TimperleyTangerine
Well-known member
I was going to post this previously, so the below is not motivated by the game today. I’m bothered about the league and our immediate to medium term future.
I like Critch, but I’m struggling with his very questionable decision making at times. He’s experienced enough now, so we need to move away from using that as an excuse.
First up, it took him an age to identify that we are toothless playing 1 up top. How many points did we give up?
Having recognised that we need 2 up top, he’s favoured Lavery & Madine, contrary to all the evidence. Madine and Jerry is a very dangerous partnership in the Championship. The evidence is there from last season and this, they work well together and make us significantly stronger as a unit. In contrast, there is little evidence that Lavery & Madine works. Madine gets frustrated, because Lavery isn’t a strike partner type of player, and is rarely close enough to be effective.
Jerry has been frozen out, and we risk losing one of the best strikers and link players in the league, and one that still has plenty of scope to improve. If this continues we’ll lose him.
Today, I was happy Jerry didn’t play, but to be clear, he wasn’t rested. Critch make a conscious decision to go with Lavery, his preferred option. I can’t fathom that.
Why Critch played Keshi today I don’t know, because the lad clearly needed a break. He’s too important in the league, and we had direct options to replace him. Could say the same about Hubby, when Garbutt was available to start.
Connolly - of course we have been short at times in the middle, but when we’ve had better options he’s played Connolly. Games we could and should have taken the initiative e.g. Birmingham, Derby. Those were games where a rot set in.
QPR - left Jerry on the bench when the game was there for the winning second half.
Today we saw Connolly against a L2 team - not his fault but he’s limited in creative ability. I feel for Kenny. It’s January, Critch could held a couple of youngsters back from moves, as a more creative option - when do you give them a chance? It’s another indication of negativity and the focus on disrupting the opposition - a L2 team! How many times did we lump it forward - against a L2 team!
Maxwell - walked back into the team.
Gabriel - was dropped to the bench when in the form of his life and outstanding for us.
Substitutions - we are often bemused by the subs or lack of. Today in the second half it was amateurish and embarrassing, but I’ll focus on Hull, as it was a repeat of what happened in some home games last season, when we kept drawing against weak opposition (games that cost us automatic). We were in control against Hull, no danger, and he withdrew our 2 wide midfielders and put on 2 defensive options. That freed their wide players and we nearly gave up 2 vital points. It was negative and we completely lost shape & cohesion. Just basic - defend as high up the pitch as you can.
Against Huddersfield, he went way over the top when Gabriel was sent off. The obvious change was Bowler for Sterling and to go 4-3-2. That would have retained our threat up top. Their goals were from shambolic defending, not because we were stretched. The second with at least 3 defenders standing watching, because we had lost shape & cohesion. Critch waved the white flag instead of being brave.
For me, we have the best squad for a decade and some very talented and valuable assets. We fans need to be careful we don’t sleepwalk into thinking we are punching above our weight, as that will only lead to disappointment and mediocrity. With this squad we should be where we are and a bit better.
It’s right that Critch is kept up to his work, because when the right offer comes, he’ll be off with kind words for us. It is right that we challenge, as well as give the fantastic support that Critch has enjoyed.
Let’s hope for a couple of additions who are ready and can make a difference - we’ve enough benchwarmers, so no thanks to the likes of Thomas from QPR.
I like Critch, but I’m struggling with his very questionable decision making at times. He’s experienced enough now, so we need to move away from using that as an excuse.
First up, it took him an age to identify that we are toothless playing 1 up top. How many points did we give up?
Having recognised that we need 2 up top, he’s favoured Lavery & Madine, contrary to all the evidence. Madine and Jerry is a very dangerous partnership in the Championship. The evidence is there from last season and this, they work well together and make us significantly stronger as a unit. In contrast, there is little evidence that Lavery & Madine works. Madine gets frustrated, because Lavery isn’t a strike partner type of player, and is rarely close enough to be effective.
Jerry has been frozen out, and we risk losing one of the best strikers and link players in the league, and one that still has plenty of scope to improve. If this continues we’ll lose him.
Today, I was happy Jerry didn’t play, but to be clear, he wasn’t rested. Critch make a conscious decision to go with Lavery, his preferred option. I can’t fathom that.
Why Critch played Keshi today I don’t know, because the lad clearly needed a break. He’s too important in the league, and we had direct options to replace him. Could say the same about Hubby, when Garbutt was available to start.
Connolly - of course we have been short at times in the middle, but when we’ve had better options he’s played Connolly. Games we could and should have taken the initiative e.g. Birmingham, Derby. Those were games where a rot set in.
QPR - left Jerry on the bench when the game was there for the winning second half.
Today we saw Connolly against a L2 team - not his fault but he’s limited in creative ability. I feel for Kenny. It’s January, Critch could held a couple of youngsters back from moves, as a more creative option - when do you give them a chance? It’s another indication of negativity and the focus on disrupting the opposition - a L2 team! How many times did we lump it forward - against a L2 team!
Maxwell - walked back into the team.
Gabriel - was dropped to the bench when in the form of his life and outstanding for us.
Substitutions - we are often bemused by the subs or lack of. Today in the second half it was amateurish and embarrassing, but I’ll focus on Hull, as it was a repeat of what happened in some home games last season, when we kept drawing against weak opposition (games that cost us automatic). We were in control against Hull, no danger, and he withdrew our 2 wide midfielders and put on 2 defensive options. That freed their wide players and we nearly gave up 2 vital points. It was negative and we completely lost shape & cohesion. Just basic - defend as high up the pitch as you can.
Against Huddersfield, he went way over the top when Gabriel was sent off. The obvious change was Bowler for Sterling and to go 4-3-2. That would have retained our threat up top. Their goals were from shambolic defending, not because we were stretched. The second with at least 3 defenders standing watching, because we had lost shape & cohesion. Critch waved the white flag instead of being brave.
For me, we have the best squad for a decade and some very talented and valuable assets. We fans need to be careful we don’t sleepwalk into thinking we are punching above our weight, as that will only lead to disappointment and mediocrity. With this squad we should be where we are and a bit better.
It’s right that Critch is kept up to his work, because when the right offer comes, he’ll be off with kind words for us. It is right that we challenge, as well as give the fantastic support that Critch has enjoyed.
Let’s hope for a couple of additions who are ready and can make a difference - we’ve enough benchwarmers, so no thanks to the likes of Thomas from QPR.
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