Starting to feel like 14/15 again

[Ram Pant]

5 defenders and 2 holding mids at home..... that is pretty fu**ing bad

As someone once said, there are lies, dmaned lies and then there are statistics.

The truth behind these particular statistics is that the 2 wing backs gave us a better attacking option by acting as wingers. We also had the 2 attacking midfielders with only Hudds as DM. That led to 16 shots which is a high tally for us of late. 7 of those were on target so, although we played a lot of "defenders", we actually played a more attacking game.

Yes, we lost but I actually enjoyed watching the football a lot more than I have lately. Defensive errors undid us. A similar setup against Cardif, cut out the errors and, Please, Pretty Please Derby, no more of this zonal marking and backing off the opposition. Press, harry. It's what Boro did to us and it worked well for them. They gave us absolutely no time on the ball so couldn't play well. We gave them acres of time and space and they exploited it.

[Andy_Faber]

They gave us absolutely no time on the ball so couldn't play well. We gave them acres of time and space and they exploited it.

But was that acres of time due to lack of tactical astuteness, lack of effort (as suggested in your previous post) or lack of energy left in the older legs? Genuine question. Rowett might be able to b****ck effort out players but can't turn back the hands of time.

[Ram Pant]

But was that acres of time due to lack of tactical astuteness, lack of effort (as suggested in your previous post) or lack of energy left in the older legs? Genuine question. Rowett might be able to b****ck effort out players but can't turn back the hands of time.

Marking zonally as per instructions IMO Andy. Something I have posted about all season on other fora I use. No lack of effort against Boro.

[macstheman]

Zonal Marking is OK but it does require players to have tactical know how....... and that's the problem!!

[Ram Pant]

Zonal Marking is OK but it does require players to have tactical know how....... and that's the problem!!

In midfield agreed BUT not in the last 25 to 30 yards in and around your penalty area. That is asking for trouble. Burton scored a goal, Murphy I think it was. Picked the ball up outside the right nad corner of the box ran in unchallenged, veered left, still no challenge and he hit a great shot just inside the left hand post. Besic the same for Boro except he came in from the left.......

Zonal marking has worked perfectly. Not a single zone has scored against us this season.......

[sixtiesram]

As someone once said, there are lies, dmaned lies and then there are statistics.

The truth behind these particular statistics is that the 2 wing backs gave us a better attacking option by acting as wingers. We also had the 2 attacking midfielders with only Hudds as DM. That led to 16 shots which is a high tally for us of late. 7 of those were on target so, although we played a lot of "defenders", we actually played a more attacking game.

Yes, we lost but I actually enjoyed watching the football a lot more than I have lately. Defensive errors undid us. A similar setup against Cardif, cut out the errors and, Please, Pretty Please Derby, no more of this zonal marking and backing off the opposition. Press, harry. It's what Boro did to us and it worked well for them. They gave us absolutely no time on the ball so couldn't play well. We gave them acres of time and space and they exploited it.

With a squad littered with pensioners acres of time and space for the opposition is a given. We were second best throughout - 1 shot on target in the first half.
I will concede we competed more than in the abject displays at Wolves and Burton but we seem to find it impossible to get the ball from defenders to the forwards without hoofing it.
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