One classic example v Reading at home- Phillips playing in an advanced role went close to scoring, before eventually equalising as well as generally giving the Reading backline a torrid time. In the 35th minute, Russell got an injury. Instead of doing what any competent coach would do, and replacing Russell with Grant and leaving Phillips to continue being a goal threat. He put Phillips back in a less advanced role, where any goal threat vanished and put Jalo in the advanced role. I appreciate that Jalo did score but not till 83rd minute, meaning we played 48 minutes without Phillips in the advanced role. Whilst it's not for certain we would have won the game, there's no doubt in my mind that leaving Phillips in the advanced role for longer, we would have scored more than 2 goals against a poor Reading defence. A defence that had let in 5 goals the game before. There are numerous other substitutions/tactically changes where Collins got it wrong. Glad hes gone
I like Phillips but Jalo provides more attacking threat when he's fast asleep than Phillips does on his best day.
I'm sorry but no, Reading had 3 clean sheets in their last 5 games before playing us and the team they conceded 5 to was Bolton who are 3rd.
Thought Phillips played really well in that holding role and Jalo was more of a handful. Thought it was one of Collins better substitutions which got us a point and nearly 3 with Jalo hitting the post. All about opinions eh.
Got to be this formation for me. Take the defensive onus off the wing backs and have one of the deep lying midfielders make the back 3 a 4 and push the LCB or RCB out to full back when we’re defending. Phillips and McAtee in the gap between midfield and defence as well as pulling out wide to create an overload with either Cadden or O Keeffe. Also one going short to the winger on their side and the other arriving late in the box at the back post for early crosses. Simples.
Collins had a couple of minutes to come up with a change salvaged a point, nearly won. You've taken 2 weeks.
Don't laugh at me but Phillips is the bruno fernandes of barnsley. Moments player. Still love him mind you
What about the Collins game plan of long balls against Blackpool while playing macatee and Cole upfront which neither are great in the air, and blackpool not having a high line there for unable to get either in behind the defence with it? Opinion or Collins incompetence? Or taking macatee off for conor grant at 2-1 v bolton to hold on? Opinion or incompetence? I could go on but he's gone thank god.
Personally, I think this is a prime example of fan ineptitude and board ineptitude. Fans don't know what they're talking about and our board listen to them which is why we're in this ridiculous situation.
In my opinion Collins was still learning the job he was paid to do, we never learn and if social media reports are true we will bring in another foreign coach who will take a season to learn his job. We desperately need a coach/manager who knows the English game and can start the season knowing his best players and were to play them on the pitch. It’s third division ffs it shouldn’t take much to employ someone who has an idea how to get us out of this poor league.Rant over this season’s not over yet play with abit of confidence tomorrow and let’s try and enjoy a game for once. COYR
To be fair i do not think many professional coaches show ineptitude, that would have to be putting Cole at CB or something similar. I have not been a fan of Collins tactics at all but he has been far from inept. I think the league does not lie, if we make the play offs we will have deserved it, and if not we won't have. And whichever happens Collins will have been a major part of that. I do however think the board need to have a real good think about what type of coach we select going forwards and it needs to be in tandem with what players we have available to us next season and what division we are in. I also get the need to be entertained by the players we recruit, but it becomes very expensive to be entertained and get promoted. Its hard to have your cake and eat it, especially when you can only afford one slice
Oh for a Nigel Clough.. bit too old school for us, would like too much of a say in how things are run