Another Accrington Nightmare
Jan 31, 2016 12:13:34 GMT
Russgas, Jon the Stripe, and 3 more like this
Post by stevek192 on Jan 31, 2016 12:13:34 GMT
After previous visits here I might have guessed that this was not going to be our day as we were welcomed with a hailstone shower on a bleak day anyway. The pub was very welcoming and in all honesty was probably the best part of the day as we were made to suffer possibly the worst performance of the season as most players and possibly all the players failed to get out of first gear. The truth is, when we play like this it really does show up the lack of creative quality in the centre of the pitch and just how much we struggle to get out of a defensive shell with the back four too deep and the midfielders not far in front of them. In truth Accrington weren't much better in the first half but still seemed to have that bit of flair and a willingness to run at us when they had the ball and close us down when they didn't. I think Matty Taylor's early strike from 30 yards that almost hit the corner flag should have told us what type of day it was going to be. Our midfield players seemed to be just constantly chasing opponents and this became worse as the game wore on because too often Accrington players received the ball under no pressure whatsoever and our back four were holding their positions way back marking only one player which had the effect that the other six players were wrestling with 9 players to mark. Thankfully Accrington were also guilty of giving the ball away and making one pass too many or we could have found ourselves in a lot more trouble. In truth the usual plan of holding the opponents in the first half and then hitting them in the second just didn't work and when they scored what was a very lucky goal I just couldn't see us getting back in it. Our main troubles were down the flanks where for me both full backs struggled defensively against lively opponents and although it could be said that the wide midfielders didn't help the situation it really was as a unit that we looked poor.
The pitch certainly didn't help us and was pretty heavy and more suited Accringtons generally more pacey players but IMO Paul Cook won the battle of the Managers yesterday which is very unusual.
Mildenhall 6 A very good game ruined by a costly misjudgement which for me meant that he couldn't be Man of the Match.
One superb reflex save and a couple of other good saves cannot excuse allowing not even what I would call a high difficult cross to sneak inside the far post .Even after the bounce it was still saveable at the last minute but hesistance let Mildy down and that could also be said of the defenders who appeared to be going for the ball and then stopped.
Clarke 4 For me he looked very sluggish both in possession and generally defensively. He gave his winger far too much space and it seems that DC just doesn't trust Leadbitter as an out and out full back as this is not the first time that the opponents winger has been given too much time and space to run at us. On other occasions we have got away with it but for me the way we play very much relies on the wide midfielders defending well and probably reducing their own attacking effectiveness in the process.
Parkes 5.5 Kept Billy Kee quiet well but defended far too deep but the problem is that this is the way we play and what showed yesterday was that when Parkes is given a tough marking job he is well capable of it but then it takes away his ability to provide cover for Lee Brown. I felt the one game where our 3-5-2 formation would definitely have worked better we reverted to 4-4-2. I must say before the game I felt the key to the game was how we dealt with Billy Kee as he has always been the thorn in our side but in truth we dealt with him so well but it was most of the other areas of the pitch that we had problems..
Lockyer 6 MOM Defended well and generally in charge of matters but could do with operating at least 10 yards further forward
and bringing the rest of the back four with him which in turn would bring the midfielders with them but this is not IMO down to Tom but surerly the tactics he is given to play with. He doesn't often look like his opponent will get the better of him and his general play was good
Brown 4 Attacked well and linked up with Lawrence but for me was very slack defensively and allowed his opponent to get the better of him too often and was too slow to release the ball thereby putting us under pressure. The story of Clarke on the right side was also true of the left side and too often his winger had the space to run at him. Usually it doesn't show itself too much as Parkes is there to cover and they have a great understanding but yesterday with Parkes obviously having a marking job it meant he was often dragged away from the left side and there was nobody there to fill the gap created.
Bodin 4 Showed some classy touches but not enough. He has the ability but too often seems to drift out of the game and not be involved enough. Is he another talent that is a luxury in our side that is built so much on hard work and grafting? Truth is that if your wide midfielder is not particularly strong defensively then it is even more important that your full back has the pace to compensate. I just felt yesterday that we had out wide in the midfield exactly what we lacked in the centre of midfield and that was the ability to beat a player,hold on to the ball and make something happen.
Mansell 4 Tried to lead the team but not at his best
and gave the ball away to often.
Sinclair 5 Can't fault the effort but creative quality sadly lacking and too often second best
. When we are at our best Stu is harassing the opposition almost to surrender but when ,like yesterday we are struggling he almost takes on the look of a headless chicken trying too hard to make up for other people and in doing so we totally lose our shape. I hate to say it but we were crying our for a Lines yesterday to stand on the ball and run at players and I was very surprised that he didn't make an appearance at some stage but for me he was harshly left out after last weeks performance.
Lawrence 6 some good touches but for me should have been in the centre of things where it matters,Should have scored in the second half.
Looks like another quality player but one who may well be wasted playing wide when he could give us exactly what we are missing in the centre. I thought a lot of his passing especially in the first half was creative in that he was looking to pass forward and to feet.
Taylor 3 Terrible Performance all round. Should have been replaced after 35 to 40 minutes but somehow managed to stay on and in fact get worse. Just can't understand how he was allowed to stay on as even effort seemed beyond him at times which is just not Matty Taylor. Personally would have gone for Easter up front from the start.
Gaffney 4 Tried hard but without support made little impact.
Had a header narrowly wide that probably should have got on target but drifted out wide too often which meant with Taylor so poor we had limited chances of success. The centre halves,to be fair were strong and resolute and did a very good job.
Subs:...
Easter 4 worked hard but not sure where he was playing and what the aim was.
Montano 4 Tried but didn't get going
but I would ask is he a right winger or a left winger as last week he was on the left and this week on the right.
Fallon 4 Not long enough to judge.
Crowd 10 Sun,snow,hailstones and bloody cold and rewarded with a usual Accrington performance from the team.Numbers making the effort alone deserve a 10
Ref 6 A better performance than most of our players.
Accrington 7 A quick, hard working team who, on the day with us below par had a bit too much for us. I imagine that their home form will get them play offs at the least but I feel that away from home they probably lack the quality to overhaul Plymouth, Oxford or Northampton and Portsmouth as well who all have better all round squads and with the number of games they have to play their squad could let them down.
DC I think yesterday was one of the few occasions where he was out managed and Accrington were obviously well prepared for us. Overall a lot of the game was pretty even but this was one of the few occasions where I think the substitutions were both wrongly timed and the wrong ones. I would also question the team selection without the knowledge of course of who had knocks or were 100% fit. Did Leadbitter or Lines deserved to be dropped and I say that irrespective of whether we play 3-5-2 or 4-4-2? On saying that we all know he tinkers with the team and it is very easy to criticise that when the result goes against us but when it comes down to it the results in general have proved his judgement to be good. New additions can be great and I think are needed but the important thing is how they fit in the team and where they are used. I can only give my opinion as I see it but for me Taylor should have been replaced by either Easter or Fallon before half time or at least at half time and Lines brought on as well at half time for either Sinclair or Mansell. He would then have had the first 10-15 minutes of the second half to see if that substitutions would make the difference and still be left with Fallon for the last 20 minutes.
We now have obvious quality in Lawrence, Easter, Gaffney,Lines,Bodin and Fallon but the problem as I see it is how we mix the quality with the hard working players and get the quality in the areas where we need the quality. This may prove to be the toughest choice for DC and Wimbledon next game really becomes a must win. At some stage our back four must move out quicker if we are going to play more of the quality and less of the hard working players. Wimbledon lack much in the way of pace so it would be a good game to push up much quicker and compress the play.
IMO DC must decide such things as is Leadbitter a better full back than James Clarke, can he afford to keep playing Matty taylor through this loss of form, do we go for the opposition and play say Lines and Lawrence together in the centre of midfield ,is Montano a right winger or a left winger. There are some interesting permutations but a lot could depend on fitness and only DC will know how fit the individual players are. I would still be trying to bring in a quick right winger before the deadline as nobody has nailed down the right wing position and we do lack pace down the flanks.
The pitch certainly didn't help us and was pretty heavy and more suited Accringtons generally more pacey players but IMO Paul Cook won the battle of the Managers yesterday which is very unusual.
Mildenhall 6 A very good game ruined by a costly misjudgement which for me meant that he couldn't be Man of the Match.
One superb reflex save and a couple of other good saves cannot excuse allowing not even what I would call a high difficult cross to sneak inside the far post .Even after the bounce it was still saveable at the last minute but hesistance let Mildy down and that could also be said of the defenders who appeared to be going for the ball and then stopped.
Clarke 4 For me he looked very sluggish both in possession and generally defensively. He gave his winger far too much space and it seems that DC just doesn't trust Leadbitter as an out and out full back as this is not the first time that the opponents winger has been given too much time and space to run at us. On other occasions we have got away with it but for me the way we play very much relies on the wide midfielders defending well and probably reducing their own attacking effectiveness in the process.
Parkes 5.5 Kept Billy Kee quiet well but defended far too deep but the problem is that this is the way we play and what showed yesterday was that when Parkes is given a tough marking job he is well capable of it but then it takes away his ability to provide cover for Lee Brown. I felt the one game where our 3-5-2 formation would definitely have worked better we reverted to 4-4-2. I must say before the game I felt the key to the game was how we dealt with Billy Kee as he has always been the thorn in our side but in truth we dealt with him so well but it was most of the other areas of the pitch that we had problems..
Lockyer 6 MOM Defended well and generally in charge of matters but could do with operating at least 10 yards further forward
and bringing the rest of the back four with him which in turn would bring the midfielders with them but this is not IMO down to Tom but surerly the tactics he is given to play with. He doesn't often look like his opponent will get the better of him and his general play was good
Brown 4 Attacked well and linked up with Lawrence but for me was very slack defensively and allowed his opponent to get the better of him too often and was too slow to release the ball thereby putting us under pressure. The story of Clarke on the right side was also true of the left side and too often his winger had the space to run at him. Usually it doesn't show itself too much as Parkes is there to cover and they have a great understanding but yesterday with Parkes obviously having a marking job it meant he was often dragged away from the left side and there was nobody there to fill the gap created.
Bodin 4 Showed some classy touches but not enough. He has the ability but too often seems to drift out of the game and not be involved enough. Is he another talent that is a luxury in our side that is built so much on hard work and grafting? Truth is that if your wide midfielder is not particularly strong defensively then it is even more important that your full back has the pace to compensate. I just felt yesterday that we had out wide in the midfield exactly what we lacked in the centre of midfield and that was the ability to beat a player,hold on to the ball and make something happen.
Mansell 4 Tried to lead the team but not at his best
and gave the ball away to often.
Sinclair 5 Can't fault the effort but creative quality sadly lacking and too often second best
. When we are at our best Stu is harassing the opposition almost to surrender but when ,like yesterday we are struggling he almost takes on the look of a headless chicken trying too hard to make up for other people and in doing so we totally lose our shape. I hate to say it but we were crying our for a Lines yesterday to stand on the ball and run at players and I was very surprised that he didn't make an appearance at some stage but for me he was harshly left out after last weeks performance.
Lawrence 6 some good touches but for me should have been in the centre of things where it matters,Should have scored in the second half.
Looks like another quality player but one who may well be wasted playing wide when he could give us exactly what we are missing in the centre. I thought a lot of his passing especially in the first half was creative in that he was looking to pass forward and to feet.
Taylor 3 Terrible Performance all round. Should have been replaced after 35 to 40 minutes but somehow managed to stay on and in fact get worse. Just can't understand how he was allowed to stay on as even effort seemed beyond him at times which is just not Matty Taylor. Personally would have gone for Easter up front from the start.
Gaffney 4 Tried hard but without support made little impact.
Had a header narrowly wide that probably should have got on target but drifted out wide too often which meant with Taylor so poor we had limited chances of success. The centre halves,to be fair were strong and resolute and did a very good job.
Subs:...
Easter 4 worked hard but not sure where he was playing and what the aim was.
Montano 4 Tried but didn't get going
but I would ask is he a right winger or a left winger as last week he was on the left and this week on the right.
Fallon 4 Not long enough to judge.
Crowd 10 Sun,snow,hailstones and bloody cold and rewarded with a usual Accrington performance from the team.Numbers making the effort alone deserve a 10
Ref 6 A better performance than most of our players.
Accrington 7 A quick, hard working team who, on the day with us below par had a bit too much for us. I imagine that their home form will get them play offs at the least but I feel that away from home they probably lack the quality to overhaul Plymouth, Oxford or Northampton and Portsmouth as well who all have better all round squads and with the number of games they have to play their squad could let them down.
DC I think yesterday was one of the few occasions where he was out managed and Accrington were obviously well prepared for us. Overall a lot of the game was pretty even but this was one of the few occasions where I think the substitutions were both wrongly timed and the wrong ones. I would also question the team selection without the knowledge of course of who had knocks or were 100% fit. Did Leadbitter or Lines deserved to be dropped and I say that irrespective of whether we play 3-5-2 or 4-4-2? On saying that we all know he tinkers with the team and it is very easy to criticise that when the result goes against us but when it comes down to it the results in general have proved his judgement to be good. New additions can be great and I think are needed but the important thing is how they fit in the team and where they are used. I can only give my opinion as I see it but for me Taylor should have been replaced by either Easter or Fallon before half time or at least at half time and Lines brought on as well at half time for either Sinclair or Mansell. He would then have had the first 10-15 minutes of the second half to see if that substitutions would make the difference and still be left with Fallon for the last 20 minutes.
We now have obvious quality in Lawrence, Easter, Gaffney,Lines,Bodin and Fallon but the problem as I see it is how we mix the quality with the hard working players and get the quality in the areas where we need the quality. This may prove to be the toughest choice for DC and Wimbledon next game really becomes a must win. At some stage our back four must move out quicker if we are going to play more of the quality and less of the hard working players. Wimbledon lack much in the way of pace so it would be a good game to push up much quicker and compress the play.
IMO DC must decide such things as is Leadbitter a better full back than James Clarke, can he afford to keep playing Matty taylor through this loss of form, do we go for the opposition and play say Lines and Lawrence together in the centre of midfield ,is Montano a right winger or a left winger. There are some interesting permutations but a lot could depend on fitness and only DC will know how fit the individual players are. I would still be trying to bring in a quick right winger before the deadline as nobody has nailed down the right wing position and we do lack pace down the flanks.