I was in the East Stand chatting to the usual bunch of fans yesterday evening. Usual pre-match excitement (yes, I still get it!). I've never yet turned up to a match expecting anything but a win, alas I'm often served up a dish of reality by our players/manager.
Chomping on my pre-match mars bar the teams got shown on the screen to the side of the entrances. Notts Forest, seemed a good side - knew we'd have to play well to beat them.
Then came the announcement of our squad. As the team was named, one by one, the reality of our situation became more apparent. Bar a couple, I simply couldn't see where we'd scare the opposition. Our midfield consisted of the same type players - very staid and un-exciting. Very little about the team gave cause for too much optimism. I like Murphy and still maintain he'll be a benefit to us - but he's no winger which was where he seemed to line up and play for large parts.
Despite the above I made my way to the stands, still thinking we can conjure up a win - 3 wins on the bounce, then bring on Brum on Saturday. Good end to the season.
But then I saw the formation. WTF ???? A (very) flat back 4, followed by 4 central midfielders across the park. Murphy (who'd played well in the middle of late) seemed to be out right, with Austin in no specific role that I could figure out.
Hunt - don't get me started. There's a player earning £1m+ per year, if reports are correct. From what I've witnessed, there's effort but very little in terms of product/quality. Perhaps we're not playing to his strengths - but what are his strengths? He's good at kicking opposition, but did he win a ball yesterday? He seems a better bet in midfield perhaps? We have to use him somewhere (flipping burgers maybe), otherwise he'll sit in the background sapping wages.
Forest burst my bubble of optimism within 10 minutes. 2 goals where we were simply carved open and exposed for a lack of pace. I saw Brown and Pearce arguing, I saw Butland arguing (with himself).
Fingers crossed we get to the end of this season without another battering. Fingers crossed we'll see a few changes, with some flair and inventive ambition brought to the squad. I still maintain, given the right additions, we've some in the squad capable of raising their games above mediocrity - to decent levels even.
Ever the optimist, here's hoping we're witnessing the end of a bad dream. Hopefully the summer will bring us some shrewd additions and a starting line up for the new season, which gives the fans a lift and a sense of excitement.
Final thoughts. The manager. I've tended to support the guy. I've believed that the turmoil in the background had distracted him (and the squad) far too much, hence the results. But our tactics (I think they were tactics) yesterday were baffling at best. Lumping balls endlessly to 2 short players, up against tall centre backs, just meant we surrendered possession. It took nearly an hour to introduce Smith (to the sound of a resounding cheer), who immediately started to create problems for the forest defence. We actually had some chances after that. Doesn't BM look at the opposition? Does he feel obliged to play Hunt, regardless of the opposition?
Anyway, there's my thoughts. Very long winded, but then I sat there last night a bit bemused by what I witnessed.
Here's to next season ..................
Yesterdays Festival of Footie
posted on 22/4/14
murphy should have played where austin was played
why plav long balls to hunt? why even pass to hunt at all? absolutely shocking footballer
tom lee's needs to be sold, can't play a short pass always sends it long
posted on 22/4/14
A (very) flat back 4, followed by 4 central midfielders across the park.
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Back 4 wasn't flat at all, Warnock and Wootton were pushed upfield which is why our Pearce and Lees struggled so much.
Midfield was a diamond formation, with Austin as attacking point....allegedly.
posted on 22/4/14
Got the chance now to get rid of the dross that we have.....one point of note though...how many sides came in for the players that were transfer listed last season ?
posted on 22/4/14
Caeser, not long winded at all.
More people should express their views and feelings the same way, instead of one line attacks or 2 or 3 lines berating someone.
I can appreciate not everyone can or will do it, but your article expressed what many fans were feeling and thinking, maybe not the same words, but still coming to the same point on needle.
I personally can't understand why so many kept sticking with BM despite all the losses and bad football, but fans can only take so much before their support and views begin to turn...
While many have berated the players, including some posters, we all must understand and realise that players play under orders from the manager, in our case, our manager come coach.
If the manager / coach says play a certain way, the players are going to play to orders because they want to play in next match too.
It's always going to be the same in football, whatever happens on the pitch, the manager / coach will get the plaudits, or the responsibility falls squarely on their shoulders.
Good article Caeser, good expression of feeling and detail.
posted on 22/4/14
No imagination, no width, no intelligence and worst of all, no-one seemed to care.
Here's something else, when Sterling scored that cracker for Liverpool, did you see him run to his manager and give him a hug? Now when was the last time anyone hugged Brian apart from me?
posted on 22/4/14
The wingbacks were pushed up in an attempt to give our diamond more width...problem is (as we all saw) Our wingbacks are not good enough to play with that much grass in front of them.
Our centrebacks have no intelligence, so cannot read play and thus compensate for their snail pace and dumbness.
Brown was given the anchor role, but because our wingbacks are not good enough, he found himself drifting out wide to compensate, thus leaving a great big Matt Derbyshire sized hole through the middle.
Murphy at the tip of the triangle...not convinced at all. Especially when the player to his right is a box to box playing out of position and as a makeshift winger due to the poor wingbacks. On his left is a Michael Tongue who is too slow, too cumbersome and to do what the other sided player is doing.
As a result Murphy was never truly playing in the Trequartista role, he was forced to play a mish mash of centre mid and wide midfielder.
As for the 2 strikers.....Ross needs a quality partner and Smith is that partner, WHYNOH WHY IS BMAC playing Hunt?? Is he trying to prove he is worth his 25k (yes I fully believe he is on this, regardless of statements).
Mowatt is showing henhas a way to go before he can be truly considered a contender, as he has faded badly and is fat.
Yesterday was shocking and devoid of professional thinking, we were set up to lose.
If Cellino picked that team, then he knew we would lose and is playing Brian like a fiddle, ready for a sacking.
posted on 22/4/14
I believe Cellino's out the Country at moment, due back soon though.
posted on 22/4/14
Most of the first half we played 2 6 2! That was where it all went wrong. Three at the back in the second half worked much better although Austin is certainly not a winger. Hunt played well against Barnsley when he came on on Saturday, although Barnsley were dire. BM played him and Austin on Monday because of the games being so close together. I would like to see our win ratio with Austin out if the team versus when he plays. I suspect it's much better as he simply gives the ball away too often.