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Changes Needed
Views: 820
Depending on which side of the fence you sit, things can't get any worse, or, we can be in a relation fight by next week.
I want AR to succeed, but his insistence on 'Wash, Rinse, Repeat' with regards the formation is a major part of our current issues. We are so narrow that the opposition pull in their fullbacks, and wide midfielder's, so that there is literally no room for our players to work and create chances. The situation has been masked to some degree by the odd win we have had, and the fact our back 4 have in general been very sold. Going forwards we need to be playing 3-5-2 at home. We need 2 strikers up top working together. Away from home we can be a little more circumspect, but we need to retain some form of width regardless. We are so easy to play against right now. Snuff out the centre of the pitch and we are done, left with long hopeful balls that our lone striker has to chase. When was the last time we got to the bye line and put in dangerous crosses on a regular basis?? Or strikers are feeding off crumbs at the moment, and unless AR changes the formation I can't see that changing ant time soon. He seems to be 'hoping' for something to change, rather than 'making' something change. He is stuck in this modern trend of playing 4-2-3-1. JR can't play up top on his own, as it clearly doesn't work. We are handicapping ourselves before a ball is even kicked. You can't rely on set pieces to be your main source of threat. This next week will show if we are in a real relegation fight. Fail to beat Northampton and Crawley and even I will question whether AR is the right man going forwards. Stop playing 'fear' football, and actually try and win games. We obviously won't win every game, but at least try.
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4 people
Re: Changes Needed
Views: 548
My main concern is that, for all the talk of learning under Steve Evans over the past couple of years, there's no real sign that today's Alex Revell is any different to the Alex Revell of 2021.
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1 person
Re: Changes Needed
Views: 621
If we aren't changing our backline and/ or formation then we need to find a way to make the way we play more effective. Pidge is a great leader, an absolute unit defensively and as a threat in the opposition box, but on the ball he is woeful. He badly needs someone alongside him that can play. Midfielders giving him simple pass options from in front of him would also make a difference. Currently with pretty much every move the ball goes up the pitch, comes back to our defence and after a few sideways passes, we clear the ball to no one and the move and possession break down.
I've got no problem planning direct football, in some ways I think it is prudent with our budget limitations and narrow home pitch, but I don't think we are one thing or the other at the moment and it is a concern. There doesn't seem to be much of a gameplan in certain/ most areas of the pitch and whatever it is, at least from an enjoyment and attacking point of view, it is clearly failing.
Additionally, I'm also not convinced by other areas of the team. For me players experienced players like Butler, Roberts etc. have been below their best for a long time. Whether this is down to a lack of commitment, struggles to overcome injury problems or whatever, it isn't great.
Edited by RockyBottom at 10:43:12 on 27th November 2024
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Re: Changes Needed
Views: 581
Roberts has been poor for ages.
Butler is a 7/10 week in week out. He's not the problem.
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5 people
Re: Changes Needed
Views: 384
Disagree with him bring a 7 every game. Not sure he offers much going forwards and has a mistake in him at the back. Granted he often has no form of support in front of him.
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Re: Changes Needed
Views: 688
We don't have any wide players capable of.beating a man and putting a cross in.
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Re: Changes Needed
Views: 578
IMO, Kane Smith is of the best crosses of a ball I've seen at Boro for a long time. It's a shame other parts of his game aren't quite up to the same standard.
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1 person
Re: Changes Needed
Views: 645
Butler and Luther will have to do it. Use January to try and get additional wide players?
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Re: Changes Needed
Views: 528
In previous seasons I have been use to seeing Wildin running up and down the wing and being on the edge of the oppositions box and in positions to threaten the goal (like his goal to win promotion to L1)
Maybe I'm not watching properly this season, but I don't recall that happening much, instead just offloading to midfielders who can't create anything centrally. (Pass pass pass pass get nowhere hoof).
Probably why defensively we are better as one of our defenders isn't always up the other end of the pitch.
It's a balance to find and at the moment we are solid but boring, predictable and incredibly ineffective in attack.
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3 people
Re: Changes Needed
Views: 670
Freeman can do his, occasionally. I agree with most of what Sludgy says – we see it every week. Revell has to find a way of getting the best out of Reid and Young. Or be gone. Score prediction for the next three games: 0-1, 0-0, 0-0.
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1 person
Re: Changes Needed
Views: 642
29 minutes against Reading, Freeman puts in a lovely cross for Kemp to score. Did we try it again? Did we bollocks.
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2 people
Re: Changes Needed
Views: 536
So all the negative stuff about revs tactics etc and the fact he is probably all we can afford who do all the experts think we could get if revs went. We ain't Birmingham wexham etc with loads of dosh. Yep football ain't been good but with key players out and no proper cover we ain't doin to bad. Staying punching above ourweight in league 1 is a bonus
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Re: Changes Needed
Views: 389
Much as I agree with this, I reckon the problem/answer is somewhere in between - agree that the club is definitely punching, and I've seen some good performances this season. But this is deffo a strong squad with plenty of talent - and I would like to know why they all seem so flat. Revs in my opinion is too nice, and the players were too happy when he was appointed. But if he can keep us up as the local and cheap option then Phillipe will be delighted.
He'll speak of the play-offs but he isn't stupid. The melodramatic Revs out brigade would say the same whoever's in charge, if they're losing. I blame the internet / Social Media / Fluoride / Paulio
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3 people
Re: Changes Needed
Views: 338
I don’t blame Paulio. He is probably the only level headed person on this forum
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1 person
Re: Changes Needed
Views: 410
PW talks about pushing for the play offs so he will not be viewing us as punching above our weight, and he certainly won’t be accepting excuses about players being out injured especially with the outlay made in the summer.. I suspect he is also not happy that we are in the bottom four of form table over the last 6 games and rock bottom of the goals scored table overall. If he really is serious about his claim for pushing for the play offs then the club will find the money needed to bring in a Manager capable of achieving his target, because at the moment Revs is proving he is not capable… again.
Edited by Tedster at 20:20:50 on 27th November 2024
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