Here's one more stat for you then!
Before the game on Friday night, we averaged 0.50 points per game against the Victory in our first encounters with them in a season. That's 8 points in 16 seasons. Will happily take a point every day of the week in that instance.
On a more serious note, the football we played on Friday - while gritty and backs to the wall and gets us a result etc etc. As others have said it's not exactly sustainable in the long run.
I like the way we defend, and our shape seems to aide in that. But that midfield is a real problem in transition and guiding attacking play. A midfield trio of Pennington - Rufer - Al-Taay is simply too much of a muchness - They're all scrappers and ball winners more than they are creative influence on the pitch. Of the lot Pennington is the most creative, but again that's not going to strike a lot of fear into the opposition if i'm being honest.
Would look to have Old/Ball/Sutton involved much more/from the beginning, if possible - (Match fitness/Injuries/Conditioning etc taken into account of course) which would probably suit a formation similar to a 4-5-1 or even a 4-2-3-1.
Failing that, if we were to keep the same shape I'd be happy to see Conchie chucked in the deep-end of a midfield three and try and develop him as the next Clayton Lewis - a classic deep lying playmaker. Its a toss up for me at this stage as to whether he replaces Al-Taay or Pennington though. 🤔
Before the game on Friday night, we averaged 0.50 points per game against the Victory in our first encounters with them in a season. That's 8 points in 16 seasons. Will happily take a point every day of the week in that instance.
On a more serious note, the football we played on Friday - while gritty and backs to the wall and gets us a result etc etc. As others have said it's not exactly sustainable in the long run.
I like the way we defend, and our shape seems to aide in that. But that midfield is a real problem in transition and guiding attacking play. A midfield trio of Pennington - Rufer - Al-Taay is simply too much of a muchness - They're all scrappers and ball winners more than they are creative influence on the pitch. Of the lot Pennington is the most creative, but again that's not going to strike a lot of fear into the opposition if i'm being honest.
Would look to have Old/Ball/Sutton involved much more/from the beginning, if possible - (Match fitness/Injuries/Conditioning etc taken into account of course) which would probably suit a formation similar to a 4-5-1 or even a 4-2-3-1.
Failing that, if we were to keep the same shape I'd be happy to see Conchie chucked in the deep-end of a midfield three and try and develop him as the next Clayton Lewis - a classic deep lying playmaker. Its a toss up for me at this stage as to whether he replaces Al-Taay or Pennington though. 🤔