Collins absolutely killed us with the subs and that’s not the first time this season it’s happened really baffling decision to take McAtee off
Its a squad game. We've played 4 games in 8 days. Probably why Cole was subbed earlier as he'd started all 4. Maybe Cosgrove has been carrying a knock? Who knows. Sometimes subs work out, sometimes they don't. About 3 weeks ago Watters came on as a sub in a 3-1 win away at Reading in a game we came from behind in, and the subs and tactical changes were spot on then. Today they didn't go as he wanted.
[ If Cosgrove is carrying a knock that prevented him from coming on then it's appalling management to put him on 5he bench and leave other strikers in our squad out.
Soon as the subs were made you felt our chances of winning the game became vastly diminished and you could feel that in the crowd.
I don’t know why we don’t drop McAtee back into midfield rather than take him off. He’s more than capable.
Just what I said to my mate. They were both still full of running and it was only 58 minutes in. If we'd had a game in 3 days time, well maybe, but 2weeks to recover FFS. McAtee had just chased a lost cause down, won the ball and almost scored. Cole's body language said a lot. We're going nowhere with this manager.
Correct, I turned to my grandson and said the same, the dynamic of the midfield changed with those subs. Macatee closing down the defenders preventing them from making measured passed to their midfield and Phillips closing down the their midfield was lost in one change. Watters and Styles offered nothing once they came on. Baffling decision.
All abuse aimed at Watters and Styles on here and at Oakwell is disgraceful. The blame solely lies with Collins. The choice and timing of the subs again were the wrong decisions and that was obvious to everyone at the time.
I was dumbfounded that we signed Watters in the summer after what we saw last season, he offered nothing last season and is offering even less this. He shouldn't be in the squad nevermind being the first option, on 58 mins, when leading only by 1 goal, and the lad being replaced still looking fresh. NC is a crazy fool.
Yeah I think it’s well out of order. It’s a complete myth to think a footballer isn’t trying. Collins made the decisions and they were poor ones.
The two players have been given loads of chances this season and have disappointed. I'm not abusing anyone they were poor today but so we're Collins tactics. I can't understand why he took Phillips off who had a assist and was playing reasonably well to bring styles on. With watters why not bring on Cosgrove at least we would have a player on who could hold the ball up and keep possession put himself about. I think with styles we're trying to put him in the shop window for Jan. Obviously one of the biggest earners.
I never boo our own players and never will, but that doesn't mean that Watters isn't abysmal. How bad must Cosgrove be? I've said all season that Collins has a difficult job as the squad quality drops off a cliff after the first 12 or so players, but today the changes he made predictably reduced us to 10 men when Watters came on - exactly as it did three days ago at Peterborough - and Jalo's introduction further significantly weakened us.