Absolutely hurrendous. Detest it with a passion. The last 4 managers we’ve had have all used it? Why?! Why not change it up, try something different. I don’t care if we’ve got 3846272 CB’s at the club. TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
I thought today we played Val's formation didn't we? 5-2-3 but then it was hard to tell because he played Martin in about 6 positions to justify him staying on the pitch.
“Cadden you stay on the touch line so we playing with virtually 10 men as there is little chance of Kitchen finding you with a pass,If he does find you stick a high cross into our 6ft 7 centre forward” great tactics from the Duffster
Comparisons with Ismael's high speed harum scarum could hardly be further from the mark tonight. It was just like the maximum intensity high press, just without the intensity, the high or the press. As Lincoln played out from the back we tried our best to spook them with our relentless standing off, our forwards occupying the line usually occupied by Collins under big Val. They didn't make any attempt to harass the Lincoln players into errors but if they were hoping for service from their own players behind them, they were in for a long wait. Indeed, when a ball they could work with finally came in after 89 minutes, they both went bounding enthusiastically after it like spaniels chasing a tennis ball, only to collide with each other at the critical moment. Without Thomas in the hole, there is a gaping disconnect between the ponderous and unspectacular Kane/Benson pairing and the front line. Since he's been out we have scarcely looked like scoring a goal, let alone winning a game. Despite some previous promise, if Josh Martin was given the brief of filling that void tonight, then he fluffed his lines in spectacular fashion. I can only guess the man of the match sponsors were a firm owned by his dad. We played with wing backs, which is a hybrid role, being neither an out-and-out winger, nor an out-and-out full-back. The most charitable thing I can say about Edwards and Cadden, is that they are indeed, clearly neither of those things. Of the back three, Andersen is good enough but out of form Kitching shows only glimpses of promise and Cundy, barely that. See also Conor McCarthy, when he has played. Why three centre backs if we don't have three decent ones? Collins and Cole did alright I thought but the ones in between could have stayed in the dressing room tonight. I appreciate it's far easier to point out problems that offer solutions but that's why Duff is on the big bucks instead of me. I'm losing faith that he's got the answers either, though.
Agree with most of that and love how Thomas gets better with every game that he doesn't play a bit like Kane last season.
He doesn't have a plan B. There was a break in play and both sets of players when to the benches for a drink. Their gaffer had every player around him barking orders making the most of it. Duff on the other hand was in silence nowhere near the team telling them nothing despite how garbage we were.
Not too many of us have said Thomas was a world beater, often took the wrong option, but he gave the attack some dynamism and was the only player we have with the possible exception of Cole who will actually run at the defence. Its not that Thomas was brilliant more that we havent anyone else who can take on the role he played and without it we are totally flat. or is it just coincidence we haven't scored since we lost him
I agree with all of that and don't really know if it's coincidence or not but it's Duff and the players jobs to stick their chests out and come up with better than what's being shown these last few games. Lincoln weren't world beaters but they slowly sussed us out and then snuffed us out a bit like the Morecambe game.
