WIt En seeing just talking to my old man about this, arguably only incomings are rushy, grimes and kane with binks and sheaf out (ignoring other new players as not as much impact as previously mentioned players so far)
Would/could have robins have achieved what frank has done so far? is this just the coming together of a quality group of players that are now a tight knit bunch of lads?
has it been all down to tactics, background staff and possibly numerous other things that frank has changed behind the scenes?
Yes and even Grimes was on our radar before Frank came. Robins and Viveash did a great job and the squad showed great togetherness even then.
But Frank and his staff deserves credit too. Rather than rip it up and start again they have built on what they inherited and it is on record that one attraction of coming here was that the squad was good. I think tactics have been tweaked and we play with more tempo (even Robins often moaned about out lack of tempo at times post match). We do go a bit more direct now. But still look after the ball.
i think we have always had players making decent runs off the ball, Wright, Simms, EMC, BTA. But we used to be too slow reacting to it, Sheaf wanted a touch, look another touch and look again and the opportunity was gone or we were off side. Grimes changed that he spots the runner and delivers. Kessler Hayden pre season and when he scored the other day, made the run and Grimes played him in straight away.
Lampard also knows how to get players in the box supporting the loan central striker. See EMC, Sakamoto, Rudoni, Torp, BTA. We are even seeing it with Van Ewijk and Dasilva in recent games. Players are regularly arriving in areas where goal scoring opportunities will fall. That is coached and it’s a percentage game.
