On my way home

[Abseits]

That's been coming. I don't think we've played with any genuine threat/conviction since putting Everton out of the cup months ago. Results have been positive so we've been happy to chug along climbing the table.

I've looked at shots stats for last 5 league games where we took 13 from 15pts:

Off Target
Us: 40 Them: 63

On Target
Us: 18 Them 18

That backs up how the games felt, nip and tuck and could easily have gone either way. It was inevitable we couldn't continually keep "finding a way" and hence why I say the Swans result has been coming - its been flagged up by recent performances where we just do not create enough efforts on goal.

I set this in the context of a team with top 6 aspirations. To make that happen Warburton needs to get a grip. I think our problem starts at the back with 3 CBs who simply aren't comfortable on the ball or capable of starting off swift incisive transition up the pitch. Swansea totally nullified our playing out from the back with some rudimentary pressing and closing down.

I'm not criticising our CBs, it's the tactic and shape we deploy that I'm failing to understand. The flip side of this was Swansea playing it out from the back and looking as rickety as us in doing so. However, our efforts to press and disrupt them were pathetic. Again, I'm not criticising our forward players for this, it's the set-up and tactics I'm not getting.

We have to press as a team and play out from the back as a team - I don't think we've been doing that for quite a few matches now. We definitely didn't last night, it was all very half-assed and looked made up "on the hoof". Suggesting that the absence of Chair is a factor in this failure of effort and cohesion is not credible in my view, he's not that sort of player is he?

[topperharley]

Seen afew people saying an attacker with some pace would open up our attacking options. Of course that's correct and though another striker is a good idea. It is a disservice to the current strikers to say they are an issue. We are not missing many chances, we just are not creating enough good ones. Amos, Chaz and Dykes all should have scored last night. Amos by a nats hair missed, good effort by him, Chaz was/wasn't offside, should've been in the back of net, Dykes should have scored really, so much time. 3 clear chances, only 2 to our strikers, one wouldn't have counted anyway. Moses/Stef clever corner was a good effort.

How many crap crosses, corners and free kicks? If even half of them had gone to a players head or feet we'd have hit the net.

[Qprtanpa1]

For the final run to the playoffs:

Marshall and Dieng solid, as are the back 3 buttressed (and soon to be pushed) by Sanderson.

Adomah/Moses + Wallace/McCallum should be enough, as are Field/Ball as defensive midfielders.

Need better than Stefan in the middle — Tom Lawrence type would be a huge upgrade there. Could be the difference between a legit run for automatic promotion and just clawing to stay in the playoffs.

When Ilias returns, and given the striker tandems have not gelled this season, go back to playing 2 #10s (our best players Chair and Willock) with one striker (Gray or Dykes; never start Charlie — can’t go 60+ anymore).

[stanistheman]

Dykes needs to spend less time In the tattooists and more time practising in front of goal , he's starting to look like something out of prison break . Swansea were s small side and neither dykes or Austin won many headers

I was think that too and wondering just how did we not test them out more with our free kicks and corners. Afterall, we had those two strikers as well as Dickie, Dunne, Barbet and Field to aim deliveries to. Some of our balls into the box were not too bad, but the keeper seemed to just come and collect those without so much as a half arsed attempt to get to the ball.

[MINCER]

[QUOTE=Qprtanpa1;n2571262]For the final run to the playoffs:

Marshall and Dieng solid, as are the back 3 buttressed (and soon to be pushed) by Sanderson.

Adomah/Moses + Wallace/McCallum should be enough, as are Field/Ball as defensive midfielders.

Need better than Stefan in the middle — Tom Lawrence type would be a huge upgrade there. Could be the difference between a legit run for automatic promotion and just clawing to stay in the playoffs.

When Ilias returns, and given the striker tandems have not gelled this season, go back to playing 2 #10s (our best players Chair and Willock) with one striker (Gray or Dykes; never start Charlie — can’t go 60+ anymore).


Amazing how many goals Tom Lawrence scores from outside the penalty area in this video,although shows great composure in all goal scoring opportunities presented to him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLk02S2zvDw

[3London]

That's been coming. I don't think we've played with any genuine threat/conviction since putting Everton out of the cup months ago. Results have been positive so we've been happy to chug along climbing the table.

I've looked at shots stats for last 5 league games where we took 13 from 15pts:

Off Target
Us: 40 Them: 63

On Target
Us: 18 Them 18

That backs up how the games felt, nip and tuck and could easily have gone either way. It was inevitable we couldn't continually keep "finding a way" and hence why I say the Swans result has been coming - its been flagged up by recent performances where we just do not create enough efforts on goal.

I set this in the context of a team with top 6 aspirations. To make that happen Warburton needs to get a grip. I think our problem starts at the back with 3 CBs who simply aren't comfortable on the ball or capable of starting off swift incisive transition up the pitch. Swansea totally nullified our playing out from the back with some rudimentary pressing and closing down.

I'm not criticising our CBs, it's the tactic and shape we deploy that I'm failing to understand. The flip side of this was Swansea playing it out from the back and looking as rickety as us in doing so. However, our efforts to press and disrupt them were pathetic. Again, I'm not criticising our forward players for this, it's the set-up and tactics I'm not getting.

We have to press as a team and play out from the back as a team - I don't think we've been doing that for quite a few matches now. We definitely didn't last night, it was all very half-assed and looked made up "on the hoof". Suggesting that the absence of Chair is a factor in this failure of effort and cohesion is not credible in my view, he's not that sort of player is he?

4 wins in our last 5 games would suggest we are not doing too much wrong....and what results has been coming? a 0-0 against a team who set out to frustrate and foul their way to a draw.

our back 3 play the ball out as well as any other team does - its a horrible tactic that is flavour of the month ...look how many times the swansea keeper nearly gave the ball away last night- we pressed 3 as well often as high as their 6 yard box when the keeper was having 10 touches. strange how people can watch a game and see things differently

i was at the game and watch the highlights when i got back and i felt the pressing was something we actually did quite well - Swansea got away with a few and i am not aware of any occasion where we played ourselves into trouble at the back

considering the only goal we have let in the last 3 games was an unstoppable shot i think we are doing ok.

its not at the back where the problem lies its not having enough variation up front - if the opposition can nullify willock they effectively nullify our attack.


At least with Chair back we give the opposition 2 problems to double mark

[72bus]

4 wins in our last 5 games would suggest we are not doing too much wrong....and what results has been coming? a 0-0 against a team who set out to frustrate and foul their way to a draw.

our back 3 play the ball out as well as any other team does - its a horrible tactic that is flavour of the month ...look how many times the swansea keeper nearly gave the ball away last night- we pressed 3 as well often as high as their 6 yard box when the keeper was having 10 touches. strange how people can watch a game and see things differently

i was at the game and watch the highlights when i got back and i felt the pressing was something we actually did quite well - Swansea got away with a few and i am not aware of any occasion where we played ourselves into trouble at the back

considering the only goal we have let in the last 3 games was an unstoppable shot i think we are doing ok.

its not at the back where the problem lies its not having enough variation up front - if the opposition can nullify willock they effectively nullify our attack.


At least with Chair back we give the opposition 2 problems to double mark

Agree with your point about willock , but this leaves space for other midfielders to receive the ball . Why none of Johansen , Amos and dozzell are unable to step up and take advantage of this is either they're not good enough or not fit enough
Anyone that's played in a successful midfield knows when working as a unit u lift eachother and 2 up without the ball