This will be long. So I can't fault those who can't be ar*ed. Was pretty deflated when seeing the lineup, with the failed Connell/Craig central midfield experiment getting another go. I did though, stupidly, assume DKD was playing behind the front two where I'd expect him to perform better. Or maybe in the Phillips midfield role. As it turns out, it looked to be a front three 'in the main', with DKD and Humphrys as the wide forwards. I think. But yeah, it looked difficult to decipher and difficult to watch, as a fan. It was so obvious how crucial Phillips was when he was playing (to me at least). Even more so when he isn't. So we had two defensive midfielders again who are like carbon copies of each other. No pace, no ability to win a header, and struggle to pass when under pressure. They occasionally get a good foot in, they're decent technically, and as much as I don't rate the kid too highly (Craig), he's looked the better of the two across the last week of fixtures. This idea that Connell is some box-to-box maestro is completely daft. He's a sitting/holding/defensive midfielder. Puts out fires in front of defence, gets on the ball and moves it on, quickly. Occasionally lands on things further up should the game dictate so, and can rattle off a shot here and there. I like that Luca. He was in the team of the year two seasons ago, playing that role. We've just played Stockport, Wycombe and Huddersfield. Admittedly a step-up in terms of quality at this level, but teams we ought to be attacking and aiming to beat, if indeed we are trying to reach the play-offs (at least) for a third straight year. Picking four centre halves in a back four (midweek), two holding midfielders (all the time) and using a Tombola to decide the frontline is properly daft. As is the inevitable chucking on of three players after an hour because the lineup was wrong, and expecting those subs to magically conjure up a result. I remain confused about the frontline. Humphrys is meant to be a dribbler, someone sharp, but I reckon it's from much further up the pitch where you'll see that pay off. Today he was practically stood on Cotter's toes. A right winger then. He isn't a right winger. He's a striker. See his two goals so far for an example of where he thrives. In the f****** box. Keillor-Dunn is clearly not a winger either. On the very, very, very brief occasions where he's looked something like, it's been in and around the box. His debut goal and winning that penalty the other day being recent examples. So why is he out wide, why is he spending his hour of football mainly chasing the opposition around? I don't think anyone is expecting Cosgrove to bag 20 goals. Just hold the ball up man, bring others up and into the game in the final third. But he's regularly out-muscled and almost as often, he gives silly free-kicks away. It's just basics, surely? This afternoon, we saw Herbie Kane beat a man for pace for the first time since clapping eyes on him. Sadly, he doesn't play here anymore. The victim? Josh Earl. Another goal conceded with his fingerprints all over it. Was a great sideways pass by Herbs though, and a great finish by their lad for the opener. If only we'd had a shot on the numerous occasions the chance was there to. I didn't see the second goal as I chalked on the game in the dying embers where a Huddersfield player got to the ball before Connell who had a five yard head start. 15 points from 10 games. 15 goals scored and conceded. Firmly mid-table. Distinctly average. It feels and seems worse though, to me anyway. I struggle to recall many games of those 10 where I felt we looked even mid-table standard. Brief glimpses, spells of quality. Definitely. But by and large, we look like a side who'll most likely be looking over our shoulder rather than looking up. I hope I'm wrong of course, and we see a very different side after the international break. But ahead of all three of these games I've merely hoped for a better performance. Result would be a bonus. And I'm still waiting. So, to Clarke. I can't say I've been impressed to date. Sad to say that, but I genuinely haven't a clue what it is he stands for. What is he trying to achieve? Granted, Neill Collins wasn't very well-liked by the fanbase last year, but you knew what his approach was. He also got terrific results for the majority of his tenure. Duff was similar. You knew what the plan was, whether it worked or not. There was a strategy there. Big Val might have had his side playing football that Brian Clough would have hated, but it was a style, a gameplan, there were tactics in play and method behind the madness. What was Schopp's plan? What did Asbaghi stand for? I appreciate it's early days, still, just about. But to be in October and still have no idea what our formation looks like, what the best XI is or what kind of football we're trying to play, that's very worrying for me. And I think Clarke himself is in that same boat. He admitted as much recently. Not sure about his post-match interviews either. They have a weird vibe going on, digging out players and what not. But, I appreciate that other fans like that kind of interview. "He says it how it is." That kind of thing. But no, not for me that.
I am not one to say get rid of a manager early doors and not joined in any conversations to do such this season, but, and I’ve waited to the so called 10 games to judge and he has shown nothing to impress me, I preferred Collins tbh and can’t see Clarke achieving as much as him . He talked the talk early doors and we all thought that’s good a manager that’s not afraid to say it as it should be, but and he ain’t walk-in the walk and fixing what he said was wrong. I know it’s early days but we going nowhere with this fellow, hope to be proved wrong
Totally agree about Craig and Connell, they seem wasted playing so deep and offer nothing in building attacks.or making us look solid defensively.
Agree with that especially the Clarke interviews deflecting the blame, throwing players under the bus, Cosgrove been the big target man who spends most of his time on the floor or conceding needless fouls and luca a shadow of the player he was 2 seasons ago.
Terrific post, Whitey - pretty much how we saw it too - but I'd add the rather worrying development that the players, to a man, seem incapable of doing even the basics properly. I'd love to know what they actually do on the training ground....
Pretty much sums up how I feel about things. I was bemused looking at the starting lineup & even more at a loss at the final whistle as to our game plan. Just not good enough in all areas of the park.
I've not seen anything so far to give me any confidence that he's capable of turning things around. His comments in the press, and the body language of the players in the last few games is starting to look like the beginning of the end. The only sympathy that I have for him has been the recruitment. Going into the season with Cosgrove and Watters as your senior options upfront is poor. Especially when we'd likely known for a while that we'd not be keeping hold of Cole and/or McAtee. Then the two that we brought in, one is a number 10 and the other has barely had a pre-season.
I agree with all that. I've been to all the league games and can honestly say that we have no identity, no pace, no creativity and zero ballocks. We don't look fit, we look loosely organised, poorly instructed in terms of every man back to defend corners, sitting back constantly, pulling strikers deep, stupid fake injuries to the goalie so we can have a mini team talk that makes no difference etc. We have probably all worked in places where you get a new manager, supervisor, team mate that the big gaffers love because they talk their language and use buzzwords but you know that they haven't got a clue and that they are out of their depth! To me, that's Clarke! He has talked a good game and got our attention but has no idea what to do in order to back it up so he throws as much crap at the wall as he can in the hope that something luckily sticks. I wasn't a Collins fan but you could see what he was trying to do and how he wanted to play, I can't say that I know what Clarke is trying to do and I don't think the players do either and that's a big problem which will only end in one way. Personally I'd sack him now, I'm honestly not one for just continually sacking people and time can work wonders but it's pointless giving someone time if you know they are not going to get any better. Not everyone is like Alex Ferguson at Man Utd and can progress with time and turn a team into a winning machine. If Clarke goes, send Devaney and Stead with him and start again. Rant over, I appreciate that not everyone will agree with me but something has to change.
Good post. Agree on every point. I liked his say it how it is attitude to start with, but as you say his body language gives off a very bad vibe. Don’t think it’ll go down well in the dressing room, the players certainly aren’t responding to it.
A concern of mine, which I don't think has been addressed, (apologies if it has) is how poor our set pieces are currently. You'd like to think with Hourihane in the coaching set up that we'd be on point this season. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I cannot recall a decent corner or free kick that we've taken in the attacking third, that has looked like creating a genuine scoring chance.
There’s absolutely no pattern to our play. No obvious plan as to how we’ll break a team down. Every attack ends with us hoofing the ball forwards or getting caught in possession in midfield. We need to bin off 3-5-2 because it’s just not enabling us to play any sort of progressive football. The wing backs rarely get a chance to take their full back on. We’re constantly outnumbered in midfield. The strikers are just waiting for the inevitable long ball and playing off scraps. It’s so disjointed. Whenever we do try to play football there’s no passing options and we either play it backwards or get caught in possession.
Nice summary, interesting thoughts. The ar$e lickers will be having a coronary reading that tho, Which way will they go......
That wasn’t 3-5-2 today. Nor was it against Wycombe either. Today looked more like a 3-4-3. I say that with little certainty though. Because out of possession it looked nothing like, and we weren’t in possession long enough to be sure either.
