Squad problems

[TSANHO]

Some very good posts. Here are my thoughts:
- Like most of us, I believe our biggest problem is our lack of intensity and passing the ball around at the back at snails pace. This is what confuses me. After all, wasn’t it IB who changed all that last season?!!

- Personally, I felt a lot of that pace and energy came from Miller and IB soon spotted that when he came in. Miller’s been a big miss and I was gutted when we lost him.

- Our pedestrian style of play is also very frustrating for our attacking players. You see them coming short for the ball but it’s never delivered. Eventually, they stop showing for the ball.

- Ruben and Roberts are good players but I suspect both are frustrated with our playing style and Roberts, in particular, is guilty of trying too hard when he does eventually get the ball. Hence the bookings too.

- I also believe IB is still striving to get the best out of R&R playing together. It’s partly down to our pedestrian style but it’s also about where you play them. I believe IB will find a solution to this. It may not even take too much for something to click - fingers crossed.

- I do agree with the view that we’re lacking some steel in midfield. Frankly, I’ve been saying that for most of the time since Bishop left. I just hope our Head Coach’s philosophy allows it!

I know it’s still early days but I want IB to get us back to playing with high intensity and flair. If we do that, we can compete with the best in this league.

This echoes exactly how I feel too, I know it wasn’t necessarily our fault but losing Miller was a big loss…I’ve no idea how much more Chesterfield offered to pay him, but at what cost has it made I’m not signing him? Like Stan said, our end of season form was a lot down to Millers attacking contributions.

I can’t believe I’m going to say it but with this squad of players I think 4-4-2 could actually be the way forward for us.

…………………..Slocombe

Brindley….Rawlinson……Lacey….Cameron


Nemane…….Palmer……O’Brien…..Roberts


……………Wootton…..Rodrigues


Would still be crying out for a centre midfield monster though.

[jackal2]

Like most of us, I believe our biggest problem is our lack of intensity and passing the ball around at the back at snails pace. This is what confuses me. After all, wasn’t it IB who changed all that last season?!!

Yes, lack of pace and intensity is definitely the problem, allied with players not being willing to take responsibility and risks. I've lost count of the number of times I've watched one of our defenders make as if they're going to play a forward pass or take an opponent on, only to check back and play a five yard nothing pass to someone in a far more passive position. That needs to change, regardless of whether it takes an arm around the shoulder or a kick up the arse. The type of football IB wants to play - and did play at the back end of last season and on the opening day at Barnet - does not allow room for timid players.

[Glad2BeAPie]

Pre season I.B said he'll get players in to play the high press, and get the ball forward with pace. When is this going to happen I'd ask him at the fans forum tonight

[BigFatPie]

This echoes exactly how I feel too, I know it wasn’t necessarily our fault but losing Miller was a big loss…I’ve no idea how much more Chesterfield offered to pay him, but at what cost has it made I’m not signing him? Like Stan said, our end of season form was a lot down to Millers attacking contributions.

I can’t believe I’m going to say it but with this squad of players I think 4-4-2 could actually be the way forward for us.

…………………..Slocombe

Brindley….Rawlinson……Lacey….Cameron


Nemane…….Palmer……O’Brien…..Roberts


……………Wootton…..Rodrigues


Would still be crying out for a centre midfield monster though.

I know 442 is unfashionable but I like the look of that team. Get a big strong yoof on loan from higher up to replace Jimmy OB and we’d be in business. We’d get outnumbered in midfield but to be fair it’s not exactly functioning well at the moment.

[TheBlackHorse]

... still comes back to, 'first to the ball' ... and ...'stop the cross'
First to the ball across all of the team gives you intensity. Stop the cross is so obvious; but I don't see defenders breaking into sweat to do this. Simples; perhaps too simple for the theorists.

[maddogslater]

I posted before, that midfield ball winner could be Cameron, all I got was two replies of no, no reasons to why not, he's big and strong and can also pass the ball, agree Ruben needs to be alongside Wootton

[the_anticlough]

I posted before, that midfield ball winner could be Cameron, all I got was two replies of no, no reasons to why not,

...because it's very hard to imagine that working.
Generally 6ft 3'' defenders struggle in centre-mid with the foot speed, turning speed, lateral movement needed in the busiest, most congested area of the pitch.

Personally, I hate it and it's a sign of a desperate coach when he throws a central defender into central mid. It's really just another way of getting yet another defender on the pitch to stave off the sack for another month or two

Eddy was Ok, but it was grim when Charlie pushed Thompson into centre-mid
I doubt we'll see it and I think it's a waste of breath saying put DKE/Cameron there. The club have probably got a long list of loan targets for that position should they decide Francis can't do the job to the standard required

[TSANHO]

It’s crazy that we don’t have one single player of that type at the club, you can only assume that the management don’t think it necessary….and that really is worrying….and even more so that this has been a problem for three years now.

I hope we don’t sleep walk through this season with the same issues that have already been identified.

[keldsyke]

...because it's very hard to imagine that working.
Generally 6ft 3'' defenders struggle in centre-mid with the foot speed, turning speed, lateral movement needed in the busiest, most congested area of the pitch.

Personally, I hate it and it's a sign of a desperate coach when he throws a central defender into central mid. It's really just another way of getting yet another defender on the pitch to stave off the sack for another month or two

Eddy was Ok, but it was grim when Charlie pushed Thompson into centre-mid
I doubt we'll see it and I think it's a waste of breath saying put DKE/Cameron there. The club have probably got a long list of loan targets for that position should they decide Francis can't do the job to the standard required

I think he played in midfield for Torquay and up front as well, so it’s not an unknown position for him!

[SwalePie]

It’s crazy that we don’t have one single player of that type at the club, you can only assume that the management don’t think it necessary….and that really is worrying….and even more so that this has been a problem for three years now.

I hope we don’t sleep walk through this season with the same issues that have already been identified.

Here's hoping Vincent makes a good impression when he finally gets his chance in midfield. According to IB he will bring 'a lot' of energy to the party.