Skyblue Bangkok
Well-Known Member
Yes so dominant we created zero chances.
Robins Comments (4 Viewers)
- Thread starter Para1140
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The watchmaker
Well-Known Member
Do we think Eccles woke up feeling unwell? Pulled something in the warm up? We've had weeks knowing Sheaf would be out - Torp and Allen really didn't look like plan A.
Otis
Well-Known Member
Or the next 5 letters of the alphabet either
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
In fairness, if you concede around 75m you need to come out and attack more which can leave you vulnerable to being picked off by teams. If you don’t kill games off, you run the risk of dropping points. Going into half time, I thought we’d be making Stoke pay for their inability to convert their advantage in the first period.
That’s the Championship for you.
The CableGuy
Well-Known Member
Apparently, we have the full Statsbomb package. The 1st thing the recruitment team need to do in the morning is to enter a search query for 'Midfield Enforcer'. We have no aggression in the midfield and we're far too easy to play through. Until that's sorted, forget promotion.
Perennial Lurker
Well-Known Member
God you are boring. Is this the best contribution you have to this forum? Some sort of negative enlightenment?
Go back to supporting whichever top 4 side you used to support before switching allegiance once we started having success
Utter bell end
Perennial Lurker
Well-Known Member
I reckon midfield enforcer went out with beta max video but good luck with it
That’s a good point
fatso
Well-Known Member
So dominant that we created nothing, didn't even test their keeper and conceded the goal that gifted one of the poorest teams in the division 3 points.
TomRad85
Well-Known Member
We don't know who the poorest teams are yet tbf. I'd guess when the season is done Stoke will be proved to be painfully mediocre rather than terrible.
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People are forgetting that Saka and EMC were anonymous in the first half too. Allen is a weak point but he seems to be Robins Paul Telfer.
The reality is Stoke were better than we expected first half so some credit has to be given there. Playing Simms up front on his own is a gamble on its own….he’s no Gyokeres .
The reality is Stoke were better than we expected first half so some credit has to be given there. Playing Simms up front on his own is a gamble on its own….he’s no Gyokeres .
fatso
Well-Known Member
I'd be worried if I were a stoke fan, that team they put out wasn't good, they are struggling with a lot of injuries, but if you go through their squad, its not very good, I expect them to be bottom 6, probably safe due to some other poorer teams.
I think they got a bit lucky playing us as the opening game before we got up to speed.
But fair play to them, they deserved it on the day, they certainly troubled our keeper more than we troubled theirs.
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
A poster on here for 12 years and a season ticket holder for about 20…
Sky Blue Goblin
Well-Known Member
I think one of the big worry points for me was for all our options up front we seemed very one dimensional. We passed it around the wings, passed back and tried to hit a long pass to Simms or through to BTA. Needed Torp to show some creativity. Was surprised we didn’t move to a midfield three to add palmer to try and replace that. On positives thought Binks had a good game, similarly with Dolvin. Milan was good as well and happy tats got time under his belt again.
Marty
Well-Known Member
The problems go back to last year. No leadership, no players who can drive the team forward, no dirty players to protect the flair ones.
Apart from the odd game, we've been utter shit since Millwall at home on the 11/02. A few wins over nothing sides had glossed over how bad we've actually been for quite a while now
Apart from the odd game, we've been utter shit since Millwall at home on the 11/02. A few wins over nothing sides had glossed over how bad we've actually been for quite a while now
RoboCCFC90
Well-Known Member
Saturday was a crash down to reality.
I watched the game from France and I was bitterly disappointed with how we played, despite being better second half we didn’t really create anything of note.
I felt sorry for Simms who was isolated up front.
Rudoni played well in midfield, bar that I thought Torp and Allen had poor games. I don’t believe Allen is good enough for the level in any case, but Torp quickly needs to show consistency in his game, having quality games every so often is not what we need.
Milan and Binks were really good at the back, I thought Bidwell could’ve closed the Stoke player down quicker for the goal and Thomas was frustrating with his passing, again, another player for me who needs to be more consistent. I don’t think he’s the finished article and while he has potential, Thomas’ rash passing and mistakes will stop going above this level unless he reins it in.
Dovin was okay, some good saves and good passing, not much could’ve been done about the goal in fairness.
Lots to work on, I’m hoping this is just a case of being slow out the blocks, but I think we are in for more games like that this season potentially.
I watched the game from France and I was bitterly disappointed with how we played, despite being better second half we didn’t really create anything of note.
I felt sorry for Simms who was isolated up front.
Rudoni played well in midfield, bar that I thought Torp and Allen had poor games. I don’t believe Allen is good enough for the level in any case, but Torp quickly needs to show consistency in his game, having quality games every so often is not what we need.
Milan and Binks were really good at the back, I thought Bidwell could’ve closed the Stoke player down quicker for the goal and Thomas was frustrating with his passing, again, another player for me who needs to be more consistent. I don’t think he’s the finished article and while he has potential, Thomas’ rash passing and mistakes will stop going above this level unless he reins it in.
Dovin was okay, some good saves and good passing, not much could’ve been done about the goal in fairness.
Lots to work on, I’m hoping this is just a case of being slow out the blocks, but I think we are in for more games like that this season potentially.
Sky Blue Harry H
Well-Known Member
Sorry to mention him, but the thing that C O'H does that causes problems for defenders , is carrying the ball into the box. Rudoni looks like he can do that, but was playing deeper than C O'H did, so didn't actually do that (from memory) This may be because, without Sheaf, he couldn't get forward as much (due to Torp/Allen behind him?) Either way, until Wright came on, I didn't think we looked like carrying the ball into the danger area (apart from the occasional flurry by Tats). The midfield in the second half just played in an arc around their defence - didn't try to break through it. Hopefully a bit of tweaking will sort that for Friday. Not fussed about Tuesday, although I'd like a performance from the team. Friday is the one that matters.
Wayne Rooney will ensure there is at least one banker to be below them.
RegTheDonk
Well-Known Member
Simms has been playing well in this formation previously, think he just wasn't getting much service on Sat and when it did arrive, nobody seemed able to come and support. Perhaps play him alongside BTA but I guess that would mean changing shape.
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
It would mean going with the wide players probably functioning more as inside forwards, with one of the CMs working more as a 6 and the other as an 8.
There is still nothing stopping us having different shapes with and without the ball either. 4-3-3 with, 4-4-2 without.
stupot07
Well-Known Member
I think the issue is without Wright, Simms is isolated, whilst he played off the left, Wright was always making runs in behind and playing close to Simms, with EMC and Saka, both are very much wide men who like to stay wide.
Compare the average positions for Saturdays game
To our 1-0 away in Feb
Wright is playing off the left but coming inside, supporting Simms, O'Hare is up and around him too.
Calista
Well-Known Member
People keep asserting on here that we have switched to a 4-3-3, with 6's and 8's but no 10.
That's not what I've seen so far. We may have encouraged more fluidity and licence to vary the pattern, but it still feels like 4-2-3-1 to me, and that positional map hasn't changed my mind.
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
Hence why I think eventually, EMC-Simms-Wright will be our starting 3 upfront. Out of possession we could easily make it a 4-4-2 too which is a fashionable tactical idea atm.
One thing for sure is you need an outlet up front, possibly two. That first half was appalling and we should have conceded. Simms had to do a lot of defending when he should have been enabling relief from the pressure…..as should Saka, who was ignored for most of that period.
stupot07
Well-Known Member
Wright has to play off the left as he drifts in onto his strong foot it's where he scored most of his goals last season , and for me Sakamoto is better than EMC, plus he has that brilliant partnership with MVE. For me it has to be Wright-Simms-Sakamoto, unless EMC earns his spot on the right ahead of Sakamoto.
Boicey
Well-Known Member
I suspect Saka and EMC are told to stay wide to link with fullbacks.
I think Robins is a bit too tactically rigid and defensively minded.
I'd like Saka and Rudoni in particular to be given fairly free roles.
With this squad we need tempo and to attack teams.
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
That’s a given, he won’t be shoehorned in. Sakamoto played better on Saturday but given it was EMC’s first game at Championship level, he did alright and will grow into the role more. After all, it took Sakamoto till October/November to have a real impact.
There’s no reason other players can’t form a good partnership with MVE. Looking back at the match thread v Stoke and in preseason, it was observed that MVE playing higher was a detriment to that Saka-MVE axis.
Much more compact overall isn't it?
stupot07
Well-Known Member
Yeah, we more spread out on Saturday, meaning more pockets of space in between the lines, where as last season we were more compact and the majority of the space is in front of us.
I wonder if Eccles picked up a late knock in training on Friday or something and so the lineup and plans had to change.
Earlsdon_Skyblue1
Well-Known Member
I noted people were complaining about Bidwell, and one of his let down features being that he doesn't get forward to support the winger like MvE does on his side. To be honest I thought that was BS, and actually EMC wasn't really passing to him. This graph kind of proves that to an extent I suppose.
Fergusons_Beard
Well-Known Member
I thought Robins got it spot on and was very honest (as always) with his post match chat.
Robins definitely set up first half not to concede as full backs never went past half way line & didn’t press high.
What he did miss unbelievably was the fact the Stoke would be a very aggressive, pressing team. The sitting back tactics and their aggression led to us being penned in our own half and also led to numerous player mistakes as they were under pressure.
He changed this at HT. Full backs played higher up and pressed further.
Watching back some of the champ games it’s obvious that refs are letting go some of the more robust challenges and I’m surprised no one the refs ‘homer’ performance. Gave us one foul in the first half. But this was happening all over the league as it looks like refs have been given a nod to let the game ‘flow’. Allen when in a defensive midfield position was caught in possession numerous times because he got out muscled.
Again Robins should have known this was going to happen.
It’s the first game and the only worry for me was our complete lack of attacking intent in final third. Maybe a formation change and putting two up front would be an option?
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Robins definitely set up first half not to concede as full backs never went past half way line & didn’t press high.
What he did miss unbelievably was the fact the Stoke would be a very aggressive, pressing team. The sitting back tactics and their aggression led to us being penned in our own half and also led to numerous player mistakes as they were under pressure.
He changed this at HT. Full backs played higher up and pressed further.
Watching back some of the champ games it’s obvious that refs are letting go some of the more robust challenges and I’m surprised no one the refs ‘homer’ performance. Gave us one foul in the first half. But this was happening all over the league as it looks like refs have been given a nod to let the game ‘flow’. Allen when in a defensive midfield position was caught in possession numerous times because he got out muscled.
Again Robins should have known this was going to happen.
It’s the first game and the only worry for me was our complete lack of attacking intent in final third. Maybe a formation change and putting two up front would be an option?
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Evo1883
Well-Known Member
Setting us up not to concede went a long way towards us underachieving last season