Doesn't look good in the wide areas highlights how useless the wingbacks are, on a positive note completely dominant after first 20 mins, deserved a point
Obviously a bit of research of how Mansfield play would have highlighted Mansfield’s strengths and weaknesses.
I suspect we do need another striker, but I think even though we had a few chances between Watters and Cosgrove that could have saved us the game, or on a lucky day won it, they lacked service, either out wide or someone who could pick split the defence with a pass from centre midfield. Wingbacks didn't have a good game, but I got the impression that was because of where they picked the ball up, rather than outright ability. O'Keefe certainly has the ability, with 3 goals and 7 assists last year, but too much of his possession was just over the half way line, rather than bombing on and getting crosses in from the final third.
Just look how far off Watters and Cosgrove from Mansfield's CB's Vs how tight their strikers were to our CB's and a glaring lack of width we have to even contemplate putting service into the box
Hopefully we will abandon the 3-5-2 formation that saw us torn apart constantly until it was changed. Also hopefully Phillips plays like we all know he can for 5 or 6 games a season and not as ineffective as he usually does the other 40 because playing in that more central role we can't carry a passenger
Judging by the Roma friendly our best crosser may well prove to be Gent. Having to sacrifice him to change the shape didnt help our cause in that respect.
One of the annoying things from Friday for me was Cosgrove standing on their keeper from Roberts long throws, surely he's the man who you are aiming for to score from them. Get one of the small men stood at front of keeper.
