Burton Albion Post Match Thoughts

[RU66]

Humphreys can play left centre back Odoffin right or go with a back 3

Dawson

Odoffin Raggett Humphreys

Rafferty Mcwilliams Teihi Powell James

Wilkes Nombe

[ragingpup]

For me we were the strongest team (not necessarily best at football) in first half and some of the 2nd, should have been out of sight by then

Midfield had some good moves going forward, but not defending in cohesive unit with the actual defence, so regularly holes left and stretched. No surprise when they scored either goal. We don't defend as a team. Harsh on McCart but Raggett might be able to organise them better. Clearly missed Kelly's class but have to get used to that. Tiehi still off the pace although hope that he can up the ante with more fitness, unless of course he's crocked again.

Nombe desperately needs a goal, but was the only striker really stretching their defence and they were relieved when he was subbed leaving two slow forwards. Not a good look.

[Derbymiller]

I'm not sure we were as bad as some are making out even though some of our play was pedestrian and the final result was disappointing.
However, in reality we could and probably should have scored two or three in the first half hour and things would have looked so much different then.
I doubt if Evans has been able to play his strongest team yet because of injuries and maybe he doesn't actually know what it is either.
What was painfully obvious on Saturday was the lack of width in our play together with an absence of creativity and drive from midfield.
Despite those shortcomings we still created plenty of chances but once again failed to take them. Maybe someone is going to get a hammering soon and maybe that will be the big spending Brummies next Saturday? 🙂

I don't think it is about us playing bad, it is more about the outcomes are not matching the effort, and for me there are questionable decisions by Evans & Raynor.
Firstly, we always look like we will concede 1 if not more goals, that has to be addressed and quickly. Is there anyone on here that genuinely thinks Phillips is as good as Evans makes out or deserves to constantly be played in front of Dawson? How bad a player must Jules be, he doesn't even get on the bench ahead of a player that is just coming back from an injury!
It is clear Macdonald is an Evans boy and he clearly tries but is he a good L1 player, picked because he can play in more positions, is what Raynor said. I thought McWilliams was a utility player.
For me we have recruited quite a few of these players as fillers, to try and compensate for losing 22 players over the summer, the squad lacks depth and lacks investment and it is showing already. Evans says he is happy with the squad and backing, let us see what he says if the form continues into October and beyond.
You make a good point about not being able to put his first 11 out on the pitch, but why is that? Just bad luck? We recruited a few players that are aging and therefore more likely to take longer to recover from knocks, we struggled with injuries all last season, have we really addressed the causes? I don't know, but I suspect a first 11 on the pitch will not be something we see often this season.
Regarding recruitment, last year we struggled with CBs now we have too many (7!! if the lad is fast-tracked as reported.) yet huge gaps in midfield.
We are only 6 games in and we are creating chances, but those chances need to become goals quickly because we leak goals and when the 10 games figure is hit we will be more than 20% through the season. I can see us doubling our points totally by then and sitting comfortably in mid-table which is where we look like we belong.

[RU66]

I'd never have signed Kelly or Mcdonald. Saying on here Kelly sits there that's not our way Vaulks Rathbone that's more our way get in where it hurts then drive us forward. JCH you can see he's bulky he won't lose that lost pace he had bad signing. Hugill doesn't offer any more. Going nowhere playing either of them. Mcwilliams & Osong need some confidence shown in them then judge if they can improve us. Jules Hungbo Holmes not for me

[uttis]

Gru the last 5 you have named to be fair have hardly played yet you have made your mind up that 2 might improve us but the other 3 aren’t for you how can you make your mind up?
Personally I think Hungbo will be a good signing given a run but could be wrong Holmes I’ve seen twice and obviously it’s a big jump to pro football so we need to be patient
The other 3 I haven’t seen Osong and McW maybe 10 minutes @ not seen Jules at all

[mellowmiller]

Even city fans say Nombe wasn't a goal scorer - yet we paid a million pounds for him

And if that statement doesn't tell you what is exactly wrong with Rotherham United...I don't know what will

Nombe averaged about 1 in 3 for Exeter which is pretty good for a striker.
I'd be happy if he started hitting those sort of stats for us.

[DonPageFanClub]

The lack of quality in this squad is the reason, we will not get promotion.Up front there is no pace and no threat,there seems to be no creativity in the midfield and no leadership.We have sold Kioso,Johannson and Rathbone,all good players for over two million.After each sale, we were told money received, would go in signings for replacements.None have this happened,we haven't spent a tenner on anybody.Where is the ambition?

But yet we have created more chances than anyone in the football league

[RU66]

Just been reading McGuckin he's fit again on about sending him out on loan. Let's see what he can do here 1st! wide right.