Originally Posted by
jackal2
Kevin Nolan has worked wonders for the past year and I give him every credit for it, but I have to call it as I see it and say today's defeat is on him. The absolute key to his success since January last year has been his rigid adherence to a 4-4-2 system, where all the players know their roles and have grown in confidence and consistency because of it.
Today, we changed to a 4-5-1 which saw the whole team look less confident and toothless up front, with Jon Stead completely isolated. Throughout this season we have won our midfield battles with two central midfielders, yet with three today we were comprehensively second best in that area of the park. Going back to the Keith Curle days of turgid football, I actually believe the extra man makes players lazy and inclined to take too many touches, whereas with two you know you have to win your tackles, stay sharp and keep the ball moving.
I accept that Nolan faced a problem, with Yates gone and Hewitt having to drop back to plug the gap caused by our shortage of centre-half cover, but that problem in itself is the manager's job to recognise and sort out. We have increased the number of midfielders in the squad, but if today is anything to go by, Nolan does not trust the new recruits to operate in a 4-4-2 and was forced to scrap his established system. If that's the case, then it's a major mistake either tactically or in terms of recruitment.
We desperately need another quality centre-half and striker, and then it's up to the midfielders to show they can operate in a two-man midfield. Any of them who cannot should not have a role to play.