I thought Cole looked like a leader on the field today and another goal, such a shame he didn't put the one away when through. Definitely missed Watters and Russell in the first half they should have started. Cadden on another day would have scored a few and Marsh chance that Cole just couldn't get to. Great save by their keeper from Phillips in the first half. I'd like Tedic back and Connell fit again in the side. The ref was poor and Oxford play acting didn't help. Collins needs a bit more time to figure out his players and get his selection right. The sooner the transfer window is closed the better but expecting us to bring in a few decent loans. You reds.
Maybe a change in formation needed especially at the back. We get cut open time and again. We cant even defend high balls anymore.
Sounds like we need window to stay open for as long as possible as we could do with a few brought in. We'll need plenty of time too as they are notoriously slow in that department.
Feel sorry for Cole put another one next to him who was next to useless. I really hope the powers that be don't think fetching Tedic back will be the answer as I suspect they will.
I admire your burrowing for positives. Cole looked like he always does. Today he somewhat uniquely scored a goal direct from a corner. He may have done this before, but I can't remember it. Otherwise as usual he didn't hold it up at all, and demonstrated that his talent only lies in finishing. Which he didn't do when put through later on. Watters did nothing much when he came on. He's a striker who does not look like striking. Russell did brilliantly to put Cole through (see above) but who should he have started instead of? Cadden blasted a "few" wide - on another day he'd do the same. One Bristol Rovers swallow does not make a summer. It was a routine save from Phillips. We were abysmal. Clueless and sometimes even disinterested at the back. Someone needs to get a grip on all this because I can see our spirit, our team strength, being tested at the moment.
Team looked luck-lustre and woefully short on pace at the back - which is a worry if you play high line and don't pick up the wide runners. From the various write ups on Collins I was expecting a more attacking intent with intensity. We are slow to move the ball forward and movement off the ball is lacking. Disappointed so far but once we get the system right some of the individual flaws may not be so apparent. Defence needs urgent work but that is a whole team thing.
Something is going wrong at the back, whether that's inexperience at this level or players not gelling yet, but the defensive positioning is woeful. That's then putting the fear of God into the rest of the team, affecting performances all over the pitch.
Spot on...only a few games in but we are short of the personal that is required to make us a top end team in this division. In the 4 games so far we look like we need sorting out. The coach knows what we are short of and at the moment has a poor hand. I do believe we are 2 to 3 weeks behind most of the other teams in prep and organisation.
