Whilst totally gutted about that late goal there are loads of positives from last night. Jones and RNL were both brilliant. The atmosphere for 89 minutes and 59 seconds was fantastic. We have strikers who look good. We should have Etuhu and TK back now. Dawson will be available for Hudds. We have a brilliant manager and leader and we have a fighting, capable team who have been nothing short of spectacular since the turn of the year. I think we need two wins from three which seems like another mountain to climb but if we could just get a result on Saturday everything would change again. If we do go down we go down with a lot of pride and because of our form pre Christmas. If you can, get your tickets for as many of the three remaining games as you can and we just might do it.
I agree with everything you say, however what we still don't have is the slightest idea about how to defend set pieces especially when they are all delivered in exactly the same way, inswinging, at pace and straight into a much too crowded 6 yard box. For all Steele's brilliant shot stopping abilities and he showed them again last night, opponents have sussed out that he is a wuss at coming thru a crowd of players to claim or deal with said free kicks. In exactly the same way Hill's style of play was nullified, so have Barnsley's defensive shortcomings been exposed time after time. Several years ago John Aldridge came to Oakwell as Tranmere manager and every time we got a corner he left 3,4 sometimes 5 of his own players ready for a breakaway, that meant we had to leave our players back to deal with them. Just as a suggestion why not try it, very radical I know, but it could give Steele more chance to do his job, instead of having to deal with a dozen or so players all pushing,shoving and jostling and in the opponents case succeeding in their job.
I agree we have a weakness there and perhaps others but as per the heading of my post I am looking at the many positives. However its an interesting idea as leaving men up would force them to have some men back. I'll leave the tactical stuff to Flicker though.
Like all managers/coaches Flitcroft has good and bad points, his best point is obviously to get his players to run thru brick walls for him which it appears they will do for ever and a day, for me his bad point does seem to stem from working with Hill, and that is a total failure to sort hie defence out. Individually last night all the defenders played well, as to be fair has happened many times, but the organisation at these set pieces is woeful or amatuerish, call it what you want, but the idea you can pack the 6 yard box, as we do, is plainly not the answer and not working.
Can't agree with that. He's more than a motivator, he's a deep thinker who tries different systems and strategies. The first half at MK dons will live long in the memory as we totally controlled every aspect of the pitch. Nothing about this group is woeful or amateurish and I think you have to account for losing Stones and injuries to Golbourne, McNulty, Edwards and TK's suspension. We got a bad break at the end, that's it. He is the answer and it is working.
I'm not saying the olayers are woeful or amatuerish i'm saying its the organisation that needs sorting.
