⚽Match Thread vs. Sutton United FC 27.02.24 [EFL L2]

[Robertomac]

To concede 9 goals against the bottom club should highlight the problem now. Maybe not

They've scored 40 all season. Almost 25% of their total against us.

[optipez]

Just watched the Sutton goals back. I think without exaggeration this is a fair description:

1st goal - Nemane fails to win a tackle, Warner fails to stop the cross and Jodi Jones gets beaten to the ball on the back stick.

2nd goal - Baldwin shows he's learned absolutely nothing from his similarly sloppy error against Shrewsbury earlier in the season, and the goalkeeper doesn't do much to save Aden's blushes either

3rd goal - Not enough pressure from Crowley (for one) to stop the forward ball from midfield, Rawlinson done like a kipper by a simple change of direction from Harry Smith, Nemane ambling back and spectating just behind the play when a short sprint could have given him a chance of helping Rawlo, goalkeeper probably unlucky his parry went straight to a Sutton player.

4th goal - two attackers (jones and Macca) trying and failing to do a defender's job against their winger who beats them easily on the edge of the box causing Crowley to panic and dangle a leg for the penalty.

The consistent theme is players who aren't natural or very good defenders showing exactly why they aren't.

In one sense it's positional: our wing-backs are wingers who simply don't have the defensive skills and instincts to cope under attack

In one sense it's personnel: almost every game there are centre-halves - who are supposed to be able to defend - either getting straight up beaten man-to-man by their opponent or literally gifting possession in ridiculous areas.

We need to get back to basics. Every game starts at 0-0, make sure it doesn't get any worse. Get that right and our attacking talent will usually get us at least one goal.

The wing backs have been defensively dreadful all season. So many goals have come from Nemane and Jones being completely unable to defend. Jones is arguably worse than Nemane in that he just doesn't want to do the tracking back, always wrong side of his man.
I'm not sure what the answer is I look at the team sheet and bench and there's some glaring weaknesses.
Last night we had three defenders and maybe Robertson who's defensively minded. That's six attack minded players on the pitch in a team that can't defend.
We're now more gung ho than last season against better teams as we had Chicksen and Palmer in there last year helping the defence and also Scott who defended from the front.

[optipez]

Can't agree. Maybe booing will help. It was LW who defended the fans' right and made it the players' responsibility.

I think SM came in and ruled by ingratiation, seems like the players have gotten off lightly.
There is no technical or tactical solution to what's happening. We need the manager and players to be as angry as the fans.
Time to kick some ass and for the mollycoddling to end.

Agree with that. At some point they need to find some resolve and grit from within. So many individual errors all season and most aren't due to formations or style of play but personal responsibility and determination.
They / we are a soft touch.

[Stan Marshall]

I was a big LW fan but most of the problems last night were there when Luke was in charge and haven’t been addressed. It was clear as day that we needed to address our defensive ‘frailties’ but nothing was done in January.
Three times, last night, we equalised and I thought we could go on to win the game against a very poor team. However, once again, we stopped playing in the second half. How many times have we done that at Meadow Lane this season. They were parked in our half for five minutes before scoring their third and we offered nothing at 4-3. Can we also add fitness to our list of weaknesses? My other issue, and this applies to both LW and SM, is the habit of mass substitutions with 20 minutes or so to go. Very rarely has it improved our performance!
We’ve been on the slide for months now but we need to give our new Head Coach a chance to turn it round, supported by positive action from our Recruitment Team.

[durhampie]

I was a big LW fan but most of the problems last night were there when Luke was in charge and haven’t been addressed. It was clear as day that we needed to address our defensive ‘frailties’ but nothing was done in January.
Three times, last night, we equalised and I thought we could go on to win the game against a very poor team. However, once again, we stopped playing in the second half. How many times have we done that at Meadow Lane this season. They were parked in our half for five minutes before scoring their third and we offered nothing at 4-3. Can we also add fitness to our list of weaknesses? My other issue, and this applies to both LW and SM, is the habit of mass substitutions with 20 minutes or so to go. Very rarely has it improved our performance!
We’ve been on the slide for months now but we need to give our new Head Coach a chance to turn it round, supported by positive action from our Recruitment Team.

Its too late for the recruitment team to help out , the transfer window is shut. They should have addressed the defensive problems before the start of the season.. Also, SM doesn't make things any better for himself when he leaves out one of our better defenders, and then takes off the wrong players at a critical time in the game.

[pjace]

We can't carry on playing with Nemane and Jones as wing backs they can't defend and simply don't want to it's not in their skillset
Why doesn't anyone close down attacking players they just amble to within 5 yards and think that is good enough
We don't have enough physicality in the side at one stage last night we had 6 players 5'9" or smaller we can't compete in the
air and get knocked off the ball too easily.
Decent teams know how to play against us they just wait for us to lose the ball up field then break with pace and power
Poor teams just wait for us to give them a few goals.

We continue to have 75% plus possession but do nothing with it

[durhampie]

We can't carry on playing with Nemane and Jones as wing backs they can't defend and simply don't want to it's not in their skillset
Why doesn't anyone close down attacking players they just amble to within 5 yards and think that is good enough
We don't have enough physicality in the side at one stage last night we had 6 players 5'9" or smaller we can't compete in the
air and get knocked off the ball too easily.
Decent teams know how to play against us they just wait for us to lose the ball up field then break with pace and power
Poor teams just wait for us to give them a few goals.

We continue to have 75% plus possession but do nothing with it

Ive been saying this for months ?

[Stan Marshall]

Agreed. Physicality has been an issue for years.

[Iremongersrighthand]

This story was in the Sunday Sport. Is your post actually serious?

Many a true word spoken in jest.

[BenFostersGloves]

I'm sure this won't be of any consolation and in no way am I sticking the boot in but we are in such poor form at the moment as well and look to be heading in the same direction. Some of our fans are having complete meltdowns. So you are not alone. You can easily spot the ones who weren't with us through those tough 20 years prior to the takeover. Entitled dummy spitters, with little to no grasp of the realities of football.

Our situation is better currently granted but the way we are playing away from home is the worst I've seen in a long time and the slump is now alarming. Just dreadful. Key players form has dropped off a cliff. Injuries killing us. Its bizarre and similar to what's happening to you.

We could well end up outside the play offs if this form carries on. TBH I don't really care about getting promoted this season, I think our current squad would seriously struggle in the league above. Saying that a lot are out of contract in the summer and some look like they know they won't be getting a new deal and have downed tools accordingly.

You took a big gamble on the manager and I honestly thought he'd be ok but it's looking increasingly likely that LW was a far better manager than anyone gave him credit for, especially towards the end of his time with you.
Hindsight is great but maybe you should've tossed the old philosophy out the window for the time being and got Warnock in. I doubt you'd be shipping 4 goals at home under him. Was he seriously an option or just a rumour?