Player Analysis (part two)

Player analysis:

Steele - 6: probably not at fault with any of the goals, but not a good day for him.

Foster, Cranie and McNulty – all 4: they need to be trained up again to 1) know how to defend in depth, rather than a square straight line and 2) how to defend set pieces from various parts of the ground. They were not helped by the wing-backs being too far forwards, leaving them stretched time and again. They need to develop a better awareness of each other’s positional play.

Delap 5: did his bit and may have been playing according to instructions in wide-midfield, rather than defence. If it was a tactical error, we need someone in the next game who is prepared to be in the default position of full/wing-back and to break forwards to support the attack when needed. Good shot, which Heaton did very well to push round the post. Great last-ditch tackle, when he finally did get back into the penalty-area to stop a certain goal from a set-up by Stead.

Kennedy 6: same really as Delap and same comments about tactical position. Get him back in the central three next game, even if that means a makeshift left-wing-back. Some good quality free-kicks and set pieces.

Tunnicliffe 6: I thought he did ok on debut, especially as he needed to get to know his position and the players around him. I don’t recall his giving the ball away and he likes a tackle. A couple of good shots from distance as well. He will serve us ok until Etuhu and Dawson are available again. One lay-off for O’Brien in the second half was quality, but, alas, Jim hadn’t read the script and had not continued his run.

O’Brien 5: not one of his better ones. I can recall little of note really and was substituted in the second half. He has done so well since Flicker took over that I just wondered why he didn’t make the same impact yesterday, especially as he will want to win his permanent place back in the team.

Perkins 5: again, not as visible as most games yesterday. Kept busy as ever at times, but did not have the same impact as usual. Did his bit in setting up one of the late goals (can’t remember which one).

Harewood 7: I thought he did well as target-man/striker. He was always available for the ball forwards and did the job of holding up the ball very well, whether it was a chest-trap, or putting his foot on the ball and then bringing into play the other midfielders and striker. Had a couple of good runs and caused problems whilst he was on the pitch. He looks strong and fit and will be a problem for any defence, either setting up, or scoring goals. Good game for Marlon and cannot criticise.

Dagnall 7: had the confidence of a player who is in a rich scoring vein and was unlucky to be denied by Heaton’s outstanding save early on. Always finding space out wide and tricking his way past defenders, often this time to set up a good pass to another player. Ran hard all the time and has a good footballing brain, being able to time his runs and to see opportunities before they arise. Same style as Andy Payton, or Andy Liddell for me. A good game in which he deserved a goal, but was mostly well-marshalled by the City defence as our danger-man.

Chris O’Grady 6: did ok and presented a more physical presence for us in midfield and up front, although I could not quite work out in what position he was playing. It was a sort of midfield, breaking forward as an attacker, although becoming more out-and-out striker after Harewood was replaced.

Jason Scotland 7: got well involved and scored the sort of goal which is the mark of the instinctive goalscorer. What I like about him is the way that everything about his game is focussed on getting the ball in the net. We need a player like that. He took his goal well, slotting right into the corner. He also controlled the ball well at his feet and teased the defence, usually getting passes to other reds’ players, which shows he is not just a selfish scorer. A good few minutes. Had it been 4-3 with five minutes to go, I would have backed him to get an equaliser. He would have been determined to do it.

Tomas Cywka 7: looked very lively when he came on. Where has he been? Not even on the bench at times. Took his goal well and did a good amount of effective running, which dragged the City defence around (when pressured, they looked shaky). A lot of good short ‘pass-and-run’ stuff, which we needed to get the engine started. Played his full part in the better last quarter we had, even though it was too late.

So there you have it. I actually think that our problems yesterday were structural and tactical as much as anything. We were too ‘gung-ho’ and over-confidence did for us in the first hour, by which time it was too late. We need two wing-backs to defend first of all in away games and be available on the break. This will help the central three to remain a solid unit. We need one of the central three to play slightly deeper in order to sweep up behind and to stop us being caught square. We need to practice the defensive arts for the whole of next week, especially in the straight-forward routine of set-pieces, including working out which midfielders and striker will be marking who.

It was a bursting of the bubble, but the answer is a combination of right formation and right application. No need to panic, but we were thrashed on the day, because our defence was shambolic. I for one think this will be simpler to put right than most others.

Keep the faith!

 

Excellent posts, Tommy. Really appreciate them both as I couldn't get to the game.

Having seen the BBC highlights, I think Steele was at fault for their first goal, and he came for but didn't get the corner and they scored their third.

Perkins' poor header to Steele led to a corner from which they scored.

BUT we did have a lot of chances, most of which seemed to be staright at their keeper.

We can't be too disappointed with this performance and result though. I'm sure Flicker will work on the problems he saw.

 

I probably agree with all those player ratings. Our strikers are putting our defence to shame at the moment.

It would be interesting to see if Flicker would consider a 3-4-3/3-4-2-1 so as to include Scotland as we have 3 strikers who are really making an impact. And let's be honest, O'Brien didn't really do anything yesterday.

Perkins Tunnicliffe
Dagnall Scotland
Harewood

 

Sorry, meant to say Steele was at fault for their second goal, not their first.

 

Here's my ratings:


Steele - Wasn't helped by those in front of him, but didn't exactly cover himself in glory for at least 2 of their goals. (5)

Cranie - No idea what he was doing for their second goal. Looked assured in possession, but nervous when out of possession. (5)

Foster - Was outstripped for pace on a few occasions, and can understand why he was replaced. We lacked his aerial presence afterwards, though. (5)

McNulty - Sloppy in possession, and as poor as the rest of them at set pieces. (5)

Delap - A decent shot and interception aside, he was woeful. Looked way off the pace and his passing was awful. (5)

Kennedy - Saw lots of the ball, but defensively he looked all over the place. Poor positionally. Did well when going forwards, though. (5)

Tunnicliffe - Impressed me initially, but faded in and out of the game. Understandable I suppose. (6)

Perkins - Not his best performance defensively, but seemed to lack help at times. Never stopped trying, as per. (6)

O'Brien - Anonymous, at best. Didn't seem to know where to play. We improved as a unit once he was subbed. (4)

Dagnall - Another typical display from him, ran his blood to water, linked well with Marlon and was unlucky not to score. (8)

Harewood - Like Dagnall, he didn't deserve to be on the losing side. Made the best of poor service. But lacked a finish. (7)

O'Grady - Another impressive appearance from COG. Great option against physical sides, scored, and rarely lost the ball. (8)

Scotland - Wish we'd signed him years ago. So threatening. Defenders are scared of him/respect him. Quality goal. (8)

Cywka - Showed the talent he offered early season is still in there. Offers us something different - a direct runner. Great finish, too. (8)



As I said yesterday, if only we'd defended even half decently as a unit, we'd have won the game.

I'm not disheartened at all. Our attacking options are plentiful, and after 12 months of torture I like that.

The defence have been more than adequate under Flitcroft thus far and so I'm putting yesterday down as a 'bad day at the office'.

Onto the next one....

You Reds!