Could be 4/5 changes for this - Wouldn’t be surprised to see Tutu, Simons, Dempsey, Cissoko and  Burstow start 

7 minutes ago, Zico said:

That's who I thought McAtee was meant to be

He'll be over this way soon, balls deep in trannys and crisco oil.

1 hour ago, Traf said:

These interviews are pointless and banal.
It's almost a competition as to who can throw out the most clichés.

He really should have held his hands up and said "I should have scored" not "it was a good save"

I've not watched a single one 

Pointless 

9 minutes ago, gonzo said:

He'll be over this way soon, balls deep in trannys and crisco oil.

I actually think he could do a job in front of Burstow. Mcatee needs somebody to win the headers and play off

6 hours ago, Ani said:

Any replays of the penalty shouts ?

I mean, that’s nailed on isn’t it??!

3 minutes ago, desperado said:

I mean, that’s nailed on isn’t it??!

 

1 hour ago, desperado said:

Think you and me pal are on the same wavelength in terms of where we are as a team, enjoying (in the main, not yesterday 😩) the football and thinking we’re not too far away from being a very good team.

But I think @Dennis Peacock has a point on the crosses debate. 8/50 is just ridiculous. There were just too many floaty, ineffective crosses which defenders will lap up all day. We have to be quicker, more varied, go the outside more and yes take some more risks, in order to create better chances. 

We all agree that the quality of the final cross / pass / shot needs to improve.

Think it's becoming a mental thing now as much as ability, and certainly doesn't help that our forward options all seem low on confidence. Burstow looks a shadow of the player he was in the early weeks, it's not really clicked for Dalby and Forss has looked mostly out of sorts since Wigan.

It's frustratingly that last bit that's missing, but of course it's the bit that really matters.

I feel it'll come together, and if / when it does we could still be on for a hell of a ride in the second half of the season. 

 

 

Lot of emotion last night, partly due to how good we have been at home.

let’s roll over Doncaster and see what happens.

looking at January fixtures, a lot of the top teams play each other.

1 hour ago, Leyther_Matt said:

 

Hmmm I think the defender might get the ball. It is the frame before this, but he has also gone in from side and taken his standing foot. 

1 hour ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I've nothing against Forino, played on the right, but he's a fish out of water on the left.  And I'd have to reiterate that Johnston could be playing like N'Gotty and those goals since Huddersfield are still conceded, simply not down to him other than conceding a corner, which they all do.  I agree Forino would have probably cleared that corner, it was perfect for a dominant CB, but for some reason the only 2 corners we faced were defended with a Mansfield player stood on TSL and no defender pushing him away or providing a shield.  Nobody on the posts to clear that easily. That's down to the manager's tactics, this nonsense of 11 back at corners without actually marking, or covering the posts.  I heard SS supposedly being honest and saying we aren't good enough up front or at the back, but strangely no mention of his part in the goal (or the one conceded v Exeter, also down to tactics).

That goal last night was just wank goalkeeping. Gets worse the more times you watch it. Falls on the floor like a fanny making a pathetic half arsed attempt at punching it. It's bang in the middle of the 6 yard box. That's his job to deal with it. Not a centre half. He was looking for the foul Instead of doing his job. He's cost us too many goals this season from individual errors. 

14 minutes ago, Ani said:

Hmmm I think the defender might get the ball. It is the frame before this, but he has also gone in from side and taken his standing foot. 

Think you’re right on both counts. Gets the ball initially, but absolutely in ‘seen them given’ territory  

3 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Think you’re right on both counts. Gets the ball initially, but absolutely in ‘seen them given’ territory  

It shouldn't be, but reckon the ball going straight to burstow might have been a factor 

1 hour ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I've nothing against Forino, played on the right, but he's a fish out of water on the left.  And I'd have to reiterate that Johnston could be playing like N'Gotty and those goals since Huddersfield are still conceded, simply not down to him other than conceding a corner, which they all do.  I agree Forino would have probably cleared that corner, it was perfect for a dominant CB, but for some reason the only 2 corners we faced were defended with a Mansfield player stood on TSL and no defender pushing him away or providing a shield.  Nobody on the posts to clear that easily. That's down to the manager's tactics, this nonsense of 11 back at corners without actually marking, or covering the posts.  I heard SS supposedly being honest and saying we aren't good enough up front or at the back, but strangely no mention of his part in the goal (or the one conceded v Exeter, also down to tactics).

I'm with you on all the general defensive strategies on corners. I have no idea why noone covers posts or leaves anyone up front anymore.

And, agree, Forino probably clears that ball out so we don't concede.

However, why can't Forino play left CB? Because we have a left footed CB option it seems we're saying Johnston is the only option there. I've never known this to be a thing in my lifetime that you need a left footed left centre back, and I think it's a carry over from Evatts back 5. In a back 4 there shouldn't be so much emphasis on the CBs starting play and indeed I'd be happier if Toal and Johnston touched the ball less.

To use your N'Gotty example, it was him and Gudni as CBs, both right footed and I can't remember ever worrying that one was on the left

39 minutes ago, Stig said:

I'm with you on all the general defensive strategies on corners. I have no idea why noone covers posts or leaves anyone up front anymore.

And, agree, Forino probably clears that ball out so we don't concede.

However, why can't Forino play left CB? Because we have a left footed CB option it seems we're saying Johnston is the only option there. I've never known this to be a thing in my lifetime that you need a left footed left centre back, and I think it's a carry over from Evatts back 5. In a back 4 there shouldn't be so much emphasis on the CBs starting play and indeed I'd be happier if Toal and Johnston touched the ball less.

To use your N'Gotty example, it was him and Gudni as CBs, both right footed and I can't remember ever worrying that one was on the left

Toal was absolutely awful at LCB at Swindon!

I dont know how we do it but we need to go 442 for me.....even when we manage to get the odd decent ball in we have Dalby on his own, and usually on his heels, near the goal, is so easy to defend against. We hardly utilise the Number 10 at the moment anyway ........however I know feck all compared to SS so will just keep my fingers crossed that he sorts it.

9 minutes ago, desperado said:

Toal was absolutely awful at LCB at Swindon!

Swindon isn't a good barometer. As my example of Mansfield away might not be....

4 minutes ago, Stig said:

Swindon isn't a good barometer. As my example of Mansfield away might not be....

True - although he’s never looked as good LCB than he does RCB

Trying to think of Forino - he played LCB at Stockport didn’t he? Was ok, although I seem to remember he got schooled by that big CF, Wooten is it?

6 hours ago, gonzo said:

It's chicken and egg with this poor crossing and our midfielders should be 'doing more' etc

If there's fuck all movement up front and nobody making space or reading the balls then the jobs fucked.

So many times last night Sheehan or Morley were driving forward looking for options and the front lads were all just stood next to their men.

We are asking a lot of them with the limited lot we have up top.

We are desperate for any kind of pace or ingenuity up top. Would solve so many of our problems.

Yes the wingers cut in alot and run into trouble but if there's nothing on, either through the lines or the full backs on the overlap then there's not a lot else they can do bar lay it short or try and make a run themselves, which invariably leads them into trouble.

Inverted wingers with lack of the overlap is the worst concoction ever for Dalby. 

 

Agreed.  That's where the first half was better, because those runs you describe is exactly what Randall was doing, on the left, the right both deep and up front.  When he went off that avenue closed and as you say we generally reverted to Morley etc putting "crosses" in from deep.

But Randall isn't a striker or finisher.  We need someone that does those runs, and can finish.  Collins for example.

3 hours ago, Rizlar said:

I posted earlier number 10 is key to SS tactics but he’s tried several and none have been convincing either sign somebody in the window or change the system. 
I agree Sheehan could play as a 10 but can’t see SS playing him as a 10. 

I just feel that he's our best passer/prober (if that's a word) by a mile, and if he plays as a 10, there will be 15 minute spells where he doesn't even touch the ball.  Think of all the games when Forss or Randall have struggled to get a touch never mind a meaningful one, where they are making runs, not being found, back to goal, a bit isolated.  That's not Sheehan's game, he needs to be in the engine room with his vision and ability to make long and short passes.  What we really need at no.10 is a striker, I thought Forss would be that player but it turns out McAtee is better than him and the sooner he's back the better, just to increase our chances of a striker having a shot in anger.

I've got a lot of sympathy for SS at the moment. Going back to that Thierry Henry Pep thing about its the managers job to get us up the pitch and players job to score, hes doing everything right from his side.

Whilst it could be argued that he could have signed a better striker, goalscorers dont grow on trees, and any available cost a fortune. Dalby seemed like the right choice, someone for the rest to play off as well as someone who scored regular last season. I think this season more than any we're realising how weak the Scottish league is (especially if you add how well Iredale is doing and Ndlundulu winning a trophy).

TSL's error last night was a howler, worse than a usual GK mistake. But again a young player performing so well in League 2 last season and a year older seemed like an obvious choice.

Apart from those can't see where we can realistically improve. A dominant centre half to help us score some set pieces and a number 10 that can get into the box for a few headed goals against a low block maybe, but then you're trading away some of our on the ball ability that makes us so dominant in most games. 

 

 

 

5 hours ago, gonzo said:

He'll be over this way soon, balls deep in trannys and crisco oil.

I didn't know you were taking more lodgers in.

4 hours ago, marple whites said:

Lot of emotion last night, partly due to how good we have been at home.

let’s roll over Doncaster and see what happens.

looking at January fixtures, a lot of the top teams play each other.

And there was me concerned by 2 defeats in 3 and the strikers unable to hit a barn door or connect with a cross.  If only I'd looked at the fixtures of other teams, its all coming together 😀

(just joking BTW, not having a dig!)

3 hours ago, Stig said:

I'm with you on all the general defensive strategies on corners. I have no idea why noone covers posts or leaves anyone up front anymore.

And, agree, Forino probably clears that ball out so we don't concede.

However, why can't Forino play left CB? Because we have a left footed CB option it seems we're saying Johnston is the only option there. I've never known this to be a thing in my lifetime that you need a left footed left centre back, and I think it's a carry over from Evatts back 5. In a back 4 there shouldn't be so much emphasis on the CBs starting play and indeed I'd be happier if Toal and Johnston touched the ball less.

To use your N'Gotty example, it was him and Gudni as CBs, both right footed and I can't remember ever worrying that one was on the left

That's a fair point, we haven't always had a left footed CB.  But the contrast in terms of possession of the 2 CBs compared to pre-Evatt days is chalk and cheese.  Imagine N'Gotty and Mikalic passing it cutely between themselves for 5 minutes looking to pick out runners.  No, they launched it to SKD, or Campo came deep to pass it 40 yards to Diouff or Stelios.  There was no faffing about in triangles.

I can only go off how its looked in the last couple of years when we've had a right footer playing there, and its never looked comfortable.  In this team, with this system, we need a left footed CB IMO and Johnston does a great job for me.  

13 hours ago, desperado said:

Other than your personal vendetta against Sheehan 😂

…that’s a really good post.

I like your satisfied but not elated comment. (In terms of where we sit at the moment - not with last night!!)

😂 - thanks mate! 

And it's not a vendetta really - more of a love/hate relationship.

5 hours ago, kent_white said:

😂 - thanks mate! 

And it's not a vendetta really - more of a love/hate relationship.

Neither is it personal to you.

As you know, I agree.

If Sheehan could bring increased physicality, and more importantly consistency to add to his talent, then he would have been playing at a higher level for some time.

Probably true for most of them in fairness.

1 hour ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Neither is it personal to you.

As you know, I agree.

If Sheehan could bring increased physicality, and more importantly consistency to add to his talent, then he would have been playing at a higher level for some time.

Probably true for most of them in fairness.

Where we're at in L1, I suppose, a mix of unfulfilled talents and solid sorts who are at their ceiling

Sheehan wasn't helped by Evatt's insistence on playing him a certain way within a flawed approach. He's been better this season for not having to do so much of that.

Evatt's got Blackpool going now, interesting to see if, with who he has to work with, he's still wedded to a way or there's been some reflection and tweaking