Well, I went down to Oakwell tonight hoping for a good, solid performance from the team and hopefully to catch a glimpse of new signing, Daniel Bogdanovic. Well, I got one of those things... The first half, was, without any over the top analogies, quite frankly, the worst half of football I've probably seen at Oakwell in 5 years. It was bad, and the first 20 minutes were probably the worst display of football I've seen from an home team, anywhere. Including park football. Ipswich were nothing special, they simply got the ball down and passed it. They worked hard and passed the ball. That's it. We couldn't cope with basic football, and were caught out twice in 2 minutes. The first was shoddy defending down the right from the consistently weak Van Hoemoet who quite frankly, is not the answer at right back (nor left back for that matter) as he can't cross/create once forward, and he very rarely puts in a noteworthy tackle. The ball was played across and it somehow squirmed out to Jon Stead some 8 yards out, who fired the ball home with aplomb. 1 minute later, and it got even worse. Again, the Reds defence were cut wide open and a complete mix up allowed Stead to poke the ball home from 12 yards, with the ball rolling agonisingly over the line. It was complete Laurel and Hardy stuff. I'd have been ashamed to be involved in the defending team. Terrible. It didn't get much better after that. We tried to play, but failed time and time again, with only a few decent passing patterns coming together. Diego Leon is just non-existent in nearly every game he plays. He get's pushed around far too easily. He's like a young bairn getting bullied in the school yard and again, did nothing. Daniel Bogdanovic was mightily impressive in a first half that was drabber than drab. He worked hard, got into some good positions and created a few good chances, of which, nobody had any urgency to get anywhere near. The best that came to mind, was when he turned his marker, before clipping over a great cross, that beat Wright in the goal, only for Macken to stand and watch as the Ipswich defender cleared. Again, Bogdanovic showed glimpses of a good striker, getting infront of his marker and flicking an header just over the bar. Muller was called into action 3 or 4 more times before the break, and made some smart saves to just about keep us in the game, however, anyone who thought we were going to get back into the game at half time must've been the everest of optimists. The chorus of boo's at the interval, while not agreeing with it myself, were probably justified. What a shambolic effort from the team, and even worse tactics from Davey. The second half started much better, and to be honest, it had to be and it couldn't be much worse. Within minutes, an attack down the left resulted in the ball finding it's way to Bogdanovic who made no mistake in sliding the ball past Wright from 10 yards, for a really well taken goal. This seemed to lift the team and the crowd, and for 20 minutes, we played some decent stuff, without looking totally threatening. Some half chances went begging and we huffed and puffed without really testing Wright in the goal. Bogdanovic again went close, when he curled a 25 yarder from the angle, that just dipped over the bar. Ipswich got a few breakaways that resulted in half chances, but the defence must've had a stern talking to (and rightly so) and were a million miles better, stepping in to prevent through balls and generally cutting out anything Ipswich had to offer. Bogdanovic went off to a standing ovation, after a very good debut, and a very good goal, and was replaced by Odejayi. After that, the flatness of the game went even further flat, as both teams traded fouls and loose balls. Devaney had been replaced by Rigters earlier in the half. He'd run his blood to water, but his end product for most of the game was truly dreadful. A lot of things need addressing, as we look like a team that are beggining to struggle at just the wrong time. With teams winning below us, we can't afford to be throwing away any more stupid points. Otherwise, we are going to pay for it. A few points: A) Diego Leon just isn't good enough for this league. He isn't strong enough; he isn't big enough and he isn't fast enough. Butterfield replaced him at half time, and looked far better. B) JCR is NOT a defensive midfielder. Davey must have some wacky theory that makes him feel JCR should drop deep to receive the ball, and attempt to start the attacks. NO, he's wasted there. Let Anderson or Butterfield or Hassell or Colace do that type of stuff, and let JCR run riot up front. What a complete and utter waste of talent. Dreadful management. C) Bogdanovic looks very good. However, it is early days, and with the midfield we have, I fear for him. The first half, he was working from half chances and scraps. The one time he did recieve a quality ball, he finished in style. It was the same with Cureton. It's all well and good having a good striker, but if the supply lines aren't there - then the goals won't come. We need a good, creative midfielder (or at least get JCR further up the pitch) to get in amongst the middle of the park, and create some chances. D) The defence is shambolic without Foster. The first half was terrible. Everyone of them was poor. They all did far better in the second half, but some chances need ringing, and fast. E) Jon Macken is getting progressively lazier and less of an impact. Maybe it would be worth trying him in a more reserved role, just in the hole behind two mobile and hungry strikers, because as an out and out striker, at the moment, he just isn't offering a thing, other than occasionally holding the ball up, and having a few tame shots. He's not going to get us 15+ goals, nor 10+ goals for that matter, but I feel he can still chip in with a few, but it may be worth playing him behind two strikers. Just a thought. Right, I'm going to have a pint now. I've somewhat calmed down, but after that first half, I'm beggining to fear for us this season. We need to improve, firstly at the back, then in the midfield and then up front. It's all well and good scoring goals, but if we keep conceding stupid, sloppy goals, then we are heading down. Ugh.
Let me just add this... Nearly every team in this league has ONE thing that links them. They all, pretty much, have a good midfield. Even Doncaster have a good midfield. Ours, most of the time looks disjointed, disinterested and generally inneffective. Leon is not good enough. Anderson is hit or miss, but is generally a very good passer. Colace is good, but again, no creativity from him. JCR, for all the hard work and endeavour he puts in, creates, it has to be said, very little. Now, ok, he's been playing out of position out of late, and that can only be blamed on Davey, so I'll leave JCR out of it but I do feel that a lot of the time, he flatters to deceive, even when he's playing in his preferred position. Of course, at times, he creates magic, and for those moments, he's invaluable. Devaney is again a player who flatters to deceive. For every one brilliant cross/goal he puts in, he puts another 15/20 into the stands, and at this level, it's not good enough. We got rid of Brian Howard, who was arguably (no matter what anyone says) the best midfielder at the club, and the most creative, and as of yet, we haven't replaced him, and we desperately need to.
Poet, I have not said this very often, but... I agree with you , we look silly in midfield and if we can get over a million for JCR then snatch their hands off, never creates owt, but seems as though he is above any form of criticism.
£1.5 million for JCR... Hell yes, if it means getting someone with the type of creativity and imagination that Brian Howard possessed.
Good post, only thing i disagree with Dont think Macken is lazy - I think he keeps going & is generally positive & urges other players on. I do think he's slowing down though & has limitations... but to call him lazy does him a disservice.
Really, at times, I agree with you, but a lot of the time... He generally looks disinterested and like I said, lazy. In the first half tonight, he was so slow and sluggish, I thought he might actually be comatosed at times. After the break, he woke up and harried their back four, which is what he's paid to do. As well as score goals, create chances and work hard for 90 minutes. 20-30 minutes of hard work isn't good enough, and if it's because he just doesn't have the stamina anymore, then he shouldn't be starting games.
RE: Really, at times, I agree with you, but a lot of the time... Not lazy but old and past it I'm afraid.
You confuse me constantly. You clearly make a valued contribution on here, but decide to show yourself up in equal doses with some of the stuff you post. More of this, and less of that would be bang on in my book.
Completely agree, i think we can forget about needing just 1 or 2 players. We need 3 or 4, defender, midfielders, and another striker. This is whats required to keep us in this division comfortably each year.
B) JCR is NOT a defensive midfielder. Davey must have some wacky theory that makes him feel JCR should drop deep to receive the ball, and attempt to start the attacks. NO, he's wasted there. Let Anderson or Butterfield or Hassell or Colace do that type of stuff, and let JCR run riot up front. What a complete and utter waste of talent. Dreadful management. I couldn't agree more!!!!