Cole was all at sea in the press/high block and they constantly got out on his side. His solo run was good, his cut back was poor. I'd save him on the bench. I just think Iseka would have more as a solo front man than Cole. I don't think Morris is close to being match fit. Oulare isn't an option. Nor Frieser or Victor. I'd play Woodrow behind as some of his link up play is actually decent. The flick that sent Styles away was sublime.
Cole was the best of the front 3 last night doesn't say much but he was. Was shocked he was taken off.
I’d have had him on the right of the midfield 3 instead of Benson in last nights formation. He’s not bullied off the ball as easily. Not sure what’s happened to Ben Williams. Not featuring at all for the first team or the 23s so may be injured. So that would mean Vita at LB with J Williams at RB. But yes, deckchairs on the titanic. Utterly depressing.
He wasn't best at the press or block though and that allowed them to get out when they did. Though when the changes came, I thought we were completely disjointed and looked much easier to play against.
We've had 3 different coaches not give Vita any game time. I feel for the kid. Hopefully we either give him some game time, or we allow him to go back to Bayern in January. It's not doing anyone any good that he's not getting minutes (whether he's ready or not).
I know. A bizarre signing, given the players picked ahead of him. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Odour playing left back ahead of him.
Opinions, he won the ball back from pressing more times than the other 2. Redfern called it right we were obsessed with closing space last night and we could have carried on playing untill Xmas and wouldn't have scored 21% possesion all game and one scuffed shot from cauley on target.
According to Doug O'Kane, both Schopp and Laumann felt that Vita isn't ready for the physical / defensive side of playing in the Championship yet, so I doubt he's the solution at left back we're hoping for. It does also raise the obvious question of how/why we bothered to sign him if this was the case.
It doesn't matter unless they put in the effort and stop hiding. You can't polish a turd. If Halme's fit I'd play him infront of the defence in a 4-1-3-2. Flood midfield and put two big units upfront to give them some outlet and play the ball out quickly. Not going to happen like.
It was pretty clear to me that the forwards were instructed not to tackle with the press. Instead they closed down to channel the ball out in a certain way. Cole didn't do that. Think back to the front 3 under Ismael and for tams who played out, it was a grooved machine. It's odd how quickly the players have forgotten how they played like that, or maybe they just don't have the fitness, or they're being advised not to go all out and manage energy over the game. Either way, its not working in possession or out of possession. It's going to take time we don't have to try and find a formula to compete.
Cole knocked the ball down for cauley in the area 1st half who went down big shouts for a pen waved away, put a decent ball across the box 2nd half no one was there, and pulled the ball back for woodrow who should have done better. He was the best forward last night he should start again Saturday. The problem we had is its all well and good pressing but not putting a foot in closing down space but without the ball you can't score, radio Sheffield and Derrick Parker weren't impressed with the forwards closing down all game said it was more like a training game for Swansea who's back line were let loose to pass it around freely. Not knocking the manager after 3 days in a job but thats the worst we have played for some time. I was sat in my seat at half time thinking what is the plan are we trying to counter attack? But we never kept the ball long enough to mount a real attack and 21% possession against Swansea is embarrassing.
Completely agree with you about the tactics. We'd set up for a nil nil and if you're defending solidly for 90 minutes, you're going to allow a chance. We could easily have gone in 2-0 down Swanseas 2 very good chances at the end of the first half. If we were playing a front 3, I'd absolutely pick Cole. But I don't think our front 3 is working, irrespective of which players are chosen. I picked Leya Iseka because I think he could probably play a lone role slightly better than Cole. But I'd most likely bring on Cole later, either for Leya Iseka, or to add a body up top if chasing the game.
There's nothing at all wrong with that. However, we seem to lack the ability to concentrate and stay disciplined for 70 minutes (never mind 90). So, we are always going to give away unearned goals.
Now Oulare and Morris are fit, we could go full on Big Val style, least we might get some wins even if it`s not the best to watch.
I think we need to do something along those lines. Two or three out of Oulare, Morris and Victor and see if they can hold it up and have our young midfielders running onto the ball rather than getting it from the defence.