Reasons for our upturn in form

100 percent record since Trump won the election by a landslide.

I think it's more than a coincidence.

 

Russell looks a different player but just needs to add tracking back and regaining the ball if he loses it to his massively improved game. Correct on Connell and Craig ..too alike. Earl and Gent is a strong partnership that's growing, DKD no longer going ball hunting and Robbo stepping the back line up when attacking is brill...

 

I don’t think it’s one thing that’s changed it.

For me it’s all about balance and confidence. O’Keefe on the right gives the right balance between attack and defence as has (probably more importantly) Gent on the left. With Russell in midfield as well we have more control of the game and look more solid as a result.

That’s then made the 3 centre halves look better because they aren’t be dragged out of position, outnumbered or exposed.

Killip seems to be less erratic and has considerably better distribution. Now whether it looks that way because the team in front of him look more secure or whether he is giving the defenders more confidence I don’t know. Time will tell I suppose.

I also think the extra training because of the international break has certainly helped get the message across and/or made Clarke see what he’s got.

I certainly don’t think it’s because of Cosgrove not being in the team. He would also look better in the team the way they have played recently.

 

I was miffed with the stick he was getting.
And I said this several times ,when we get him going ,confidence wise.
We get our side going.
It's no coincidence the upturn in form as we seeing him more in the team ,instead of a bit part.

 

He had had chances. A lot of them but has failed to impress. He’s a big lad in the last 5 minutes sub at best.

 

The side looks balanced but my worry is it's wafer thin we only have two left sided defenders loss of form or worse an injury we are back to square one. I was encouraged by Clarke saying we will be active in January because we need cover.

 

We do, but we also need to let some go. The squad is pretty bloated for a League 1 club which is running at a loss.

 

By active I assume that means ins and outs but we desperately need a left sided defender one that could cover both position's would be ideal. Other than that if we could move Cosgrove on and fetch a pacey forward in I think we would be in a much stronger position.

 

Rigged

 

Cosgrove came with so much hype from a championship club apparently took a pay cut so many thought he would come good. For me he's had 2 good games in a season and half the 2 play off games last season. Infact this season his gpg ratio is about 700 minutes per goal. Victor adebajos is about 330 and he's had less starts. I've almost given up on him coming good.

 

I agree with much of what has been said already but for me it is no coincidence that the better form has occured since Clarke has ditched the wholesale substitutions very early in the second half!

 

I said after the first game our players were not fit, it's taken a while but now they seem more able to cope with 90 minutes at a good tempo, couple that with Clarke learning from some rather baffling mistakes and we are seeing the benefits.
Long may it continue.

 

I certainly think not having mr flappy behind them is giving the defence more confidence!