- Joined
- Jun 8, 2004
- Messages
- 2,119
Re: mc kenna
Very few performances that even warranted the accolade of "adequate" on Friday. I thought we were totally sub-standard and very fortunate to win, with a fluke goal, against 10 men with a good work-ethic, but not a whole lot else.
What was also worrying for me was the tactical set-up that we employed against 10 men and given the recent performance for 20-odd minutes against the 10 men of cardiff, when we also struggled, it suggests to me that the tactical side of the game is, perhaps, one weakness in Simpson's armoury. Apart from 15 minutes at the end of the first half, when Alexander was pushed forward into midfield, we set up with 4 at the back, against a lone striker, when it would surely have made more sense to introduce an extra midfielder, move the ball around and stretch Barnsley's midfield and defence. At least we should have run the legs off them, giving us the opportunity of putting the game to bed in the last 15-20 minutes, whereas we were sat back defending towards the end of the game.
Whilst it is another 3 points and we ARE in fourth place, we will have to do MUCH better if we are to stay there and it is THAT which concerns me. Of the five home performances this term, we have played well for about 1 1/2 games (Cardiff 2nd half and WBA). The rest of the time we have looked positively mediocre and tactically bankrupt. Whilst results breed confidence, that confidence has to feed into better performances, both collectively and individually, before we can begin to think of a playoff challenge and before we see the open, attacking, flowing footy that Simmo has promised us.
We have (IMHO) been fortunate to garner the number of points we have, but it has given us a good platform on which to build. Let's make the most of it, but don't be fooled into believing what we have seen so far is anything like good enough.
Very few performances that even warranted the accolade of "adequate" on Friday. I thought we were totally sub-standard and very fortunate to win, with a fluke goal, against 10 men with a good work-ethic, but not a whole lot else.
What was also worrying for me was the tactical set-up that we employed against 10 men and given the recent performance for 20-odd minutes against the 10 men of cardiff, when we also struggled, it suggests to me that the tactical side of the game is, perhaps, one weakness in Simpson's armoury. Apart from 15 minutes at the end of the first half, when Alexander was pushed forward into midfield, we set up with 4 at the back, against a lone striker, when it would surely have made more sense to introduce an extra midfielder, move the ball around and stretch Barnsley's midfield and defence. At least we should have run the legs off them, giving us the opportunity of putting the game to bed in the last 15-20 minutes, whereas we were sat back defending towards the end of the game.
Whilst it is another 3 points and we ARE in fourth place, we will have to do MUCH better if we are to stay there and it is THAT which concerns me. Of the five home performances this term, we have played well for about 1 1/2 games (Cardiff 2nd half and WBA). The rest of the time we have looked positively mediocre and tactically bankrupt. Whilst results breed confidence, that confidence has to feed into better performances, both collectively and individually, before we can begin to think of a playoff challenge and before we see the open, attacking, flowing footy that Simmo has promised us.
We have (IMHO) been fortunate to garner the number of points we have, but it has given us a good platform on which to build. Let's make the most of it, but don't be fooled into believing what we have seen so far is anything like good enough.