Reflection on yesterday

[Jamiewtn]

Hi first post but have been browsing this forum for quite a while now putting my thoughts out there!!

Looking at the team yesterday posed 2 major issues for me.

If Derry isn`t playing we have no one who can protect the back 4 and hold up play. We pretty much played with 4 wingers and Diakite across a 5 man midfield. None of them seemed to know what their role was when defending or attacking and we had no shape at all. This led to Cisse being ineffective and isolated ( although his first touch seemed to be missing) and far to much pressure on the defence with runners not being picked up. Faurlin could do with getting match fit very quickly!!!!! .Im hoping it wasn`t a tactical issue and just new players struggling to gel for the first game proper.

Although the defence obviously needs strengthening and Boswinga will definately help with that, we need a striker who can play in the Zamora role. We have no one to hold up the ball, bring players into play and be a focal point up top when he`s out. With Zamora out there is no-one in the squad to play this role since Helguson left. Mackie possibly could do the role temporarily but not quite sure he has the composure tbh. If Zamora is out for a lenghty period our defence is currently to fragile for the ball to keep coming straight back at them.

All told putting it politely not one player played above average at best yesterday. New players,added pressure,individual errors, Swansea scoring with 5 out of 6 on target all contributed to a performance where if it had a chance of going wrong it did, from Greens error upto Onuoha passing to the invisible man.

Aside from all this negativity it was only the first game. Theres a very long way to go and in time I have faith in the coaching team to get the team into a system that works with the players we have. I still feel we have far to much talent in the team to be in the relegation mix at the end of the season.

Nothing is ever plain sailing with this club and im sure there will be more ups than downs in the following months!!

[SuperHoopNik]

Good post. I agree, yesterdays tactics was a shambles. We could really do with Faurlin coming back. I don't think Zamora is badly injured, he was on the bench yesterday wasn't he? I think the main problem about yesterday (apart from the defence) was that we're almost a completely new team who have had an easy pre-season against teams equal to Harrow Boro; hardly a challenge really. Yesterday was their first competitive match playing as a team. I think slowly, we will improve each week. Once the team 'gel' together, I am certain we can be a real threat competing for a mid-table finish.

[Jamiewtn]

I heard Zamora had a minor knee injury (might be wrong though) if true by the 60th min there was no point in risking him. If he was fully fit then the the decision not to play him was nearly as bad as bringing on wright-phillips at right back. Ive been quite baffled with some of Hughes decisions like playing Traore/SWP centre mid etc. You could see by the end of last season he had the team well drilled tactically and im sure that will naturally come this season with the new players coming in.

On a brighter note im pretty sure by the end of the season will be amazed by the fact we managed to sign Hoilett!

[Will M]

Yep, pretty much echoed my feelings on the matter. Good first post and welcome.

[EYR]

I think we went abit gung ho underestimated Swansea by thinking we didnt need a DM of sorts.

[vespa]

good post, Jamie

[Jamiewtn]

Thanks chaps
pleased to have finally got my first post out of the way, hopefully the next ones will be slightly more positive than the first.

[EYR]

Thanks chaps
pleased to have finally got my first post out of the way, hopefully the next ones will be slightly more positive than the first.

A balanced view on the game , you won't last long on here! Welcome.

[twranger]

A balanced view on the game , you won't last long on here! Welcome.

...and a well written and eloquent post as well - and on that basis, as you say, won't last long....

[Jamiewtn]

haha well I`ll try my best to stay here. Im sure there will be enough going on throughout the season to inspire another post or so!!

[hal9thou]

Your analysis is predicated on 4-4-2, where Zamora might fit in if its one of the days when he opts to put in a shift. But given the fact that Cisse is the sole quality striker at the club, I'm not convinced about 4-4-2, which increasingly feels a bit past its sell by date at the top level - unless you have the specialist position players to make it work. Even then 4-4-2 set ups struggled against the Wigan 3CB formation at the end of last year, never mind 4-2-3-1. I think the problems at GK and CB are far more serious than the holding role, since there are players in the club who can handle the latter. But I don't see any top quality CBs.

[Jamiewtn]

Yeah its true Cisse is the best striker at the club but currently I dont think we have the team in the right place tactically to play with just him up front. We need to break alot quicker to get the most out of him in the formation we played yesterday so hes not so isolated. If we let teams re group when defending its much harder for us to find him in abit of space. In time we definately have group of players who could make it work. Not sure 4-4-2 is out dated, it dosen`t have to be a solid unfluid 4-4-2. The main thing is getting the team solid tactically and not to put unnecessary pressure on ourselves. Not sure how we will end up but will be interesting to see how we line up in a couple of months.

GK is done now I think and we have to pray he`s not lost too much confidence and improves. Id be very suprised if we brought another GK in going by the rumours of Greens wage packet.

CB is an issue, hopefully someone is lined up to come in. I have a vague memory of Boswinga playing pretty well occasionally at CB for Chelsea over the years and he could potentially play there although I think he will need a tough experienced CB alongside him, maybe Nelson, as Ferdinand isnt a leader at CB.