Another poor performance, although an improvement on the depths of Saturday. Lost the battle in midfield again, and the consequences are there for all to see. 'Doylson' have had their chance, switching tonight with Doyle sitting deeper than Addison, who at times was our most advanced midfielder - I mean, whats all that about, he's basically a centre half for Gods sake!! Well anyway they're employed as stoppers in midfield and they didn't stop jack all, so there's no point in playing them. O'Brien at least added a bit of spark and guts to the team, Perkins was bad, Edwards had a shocker, Davies did at least a little more when he came on, but nothing to get excited about. Mcevely also had a much better game to be fair but MOTM really should have gone to Steele - there were 3 saves out of the top drawer which stopped the score being a complete embarrassment. Where do we go from here? Who knows, maybe the team need to play a couple of away games down south to take the pressure off, because the atmosphere is turning really bad at the 'well. We need someone who can pass a ball in midfield, not just spoilers, Butterfield can't do it all on his own, our play just slows down when Doyle or Addison have it, that is, for me the key to changing things - the Midfield, which makes me wonder why Kyle Reid didn't get a contract, seemed like the sort we need. Maybe move Wiseman into midfield on the right and bring Hassle in at right back, drop 'Doylson' and Perkins, play 2 up top and Vaz Te on the left. Not going to happen though, I get the impression Perkins would get a game even if he loses a leg. We will certainly see what Keith Hill is all about now, because talk is cheap and changes are needed or we're heading for Div i.
Your assessment is spot on mate. Whilst we do need to strengthen upfront the midfield is definitely the problem. We played five across midfield today and still had no genuine width. Not one of the five can be classed as quick over the first yard and hence we are second to almost every ball. We played two holding midfield players who offered little or no protection to the back four and up top we had a lone striker. This is at HOME for christ's sake! Hill preaches a passing game but we do not have the players to suit it. The way to play is pass & move not pass & stand still. We also have far too many players who are just not comfortable on the ball and whose first touch is abysmal. Granted Middlesborough looked a very decent side but how bad were we? I've watched the Reds for alomost 40 years but I'm struggling to remember when I felt as resigned to relegation as much as I do know and this is only three games in. Where do we go from here? I honestly don't know. We've obviously cut our cloth and I'd imagine our player budget is on a par with a mid table League 1 outfit. That is more than likely where we are heading.
Spot on. I just don't know what Hill is seeing that we aren't because either the majority of the crowd are wrong or Hill is wrong. This system isn't working and won't work with the players we have.
Addison was very poor tonight, very surprised when Doyle went off instread of him. Didn't think Perkins did much. No width at all, especially in the first half. Players taking four or five touches instead of the one or two that you need for a quick, slick passing game. Too much going backwards, putting ourselves under pressure.
Doyle, when he receives the ball just "turns in" rather than opening his body up, he then can only ever pass back or try a forward pass round the corner which never come off.
