Where has the quality gone?

I realise the thread title is pretty negative so I'll start off by saying whatever happens over the next 4 games, the lads and Hecky can be incredibly proud of how they've turned things round this season and our win at Wembley was one I'll never forget. I also recognise the fact we're only 2 points off the play offs after today's draw.

However, in the 6 league games since our win at Walsall there has been a glaring lack of quality in the final third of the pitch. It's testament to how utterly dreadful this league is that we've actually won 3 of those games despite how poor we've been at the opposition's end of the field. But it is worth pointing out that those wins (Fleetwood, Vale, Oldham) have all come courtesy of set pieces.

It's open play where the quality is lacking. Floated crosses to the keeper, a few decent balls to the back stick with no-one bothering to attack them, terrible attempts at goal (when we stop fannying about with it and actually get a shot off.
If Winnall, Hammill, Brownhill, Hourihane, Chapman et al had employed even a quarter of the quality they possess today we'd have won at a canter against a Burton side who I simply cannot believe are second in the league. The same could be said in all of our recent home games. Such a frustrating drive home today knowing that the teams above us slipped up as well.

Oh well. If we can keep picking up points despite being crap in the final third we may yet finish in the play offs. If our attacking players rediscover their ability then I've no doubt we will. Can totally understand if some people think I've being overly negative but that's just how I see things at the moment.

 

Winnall hit the post twice with glorious opportunities made in open play on Tuesday. Cant comment on today as I wasn't there.

 

No midfield drive any more.

 

I think the lack of his strike partner, Watkins, has prevented Winnall from scoring as many as he did earlier.

 

Nail hit firmly on head

 

Not according to the commentators on player....they said Hourihane was running the game.

 

Burton were top quality and we matched them all the way. Neither side had many chances; great result and performance I thought. The defence again were immense.

 

I thought the midfield two completely ran the game, Burton didn't get a look in down the middle. Unfortunately it was our wing play that let us down today. Hammill had an off day and we made the wrong choice on a few occasions in the final third.

 

Hourihane often gets the ball from deep. He never drives forward with the ball. He probably has never run at anyone and gone past them. Often he looks up and then passes it to the centre half, as though said centre half has more idea than he has.

But he makes himself available. So he might well "run" the game, in that sense.

When he is higher up the pitch, he is good at playing an obvious crisp pass from his left foot.

He is hit and miss with set pieces. For our division, he is good with the dead ball.

I can see now why Plymouth had him playing in front of the back four. Apparently.

But he provides no drive. Never did.

And Brownhill has faded badly. So we are struggling. In midfield.

 

I agree about our defense. I disagree about Burton. They were very poor, constantly giving the ball away and happy to sit back and invite us on. Trouble is we didn't capitalise, which is why I can't help but see today as 2 points dropped.

But then if everyone agreed on everything the world would be a very boring place.

 

I've never recognised the Conor Hourihane you persistently claim we have. Ah, well, opinions and all that.

 

Watkins being out has a lot to do with it in my opinion. Devastating news he's out for the season now

 

Burton are anything but quality. Awful side that I'm glad I don't have to watch regularly. They are however, very well organised and hard to beat. Thought we lacked quality in final third. Too many wrong options taken when we got into good positions and not enough composure in certain situations. Reckon we need 3 wins now and that is a big ask but not impossible...

 

This is pretty much how I saw it.

 

Our key players are knackered. Winnall, Hammill, Hourihane & Brownhill have played a lot of games over the past 5 months & we press teams a lot & it takes its toll. Ideally we'd be able to bring others in but there's little depth now due to injuries

 

No I can't say I do either.

 

You could probably say that for most of the teams

it's so tight this season its not just skill and talent now, nerve/ bottle whatever you want to call it will be playing a huge part. I think you will find most of the top teams won't be replicating their earl season form as teams try to hold it together for the final push

 

Re: You could probably say that for most of the teams

A lot of it disappeared when Hammill got sent off other than Wembley he's not been the same since.

 

How did you think Isgrove did today?

 

He's the handsome one, really good at football..