Minority Report v Nottingham Forest

Our new CEO alluded to something about a lack of fitness plans over the summer due to the stuff going (or similar). This hampered the squad.

That perhaps hasn’t helped with the press either. That basic core fitness wasn’t developed enough. And whilst we could not sustain the press/intensity of last season (for reasons already mentioned), any chance of at least replicating 75% of it has been lost due to this.

 

For their second goal the keeper simply threw the ball to the edge of the centre circle to their man who was completely free - both Palmer and Styles were stuck too far up and had not covered one or the other - really poor situational awareness from them both.

 

You are always a sympathetic reader, and I see no difference with this post. My reasoning obviously needs further explanation.

Before Schopp arrived, we were told that his favoured systems were 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-4-1. Taking away the fripperies, that is 4 at the back, 5 in midfield and 1 up front. That is quite a distance from 3-4-3 and it is more than 1 additional defender and one additional midfield player, with only 1 up front. The systems work in entirely different ways, and personally, I do not see how you organise a forward press, with just one forward. That player will be taking on the opposition centre backs, and must either be big and strong, or he must be quick. Whichever it is, there is currently no fit player at the club fitting the description. However, in the past, our owners have said that they favour the forward press. They pick the managers, and frankly I was surprised at their choice when I read about Schopp's favoured formations. At the time, I mused about whether there could be a fall-out, or whether Schopp was simply their lap dog, paid to do whatever they require. If so, that was not going to work either. I decided to wait and see. If he is their lap dog, he will comply with their plan even though he does not believe in it, but he will not be sacked, because he is doing as they ask. If he is not their lap dog, when all the players are fit, and when he has appropriate players for every position, he will make a change to the way that we play. Then we can all judge him, because he will be being honest to his beliefs and ideals. Speaking personally, I would prefer to wait until then, because only then will we know for certain. Until then, we are all guessing using data that may be false, and which may be leading us to the wrong conclusion. Before I retired, it was important that I did not take decisions whilst I was angry, or when I was emotionally involved. There are a lot of emotional people at the minute, and their decision-making is affected by their emotions. They do not have even half the facts, but thankfully, they are not in charge.

Before I end, I would just like to note the length of contract that Schopp signed. Now, no-one in their right mind signs a contract that weights the benefits and responsibilities too far one way. We had just lost a coach, and although we were compensated, most will recognise that the compensation was not enough to cover the disruptive effect. If Schopp has signed a longer contract, it is not unreasonable to suppose that we insisted upon higher compensation fee, if he departed earlier. Now the only way that works is if he has built in a very large compensation clause if he is dismissed before his contract is up. What I am saying is he decision to fire Schopp will undoubtedly be costly and the owners and CEO will not want to take that decision before there is absolutely no choice, and the case for his incompetence is proven beyond doubt. I do not think that they are anywhere near that point just yet, and the noises emanating from social media are just that. Noise.

 

You are right. He did seem as though he was one tackle away from a red card, and I thought that the decision to substitute him was the correct one. However, we were losing the battle for dominance in that midfield area, and he was engaged in a fight to win back that dominance and get us back on the front foot. It was a battle of wills, and if you compared his willingness to place himself in the firing line to that of Styles, then you have one player who was fighting, and another who was standing off and watching. Palmer was my MotM, not for what he did, because no-one did very much other than Brad Collins, and he is only involved for moments. No, Palmer was my MotM because he was the one who was fighting hardest to overcome devastating odds that favoured our opponent.

 

We'll have to disagree. Wasn't Styles best game, and I am not convinced he is a CM, but at times he was 'trying' to do his own role whilst covering for his CM partner and making sure he was still awake.

I maintain both are good players.

 

I think that we need to play 3-5-2 instead of a 3-4-3. This will work in our favour twofold - firstly, it gets an extra body into the middle of the park and stops us being overrun in there, and secondly it gives Woodrow someone to play with up top - rather than the 2 wide forwards who are currently twenty yards away from him whilst he pretends to jump against a towering centre half.

In the short term, we all need to accept that Schopp isn't going anywhere (I don't think). I think will board will back him and give him time - unless we're deep in the drop zone after 25-30 games. However, we can't carry on like we are.

Here's what i would hope will happen.

GK: Collins picks himself. Our player of the season so far (which says a lot). The fact that Walton is at the club provides healthy competition also - which is good for Brad.

DEF: Has to be Kitching, Helik and Sibbick. Until Mads is back - then we look again. Helik picks himself, and Kitching does to a certain extent. He's the only one with a natural left foot - although he needs to stay calm more often and improve decision making. But he's still learning at this level. Sibbick surely has to start in front of Moon - we missed his pace last night. I don't think that's a bad back 3 personally.

MID: Styles and Brittain remain our wing backs. They've both had difficult starts to the season - Brittain seems to lack the confidence to bomb on like he did last year, and Styles has been moved between CM and LWB that he hasn't had chance to settle. Jordan Williams is steady, but that's about it.

In the middle, we need three imo. Benson would be the first, but he's becoming frustrating. Hopefully he can be fit, because he would be the one to link play and spread it wide. Palmer would keep his place too - one horremdous performance doesn't make him a bad player. I'd play Gomes too. He can obviously pass a football, and reports suggest that he would be the DM to break up play. Let him do it.

ST: It's Woodrow and Morris for me. However, Morris has now missed more games than he's played for us. He's a huge miss and would be the focal point of the attacks. It takes pressure of Cauley and allows him to concentrate on scoring goals instead of wrestling with defenders (his first touch last night was grim though). Realistically, Morris isn't coming back any time soon. If we're playing 2 up, then neither of last nights starters should play with Woodrow. Victor isn't good enough. Oulare seems skilful and quick but not very physically strong. Ideally it's Isseka, but he doesn't seem to exist. That leaves Cole. I know Schopp doesn't seem to fancy him, but I'd give him a run of games. He's scored goals throughout his career (albeit at a lower level), but with Woodrow in the side, his job is to be more of a battering ram than a poacher.

---

The Head Coach

Now this is the big talking point. What is he trying to achieve. At previous clubs he has played with a back 4 - but we don't have the personnel to do this (unless Vita can be reanimated by a Night King and start to play again). But he seems to be caught between two schools. Are we a direct footballing side, or are we possession based. Either is fine, but he needs to pick one of the two and show conviction by committing to it. I've been to 5 games this season, and in some of them we've taken goal kicks 2 yards and tried to play out from the back, and in others we've lumped it to Cauley and expected him to hold it up whilst our wide forwards are miles away.

I haven't a clue what will happen, but it needs to happen soon.

And this is the biggest claptrap I've ever written, so if anyone has gotten this far then you win a point.

 

Ismael would have definitely played Sibbick. Pace at the back is what he wanted.

Ismael would definitely have jumped up and down after the bad challenge on Helik. Schopp just stands and looks at it. We wouldn't have lost last night under Ismael

Ismael had more passion, more belief in his players and his system. The players ran through brick walls for him in return. I doubt the players would run through a wet paper bag for Schopp, and this is the underlying problem. When the chips are down, Schopp doesn't know what to do and the players couldn't care less.

 

Firstly, why are you bringing his mother into this? What did she ever do to you.

I agree on Victor. I like his contribution, although I wish he could score. However, he is not alone in that department.

 

Victor can’t even hold onto the ball let alone score .
It doesn’t matter if it’s blasted into him or stroked into his path , it’s as if he’s made of super rubber and the ball as soon as it touches him rebounds like a snooker ball off the Cush .

 

I think his first touch has improved. He holds onto it for a few seconds now, before losing it.

What I find strange, is that when he is out wide he seems to be able to hold onto the ball, twist and turn players and usually gets a decent cross in.

However, when he is in front of goal with the ball, he cannot do any of this.

 

Your reasoning wins the day.
You make a good case for the defence.
Your last three sentences perfectly summarise the dilemma we have.
On that basis I will defer my previous commitment to execute immediately.

 

Vic, Iseka and Woodrow all took too long with chances and were robbed of the ball. maybes the surprise of actually getting a chance was too much for them.

 

Agree with this on formation and players.

But I think you got the 2 Belgians the wrong way around. Iseka has played its the other hiding in a cupboard somewhere.

On Schopp, I find it staggering he is learning 343 whilst the players are learning his style.

He should just go full blown how he wants to play. No mucking about. Not half this or half that.

Id still get shut mind, personally

 

I’m pretty sure Frieser gave the ball away for their first.

 

1min:12sec - that's deffo Helik with the slack pass.

 

We might not have the personnel to play a back 4, but at the moment it can't be any worse than what's happening now. He's been willing to play Ben Williams at LWB, he'd probably be better as a left back. I'd also suggest Kitching could do a job there if needed. Jordan Williams could play right back, and depending on what formation is in front of him, Brittain could play RB at a push, if the full backs are still the players to provide the width albeit from a deeper starting position.

He has to try something, there's nothing to lose. Lining up 3-4-3 almost certainly guarantees defeat, unless we have a goalkeeping masterclass.