Rotherham United (H)

[Ani]

16 minutes ago, Stig said:

He's a must start for me on away games

It does seem obvious that we need to change things away from home and EE should be doing a job in those games. 
 

[freds dad]

3 minutes ago, 1969 said:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1F7j4Qrzte/

Gale after the winner 😄 

Someone on FaceTube was moaning about Randall’s lack of enthusiasm in that clip.

[DirtySanchez]

1 hour ago, gonzo said:

Folk need to watch the other teams in our division and then conclude how well or not well we are playing.

Go back and watch some of the tripe Wrexham served up last season and Derby the season before.

Aye

Derby had McGoldrick up top, win 1-0 ugly 

Paul Warne style 

[jmjhb]

4 minutes ago, DirtySanchez said:

Aye

Derby had McGoldrick up top, win 1-0 ugly 

Paul Warne style 

1-0s get you up

[Dr. Feelgood]

I think we all get that points win prizes and a win is a win. We can celebrate the 3 points yet still look at stats like the above & think 'goodness me, we should have been out of sight' and not be seen as negative chunterers.

We simply must find a more easy way through the low blockers who turn up with an intent to frustrate.

[DirtySanchez]

58 minutes ago, jmjhb said:

1-0s get you up

They do 

Derby did what needed to be done so got the master of getting out of league one in, winning ugly 

Then got rid soon after 

[waffer cup 07]

1 hour ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

I think we all get that points win prizes and a win is a win. We can celebrate the 3 points yet still look at stats like the above & think 'goodness me, we should have been out of sight' and not be seen as negative chunterers.

We simply must find a more easy way through the low blockers who turn up with an intent to frustrate.

For most teams in league 1, its their biggest game of the season, coming to The Toughsheet, playing in front of 20,000. Were always going to be up against teams that are playing out of their skins to get any sort of a result. Can't see us battering any team at home.

[wakey]

used to really wind me up in the Fergie time era when united used to scrawp late winners and seemed to win the bastard league every season.

 

Wish I'd realised at the time they were just papering over the cracks. 

[Johnnyrotten]

4 hours ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

Sheehan was our best player yesterday by a million miles

Johnston for me as he was top class literally from minute one, Sheehan took a while to get into his stride, and a bit guilty by association with the pen conceded even though I wouldn't hugely blame him for it.

But they are 2 class players for L1, both have improved since last season IMO and are no longer a consideration not to be in our strongest 11.   

[ianofcleveleys]

3 hours ago, desperado said:

Decent post mate.

And I know you and I are on opposite sides of the scale when it comes to impressions of Schumacher. 

But I’ll counter your sign of a good team is pounding someone every few weeks.

The sides we are currently competing with; Cardiff, Bradford and Lincoln aren’t doing this at the moment (as in the last few weeks) - surely that’s our current barometer? 

Of course it would be nice. And I agree it would be a good sign. But I’d rather just keep any winning consistency going - a much better barometer in my view.

I’ve not looked into it, but I seem to remember someone saying Plymouths title winning record had lots of marginal wins?

Tight divisions and tight games are becoming ever more a feature of all 3 divisions outside the Prem. Our GD is only +10 but there are only 2 in Champ and Cardiff in L1 any better (4 better in L2 but only MK Dons significantly). Hull are 4th in the Champ with a GD of +2

[Johnnyrotten]

3 hours ago, Stig said:

He's a must start for me on away games

Genuine question, presume he starts with Sheehan, is that no starts away for Simons or are you taking a winger out?

[Stig]

1 hour ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Genuine question, presume he starts with Sheehan, is that no starts away for Simons or are you taking a winger out?

Yes, the latter for me. I've said it a few times but the 4231 leaves us a bit too open away from home imo. 

Would always like to see Erhahon and Simons with either Dempsey or Sheehan. Win the physical battle first and foremost and have 3 in midfield. And then even have one of the wingers as a more workmanlike option like Forss.

[Tombwfc]

4 hours ago, DirtySanchez said:

Aye

Derby had McGoldrick up top, win 1-0 ugly 

Paul Warne style 

 

That Derby team had basically the same number of 3-0s (7) as 1-0 wins (8). They won 13 times away from home, eight by two or more goals and finished with a GD of +41.

I only saw them play three times (vs us x2 and Pompey on TV) and admittedly they didn't look like 1970's Brazil. But equally I think there's a tendancy to make up narratives about teams we rarely watch. Derby were clearly a very good team and killed games off more often than not. That's the standard for getting automatic promotion. The more you let teams hang around at 1-0 the more likely you are to needlessly let points slip away (Reading being the classic example from this season as well as yesterday).

[frank_spencer]

Thought everyone bar Forss played well, the experiment of him up top didn't work.

Randall should've done better with his chance but overall was one of his best showings for us (admittedly a low bar)

Seeing Gale fly from the bench to join the pile celebrating in the corner was lovely to see 

[RONNIE PHILLIPS]

9 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

Not sure we have a completely satisfactory solution for RB and wondering that with JDC on ice recently, SS is looking to upgrade in Jan?

Im sure, dependant on who is available,he will be looking to upgrade in most positions

[masi 51]

3 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Genuine question, presume he starts with Sheehan, is that no starts away for Simons or are you taking a winger out?

How can you justify two wingers away from home........I love Gayle and ACD but we need to be solid

[Ani]

4 hours ago, waffer cup 07 said:

For most teams in league 1, its their biggest game of the season, coming to The Toughsheet, playing in front of 20,000. Were always going to be up against teams that are playing out of their skins to get any sort of a result. Can't see us battering any team at home.

Not sure how that works given we have best home record just about in the country and struggle away. They seem to play out of their skins when we visit rather than other way round.

[Tonge moor green jacket]

3 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Genuine question, presume he starts with Sheehan, is that no starts away for Simons or are you taking a winger out?

Not necessarily. 

We concede more and look more open away, and Sheehan doesn't necessarily get the same opportunity to tick things along.

Horses for courses.

With a number of games in short order, it's quite likely he may miss an away game anyway.

[desperado]

48 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

How can you justify two wingers away from home........I love Gayle and ACD but we need to be solid

I’ve provided quite a lot of detail, quotes from SS and analysis as to how  the right wingers, playing in the right way can provide solidity - more than enough justification.

You and others have banged the drum for an extra midfielder - again justification.

Two different opinions at the end of the day.

Not quite sure why you have to call out another poster as if it’s some bizarre concept he’s come up with that he has to justify.

It’s a straight choice between our manager’s choice and justification and some amateurs* on here who want to see something different 😊

*disclaimer - all fans opinions are valid, they are allowed to disagree with the manager and no debate is being stifled 😂

[desperado]

5 hours ago, waffer cup 07 said:

Can't see us battering any team at home.

But we’ve beaten Wigan 4-1 and Port Vale 4-0 🤷‍♂️

[Steejay]

4 minutes ago, desperado said:

But we’ve beaten Wigan 4-1 and Port Vale 4-0 🤷‍♂️

Yeah, but they don’t count. 🙄

[Ani]

16 minutes ago, desperado said:

I’ve provided quite a lot of detail, quotes from SS and analysis as to how  the right wingers, playing in the right way can provide solidity - more than enough justification.

You and others have banged the drum for an extra midfielder - again justification.

Two different opinions at the end of the day.

Not quite sure why you have to call out another poster as if it’s some bizarre concept he’s come up with that he has to justify.

It’s a straight choice between our manager’s choice and justification and some amateurs* on here who want to see something different 😊

*disclaimer - all fans opinions are valid, they are allowed to disagree with the manager and no debate is being stifled 😂

We are as good as any team in the country at home and top the league 1 form table. Averaging 2.45 points per game , we are 16th in league away form averaging 1 point a game. We have 1 point more than Port Vale away from home. 

We can all have opinions but the fact our home form is top of the league form and away form is virtually relegation form is there in black and white.

Given our away form I do not understand why we at least would not want to try a slightly different approach in away games. We are currently 4th and have not played any of the top 5 away from home. Add in the fact that 2 away wins came in unusual circumstances with 2 injury time goals and a very early red card in the other. 
 

Our home goal difference is +16, Away -6 , 

It might all turn on its head but at what point do we get an extra body in midfield ? 

https://www.soccerstats.com/homeaway.asp?league=england3

[Wanderlust]

7 hours ago, DirtySanchez said:

Aye

Derby had McGoldrick up top, win 1-0 ugly 

Paul Warne style 

Having a striker with strikers instincts like McGoldrick- even though he was past his prime - gets you up.

[desperado]

20 minutes ago, Ani said:

Given our away form I do not understand why we at least would not want to try a slightly different approach in away games.

I’m in danger of massively repeating myself here, as I’ve talked in quite a lot of detail about this.

But in summary I see that SS has tried to address this and to a certain extent (based on the games where we have picked up decent points away) found some solutions. If you play two wingers (a solid one in Tutu has worked well) they have to do the hard yards defending.

To compliment this you need to tweak the midfield to give more protection - again something he’s done and looked better for away from home more recently - two eights, Dempsey in the 10, bringing in Erhahon (something I’d like to see more of)

It’s not as if he won’t be looking at ways to address this. IMO with the same formation, our away form will improve if; We get more quality balls into the box, ensure that the lines between attack and defence are more solid and be more resolute in those periods where we aren’t on top, but I’m sure he’s already on to this and knows what he is doing - easier said than done, which is why I’m sure he’ll be exploring this and more in order to be more consistent away from home. 

Or are you saying he’s blinkered, incompetent and stubborn because  he’s not trying this extra midfielder option that folk on the internet are crying out for?

 

[Ani]

22 minutes ago, desperado said:

I’m in danger of massively repeating myself here, as I’ve talked in quite a lot of detail about this.

But in summary I see that SS has tried to address this and to a certain extent (based on the games where we have picked up decent points away) found some solutions. If you play two wingers (a solid one in Tutu has worked well) they have to do the hard yards defending.

To compliment this you need to tweak the midfield to give more protection - again something he’s done and looked better for away from home more recently - two eights, Dempsey in the 10, bringing in Erhahon (something I’d like to see more of)

It’s not as if he won’t be looking at ways to address this. IMO with the same formation, our away form will improve if; We get more quality balls into the box, ensure that the lines between attack and defence are more solid and be more resolute in those periods where we aren’t on top, but I’m sure he’s already on to this and knows what he is doing - easier said than done, which is why I’m sure he’ll be exploring this and more in order to be more consistent away from home. 

Or are you saying he’s blinkered, incompetent and stubborn because  he’s not trying this extra midfielder option that folk on the internet are crying out for?

 

No I am saying that what he has tried so far has not worked. You seem happy to list the things he has done, why is it unreasonable to highlight things he has not done and wonder if they would help ?