Romared Match Thoughts: Cambridge-v-Barnsley

[pass_and_move]

Although I dint see the game it sounded a much better performance. That's more like it. Chuffed with the result. We need to start showing the consistency now.

[Young_Nudger]

Although I dint see the game it sounded a much better performance. That's more like it. Chuffed with the result. We need to start showing the consistency now.

It was.
But there’s still a lot of room for improvement.

I’ve never questioned the effort of the players under Collins - that’s always been there - which is a credit to Collins.
It’s the tactics that’s been questioned.
Pleasingly this time there was more urgency and speed going forward.
Much less of the crab tactics on show.

But for me it’s still on occasions being slowed down when the ball reaches Kane - who seems to have an ingrained characteristic to look backwards or sideways before looking forward.
He clearly has natural ability to pass the ball and would be a great addition for us if he started using more of that ability to pick out the willing runners in the team that are running forward.

[EthelRed]

What about the cohesion of the new back 3? It’s not all about going forward.

We took our chances and Cambridge didn’t. A team that could would have had us in trouble last night. Teams now know we will make errors and gift chances and the fact that the full backs are usually half way up the park leaving acres behind them to be exploited is a constant worry for me.

But you can only beat what’s in front of you and they did last night.

Mr Collins you need to get a formula for the home games and to you to me across the back 3 wont cut it. Teams press us pompey for example and we’re lost as to what to do. Change the formula, get the ball forward quicker and make the park smaller. It negates the press.

[Young_Nudger]

My thoughts is that we have some excellent central defenders for this level.
But opponents are running through our midfield - so those defenders are being exposed.

And I think - yes, the wingback’s are playing too far up the field like wingers.
They need to be defenders first.
And we only have one anchor midfielder.
Styles was playing further forward against Cambridge - I don’t understand the role Kane is playing - which left just Russell in the middle.
That’s why I’d go back to Ismeals 343.
With 4 across the middle - including 2 wingbacks with 2 central midfielders.

[EthelRed]

Fair enough nudge but after a handful of games at this level I cannot describe them as excellent.
I would say raw with lots to learn about uk football. They might step up, they might not. I’m happy to give them a chance but they got done good and proper v pompey, Oxford and posh.
Midfield - missing Connell badly, Phillips looks a shadow of last seasons player. Kane needs Connell beside him, jury out on Russell one day he looks an anchor man the next he doesn’t.

Watters doesn’t inspire me, mcatee looked promising but has dropped off, Cole doing better but he’s a box player not a target man and cosgrove looks off the pace. Benson disappointing in general.

That’s my summary. Happy that a new squad are picking up points mind you.

[Young_Nudger]

I can’t see any problems with our back line.
On the contrary I believe it’s our strongest part of the field.

I didn’t like Williams at wing back because he wasn’t brave enough going forward.
But he’s great at centre back.

Commentators against Cambridge were saying Mael could be named MOTM - and IMO that was a good shout.

And McCart is solid in defence.

Plus Shepherd is unfortunate not to start - and there’s Lopata and McCarthey waiting to come in.
All in all we have a solid back line.

My thoughts are we are not yet defending as a team like we have done in previous seasons.

[pass_and_move]

My thoughts are we are not yet defending as a team like we have done in previous seasons.

Think that's a fair shout. We haven’t (at home) defended as a unit and have been woefully exposed at times to the point of it being embarrassing. That needs sorting out if we have any aspirations of challenging this season. I still question the naivety of the back 3 and they have to take more responsibility individually. It'll come in time. However, to bed them in, our midfielders need to take more pressure off the back 3 by breaking up the opposition play.

[animallittle3]

It's a bit harsh to criticise when you win 4-0 away from home however I feel constructive criticism is fine .

When I watch ourselves especially at this stage of the season and the fact we've had a bit of a rebuild ( which is most seasons ) I'm looking to identify signs of progression .

The one thing that struck me last night was the defending is still the last resort sort , players putting blocks in and their bodies on the line , Roberts to the rescue on a number of occasions , Cambridge missing chances and we looked to have got away with one with the penalty shout .

It's all a bit too frantic for me .

Last night whilst I'm always wanting us to win I actually wanted Cambridge to score early in the second half , with the score at 2-1 , the crowd up and the Cambridge players lifted this would have provided a stern test of our capabilities .

In that scenario I'd be looking for resilience from the players , game management and I'm looking at Collins and his staff too , tactical switch , using the bench etc etc .

None of that materialised , so whilst YN is happy to tell us what such fine defenders we've recruited for peanuts this summer the truth is he doesn't know that yet .

[animallittle3]

However I did work Russell out last night and I'm fairly confident with this and unfortunately YN is again on the wrong side of this especially with regard to Herbie Kane .

What we have with Johnny boy is the classic luxury player , superb on the ball and dictating the play , technically very good .

Not so good out of possession which is why Herbie Kane is key when Russell is in the team .

Basically Kane covers his ass , does the nuts n bolts that Russell either can't do or won't do , personally I think it's a bit of both , he also makes the angles off Russell giving him the easy ball and keeping it moving .

With seconds to go and 4-0 up and the game in the bag half an hour previously Herbie sprinted 50 yards just to close a
Cambridge player down .

The two compliment one another very well or at least they did last night .

The improvement in that midfield is down to whether Russell can do more out of possession and absolutely nothing to do with Herbie Kane who is already doing a shift and a half .

[Dingle council]

John Cleese, Stephen hawking, Charles Darwin, Stephen fry, Hugh Laurie, Alan Turing, sid Waddell and (there’s only one) salman Rushdie can you hear me?
You’re boys took one hell of a beating!