I promised myself that I would not comment until I had seen at least six matches but after Saturday's dreadful display I feel that I have to make a few points. Firstly games are won or lost in midfield and we are woefully inadequate in this area based on yesterday's evidence. It pains me to say this but Frecklingtons contribution was none existent, maybe he is past it. Vaulks had a good first half but faded after halftime. If we do not address this area and spend some money on a decent central midfielder we are in real trouble.
Now to turn to the wide men neither Taylor or Ford put a decent cross into the box all afternoon.This is troubling but we do have other choices for these positions.
Up front both Proctor and Ball struggled a bit but I still believe that this partnership can pay off given a little time. Warnes plan B seems to be if the partnership is not working stick Moore up front with Proctor and play hoof ball, this may work on limited occasions but is not a long term solution. We need another decent striker but I doubt we will spend the money needed to obtain one.
Now to turn to the defence, we look alright in central defence but I still maintain that we are weak in the fullback positions. Goalkeeper, we need to sign a new first choice keeper, O'Donnell is still the best of the two but in my opinion neither him or Price are the answer.
Finally Paul, please can you be a little more animated on the touchline when things are going wrong. We saw Barker waving his arms about and shouting instructions from the dugout, while quite frankly Paul you cut a quite forlorn figure standing there. It's early days but we need to learn the lessons from yesterday pretty quickly, otherwise I fear for our Season.
I feel the need to make a vital point. Before I do so, let me say I watched the game from the diagonally opposite corner (The seats) from their 2nd goal, so may not have had the best view.
However, at their throw in, about 20 yards out, the thrower simply threw the ball parallel to the edge of the box, whereupon, their scorer simply let the ball roll, may have taken a touch (Not sure) turned inside and hit a soft, low shot which beat the keeper, who was standing very near his line in a far too central position. The ball went in about a yard inside the near post. A totally unnecessary goal promulgated by slack, effortless defending. "Switching off" is the term coaches like to apply to this phenomenon but it is nothing more then lack of basics, a lowering of standards and an overt display that "I just can't be bothered".
Junior Boys and Girls are taught the principals of 'touch tight' defending from dangerous thrown in positions, in the Senior Maltese National team we coach them about an arms length, 2 feet, (sometimes, rarely, right up the jacksie,) is about right, being a distance that enables a challenge to be made at the ball, personal touching to be maintained, to pressurize the ball and the player, gives a good position not to be physically turned AND to block any goal attempt. To stand 2 yards (Ala RUFC) is not marking, no challenge can be made, no ball pressure applied nor any block or attempt be made from such a starting position.
When the keeper identifies the potential danger, which should be quickly, a readjustment must me made whereby the angle is narrowed by coming a couple of yards off the goal line and a better position is taken to cover the near post. (If a player is good enough to curl one into the FAR top corner, fair enough, no blame for the keeper.)
Paul Warne needs to stop telling us lies or at the best, mistruths, about the 100% effort "the lads will give"
The blunder of their 2nd goal is down to the EXACT OPPOSITE to this principal, an attitude of "Can't give a damn to get that extra foot tighter" and an apparent abandonment of basic defending principals seem far more accurate in this case. At Pro level, whatever Division, such gifts will not be refused. Tight marking needs the 2 C's....Communication and Concentration. It seems our coaching methods are just to leave it to the ad hoc thoughts of the players, which, patently, is not sufficient defensive coaching and needs urgently addressing.
A very good post 1959Miller, with some very good technical/coaching points. I wasn't there yesterday, but reading the posts from those who were there and from match reports, it seems they (Fleetwood) did exactly what you are pointing out; despite having most possession, they closed us down and 'crowded' us out of the game and took advantage when we didn't. As you say, its basics and as the title of the thread suggests, same old, same old.
We do let soft goals in because we don't do the basics well. Hopefully PW covered some of them when he did his 'badges' in the Summer.
I agree with Towd Codger. The midfield battle is always crucial. Frecklington doesn't play with the same box to box energy that he did last time we were in League 1. The four who started across midfield yesterday were all regulars in our woeful team from last year. Frecklington has been quality but query whether he can still do it. The other three (Forde, Taylor, Vaulks) have now had enough chances and have shown over and over again that they just aren't good enough. That is the painful but simple truth. It beggars belief that Forde out of position was preferred over Newell.
If Potter and Williams aren't better than what we turned out yesterday then what the hell have we brought them in for?
Ahead of the midfield we have nobody with a track record of scoring goals. To be fair, if we play that midfield all season they aren't likely to get a lot of service.
"Hopefully PW covered some of them when he did his 'badges' in the Summer."
I did some badges in the Scout's but not the "Lets pick the same S**t as last year" badge that Warne(s) seems to have completed over the summer.
Completely agree about Frecklington, don't think he will be the force we saw last time we were in L1 due to repeated injury. The other three especially Taylor and Forde, niether of whom, listening to comentery did squat on Saturday shouldnt even be starting as you say if Williams and Potter cant do better why get em in ??
I also read that in reply to going 2 down we went route 1 :( :( :( If thats the tactical reply Warne(s) has to going behind i fear we have peaked in our current position.
Follow this up with last years post match comments regurgitated and im happy in my move not to renew my ST.
C'mon guys, there is a bit too much despair considering we've only played one proper game this season! Don't set too much store by the Fleetwood game . They played in conditions that they were well used to (strong off-shore winds), they were at home and they were a play-off side last season (beating SUFC both home and away). A 2-0 defeat is no disgrace.
I personally don't think Warne put out his strongest side yesterday - I would have preferred Purrington at LB, Potter in front of the back four, Newell on the left with Williams on the right. The key thing about having Proctor or Moore up front is that they have the ability to win high balls in the box - but you need to be able to cross the ball adequately to be able to take advantage. Neither Taylor nor Forde have this ability. I'd like to see this line up against Lincoln and persist with it to the weekend fixture.
I'm still predicting that we will win the league and that once we have decided our strongest eleven - we will be a force to be reckoned with. Meantime, Warney needs to have his eye out for a quality keeper because O'D is just not up to the task I'm afraid.
I promised myself that I would not comment until I had seen at least six matches but after Saturday's dreadful display I feel that I have to make a few points. Firstly games are won or lost in midfield and we are woefully inadequate in this area based on yesterday's evidence. It pains me to say this but Frecklingtons contribution was none existent, maybe he is past it. Vaulks had a good first half but faded after halftime. If we do not address this area and spend some money on a decent central midfielder we are in real trouble. Now to turn to the wide men neither Taylor or Ford put a decent cross into the box all afternoon.This is troubling but we do have other choices for these positions. Up front both Proctor and Ball struggled a bit but I still believe that this partnership can pay off given a little time. Warnes plan B seems to be if the partnership is not working stick Moore up front with Proctor and play hoof ball, this may work on limited occasions but is not a long term solution. We need another decent striker but I doubt we will spend the money needed to obtain one. Now to turn to the defence, we look alright in central defence but I still maintain that we are weak in the fullback positions. Goalkeeper, we need to sign a new first choice keeper, O'Donnell is still the best of the two but in my opinion neither him or Price are the answer. Finally Paul, please can you be a little more animated on the touchline when things are going wrong. We saw Barker waving his arms about and shouting instructions from the dugout, while quite frankly Paul you cut a quite forlorn figure standing there. It's early days but we need to learn the lessons from yesterday pretty quickly, otherwise I fear for our Season.
you will hear me on Saturday if warne cant his act together im telling you. i will not suffer the shame dire performance as he had last season
he has to drop the speeding person of small stature aka taylor and forde
"Hopefully PW covered some of them when he did his 'badges' in the Summer."
I did some badges in the Scout's but not the "Lets pick the same S**t as last year" badge that Warne(s) seems to have completed over the summer.
Completely agree about Frecklington, don't think he will be the force we saw last time we were in L1 due to repeated injury. The other three especially Taylor and Forde, niether of whom, listening to comentery did squat on Saturday shouldnt even be starting as you say if Williams and Potter cant do better why get em in ??
I also read that in reply to going 2 down we went route 1 :( :( :( If thats the tactical reply Warne(s) has to going behind i fear we have peaked in our current position.
Follow this up with last years post match comments regurgitated and im happy in my move not to renew my ST.
I like your Scouts badge comment Gaz. My comment about Warne's badges was meant to be tongue in cheek. I can't believe we would give anyone (Warne or anyone else) the managers job before he had an FA coaching qualification to his name. Unless I am wrong and he was taking an advanced qualification having already got the basic stuff. No doubt someone will know?
I promised myself that I would not comment until I had seen at least six matches but after Saturday's dreadful display I feel that I have to make a few points. Firstly games are won or lost in midfield and we are woefully inadequate in this area based on yesterday's evidence. It pains me to say this but Frecklingtons contribution was none existent, maybe he is past it. Vaulks had a good first half but faded after halftime. If we do not address this area and spend some money on a decent central midfielder we are in real trouble. Now to turn to the wide men neither Taylor or Ford put a decent cross into the box all afternoon.This is troubling but we do have other choices for these positions. Up front both Proctor and Ball struggled a bit but I still believe that this partnership can pay off given a little time. Warnes plan B seems to be if the partnership is not working stick Moore up front with Proctor and play hoof ball, this may work on limited occasions but is not a long term solution. We need another decent striker but I doubt we will spend the money needed to obtain one. Now to turn to the defence, we look alright in central defence but I still maintain that we are weak in the fullback positions. Goalkeeper, we need to sign a new first choice keeper, O'Donnell is still the best of the two but in my opinion neither him or Price are the answer. Finally Paul, please can you be a little more animated on the touchline when things are going wrong. We saw Barker waving his arms about and shouting instructions from the dugout, while quite frankly Paul you cut a quite forlorn figure standing there. It's early days but we need to learn the lessons from yesterday pretty quickly, otherwise I fear for our Season.
you will hear me on Saturday if warne cant his act together im telling you. i will not suffer the shame dire performance as he had last season
he has to drop the speeding person of small stature aka taylor and forde
he has to play newell and williams on saturday
its need newell and williams im not convinced by forde and taylor both stubb signings
If we don't quickly address the central midfield issue quickly we are doomed. In that area Fleetwood were light years better than us and with young skilful mobile operators were the total opposite to our pedestrian players. Vaulks is woefully slow in mind and movement and has no prospects in this league of "in your face" opponents whatever position he plays. Warne on Saturday looked lost and was totally out managed by Rosler. It's very worrying already. Lets just hope Fleetwood are a benchmark for the best in this division. Southend and Peterborough matches will tell us a lot.
