What a difficult watch that was! I don't subscribe to the view I've read elsewhere that the players are sh** etc. I still believe that individually we have some technically good players - but we do have some massive shortcomings that we need to address. The extent to which we were out-fought in the first half was frightening. We lack (as we have for a couple of seasons) the desire / will / capability to win the battle first and then play our football. Some more random thoughts from tonight: - What a bad mistake from Davies - which immediately put us on the back foot. This gave them some added belief and we wilted under their challenge. - Dougall tried to get some control of the game and show a bit of leadership but that ended when he had to go off after what looked like a bad tackle - sending off offence? - The referee was weak throughout and allowed them to niggle and spoil all night. But rather than take advantage of a poor referee and leave a foot we just whinged and complained. - I can't think of a single player who won their personal battle tonight. - Keiffer didn't look at it. Is he fully fit? - Our central defenders (and Pinnock in particular in my opinion) were bullied all night by their very average forwards. - Ben Williams struggled again but wasn't given any help or support by others. Surely as senior pros Pinnock and Lindsay should be talking to him constantly? - Mowatt and Potts were largely anonymous and couldn't / didn't impose themselves. I could go on. This side needs to man up. We have to learn to be more physical and battle. Most teams will do it in this division. If we do, we'll go up. If we don't we'll lose more games because teams will / are working out that's the best way to beat us. I hope the penny will drop for numerous of our players quickly and they can find the determination and steel they / we need. Oh - one additional point. Just read numerous comments about McGeehan. I don't think he deserves to be singled out based on tonight. He wasn't good, but neither was he any worse than numerous others imo....
One of the more considered posts this evening. Interested to know whether you think we've been found out now in terms of style or were having another bad day individually...or both?
Both I think. We were much more energetic and competitive at the start of the second half. We were seeking (albeit not consistently) an equaliser when they scored their third. It was at the opposite end of the ground but it looked like another mistake to me. Our improvement suggested to me that we can do it, but it's a lack of application / courage / determination. Shrewsbury came at us hard from the off though and it appeared that they had a game plan to get in our faces. It worked.
Until we learn how to deal with it every team will now. Honestly thought we would get back in to it when it went 2-1 until they scored on that corner. We haven’t got enough options up from to change our fortunes. Why was Moore playing in midfield too. Odd all round tonight.
I don't agree. I think we have a very astute manager who has bonded a team together that are capable of beating any team in this league who fear us and surrender territory and impetus. I think he gives them confidence and instils a work ethic that is to be admired. But if we meet a team who will match our work rate and match our belief and match our tactics we will often end up second best because our players aren't all that great. They never have been and the good results we've had have less to do with quality and more to do with application. Everyone concerned deserves massive credit for that, but if the opposition match our application we'll come out second best a lot more often because we're not as good as a lot of people believe. You don't lose 3-1 to Shrewsbury in the manner that we did and get in the top 2 and have a chance in the Championship.
My fear has always been that when teams come at us with vigour we'd buckle. We can look forward to more and more of this and now will be a true test of the players' appetite to be the best and the management team's tactical savvy. Interesting times. We seem to be lacking that inspirational Scowenesque player who can just lift the team with a gutsy fightback.
The tackle on Dougall could have broken his leg - it was really bad in my opinion and deserved a red.
Firstly...Shrewsbury deserved their win ...they did their homework and showed desire and application. This was not matched by us...too many did not fancy the physicality and it was too easy for them to get amongst us....my fear (which has always been the same in this league) is that we will get outmuscled by some teams...refs do not do favours to anyone. Our football and speedy passing was zero.
To be fair you'd have said that a team that loses 8 on the spin in league 1 would have no chance of being on the outskirts of the championship playoffs a year later.
We do have some very good players especially for this level, but they are way too similar... Hecky said it 18 months ago and we still haven't learned. Our last signing.. Bahre a fancy Dan attacking midfielder... and who's coming in January? Another young attacking midfielder.. to go with the other half dozen. A few years back, then coach Lee Johnson said.. jokingly... That he liked center midfielders that much, he'd fill his hole team with em... Could someone please tell the recruitment team that it was just a joke..
