ive waited long enough.. here's my thoughts on yesterday...

i couldnt post yesterday.. it was my birthday, and i had to put the Reds aside for my own sanity..

but i will start by saying that ive never been as disheartened after a 1st home display of the season as i was yesterday come 5pm.. i watched on in utter disbelief, head in my hands as 6 weeks of built-up hope, faith, optimism and positivity proved unfounded.. i felt conned.. i felt silly.. this wasnt suppose to happen..

im not going to go thru each match incident, instead im going to reel off what IMO went wrong..


1st off, i really like Edwards.. he wasnt perfect, but neither would Vidic be at the side of the 3 others in 'defence' yesterday. he looks a fine replacement for Shackell IMO..
but if the other 3 on show are presumably better options in Hills opinion than Sir Bob, then im scared.. give him the armband ON the field.. id rather have an injured Hassell at center half than 5 touches to control it McNulty! who moves like a reversing HGV, and may as well chop off his right leg.. not impressed with him.. i blame him for the goal.. yes Preece should maybe have come for it, but McNulty had an age to just head it away, or behind..
the other Mac, JayMac, jeez, where do i start.. failed to make 5 yard passes time and again.. made Matt Hill look awesome at closing down.. looks a minute too slow.. easily brushed away, and as stiff as a board.. couple of good clearing headers, but he should have been subbed at HT.. im astounded at how **** he was/is..
Haynes hated being played wide at previous clubs, and he hates it now by the looks of it.. a total waste of a threat.. he is not technicaly able to play wide, nor has he got the required discipline for the role.. if Hill is going to plonk him on the by-line, we may as well sell.. he kept moaning at Davies too, hardly a team thing that is it? he mouthed "what the **** was that?" to Craig on more than 1 occasion.. doesnt look a TEAM player.. Davies though, while never a target man in a million years, he was my MOTM.. strong, quick (poor in the air though) and 1 of the few workers.. unlike Haynes & JayMac, he stayed behind and applauded us in the Ponty for a good minute at FT..
the intro of RNL & RVT gave us the 2 main things we lacked until then, WIDTH, and MOVEMENT.. gotta go with those 2..
not Perks best day, but he grafted, and he shouldnt be played wide.. central, yes..
Doyle was anonymous.. MIA.. id like to see Hills prozone stats on how many times Doyle had the ball, and how much time he spent stood watching like a statue.. looked lost, a waste of a man.. no need for 2 holding mids.. very Robins-esque tactic that..
the lack of headers won, Addison & Edwards apart, was startling.. Wisey got down wing just once and even then he ran it out! he was pants too, although he had no help from Perks or whoever was suppose to play there.. a total lack of urgency.. lack of communication.. midfielders running into each other.. AWFUL (slow) passing.. no use of triangles or channels..

BIG IMPROVEMENT needed

 

Here we go with the Negativity, its only 2 matches FFS!

 

3 matches mate.. and thats not a negative post.. its my summary of our display yesterday.. in fact its many a fans summary id imagine.. im as positive and faithful as u will get, as u well know Mark.. BUT, unlike JayMac yesterday, my eyes arent painted on.

i ALWAYS tell it how it is, or at least how i see it.

 

Agree totally Whitey... Can't believe Sir Bobby isn't in the team. He'll be guest at our radio station straight after the Middlesborough game so make sure you tune in to hear his thoughts... Hope things improve but not looking good right now!!!

 

I agree with your summary Whitey, it was the worst first home game I can remember and definitely not the home league debut either Hill or most of the players wanted. Hill has to learn lessons and very quickly or the boo boys will run him out of Oakwell. I think we'll be ok but a vast improvement needed on Tuesday and a change to certain personnel has to happen.

Happy birthday for yesterday, a **** 90 minutes aside hope you had a good one.

 

Whitey
Your observations are spot on. If we're to play Barncelona footy we need a much higher tempo and we need more splicing cutting incision. Less east to west more north east to south west to north west to north. they will change it. Time will tell. We will be top ten - betcha.

 

Thanx Maz..

apart from the match, i had a good day.. although i stopped 'celebrating' as such, a few year before this 29th birthday.. its nowt but a reminder that my youths gone.. makes me sad.. LoL

i still back Hillcroft, and i will give them the time thats so apparently needed. shame that a fair amount of others dont have that same patience..

a positive reaction tuesday, a proper performance, and win lose or draw ill be happy.. it wasnt the result that left me so down.. it was the display..

BRING ON BORO!

 

Re: Thanx Maz..

Happy Birthday, Whitey!

You didn't mention Butterfield, which is entirely understandable as I couldn't spot him either!

The old faithful will say this lot need time to 'gel', but the cruel truth is - they ain't got it.

I'm afraid most of this squad are out of their depth and at the moment, it looks like Hill is too!

 

Re: Thanx Maz..

A very fair summary I think. We certainly need to be more positive when playing at home, two holding midfielders and Haynes out wide isn't gonna do it and I agree that Bobby and hopefully Foster have to return, with Steele too as Preece should have claimed that ball rather than watching his defenders vain attempts to head clear. Let's hope the players remain positive and behind Hill and confidence doesn't drain away. More performances like the last two and things will get very tough...

 

Re: Thanx Maz..

I was joking as well you know mate!

 

Re: Thanx Maz..

couldnt be sure either way mate, hence my response..

i reckon u nearly posted a reply in agreement until u saw it was me that posted it! haha

would have been a unique occurence would that.. lol

 

Re: Thanx Maz..

I actually agree with what you wrote, but I think if you look back at some of my post from a few weeks ago, it is you that is now agreeing with what I was worried about.