Vulnerabilities

[Salopian]

Two things  stood out for me in last Saturday's result:

• The absence of striker's names on the score sheet. All four goals, - good goals, were scored by midfielders. I know that Grabban was banned, and Jerome slightly injured, so we have to be very proud of the midfield, and perhaps Johnson in particular. Despite the goals of Jerome over the season, and those by Grabban and Hooper, the striker's names have been markedly missing over several games.
• We conceded two poor goals against a poor team who could have scored even more very easily. We used to be vulnerable to attacks with pace. Add to that now difficulties with high balls and crosses - Martin's header, admittedly stretching, should have gone towards to the wing, not lamely down the centre. Even Bassong seems to struggle at times.

The two may be connected. The frailty of the defence has been bolostered by weakening the midfield, and scoring by a  striker more difficult because he is on his own in a rather defensive set up.

I raise this because we now have two, perhaps three, very important matches coming up in the play-offs. The opposing managers and staff will have noted our weaknesses, as we theirs. Somehow attack and defence have to tighten up their games, and learn to concentrate.

More distantly, if we were to gain promotion, while our midfield could be good enough in the Premiership I personally have serious doubts about defenders and strikers. So they may well be playing for their futures! Let's hope that this is incentive enough

 

[It's Character Forming]

Some good points.  It was a concern for me that we couldn't see out the 1-0 win against Rotherham - they'd actually missed a couple of better chances before they scored the equalizer.  Their tactics weren't particularly subtle, mainly high balls, and we need to be able to defend that better.  Similarly Boro were all over us from the kick-off and created several chances, again they'd had better chances before the actually scored.  They then pulled back and sat on their lead which meant we weren't tested really from then on except on the break.

Certainly a lot to work on before Saturday.

 

[crabbycanary]

Yes, agreed that to concede 2 against them was frustrating, but I could not work out, how on earth they put 4 past Middlesboro the week before, supposedly the tightest defence in our League

Always plenty to improve on, and we'll see how AN develops that side of things over the Summer, with signings and tactics

 

[Paul Handscombe]

Boro were down to 10 men and one was the pen for the sending off, also the 4th goal was when the keeper went up in last minute for boro and they broke and scored.  That's how

 

[It's Character Forming]

But the sending off lead to the penalty for the 3rd goal so it was only afterwards they were down to 10 men - it doesn't explain how Boro conceded 3 goals to Fulham - 2 of which were for clear penalties given when they had a full-strength side.  Goals from penalties count just as much as the normal sort.

The final goal was obviously because they sent the goalkeeper up for a corner to push for the win at the end, and credit to the manager for going for it at that point - at CR they put on the most awful and depressing exhibition of time wasting I can ever remember seeing, but at least in the Fulham game they gambled everything on going for the win at the end.

 

[Dubai Mark]

All this says to me right now, is that should we proceed to the Final to play boro we have every chance of beating them this time.

 

[Salopian]

I started this correspondence  about vulnerabilities, and today's match rather reinforced what I said, - yet another match with no goal from striker and yet another poor defensive header. I hope that we can overcome this for the second leg, and if we get through and I am not brimming with confidence, we shall probably have to beat Middlesboro, something we haven't done this season yet.

 

[SussexYellow]

We have looked less than secure at the back against teams playing route 1 tactics. We can anticipate Ipswich will play similarly next week and Boro will be direct and physical. 

Irrespective of whether or not Martin is the better all round CB, it could be argued that Ryan Bennett is a more robust option against such tactics. So the horses for courses argument would be to play RB and move Russ to right back. 

However at this stage should Alex Neil stick with what has become his settled back 4, or should he twist. Tricky in normal circumstances, but with what is at stake now what a decision to have to make! I expect the same back 4 to start next Saturday. 

 

[GJP]

We have looked less than secure at the back against teams playing route 1 tactics. We can anticipate Ipswich will play similarly next week and Boro will be direct and physical. 

Irrespective of whether or not Martin is the better all round CB, it could be argued that Ryan Bennett is a more robust option against such tactics. So the horses for courses argument would be to play RB and move Russ to right back. 

I'm not sure I'd say Bennett is more robust but he is taller. 

Whittaker is the best right back at the club and he has been playing well so Martin either performs at CB or he's out.

 

[SussexYellow]

I'm not sure I'd say Bennett is more robust but he is taller. 

Whittaker is the best right back at the club and he has been playing well so Martin either performs at CB or he's out.

Russ is captain so I think we can assume he will play unless injured. As I said in my previous post I anticipate we will go with the same back 4.

 

[It's Character Forming]

I agree AN will stick with our back 4 because it's not a good time to change. Unfortunately we are vulnerable to the sort of long ball the scum are going to use. I think Ryan Bennett is a natural CB and I think we look better defensively with him but I doubt the manager will bring him in now.

 

[GJP]

When does Bennett ever play enough games for us to know if he makes us better defensively?

 

[It's Character Forming]

Well he looked comfortable away at Stoke last season, which is a pretty stiff test for a CB

 

[derehamyella]

I believe we have seen enough to make a call about Bennett,   he is a decent defender who would have had a good run if injury had not blighted his season.   He came back ahead of more experienced players.  

 

[Beauseant]

It's not clear cut. I agree that Martin seems to struggle against big, physical centre forwards (Gestede and Miller are two good examples to go with Murphy) but he is also very quick on the ground. When Murphy got beyond him in the latter stages yesterday he managed to get a crucial block in and also reads the game very well. I agree that Bennett is a better pure centre half but he has hardly played with Bassong so it would be a huge gamble to bring him in for this game. Very tough call for Alex!

 

[GJP]

I believe we have seen enough to make a call about Bennett,   he is a decent defender who would have had a good run if injury had not blighted his season.   He came back ahead of more experienced players.  

Would he have had a good run? Not anywhere near as good as Bassong and Martin is very unlikely to lose his place.

Bennett has been here 3 and a half years and never established himself in the team. Yes he's been injured but he's also had better players ahead of him. 

Never going to be more than backup.

 

[derehamyella]

I can't see AN changing the back line anytime soon,  only injury and suspension  would force his hand, if whittakers gets injured we have the other Bennett to cover that berth.   I like RBennett much prefer him to Calamity Cuellar (spl)   he is clearly 3rd choice behind Bassong and Martin ... no matter who we favour or like

 

[Wiz]

I would love to see Bennett replace Martin Saturday but I think AN will stick with his captain,

 

[GJP]

I can't see AN changing the back line anytime soon,  only injury and suspension  would force his hand, if whittakers gets injured we have the other Bennett to cover that berth.   I like RBennett much prefer him to Calamity Cuellar (spl)   he is clearly 3rd choice behind Bassong and Martin ... no matter who we favour or like

Yeah, exactly. He's backup.

As for Cuellar, he's obviously seen his better days and made his money. But he was a better player in his day than Ryan Bennett is now...

 

[Canaryboy]

As for Cuellar, he's obviously seen his better days and made his money. But he was a better player in his day than Ryan Bennett is now...

Was a class act at Villa in a team which finished in the top six three seasons in a row. Too many injuries, his legs have gone now. Far better option than Hooiveld this season though!