Crawley Town (H)

[Stig]

10 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

There were 3 great examples of making your own luck yesterday and that was the best one.

The sending off was another, the full back didn't have to get himself sent off, but Tutu made that bit of luck for us by repeatedly beating him, and there was only one winner after that.

And the driving run by Jones and cross, didn't have to end in an OG but it was earned/forced.

Absolutely spot on. You make your own luck when driving forward. If you're passing around at the back the only "luck" you can force is an inconsequential free kick in midfield 

[Stig]

10 hours ago, Rival Son said:

Couldn’t agree more. Forrester and Johnston have been superb in the last few games and the decision to drop Johnston yesterday was baffling. Toal looked off the game yesterday. For me, this is simply lack of game time and will come. However, yesterday should have been Forrester and Johnston, with the Wrexham match used for Toal’s match fitness. One final point: Santos is not a solution. Like Evatt, time to move on.

Enough of the negativity. The way Schumacher is bringing fresh ideas to the team and the in-game tactical decisions was refreshing. I haven’t enjoyed a game as much, in a long time.

I’ve long been convinced that Sheehan and Morley (along with the sadly unavailable Dempsey) is our best midfield. Evatt’s love of Thomason destroyed their partnership. Yesterday they were superb together and I hope this continues.

Tutu was superb in the second half, but I thought the inverted wingers hampered Schon. A previous experiment of Evatt’s with inverted wing backs had a similarly negative impact on him. Of the two, I think Schon is the more consistent (though Tutu has had injuries). I’d like to have a look at that formation with Schon on the left and Tutu on the right.

And onto the attack. Our biggest problem was that McAtee couldn’t or wouldn’t play the forward role. He was everywhere bar where he should have been. One minute he was at the side of Tutu on the left, next he was on the right with Schon but, mostly he was dropping back and moving into Randall’s space. Rarely was he where he should have been in the box.

i felt a little sorry for Randall because of this, and believe he was unlucky to be hooked when he was. I’d have brought off McAtee and asked Lolos to play as the forward. I’m unconvinced by Lolos in the attacking midfield role, anyway.

As ever, though, it’s all opinions, and Schumacher’s is the one that matters. What was most important is that we have a manager who’s bringing new ideas, who is prepared to change the plan not once, but twice, during the game, who’s substitutions don’t appear to be formulaic and who’s players look like their motivated, confident and enjoying the game.

That has rubbed off on me and the group I attend with. All of us were bouncing during and at the end of the game. Four of us are going to Shrewsbury … and I can’t wait!

Really good analysis. The only bit I'd disagree with is the midfield of Sheehan, Morley and Dempsey being our best midfield. Early last season (after the 4-0 to Wigan) it became apparent that was too lightweight and as a result Tomo was brought in to add some physicality.

And it worked for most of last season. The issue was/is Tomo isnt technically good enough and gives away free kicks and gets booked too often. 

Basically a strong, tough tackling midfielder is what we were missing and are still missing to play alongside Morley and Sheehan

[Ani]

31 minutes ago, Stig said:

Blaming Murphy for any of the goals seems crazy. Players misplace passes but unless they put a player directly through I wouldn't way they've caused a goal because there should be enough cover if the team is playing sensibly.

The goals Crawley scored yesterday were team defensive issues I'm hoping SS can sort out.

Not sure I made my point very well. His mistakes contributed to giving Crawley chances. That is pretty factual.  However this does not make him ‘shit’ As I said everyone makes mistakes , so if Desmond is more alert the first goal does not happen, the second still not sure what Toal was doing and third he was pushing on because we needed to get back in game. On all three where was the midfield cover ? 

[L/H White]

[ianofcleveleys]

1 hour ago, superjohnmcginlay said:

He did that very thing yesterday. I’d say all the performances post Evatt have been exactly that and a show of commitment and fight. 
 

One of the pleasing things which maybe highlights it yesterday was when the keeper lobbed that ball into the stands and Vic was over to him, caused a few to get involved. 

There's evidently been a bit more collective will to put themselves out over the last four games and, yesterday, to dig themselves out of the hole they'd allowed themselves to fall into with some graft and desire.

That's promising, but it's more that they're having to do things that are alien to many of them and that too many of them aren't robust enough to do. There were too many occasions yesterday where, in our third, they were brushed aside by their forwards, who were strong and quick if not supremely talented.

 

[Casino]

I think the fella who scored the 3rd does have talent

Eng u20 so no mug

And yes, he was at villa so maybe easier to be noticed, equally you prob need talent to be at villa to that age?

[Casino]

Speaking of talent, i thought in between his fucking about, their keeper was excellent with the ball

Brentford and it showed

[Kane57]

3 hours ago, Casino said:

Speaking of talent, i thought in between his fucking about, their keeper was excellent with the ball

Brentford and it showed

Agreed that pass for their goal was stunning 

[ianofcleveleys]

5 hours ago, Kane57 said:

Agreed that pass for their goal was stunning 

He played a few accurate, well weighted balls right out to the wings that set good attacks up, great with his feet, less so with his acting

[Eddie]

Just watched the extended highlights, couple of things from watching it back:

- the defence is getting a lot of scrutiny, and I suppose you can’t argue when conceding 3 at home but I don’t think there’s a huge amount they can do differently.

The first is on Tutu for being flat footed, Murphy is also a bit gung-ho by going for the overlap from the second the ball left his foot. After that though, they have a shit shot that luckily lands at their forwards feet and he lays it off for a good strike. Not sure the centre backs can do much else

The second. It looked like Toal just left it but he’s not, it’s a shit pass and Toal was tracking the runner that it was supposed to go to, he’s got no chance of stopping it. If there’s any blame it’s that one of the centre mids isn’t tracking the midfield runner to get a foot in (or possibly that Forrester isn’t closer to get round - but that’s very harsh in my opinion).

Third could have been stopped by Randall before they passed the half way line. If he’d have just taken one for the team and brought the man down then it’s a yellow card and free kick in their half. He lets him go and it’s a good move. Possibly on Murphy for not getting back quick enough, and you could say Toal is flat footed but once he’s squared up and Hepburn is taking it on the run he’s got no chance of catching him - it’s also a sensational finish.

- JDC’s cross for Tutu was a beauty, a proper ‘attack me’ ball that Tutu did very very well with. He also showed some composure in the first half when Sheehan put him in and he picked out Schon (who dummied it). I actually think JDC could be more suited as a right back with a winger in front of him, rather than being expected to do everything himself as a wing back.

- There’s a comical moment for our second that I’d missed. As Sheehan plays it to Murphy, one of their defenders pushes their lad that should be marking Murphy towards him and he just stacks it on the ground, partially trying to throw his head at it whilst he falls. It’s like that clip of the kids game where the dad just launches the keeper towards the ball because he’s not watching.

[CambridgeBWFC]

1 hour ago, Eddie said:

- There’s a comical moment for our second that I’d missed. As Sheehan plays it to Murphy, one of their defenders pushes their lad that should be marking Murphy towards him and he just stacks it on the ground, partially trying to throw his head at it whilst he falls. It’s like that clip of the kids game where the dad just launches the keeper towards the ball because he’s not watching.

I don't know why you are making fun of this, their player was seriously injured and the game should have been stopped

[Tonge moor green jacket]

I've watched it several times, and still can't work out what toal was doing.

For me, he could, and should, have cleared it.

[ianofcleveleys]

2 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

I've watched it several times, and still can't work out what toal was doing.

For me, he could, and should, have cleared it.

Just first rule of defending, if the ball is coming towards you, and you're in or around your box, deal with it. 

[nantwichwhite]

Think it was an automatic reaction. He was just thinking that Santos would sweep up behind him.

[Casino]

40 minutes ago, ianofcleveleys said:

Just first rule of defending, if the ball is coming towards you, and you're in or around your box, deal with it. 

Which goal we talking about here?

[Eddie]

3 minutes ago, Casino said:

Which goal we talking about here?

2nd.

I’ve just watched it again. I think his momentum has taken him past it and he’s expecting the ball to the man in front. He just about manages to change his momentum and could probably have just about reached it if he’d have stuck his leg out in a split second but for some reason decided not to.

Not his best moment but I don’t think it’s in the same category as Forrester a few weeks ago when he just ducked (Charlton?).

[boltonboris]

10 minutes ago, Eddie said:

2nd.

I’ve just watched it again. I think his momentum has taken him past it and he’s expecting the ball to the man in front. He just about manages to change his momentum and could probably have just about reached it if he’d have stuck his leg out in a split second but for some reason decided not to.

Not his best moment but I don’t think it’s in the same category as Forrester a few weeks ago when he just ducked (Charlton?).

I think he's found himself slightly out of position and has to sprint back in, once it's gone to the other striker than the one he anticipated, he's on his heels and because of his momentum he can't recover. Indecisive and poor positioning. He shouldn't have been 2v1 there though and having to make a choice between which one to go for 

The 3rd goal, he does poorly too, in my opinion. He gets caught between getting tight and getting goalside and being indecisive again, his body shape points the striker into the only direction we don't want him to go to. The quickest route to goal. Great finish though. As all of theirs were - For me, Toal should get touch tight and if he gets rolled, shit happens. At least make it hard for him. He left himself in a position where he can't defend it

[Casino]

15 minutes ago, Eddie said:

2nd.

 I think his momentum has taken him past it He just about manages to change his momentum and could probably have just about reached it if he’d have stuck his leg out in a split second.

Not his best moment but I don’t think it’s in the same category as Forrester a few weeks ago when he just ducked (Charlton?).

im with you on that 

and agreed, its hardly forrester levels - that was a shocker

[boltonboris]

Oh and by the way, I'm sorry to say I really am struggling to get on board with Randall. He really does lack application. I'm not expecting him to hare into tackles and win 50/50's but he's so easy to play against.

How he's not taken a booking for the team on one of their goals, I don't know. Just trip him on the halfway line FFS. 

I could almost forgive him for it if he looked like a potential match winner

[Casino]

Just now, boltonboris said:

How he's not taken a booking for the team on one of their goals, I don't know. Just trip him on the halfway line FFS. 

 

see, sheehan has a list of them these season and last and i want it to stop

 

[boltonboris]

1 minute ago, Casino said:

see, sheehan has a list of them these season and last and i want it to stop

 

Sheehan's in the position where often he needs to (being isolated as a single pivot) - It's impossible to measure how many potential goals he's stopped by doing it. We can see that Randall not doing it, has cost us a goal. 

 

Obviously other stuff happens in between the lack of foul and the goal, but if he trips him, we don't concede and it's not like he's going to mistime a slide tackle later on and get another yellow

Edited February 10, 2025 by boltonboris

[ianofcleveleys]

9 minutes ago, Casino said:

im with you on that 

and agreed, its hardly forrester levels - that was a shocker

Agreed, that was a bad one. They're aberrations we need to iron out. 

[Tonge moor green jacket]

1 hour ago, ianofcleveleys said:

Just first rule of defending, if the ball is coming towards you, and you're in or around your box, deal with it. 

Aye.

The only thing I could think of was that he thought he'd heard a call.

He seemed exasperated that his partner wasn't there to clear it; but as you say, just clear it.

[Whitesince63]

16 minutes ago, ianofcleveleys said:

Agreed, that was a bad one. They're aberrations we need to iron out. 

Hang on, didn’t we establish Forrester got a call to leave it and did exactly that? No way would he just intentionally duck under a ball, especially in the position he was in. Of all our defenders he’s the one I’d expect to block and head anything.

[Take Hunt Off]

An on form Santos wipes the floor with all our other defenders & maybe an only 75% Santos is better than the others .I’m hoping our new manager can find a suitable replacement, easier said than done .There is definitely a fragility in Toals game when the big guy is missing, & he unlike Santos doesn’t handle the one on one situations well. Forrester to me is a squad player , good at filling in due to injuries etc but not physical enough for this league. Forino , the juries out as we have seen a few pros & cons in his game but that won’t matter if he’s a sick note which I suspect he is.

Santos’s form this season has been indifferent to say the least (the Oxford game lives rent free in his head & he needs a move away ) and explains our poor defensive record because if he isn’t doing the business we are in trouble  .

As for Johnston he is less affected by Santos ‘s absence , is our only permanent left footed  centre back but again lacks physicality & has not regained his pre-injury form.

Big job for Schumacher to sort out that defence , despite our lack of a hold up forward we have still scored enough goals to be higher up the league.