We won. It wasn't pretty. We got the points.
I'm not sure how much longevity this playstyle has though, and certainly don't think it's going to be the one that guides us to a steady consistent playoff place. Yeah, we had some pretty grindy wins last season. But we had a bit of fight and mongrel in us that got us those results. There's none of that on display currently.
I don't think you can watch the performances over the last month and confidently envision a positive direction the squad is heading towards. It seems pretty clear nobody on the field backs themselves or rates the team or tactics to try and force something to happen or make some magic. I understand the ressoning behind wanting versatility in players but this pick a position out of the hat on the day and that's where you are playing today football doesn't seem to be clicking when there's no guiding structure or foundation to work around. There's this strange atmosphere of timid confusion on the field. We could be better, the talent is there to be fluid but it's as if there's just one or two factors that are out of place, creating this slight fog or inability to kick things into gear at 100% as we get into the middle of the season. I just feel like there's a fragility and lack of cohesion and we are walking a dangerous tight rope where a one, two punch bad luck injury crises could very well write the season off.
We are a shell of our formerselves. These guys are sitting back even with the ball, not confident enough to make a decision that might ignite a spark. When out of possesion nobody is really initiating a press. And what's worse is certain players are getting absolutely gassed and tiring out early by all the piggy in the middle nonsense our defence are getting caught up in during these extended spells of not being on the ball and helplessly flailing and chasing the game.
Voerman if you're reading this can you please ask what the guts is with the David Ball situation because the mind boggles that you'd willingly opt to play this risky house of cards style without an experienced leader to steady the ship during those challenging spells.
I'm not sure how much longevity this playstyle has though, and certainly don't think it's going to be the one that guides us to a steady consistent playoff place. Yeah, we had some pretty grindy wins last season. But we had a bit of fight and mongrel in us that got us those results. There's none of that on display currently.
I don't think you can watch the performances over the last month and confidently envision a positive direction the squad is heading towards. It seems pretty clear nobody on the field backs themselves or rates the team or tactics to try and force something to happen or make some magic. I understand the ressoning behind wanting versatility in players but this pick a position out of the hat on the day and that's where you are playing today football doesn't seem to be clicking when there's no guiding structure or foundation to work around. There's this strange atmosphere of timid confusion on the field. We could be better, the talent is there to be fluid but it's as if there's just one or two factors that are out of place, creating this slight fog or inability to kick things into gear at 100% as we get into the middle of the season. I just feel like there's a fragility and lack of cohesion and we are walking a dangerous tight rope where a one, two punch bad luck injury crises could very well write the season off.
We are a shell of our formerselves. These guys are sitting back even with the ball, not confident enough to make a decision that might ignite a spark. When out of possesion nobody is really initiating a press. And what's worse is certain players are getting absolutely gassed and tiring out early by all the piggy in the middle nonsense our defence are getting caught up in during these extended spells of not being on the ball and helplessly flailing and chasing the game.
Voerman if you're reading this can you please ask what the guts is with the David Ball situation because the mind boggles that you'd willingly opt to play this risky house of cards style without an experienced leader to steady the ship during those challenging spells.
I think I’d be asking about the OVH situation too.
All these players who burst on the scene last year had very slow introductions. And a lot of time in the reserves to get their skills and combinations to an instinctual level under less pressure. Surman, Old, Paulsen, and OVH were not first team starters until last season.
I think one or two new kids is okay, but if we are relying on Hughes, Sheridan, Walker, Brooke-Smith, Piper, Roa Conchie and Kelly-Heald it’s clear that they aren’t at the level of the 4 above yet. Though Hughes did seem to have luck issues rather than football! I thought him and Wootton would be our central pairing till then.
Will we be bringing in players or bringing back into the fold the two excluded ones? Do you think Piper, Brooke-Smith and Walker will continue to get the time they have been doing?
It’s good to see a bit of Brooke-Smith. He shouldn’t be our starting striker or winger. He’s not good enough or experienced enough for that yet. I would like to see him a bit more, but I want to see him try and score 20 for the Nix in a few years time.
Same with Walker. I think he’s been a bit better than Colakovski, but I don’t want to see him play every game of this season. He’s had some good chances and looked good, but he needs to work on his finishing and build up his confidence with a bag full of goals and wins.