It was a smaller pitch and Johnson's ability in the tight situations would have given us an advantage yet we were chasing the game again. Gobern did the job he was brought in to do but we lost creativity as we went negative and lost by a single goal again.

Johnson may not be our future, but the decision to leave him out has angered me. Cook saw the folly of this at Colchester yet repeated his mistake. Experiments should be done on the training ground or in behind closed door games. Dropping a player of his talent with four games of his loan still to go (12 points at stake)is a no no and a travesty. While you've got him, play him. Don't gamble with league points.

Good mananger as he is, strange substitutions, switching players round that destroy impetus and leaving out quality players, reveals an achilles heel; a temptation to change and tamper when it isn't necessary.

So I ended the week expecting a good chance of witnessing more exciting passing football, six points and a return to a play-off place. I've ended it looking at two performances that remind me of games in Sheridan's relegation season. Is this really the side that pinned Preston back in their box for 30 minutes? Let's hope it's a temporary blip.

spot on john couldnt have worded it better myself lol

[clarevoyant.]

There's no question PC is one of our better managers (arguably the best )in our supporting time. It's also pleasing that he tries to correct issues, On this occasion he may have gone about it the wrong way. Here's hoping he comes out of this by learning from it and becoming even better for the experience.

[frearsghost]

a kick in the balls, on 26 October 2014 - 11:22 AM, said:

Spot on. Ive said it before, but the left side with Clucas and Jones works.

The CM pair work.

The CB pair work (ish).

Johnsons(Roberts when he has gone) balls through for Doyle works.

The right side of the pitch is our problem area. If we cant get a quality RB in on loan, then play Boco to help cover the RB position. When/if Talbot is ready, him and Dave as the right sided pair works. Then we have Doyle with Gardner to change as subs and Roberts/JOS to play/sub the attacking midfielder.

I'm a Darikwa fan when he's playing further forward but he's no right back. You're right about Boco. When he came on at Bristol, Darikwa had the pressure taken off him and he lifted his game. We looked better. That had a balanced look about it yet Cook hasn't repeated it since. Boco can get forward too. Gobern, clearly playing under instructions, didn't. That's why we looked negative. You can get balance without having to go negative

I have to say I'm beginning to look at Evatt with a more critical eye as well.

This post has been edited by frearsghost: 26 October 2014 - 11:39 AM

[dim view]

a kick in the balls, on 26 October 2014 - 11:22 AM, said:

Spot on. Ive said it before, but the left side with Clucas and Jones works.

Why then did Jones stand 5 yards away from their forrad who provided the killer pass?. Tea break?. Having a minute?.

[Wooden Spoon]

dim view, on 26 October 2014 - 11:40 AM, said:

Why then did Jones stand 5 yards away from their forrad who provided the killer pass?. Tea break?. Having a minute?.

Are you saying that Jones and Clucas don't work very well?

Who was marking the guy that scored? Evo and Dave? Niether?

[dim view]

a kick in the balls, on 26 October 2014 - 11:46 AM, said:

Are you saying that Jones and Clucas don't work very well?

Who was marking the guy that scored? Evo and Dave? Niether?

I'm saying that Jones on this occasion deserves a major bolloxing for being on the back foot. He looked knackered and it's not the first occasion I've seen it. All at a time when Tendayi seems to be the one that the strategists on here seem to think is the defensive weaklink.

On the other hand, every time I see Clucas I get more impressed. Good footballer.

[frearsghost]

dim view, on 26 October 2014 - 12:19 PM, said:

I'm saying that Jones on this occasion deserves a major bolloxing for being on the back foot. He looked knackered and it's not the first occasion I've seen it. All at a time when Tendayi seems to be the one that the strategists on here seem to think is the defensive weaklink.

On the other hand, every time I see Clucas I get more impressed. Good footballer.

To be fair we were talking about their attacking qualities.

[Goku]

dim view, on 26 October 2014 - 12:19 PM, said:

I'm saying that Jones on this occasion deserves a major bolloxing for being on the back foot. He looked knackered and it's not the first occasion I've seen it. All at a time when Tendayi seems to be the one that the strategists on here seem to think is the defensive weaklink.

On the other hand, every time I see Clucas I get more impressed. Good footballer.

Jones' positioning was not very fun to watch yesterday, he ended up at right back on Tendayi's toes at one point. He was good going forward though to be fair.

[Westbars Spireite]

warfey is a spireite, on 26 October 2014 - 11:31 AM, said:

spot on john couldnt have worded it better myself lol

You're right about that Dave!

(Good post, fully agree).

[The Rev.]

frearsghost, on 26 October 2014 - 11:13 AM, said:

Last Monday morning I got up with the delicious prospect of a week playing two struggling teams and six points. And why not? The football has been terrific and no-one has outplayed us. In fact, playing Colchester and Walsall was a bit of a relief from the recent high profile games. Six point should put us nicely back in the top six.

Sure, I was aware that Cook had been talking down the results lately and he wanted to work on the balance but I didn't see balance as the problem. My thinking is that we are simply two quality players short of challenging for a play-off place and that we need better players in those areas, mainly the defense. Continuing to play the kind of football we have must, surely, bring it's rewards against the less fancied teams.

My belief was strengthened when we went 1-0 at Colchester from, which moment, it has all gone pear shaped and, mid second half, I just looked and thought, we've got problems. The big pitch exposed the vunerability of our back four and Johnson's exclusion meant he was not there to compensate by taking pressure of them. When Johnson came on we moved up a level but it was too little too late. Also the switching of the Jones and Clucas partnership when they working well together destroyed our impetus as we pressed for a second goal.

Walsall were ripe for the taking yet they were the better side and deserved their victory. They were unlucky not to score a second. It was a smaller pitch and Johnson's ability in the tight situations would have given us an advantage yet we were chasing the game again. Gobern did the job he was brought in to do but we lost creativity as we went negative and lost by a single goal again.

Johnson may not be our future, but the decision to leave him out has angered me. Cook saw the folly of this at Colchester yet repeated his mistake. Experiments should be done on the training ground or in behind closed door games. Dropping a player of his talent with four games of his loan still to go (12 points at stake)is a no no and a travesty. While you've got him, play him. Don't gamble with league points.

Good mananger as he is, strange substitutions, switching players round that destroy impetus and leaving out quality players, reveals an achilles heel; a temptation to change and tamper when it isn't necessary.

So I began the week expecting a good chance of witnessing more exciting passing football, six points and a return to a play-off place. I've ended it looking at two performances that remind me of games in Sheridan's relegation season. Is this really the side that pinned Preston back in their box for 30 minutes? Let's hope it's a temporary blip.

Excellent post FG - and a spot on analysis, but where does Cook go from here? Looks like he's simply preparing for life without Johnson, but not playing him when he's been our best player and making the team tick appears unconscionable and makes a bit of a mockery of the loan system. Many are suggesting (and perhaps expecting) Roberts to slot into the Johnson role, but Roberts has neither the pace,vision,or energy to do that job, and if he played in the hole linking the play how long would his hamstrings last? We looked negative at Walsall - and yet had we taken our chances, could still have won the game - and probably would have done if Cook had played Johnson and kept to the formula which has brought us success this season. There are perhaps lessons to be learned from the last two games - mainly about team selection - which in turn governs style of play, so let's hope it IS just a blip and we don't make the same mistakes on Tuesday night - and we play Johnson while we've still got the chance!

[Spireite-Karl]

Good post Frearsghost and I agree with you totally!

This post has been edited by Spireite-Karl: 26 October 2014 - 12:46 PM

[dim view]

SaltergateBlue01222, on 26 October 2014 - 12:44 PM, said:

Many are suggesting (and perhaps expecting) Roberts to slot into the Johnson role, but Roberts has neither the pace,vision,or energy to do that job, and if he played in the hole linking the play how long would his hamstrings last?

If you are asking whether a fit Roberts or Johnson should get the nod, I'd choose Roberts.

[The Rev.]

dim view, on 26 October 2014 - 01:00 PM, said:

If you are asking whether a fit Roberts or Johnson should get the nod, I'd choose Roberts.

Agreed - a FIT Roberts has to be one of the first names on the team sheet, but no, I wasn't asking - merely speculating about Roberts taking over Johnson's role when he goes back to Villa. Personally feel that Roberts lacks the energy and pace that Johnson brought to that position, and that he's (Roberts) better employed further forward where his trickery can do more damage.

[Walton Spireite]

frearsghost, on 26 October 2014 - 11:34 AM, said:

I'm a Darikwa fan when he's playing further forward but he's no right back. You're right about Boco. When he came on at Bristol, Darikwa had the pressure taken off him and he lifted his game. We looked better. That had a balanced look about it yet Cook hasn't repeated it since. Boco can get forward too. Gobern, clearly playing under instructions, didn't. That's why we looked negative. You can get balance without having to go negative

I have to say I'm beginning to look at Evatt with a more critical eye as well.

Evatt is getting found out with his lack of pace at this level.

[Rodney's Moustache]

frearsghost, on 26 October 2014 - 11:13 AM, said:

Last Monday morning I got up with the delicious prospect of a week playing two struggling teams and six points. And why not? The football has been terrific and no-one has outplayed us. In fact, playing Colchester and Walsall was a bit of a relief from the recent high profile games. Six point should put us nicely back in the top six.

Sure, I was aware that Cook had been talking down the results lately and he wanted to work on the balance but I didn't see balance as the problem. My thinking is that we are simply two quality players short of challenging for a play-off place and that we need better players in those areas, mainly the defense. Continuing to play the kind of football we have must, surely, bring it's rewards against the less fancied teams.

My belief was strengthened when we went 1-0 at Colchester from, which moment, it has all gone pear shaped and, mid second half, I just looked and thought, we've got problems. The big pitch exposed the vunerability of our back four and Johnson's exclusion meant he was not there to compensate by taking pressure of them. When Johnson came on we moved up a level but it was too little too late. Also the switching of the Jones and Clucas partnership when they working well together destroyed our impetus as we pressed for a second goal.

Walsall were ripe for the taking yet they were the better side and deserved their victory. They were unlucky not to score a second. It was a smaller pitch and Johnson's ability in the tight situations would have given us an advantage yet we were chasing the game again. Gobern did the job he was brought in to do but we lost creativity as we went negative and lost by a single goal again.

Johnson may not be our future, but the decision to leave him out has angered me. Cook saw the folly of this at Colchester yet repeated his mistake. Experiments should be done on the training ground or in behind closed door games. Dropping a player of his talent with four games of his loan still to go (12 points at stake)is a no no and a travesty. While you've got him, play him. Don't gamble with league points.

Good mananger as he is, strange substitutions, switching players round that destroy impetus and leaving out quality players, reveals an achilles heel; a temptation to change and tamper when it isn't necessary.

So I began the week expecting a good chance of witnessing more exciting passing football, six points and a return to a play-off place. I've ended it looking at two performances that remind me of games in Sheridan's relegation season. Is this really the side that pinned Preston back in their box for 30 minutes? Let's hope it's a temporary blip.

Expectations raised due to our suprisingly good start.We are now finding our natural level and realising that this league is a step up from league two.I wander how much the Bristol late winner has knocked a bit of our self belief as up to then we were full of confidence and flying.

[Wooden Spoon]

dim view, on 26 October 2014 - 11:40 AM, said:

Why then did Jones stand 5 yards away from their forrad who provided the killer pass?. Tea break?. Having a minute?.

just looked on the highlights, and yes Jones was too wide, but then the fella was pretty much in line with GM. The whole back 4 are a little static for my liking

[born in 1866]

Not heard 'owt and don't know 'owt but I'm starting to think that there's either been a fall out with Cookie and Johnson or Cookie and Villa

[newbold ken]

born in 1866, on 26 October 2014 - 02:43 PM, said:

Not heard 'owt and don't know 'owt but I'm starting to think that there's either been a fall out with Cookie and Johnson or Cookie and Villa

I thought that - perhaps he wanted him for rest of season and villa refused?