A problem today and other days is that in pressing so far up the pitch, he creates a very big gap between him and the midfield which might explain why there's often so much space when the opposition regain the ball.
It's doing that team a disservice to give Hamer and Gyokeres all the credit-as good as they were, they were just two players! Consistency is so so important in football and not being able to predict how most of your team will perform on a given day does the manager no favours.
You had Kelly there too when needed and that leadership he and Fadz brought to the team was worth just as much as a Hamer or Vik.
While my ranting on corners is now infamous, for us to keep conceding free headers at them despite packing the box shows how badly organised things must be.
This shows were we are now at. I was hoping at the start this season a team pushing for play offs .. Bidwell, Allen, Da Silva and Eccles would be bit part players and should no be starting in a top championship side.
his diving header? don’t think that was shocking at all, thought it was a good save
Eccles is going to have to impress more than he did yesterday to stay in the team, let alone be the skipper.
Its not just experience though, with McFadz lack of pace we defended a lot deeper than we do now so there wasn't as much space to exploit in behind and in the channels. And in front of that we were always really compact and I don't think we can underestimate the work Allen does off the ball to block those passing lines off. Our game plan that season was to be defensively robust, and counter attack, which we could do with Hamers passing range into Gyokeres. We're now trying to dominate possession in the opposition's half, with a high line, and are getting caught on the counter attack a lot when we are out of our defensive shape.
The one he completely missed
Have to say, it was a lovely cross by EMC. Anyone like Simms and Haji, you’d think they would bury it, and Norman probably should have.
It was a difficult chance, he can only really head it in one place the way the ball dropped, a good day by the keeper.
My bad, Liam Kelly then.
Exactly, for me the only 1 player who is unstoppable is Wright, but even he's hit or miss.
Sheaf adding more goals to his game....he needs to start hitting the target first, his shooting is absolutely criminal !
Our main problem is no matter how good we are playing its the constant giving the ball back to the opposition all game thats screwing us...take your pick any of the defenders, Sheaf, Eccles a gust of wind blowing on Saka the 'strikers they are all at it so energy (sometimes for those that can be arsed) is expended trying to win the ball back its either a lack of concentration or they just aint good enough I am leaning more and more to the latter !
All the talk about him stepping up when Hamer left, was never going to happen as they are completely different players.
Agree 100%. Maybe MR thought he could grow into the role, or something.
He went to Burnley for big money.
Well this is a bit of a joke considering kelly was captain last year….
and has been injured for 2 months, Joe Worral.
