Post by canberragas69 on Sept 1, 2019 8:54:30 GMT
I haven't created a thread before, but, IMO, yesterday's game is worth the effort, as it shows much about the current state of the team.
The first thing to say is that, while we lost, and I appreciate that is the most important thing, we played well for most of the game. Burton were well on top for the first 10/15 minutes, largely because we played far too deep initially; more of that later. After that it was an even match in the first half, with the Gas increasingly getting on top. the football during that period was good, although Burton were allowed to play out from the back, so looked easier on the eye. The other thing about the first half was that their 4, Edwards, should have been sent off. He committed a bad foul and wasn't booked, although Craig had been booked just before for an innocuous mistimed tackle. Then he went over the top on Leahy, a tackle which could have broken a leg, and was only booked; more on the referee later In second half we dominated and pressed much more, although its true we didn't create any clear cut chances. As the half went on the pessimists among the Rovers crowd sensed that there would be a consequence for not making all the pressure pay. The goal came from by far their best player, the 10 Akins, who took it well., while the second was a breakaway when we were pushing in injury time.
So those are the bare facts from my perspective, but what should we learn from it. Well the first point must be about the wing-back system. It probably is the best system given the players available. The first problem is that if you play it you have to press; otherwise you surrender the midfield and end up with 5 at the back, as we did initially. When we pressed for the majority of the match we got on top. The second problem is that it works much better if the wing-backs can beat a man, by pace or skill. Ours can't, although their crossing is better than we had last year.
Now to my view of the performances. Up front, J C-H was again a handful, although he still has a bit to go on the fitness front, given he had no pre-season to speak of. Smith tried hard, but the goalie, and some defenders, kept hitting it to him in the air, when he was marked by someone 6 inches taller. IMO , shared by many, the balance in midfield is wrong. However, not everyone shares my view that Clarke is the problem. He is playing, most of the time, as the farthest forward midfield player, but yesterday he gave the ball away and didn't hit any good passes. In contrast, I thought Upson was excellent; what we expected when we bought him, while Ogogo did the simple things well and was tenacious in the tackle. At the back Davies was outstanding (what were Coventry thinking letting him and J C-H go!), and Craig solid if slow - we play too deep because of the lack of pace at the back. Kilgour was found out a bit yesterday and that will be goof for his development. He stuck at it, but was mainly picking up Akins, who overall got the better of him. Jaakkola was as he has been in all the matches, a pretty good shot-stopper, inconsistent on crosses and a poor distributor when he can't throw it out.
The referee was poor; Edwards got away with one, Burton were constantly niggling a moaning at him. In fact, Burton were a pretty unpleasant team, although they will, I'm sure finish mid-table. There crowd, small as it is, only made any noise in the last 10 minutes, after the score. Ours were in pretty good voice. I'm not a great believer in the mangers tactics, we have to press. He also does substitute well.
Onwards and upwards.
The first thing to say is that, while we lost, and I appreciate that is the most important thing, we played well for most of the game. Burton were well on top for the first 10/15 minutes, largely because we played far too deep initially; more of that later. After that it was an even match in the first half, with the Gas increasingly getting on top. the football during that period was good, although Burton were allowed to play out from the back, so looked easier on the eye. The other thing about the first half was that their 4, Edwards, should have been sent off. He committed a bad foul and wasn't booked, although Craig had been booked just before for an innocuous mistimed tackle. Then he went over the top on Leahy, a tackle which could have broken a leg, and was only booked; more on the referee later In second half we dominated and pressed much more, although its true we didn't create any clear cut chances. As the half went on the pessimists among the Rovers crowd sensed that there would be a consequence for not making all the pressure pay. The goal came from by far their best player, the 10 Akins, who took it well., while the second was a breakaway when we were pushing in injury time.
So those are the bare facts from my perspective, but what should we learn from it. Well the first point must be about the wing-back system. It probably is the best system given the players available. The first problem is that if you play it you have to press; otherwise you surrender the midfield and end up with 5 at the back, as we did initially. When we pressed for the majority of the match we got on top. The second problem is that it works much better if the wing-backs can beat a man, by pace or skill. Ours can't, although their crossing is better than we had last year.
Now to my view of the performances. Up front, J C-H was again a handful, although he still has a bit to go on the fitness front, given he had no pre-season to speak of. Smith tried hard, but the goalie, and some defenders, kept hitting it to him in the air, when he was marked by someone 6 inches taller. IMO , shared by many, the balance in midfield is wrong. However, not everyone shares my view that Clarke is the problem. He is playing, most of the time, as the farthest forward midfield player, but yesterday he gave the ball away and didn't hit any good passes. In contrast, I thought Upson was excellent; what we expected when we bought him, while Ogogo did the simple things well and was tenacious in the tackle. At the back Davies was outstanding (what were Coventry thinking letting him and J C-H go!), and Craig solid if slow - we play too deep because of the lack of pace at the back. Kilgour was found out a bit yesterday and that will be goof for his development. He stuck at it, but was mainly picking up Akins, who overall got the better of him. Jaakkola was as he has been in all the matches, a pretty good shot-stopper, inconsistent on crosses and a poor distributor when he can't throw it out.
The referee was poor; Edwards got away with one, Burton were constantly niggling a moaning at him. In fact, Burton were a pretty unpleasant team, although they will, I'm sure finish mid-table. There crowd, small as it is, only made any noise in the last 10 minutes, after the score. Ours were in pretty good voice. I'm not a great believer in the mangers tactics, we have to press. He also does substitute well.
Onwards and upwards.