the issues (10 Viewers)

fatso

Well-Known Member
There are a lot of things I find troubling and confusing about this summer. Our first choice CB pairing from last season having been entirely replaced by two players that barely got a look in last season is high amongst them.
Agreed, to me it sounds like a fall out behind the scenes. (Based on nothing other than confusion over the selections)
 

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fatso

Well-Known Member
Worrying for me was the passive nature of all our players.

Norwich didn’t really threaten, came with a game plan to stifle, press our full backs, commit niggly fouls (and plain assaults) and time waste.

Fucking worked tho-and we sat back and let them do it. Rolled over got shagged from behind while they tickled our tummy.

Could have been different if Simms had connected from that flukey Bidwell pass in first 10 mins or the header.

Forced Norwich out.

But again worry for me was lack of intensity or urgency. Lack of creativity for our front players-no good blaming Simms if he’s given scraps-he can’t work with that! Simms came off and the front three had exactly the same service as Simms-nothing.

Robins had 5 coaches and they have the international break to sort this out.

We’ve played 3 teams with a plan to stifle us and our formation-and we haven’t had a plan B.

Fucking go to 3 centre backs and give the oppo something to think about!! You know the old saying-definition of madness is to continue down the same path but expect different results.

City have continued with this shitty formation/game plan and it HAS NOT WORKED.

Players are all over the place and look lost-that’s on Robins and his coaching staff.

Can’t blame the fans when there’s literally nothing to get worked up about in a game when we had two shots. (Not counting the blocked ones).

It’s been a tough start but we have the personal and the manager to get us going again.

I just hope we don’t carry on sleep walking to more defeats like today-very frustrating!


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You want a plan B?

I'd be happy if we had a plan A

We look fucking clueless.
 

fatso

Well-Known Member
What really pissed me off today was when Doyle crunched Saka,and did his ankle. Took some nice handslaps from his fellow centre back as he resumed his position, with a big smile on his face.
Simms and Wright just calmly stood around watching, instead of strolling over and and telling the shit what he was gonna get.
Agreed, we are team of pussies at the moment, wright should of used his elbow at the next corner, and splattered Doyles nose across his face.

I doubt that Thomas and Kitching would of let the incident pass.
 

Winny the Bish

Well-Known Member
I hate the “we’ve got a young squad” excuse that Robins trotted out last night. Sunderland are top of the league with multiple teenagers starting and a new manager, playing the best football they have in years.
 

Sky_Blue_Dreamer

Well-Known Member
I’m not buying this too many cooks synopsis.

I’m sure bigger clubs than us I.e Man City Utd etc etc, in fact probably all of the premier league clubs have more staff than we do. This isn’t Sunday league.
They have more coaches, but they're usually for specialist areas and have a defined hierarchy. As has been mentioned, we've had a number of coaches on the touchline shouting instructions. It should be one designated coach, or Robins, that gives touchline instructions to prevent potential confusion.

I have seen it mentioned that the GK coach is currently in charge of defensive coaching, and to be honest I'm not convinced given how we've struggled keeper wise in recent years.

Of course this isn't the only problem and I think of equal influence is the Stamenic transfer as it was obvious where we needed to strengthen and that resulted in us losing out on TWO targets who looked like they'd have made a difference, albeit in different ways.

We always seem to take a couple of months to figure out the problems and see a formation change that alters our fortunes. But that leaves us a lot to do. Strange as well given that we looked a lot more cohesive and flowing in pre-season.
 

JSL

Well-Known Member
4 3 3 clearly doesnt work. The two wide attackers aren't good enough at tracking back and covering. Simms is a good hold up player but not an out and out prolific striker. He needs someone alongside him which leads us to 4 4 2. Wright has been tried alongside and is currently out of the team for his lack of enthusiasm to track back. I would try BTA or Bassette alongside Simms. The midfield is then a lottery of who we have fit at the time as numbers are limited.
 

CCFColi

Active Member
I think some of our issues have already been covered in various posts.
I don’t think we look fit this season, we look tired after 60 mins. Maybe we might finish the season stronger as we run out of gas towards the back end of the season and didn’t have the strength in depth.
The defence has been poor since Lawrence left, that can’t be a coincidence, surely it would have been worth extending his stay with us. We haven’t had a clean sheet this season. Doesn’t help chopping and changing the defence all the time.
Lack of leaders and not investing in an experience Centre Half and it’s criminal that we haven’t invested in an experienced Centre mid when, that was a big area we were missing last season, especially with Kelly leaving.
The players don’t seem to want to take responsibility for their performances as it’s the usual patter that they speak. Actions speak louder than words.
The coaching set up doesn’t seem right, maybe it is too many cooks, confusing messages.
Lacking in Characters, only Milan and probably Wilson which are more comedic than leadership. We need a few to step up and take the mantle, as surely this must be denying their pride if they have anything about them, otherwise they are not fit to wear out shirt.
 

Frostie

Well-Known Member
4 3 3 clearly doesnt work. The two wide attackers aren't good enough at tracking back and covering. Simms is a good hold up player but not an out and out prolific striker. He needs someone alongside him which leads us to 4 4 2. Wright has been tried alongside and is currently out of the team for his lack of enthusiasm to track back. I would try BTA or Bassette alongside Simms. The midfield is then a lottery of who we have fit at the time as numbers are limited.
How many teams in the 92 predominantly play a 4-4-2 when attacking?
How many teams in top European leagues play it?
Is there a reason behind these numbers do you think?
How would you anticipate we play in possession with it?
How would we build up & create chances?
 

JSL

Well-Known Member
How many teams in the 92 predominantly play a 4-4-2 when attacking?
How many teams in top European leagues play it?
Is there a reason behind these numbers do you think?
How would you anticipate we play in possession with it?
How would we build up & create chances?
My point was aimed specifically at us with the personnel we have. 3 in midfield and attackers who don't fancy or can't track back is failing us and leaking goals
 

thekidfromstrettoncamp

Well-Known Member
Simms is a good hold up player but not an out and out prolific striker.
Simms might be a good hold up player if he had any control over the balls is passed up to him.Like i've said before for the length of time he has been in the game under many coaches and still can't trap a ball All you need is 1 player marking him and 1 close by to pick it up from his failed trapping attempt.
 

Skyblueabo1111

Active Member
Simms might be a good hold up player if he had any control over the balls is passed up to him.Like i've said before for the length of time he has been in the game under many coaches and still can't trap a ball All you need is 1 player marking him and 1 close by to pick it up from his failed trapping attempt.
Not true, he scored 19 goals last year. He needs someone next to him, same as last year. Wright left, whoever right, I think Assante. Even when Basette played on his own, he struggled, it is not working..or 2 up front, Simms and Basette, exactly the same thing happened last yr, until he played Wright left,Simms striker. Him, Wright and Assented scored over 50 goals last yr, we are struggling to average one per game
 
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thekidfromstrettoncamp

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Not true, he scored 19 goals last year. He needs someone next to him, same as last year. Wright left, whoever right, I think Assante. Even when Basette played on his own, he struggled, it is not working..or 2 up front, Simms and Basette, exactly the same thing happened last yr, until he played Wright left,Simms striker. Him, Wright and Assented scored over 50 goals last yr, we are struggling to average one per game
Not once have I remarked on his scoring his control of the ball I mentioned.If you want a player holding the ball up front Wright at least has more control than Simms who I fear might just be a 1 season wonder.(hope not)
 

Skyblueabo1111

Active Member
Not once have I remarked on his scoring his control of the ball I mentioned.If you want a player holding the ball up front Wright at least has more control than Simms who I fear might just be a 1 season wonder.(hope not)
We shouldn't be playing one up front, it's not working, whoever you play there..Robins hasn't learnt from last year. He played Wright left, Simms CF and the goals flowed. Starting with the QPR away game.
 
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thekidfromstrettoncamp

Well-Known Member
I was replying to Simms being a good hold up player not about tactics.( some thing we seem short of ATM).Made a thead about them a week ago and in 40 + replies no even 1 person told me what formation let alone tactics we were employing
 

Legia Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
I would be interested to see how Simms and Bassette worked up front together. I've got a feeling they could be a good combination, although playing them both would require a fundamental change in tactics, and probably leave no room for Wright, so would be a big decision on MR's part.
 

Skyblueabo1111

Active Member
I was replying to Simms being a good hold up player not about tactics.( some thing we seem short of ATM).Made a thead about them a week ago and in 40 + replies no even 1 person told me what formation let alone tactics we were employing
I'd play Wright, Simms, Assante. 5, 2, 3......3 centre Half's, 2 wing backs, Sheaf, Rudoni and the above.
 

Winny the Bish

Well-Known Member
I would be interested to see how Simms and Bassette worked up front together. I've got a feeling they could be a good combination, although playing them both would require a fundamental change in tactics, and probably leave no room for Wright, so would be a big decision on MR's part.
I think this is definitely something I'd try for a game. 3-4-1-2 with BTA or Rudoni in the 10 behind Simms and Bassette.
 

wingy

Well-Known Member
I'd play Wright, Simms, Assante. 5, 2, 3......3 centre Half's, 2 wing backs, Sheaf, Rudoni and the above.
I'd prefer Eccles over Sheaf myself,having said that when questioned on the captaincy he basically admitted that he probably doesn't see himself as one or at least, we're all captains or there is 11 captains was his response!
 

Perennial Lurker

Well-Known Member
I think this is definitely something I'd try for a game. 3-4-1-2 with BTA or Rudoni in the 10 behind Simms and Bassette.
The one thing we've lacked since both O'Hare and Palmer left is energy and movement up top . Rudoni clearly isn't someone comfortable playing higher up the pitch so I would play BTA behind Simms or Bassette or both .
Whether that is 3-4-1-2 or 4-3-3 is one for the training ground
 

wingy

Well-Known Member
The one thing we've lacked since both O'Hare and Palmer left is energy and movement up top . Rudoni clearly isn't someone comfortable playing higher up the pitch so I would play BTA behind Simms or Bassette or both .
Whether that is 3-4-1-2 or 4-3-3 is one for the training ground
He's already described as a loose cannon, challenging for MR to handle a player like that!
There was a suggestion early on in his second tenure that older players, he found difficult to manage, anyone remember that?
 

JSL

Well-Known Member
Its all well and good saying 'try this' and 'try that', but if it doesn't work the fans will still be moaning. MR cant really win at the moment. However, if it works, he's then a tactical genius
 

SBAndy

Well-Known Member
How many teams in the 92 predominantly play a 4-4-2 when attacking?
How many teams in top European leagues play it?
Is there a reason behind these numbers do you think?
How would you anticipate we play in possession with it?
How would we build up & create chances?

I think the only way something like that would work is playing a 442 out of possession but with the ‘wingers’ coming inside to form a 4222 when on the ball, a bit like how we used Shipley and Bayliss in the latter stages of the L2 season. Still far from ideal as whilst Rudoni could reasonably cover the left, I’m not sure who you’d have on the right side to strike a decent balance.
 

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