Mistake by Lawro led to the move for their first. Back 4 marking zones instead of players meant they had a player in our box totally unmarked. 2nd, poor pass, quick break and another player unmarked in our box...... individual errors punished. Following their 2nd they gained confidence and their passing was as exceptional as ours was poor. 2nd half had to be better didn't it?
2nd half was better but, for the 2nd game on the trot, we had had no shots on target.
Poor just about everywhere. Out of position, poor passing, little movement off the ball, leaving their players alone in acres of space........ The break has come at the right time for us IMO.
Roos. Should he have stood up for their 1st? I would have. No chance with their 2nd or 3rd. 2 very good saves and that great chest just before the end. Poor distributionat the start misjudging the narrowness of the pitch.
Lowe. Not our worst by a long shot. Defended better 2nd half when back on the left 2nd half.
Keogh. How many last ditch blocks today? Part of the cause our attacks were slow as most of the time the only available pass was sideways or backwards.
Bielik. Starting to look in command on the field. Part of the cause our attacks were slow as most of the time the only available pass was sideways or backwards. After today he will be thinking "what have I let myself in for?"
Buchanan. Started well but after getting clattered twice he was out of the contest and off the pace. I thought he needed subbing there and then. He stayed on till HT.
Hudds. Some lovely little turns and feints but lacks pace and his radar was off today. Part of the cause our attacks were slow as most of the time the only available pass was sideways or backwards.
Dowell. Where is the real Dowell? What he has shown us so far is not what he has done in his 2 previous loan periods elsewhere. Looks slow, can't pass....... gets caught in possession.
Knight. Not his best game this season. Not involved much of the time. Lost it on a few occasions. As with Buchanan who was OK until clattered and should have been subbed befre HT, not having a go at the player. These young lads won't always perform at the top of their game.
Lawrence. Still an enigma to me. Imperious against HTFC 5 games ago. Poor since then. Loses control of the ball and gives it away. Still can't tackle. Picked up yet another booking. Got better when he moved inside for much of the 2nd half including two great runs down the middle but picked out the wrong pass and executed the passes poorly as well. He is a luxury we can't afford.
Marriott. Ran about, put their defenders under some pressure, got little to no ball he could do anything with.
Waghorn. Read my Marriott comments.
Cocu needs to have a long hard look at:
1. Marking. Yet again the zonal marking worked a treat. Not a single zone scored. Players granted the freedom of the pitch did.
2. Condensing the field of play by having players on the open side come some 20+ yards infield to reduce the amount of usable space for the opposition. Valid tactic but they keep coming inside way too far leaving the oppo's wide men time and space to make decent crosses which we don't deal with and they score
3. The apparently low skill levels the players are showing.
4. Slowness in getting back into position when attacks break down and we transition to defence.
In short, it was awful and we have to improve greatly or it will be a long, hard season.