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.
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.......
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.
Rowettball provides neither the results or entertainment.