We are 1-0 up and Preston have made tactical changes to press us down our right, getting the ball wide and whipping crosses into the box. So how does Redfearn respond? Takes off one of our better midfield players (Andreu) and puts JCH on (who by the way had a mare) and pulls Danny Ward (who was having another good game as the lone target man) back.
Result, we concede withing 5 minutes and JCH loses us the game by diverting a regulation long throw into his own net with seconds to go.
Yet more points thrown away by poor tactical decisions from our manager.
Andreu looked knackered and well though he played, he wasn't in the game at that point and we were coming under the cosh and needed fresh legs. Green had already had to replace Frecks so it was either bring JCH or Ledesma on for Andre. I agree JCH had mare by the way. Sulky, gave cheap free kicks away and to top it all a terrible header for the own goal. He should be able to come on for the last half hour and have a positive impact. One good performance in three or four isn't acceptable and even if you are struggling you can still be a gokd pro and put a shift in. Whether its his demeanour, a lack of maturity or a genuine lack of effort I don't know. I don't like to single players out and anyone can make a mistake but he bottled at least two challenges and just didn't look bothered, which is hard to forgive. He has some raw talent but that on its own isn't enough.
-- Edited by smiler on Saturday 2nd of January 2016 09:35:59 PM
Second season and not much overall improvement but I think Redfern is at least now getting to grips with it, The January window will suggest just how advanced on Evans he is...if at all.
I am not really one for responding negatively to opponents aggressiveness but I think the idea of JCH coming on might have been ok. Its a counter attack move along with some possibility of holding the ball up. Makes some sense when under pressure late in a game but you still need a proper shift from the player and for the midfield to keep winning possession. Substitutions are not magic. They require effort.
Difficult one for a manager when he sees that the team has conceded ground.
Good points Ian. One thing we don't have atm is many ways to change things in games, hopefully that will change with the players that come in, give us cover and options.
You may be right Ian and I also accept that Andreu was probably knackered as Smiler says or had a knock that forced Redfearn's hand - why else make that change at that moment? But my criticism is that the substitution weakened us as a team. Ward is not as good a midfielder as Andreu and unfortunately at this time JCH is not as good as a lone target man as Ward and with Green already on for Frecks (Green had a good game btw so no issue there) options were limited to Ledesma. Now if you are not going to play Ledesma why is he even on the bloody bench?
It was clear that Grayson had identified our Achilles heal down the right and changed things round at the break to get balls out wide left to attack G Ward and Facey and to bombard our box with crosses. Eventually one was going to cause us issues and result in a goal. Maybe Redfearn needed to be a little braver and change our shape to frustrate them and shut up shop. If Ledesma wasn't ever going to play then the options were what he did (with Derbs being the other attacking option) or bring Wood on. Wood could have given him a couple of tactical choices, go three at the back to take pressure off Facey and deal with the crosses into the box or to sit in front of the back two to allow Green and Smallwood the room in midfield to get across to support Ward.
For me JCH was the safe option and it failed because he had his dummy out and his head was never in the game. He didn't do the job of closing down effectively enough, he didn't hold the ball up to relieve pressure on our defence and he didn't make the runs when we were in good attacking positions. I'm thinking of the Danny Ward cross from the left where JCH just stood and watched it from inside the 18 yard box, when a run to the near post may have got him a half chance. And then to rub salt into the wound he cost us the game when heading into our goal unchallenged.
I like JCH and think he has a lot of potential, but the lad has a way to go if he is to be the top player his potential suggests. The biggest issue that Redfearn has to address is his attitude. He needs to knuckle down, improve his all round game and prove his worth for a start, not sulk like a baby because it's not going for him.
I see your point S8. I would certainly have gone with Wood ahead of Collins when Rawson went off. Gallagher went left side for them and rarely had more than one touch before delivering a cross. Facey isn't the biggest and G Ward is also small and not great defensively. I might have swapped Newell and G Ward - Newell might have neutralised Gallagher a bit better and offered Facey better cover including with his height. I think Mattock is improving every week by the way and even on one showing Facey is an improvement on either Buxton or Richardson. He has real pace and looked tidy going forwards which is a big part of a full backs game these days. Overall having slept on it I do think the overall improvement is marked, but yes of course we still have a lot of work to do.
I think we probably all agree that wood might have been the better choice but make no mistake it would have compromised ground. JCH simply let the manager down. Ledesma is not thought of as good enough to worry opponents in such games and certainly cant defend and win balls. We have all seen JCH brush people aside and defend the ball, carry it wide and come back inside giving time for midfielders to get up. He just wasnt at it and its worrying after a good run in the team. I wonder if its anything to do with losing his place. Not so much just poor attitude but maybe he needs to be switched on long before we get the best out of him. Problem is that he doesnt work well in a 2 up front at the moment with 5 in midfield 4-5-1; 5-4-1; the derivatives of these; 4-3-2-1; 4-4-1-1; just means he seems to lack the quality to lead the line or work in a 2 up front.
He did however play in a 2 with Best if I remember?
Maybe Redfern like Evans doesnt trust him. Maybe he just shouldnt be near the team until he can be trusted. However, he has scored goals and looks red hot at times. What do you do with someone like this?
I think we probably all agree that wood might have been the better choice but make no mistake it would have compromised ground. JCH simply let the manager down. Ledesma is not thought of as good enough to worry opponents in such games and certainly cant defend and win balls. We have all seen JCH brush people aside and defend the ball, carry it wide and come back inside giving time for midfielders to get up. He just wasnt at it and its worrying after a good run in the team. I wonder if its anything to do with losing his place. Not so much just poor attitude but maybe he needs to be switched on long before we get the best out of him. Problem is that he doesnt work well in a 2 up front at the moment with 5 in midfield 4-5-1; 5-4-1; the derivatives of these; 4-3-2-1; 4-4-1-1; just means he seems to lack the quality to lead the line or work in a 2 up front.
He did however play in a 2 with Best if I remember?
Maybe Redfern like Evans doesnt trust him. Maybe he just shouldnt be near the team until he can be trusted. However, he has scored goals and looks red hot at times. What do you do with someone like this?
Good analysis ian and yes what do you do with a player like that. Trouble is we cant afford a mardy so and so right now and you are right we a player who the manager can rely on. I'd be tempted to move him on despite his talent/ability, he needs it game after game and he just aint giving it right now, and scoring in the wrong net dont help
As the saying goes when the going gets tough, the tough get going, not going mardy
Several clubs have supposedly expressed an interest in signing JCH and maybe we should cash in if we can recoup the fee we paid for him.
He has undoubted potential but I'm not sure he has the heart or desire to exploit the gift he has been given. Or maybe it's just that our coaches are failing to move him on to the next level.
I'm not sure how much we paid for JCH but I think it was a reasonable amount and should go a long way to securing a decent replacement with a better scoring record.
