Thoughts v Blackburn

kirsikka

kirsikka

UTC Legend
A game born of frustration. Yet another man out, this time Billing, and a, shall we say, inconsistent and unusual extra ban for Lerma, meant more changes and swapping things around.

A fast start and we looked alright but poor play for Pearson handed them the lead and we too often thereafter looked disjointed.

Solanke and Christie missed good chances but, a Marcondes inspired spell aside, we never really looked like we were creating much.

Not a lot to say. A really poor day at the office. Blackburn were alright but so much of that was down to us not putting them under pressure with good play. There was precious little of that on show.

A lot for Parker to think about. The pack looked well back a few games back but they're now breathing down our neck.

We need to get back to basics and start building some partnerships. That was the key to a lot of our earlier season success. I understand the constant new injuries make that hard but... work to do on the training ground.

Positives:
Travers - I was dubious when he got the nod. No longer. Very unlucky on the first goal and other good saves as well.

Marcondes - The period of the game where we looked our most dangerous period was all driven by him. Also tried to gee up the crowd and get things going. Really unfortunate not to get an assist.

Room to improve:
L Cook - He's in the game for his passing and today, it was really poor. I know he's working his way back to fitness but I'd play Kilkenny ahead of him at the moment.

Pearson - Gave away a needless freekick from which they created the chance where they scored. Also, played the man onside who had the shot that came off the bar, hit him and went in. Two pieces of sloppy play in quick succession that cost us.
 
Our form at the moment is seriously alarming and that healthy gap to third has completely evaporated. It's only pure luck fulhams form hasn't been much better that we are still in touching distance of them
 
Better team won.
Everybody poor aside from Travers.
Very little urgency even when behind.
Blackburn were far better organised and seemed to want it more.
We quite simply cannot defend crosses. We are so vulnerable from them that it’s a bit silly really.
Steve Cook’s defending for the first goal was shocking. Made no attempt to track his man at all and just hopefully waved his arm hoping for an offside.
We are very reliant on Billing and Solanke. When either are not available or misfiring we are in trouble.
 
We just don't have it at the mo, one real striker, a lot of injuries and we look pretty average? Will we buy in January and who would we buy because we look pretty lightweight when we get into the last third of the pitch . Opposition teams are nullifying Solanke and BTW, the FA can kiss my butt over the poor treatment of Lerma.
 
SlowDownDerek said:
Dreadful really. I thought 2-0 flattered them when they scored as we were on top. Not at the final whistle though - the lack of fight in the last 20 minutes was pathetic tbh. If only Coventry gave up at 2-0 down like we did.
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This. When we go 2-0 up sides batter us trying to get back in it. When we go 2-0 down we've rolled over and had our bellies tickled.
 
I wonder if the Fulham supporters are worried about the chasing pack. West Brom 3 points behind us, 5 points behind them. Good league this Championship isn't it ?
 
No real Plan B today, but a real struggle with that bench.

Parker seems to set us up to win 1-0 and when we go behind little changes.

I feel for Solanke - carrying the goalscoring weight on his shoulders but so few bodies near him if he gets the ball with his back to goal.

That said, Blackburn defended superbly. We could have played the same way until Christmas and not scored.
 
tindalls_hairband said:
No real Plan B today, but a real struggle with that bench.

Parker seems to set us up to win 1-0 and when we go behind little changes.

I feel for Solanke - carrying the goalscoring weight on his shoulders but so few bodies near him if he gets the ball with his back to goal.

That said, Blackburn defended superbly. We could have played the same way until Christmas and not scored.
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Solanke needs to learn to stay on his feet. He's wrestled off the ball too easily and goes down complaining too easily.
 
My tuppence worth…

There’s no goal balance in this side. We are nearly at Xmas and none of our starting back four today have scored… nor has Smith who started v Fulham. That’s unusual.. they are not there to score but it helps and most teams defenders will weigh in…we have many examples over the years…

Then look at midfield scorers outside of Billing. Christie… Jesus wept… how bad a finisher can you be? 0 goals in 17 games, Lewis Cook 1 goal in 106 games, Pearson 0 in 27 games. That meant our starting midfield today had scored 1 in 150 games!! On the bench or still to come in Kilkenny with 0 goals in 16, and missing Lerma with 6 in 123.

I wouldn’t call Anthony and Lowe prolific for forwards which then just leaves Solanke who I still believe, controversially, is not a natural goal scorer but he is a hard working striker that is scoring harder chances and has been excellent.

Morgan Rogers. If he can play for Man City then I am regretting not booking myself a trial.

With Billing, Brooks and Stan not around it means that we just won’t score the goals. We haven’t got bad players, plenty of great players haven’t chipped in with goals, but if you have too many you will have long periods where you have the ball but not much happens. We need to ship out some good midfielders in the window, be brave and replace them with a different type of player… one that scores, even if not technically as good.

If you make the most of your possession then all the other failings you worry about don’t apply as you aren’t hanging on to a 1-0 lead. Just as our championship winning side wasn’t great at defending aerially but it didn’t matter as we normally only found that out when we were already 3-0 up.
 
I don't think we are giving Blackburn enough credit.

They are a good side and they are well coached. The second goal for instance was straight off the training ground. They worked really hard and were first to every second ball.

Stacey was worrying today. You have 2 ways to play BBD; stick tight with a covering defender and don't let him settle on the ball or drop off 2 or 3 yards so you have a head start on him.

Stacey did neither. He played somewhere between midfield and the wing that gave him an excellent view of the ball as it sailed over his head or ran past him on the floor. I spent some time watching him and for the majority of the game he had no idea where his man was.

Agree re cook. I love the guy but what is he offering just now that killiesta doesn't?

Disagree re Travers, there were several points where he didn't let his defenders know what was happening and got pulled up on it. But that's a confidence thing.

The overriding feeling coming away was like the OP- a bad day at the office where nobody played well. We should be doing better so it will be down to SP to stop the rot.
 
Neil Dawson said:
My tuppence worth…

There’s no goal balance in this side. We are nearly at Xmas and none of our starting back four today have scored… nor has Smith who started v Fulham. That’s unusual.. they are not there to score but it helps and most teams defenders will weigh in…we have many examples over the years…

Then look at midfield scorers outside of Billing. Christie… Jesus wept… how bad a finisher can you be? 0 goals in 17 games, Lewis Cook 1 goal in 106 games, Pearson 0 in 27 games. That meant our starting midfield today had scored 1 in 150 games!! On the bench or still to come in Kilkenny with 0 goals in 16, and missing Lerma with 6 in 123.

I wouldn’t call Anthony and Lowe prolific for forwards which then just leaves Solanke who I still believe, controversially, is not a natural goal scorer but he is a hard working striker that is scoring harder chances and has been excellent.

Morgan Rogers. If he can play for Man City then I am regretting not booking myself a trial.

With Billing, Brooks and Stan not around it means that we just won’t score the goals. We haven’t got bad players, plenty of great players haven’t chipped in with goals, but if you have too many you will have long periods where you have the ball but not much happens. We need to ship out some good midfielders in the window, be brave and replace them with a different type of player… one that scores, even if not technically as good.

If you make the most of your possession then all the other failings you worry about don’t apply as you aren’t hanging on to a 1-0 lead. Just as our championship winning side wasn’t great at defending aerially but it didn’t matter as we normally only found that out when we were already 3-0 up.
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Solanke isn't a 'natural goal scorer'. That's not controversial. He has scored some really good goals but there is no instinct there. We have no one who can sense the space in the box and poach goals. No one.

Lack of goals from midfield is a huge issue.

Plus. Zonal defending. Only works if the opposition zonally attack.
 
My thoughts.

If Kelly was fit, he has to start ahead of Cook. Cahill/Kelly just works better.
Pearson and L Cook were too negative - The decision to bring one off at HT was the right thing.
We had chances, their keeper made some good saves.
Blackburns two big lumps were surprisingly quite useful.
The officials were very poor once again. @RobWells will disagree.
We're supposed to be the kings of the dark arts, Blackburn were also very good at it.
 
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kirsikka said:
A game born of frustration. Yet another man out, this time Billing, and a, shall we say, inconsistent and unusual extra ban for Lerma, meant more changes and swapping things around.

A fast start and we looked alright but poor play for Pearson handed them the lead and we too often thereafter looked disjointed.

Solanke and Christie missed good chances but, a Marcondes inspired spell aside, we never really looked like we were creating much.

Not a lot to say. A really poor day at the office. Blackburn were alright but so much of that was down to us not putting them under pressure with good play. There was precious little of that on show.

A lot for Parker to think about. The pack looked well back a few games back but they're now breathing down our neck.

We need to get back to basics and start building some partnerships. That was the key to a lot of our earlier season success. I understand the constant new injuries make that hard but... work to do on the training ground.

Positives:
Travers - I was dubious when he got the nod. No longer. Very unlucky on the first goal and other good saves as well.

Marcondes - The period of the game where we looked our most dangerous period was all driven by him. Also tried to gee up the crowd and get things going. Really unfortunate not to get an assist.

Room to improve:
L Cook - He's in the game for his passing and today, it was really poor. I know he's working his way back to fitness but I'd play Kilkenny ahead of him at the moment.

Pearson - Gave away a needless freekick from which they created the chance where they scored. Also, played the man onside who had the shot that came off the bar, hit him and went in. Two pieces of sloppy play in quick succession that cost us.
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From where I was sat the man who hit the bar was well offside, hence the huge frustration from the fans and the abuse aimed at him. The linesman looked to me like a WBA fan, if he was onside then I will stop giving lino's stick, but to me it looked like blatant cheating throughout the game, but it wouldn't have mattered, we didn't deserve anything. Blackburn defended very well, the surrounded Dom and stopped us from creating any danger through the middle or out wide.
 
fritter said:
Goals 2014/15
Back 4. Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels. 9 goals.
Midfield. Pugh, Ritchie, Arter, Surman. 36 goals.

Pitman 14, Kermorgant 17
Wilson 23.

Included both number 10s.as they swapped places.
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Yep that’s the difference. Parker has inherited a non scoring midfield and I hope he restores the balance in Jan.
 
Neil Dawson said:
My tuppence worth…

There’s no goal balance in this side. We are nearly at Xmas and none of our starting back four today have scored… nor has Smith who started v Fulham. That’s unusual.. they are not there to score but it helps and most teams defenders will weigh in…we have many examples over the years…

Then look at midfield scorers outside of Billing. Christie… Jesus wept… how bad a finisher can you be? 0 goals in 17 games, Lewis Cook 1 goal in 106 games, Pearson 0 in 27 games. That meant our starting midfield today had scored 1 in 150 games!! On the bench or still to come in Kilkenny with 0 goals in 16, and missing Lerma with 6 in 123.

I wouldn’t call Anthony and Lowe prolific for forwards which then just leaves Solanke who I still believe, controversially, is not a natural goal scorer but he is a hard working striker that is scoring harder chances and has been excellent.

Morgan Rogers. If he can play for Man City then I am regretting not booking myself a trial.

With Billing, Brooks and Stan not around it means that we just won’t score the goals. We haven’t got bad players, plenty of great players haven’t chipped in with goals, but if you have too many you will have long periods where you have the ball but not much happens. We need to ship out some good midfielders in the window, be brave and replace them with a different type of player… one that scores, even if not technically as good.

If you make the most of your possession then all the other failings you worry about don’t apply as you aren’t hanging on to a 1-0 lead. Just as our championship winning side wasn’t great at defending aerially but it didn’t matter as we normally only found that out when we were already 3-0 up.
Click to expand...


Morgan Rogers. If he can play for Man City then I am regretting not booking myself a trial.

Genius
 
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