Only 3 other teams in L1 have had bigger attendances this season than our’s vs Rotherham last week. It was better than Blackburn’s best, although we cannot expect the big boost from the Rotherham fans again soon.
It is also heartening to see us near the top of the form table with Fleetwood’s home form seeing only one win in the last 6. Against this, our away form is quite good with losses generally just by the odd goal.
So perhaps we have a better chance than at first sight, but I remain worried about our consistency and the confidence needed to hold on to what we’ve got.
DF is not forecasting anything but a tough fixture, mindful of Fleetwood’s longer-term history in this league .
I will go for a 0-2 loss whilst hoping for better and 3200.
DPL vs Fleetwood
posted on 19/11/17
Thanks Lanza. Both managers seemed content with the draw and Rosler was complimentary about us, but DF was not critical of his players at all.
The preference of passing the ball backwards rather than looking for something more ambitious is a soft option. Against Arsenal I don't think they felt they dare do this because they would be just as likely to lose the ball again, but against similarly cautious teams it is too easy.
posted on 19/11/17
The frustration of the fans boiled over as we were pressing late on and had a throw 10 yrds from their goal line.
One throw and 3 passes later lawlor had the ball and kicked it straight back thrir keeeper.
Great tactics
posted on 19/11/17
If you haven't got the ball you can't score, if your opposition don't have the ball they can't score. So it stands to reason keeping possession is the right tactic even if passing back looks frustrating. Having said that at L1 level it might not always be the right tactic.
posted on 19/11/17
Plenty of very good sides keep the ball and passing backwards is an important part of that.
There have been many occasions when by passing backwards we have ended up reacting a scoring opportunity.
Fans around me have done the usual “gerrit forrard” shout without seeing that sometimes you are just giving the ball away if you do so.
posted on 19/11/17
If you think from 10 yrs from the goal line and back to our keeper to launch to directly to the opposiotion keeper is good then i am so pleased to be wrong
posted on 19/11/17
Lanza, I didn’t say that did I?
However I do remember Spain doing something similar once.
They had a corner, took it short.
Within seconds it was back with their own keeper, they then went forward from that position and scored.
posted on 20/11/17
I agree with Nookie and Hound about what you can do and the opposition cannot do if you have the ball, but on Saturday, especially in the second half, I'm more with Lanza. Lawlor did not seem to be able to judge how much the wind would add to his kick. Also, sometimes it is almost a panicky back pass rather than a planned move.
The problem for me watching on iFollow is that I then watch the late Premiership game where obviously skill levels are somewhat higher in most cases. On Saturday it was Man U 4 Newcastle 1, and for me, Man U play backwards too much but at their level it does not go back as far as de Gea as many times as the Rovers rely on a fly-kick by Lawlor.
I'm not sure what DF can do to improve the mid-field, or is the front three are not moving enough into more open positions?
Kongolo certainly seems willing to go forward with some pace, but sometimes falls over his own feet and/or is bundled off the ball by someone physically stronger. I did not think Houghton was as bad as Lanza thought, but was much better against Rotherham. One problem for me is that he sometimes gives away free kicks for niggling little fouls when he cannot win the ball.
I'd like to see Whiteman start somewhere in the formation.
posted on 20/11/17
Stanton,
That was quite funny about Brexit. Don't get me going about the Brexit mess! I was in Doncaster in the May before the referendum vote, and I think my late brother-in-law (he died in August after the vote) was one of the few seniors in Doncaster that voted to remain. As my whole working life until I operated a wine shop was in the international sales and leasing environment, I'd have voted to remain as I support the removal of all trade barriers - let the best product/service win. I'll feel sad when I no longer have a European Passport.
posted on 20/11/17
Knocking it back to the keeper nothing wrong with that to buiild from the back is a great way to play with confidence.
On saturday we were building from back numerous passes up to half way line but no one having the confidence to pass forward apart from baudry who did try to find a telling pass and a few from butler forward in wide positions.
Kongolo ran with ball and 26 had a good spell as i said but other thsn that it was back to lawlor again.
Agree with Whiteman starting and i know i am almost alone in saying Mason should start when fit.
posted on 20/11/17
Nobody would say that passing it backwards is always a bad thing, but it is question of when. That's what we will never agree about. With the emphasis on not giving away silly goals perhaps it is understandable that when in the slightest doubt they send it backwards.
At the moment I think some players are doing it too often as an easy option, but perhaps with more confidence in themselves and the system they will make better judgments.