Match Thread Preston North End FC - Coventry City Match Thread - Tuesday 9th Dec (49 Viewers)

[Otis]

Based on his performance yesterday I’m not sure I would start Rudi. Maybe if he’s looking sharp in training. Otherwise I’d be happy for Eccles to stand in again and give Rudi 30 mins or more.

Yeah, I think we had to play him though, what with both Torp and Saka out.

 

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[PVA]

Even then, Manneh’s season ended a month ago so it’ll still have been a few months since his last competitive game by the time he gets here.

Abdoulie 'Pato' Manneh

 

[higgs]

Bta is a big loss to our pressing and covering back

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[shmmeee]

Yeah, I think we had to play him though, what with both Torp and Saka out.

Absolutely. But if they’re both back I wouldn’t rush him. Saturday was a big game and he’d already made one start but I think is clearly a bit away from match fitness really.

 

[JSL]

Is there any reason why Manneh couldn't train with us before officially joining us? (assuming it is indeed happening)

 

[SeaSeeEffCee]

A bit worried about this one. Conceding far too many goals and the squad looks like its been stretched to it's limits at the moment. Two losses in a row wouldn't be devastating to our season but would be a real momentum killer.

 

[mmttww]

The same players managed a lot of clean sheets earlier in the season to be fair.

and now we're shipping goals at the rate of two each game. I want them back to keeping some clean sheets because I'm not convinced we go up conceding at the rate we are since Stoke. Need to sharpen up at the back or we risk wasting the brilliant start we made.

 

[Sick Boy]

Bta is a big loss to our pressing and covering back

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We miss him majorly for transitions.

 

[Skyblueweeman]

Is there any reason why Manneh couldn't train with us before officially joining us? (assuming it is indeed happening)

Probably something to do with insurance potentially?

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

and now we're shipping goals at the rate of two each game. I want them back to keeping some clean sheets because I'm not convinced we go up conceding at the rate we are since Stoke. Need to sharpen up at the back of we risk wasting the brilliant start we made.

Of course no team can go on indefinitely conceding that many and expect much. The question is why, and my hunch is the very ambitious way we want to play requires high fitness and tactical cohesion; we’re lacking the former and changing players around compromises the latter.

I’d favour going to a back 5, at least on the road, and playing more on the counter.

 

[Skyblueweeman]

If we have Saka and Torp back for this, I fancy us to bounce back with a win.

It would be nice to go into the Bristol City 8 or 10 points clear again. Boro away at Charlton, Millwall away at Derby.

Charlton should be fresh after not really playing on Saturday and Eustace will be looking at a response from Derby after a poor performance at home to Leicester on Saturday.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

and now we're shipping goals at the rate of two each game. I want them back to keeping some clean sheets because I'm not convinced we go up conceding at the rate we are since Stoke. Need to sharpen up at the back or we risk wasting the brilliant start we made.

I'm not that worried about it all yet because the majority of the goals have been from set pieces which is an easier fix than getting carved open from open play. Ipswich's 2nd and 3rd goals game about because we had 10 players in their half chasing a goal, v much the reverse when beat Millwall 4-0, 2 counter attacks at 2-0 up when they were throwing the Kitching sink at us.

Generally, we've been good at defending our box from open play, WBA and Wrexham being the two outliers imo. Ipswich is one of those games where we would've lost 1-0 if we chose to be uber-conservative in attack.

 

[fernandopartridge]

I’d favour going to a back 5, at least on the road, and playing more on the counter.

I wonder whether that's something Lampard is considering. I'm just thinking about the comment he made about MVE "needing to learn to play inside" after Middlesbrough where he played on the right of the back 3 once KKH came on.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

If we have Saka and Torp back for this, I fancy us to bounce back with a win.

It would be nice to go into the Bristol City 8 or 10 points clear again. Boro away at Charlton, Millwall away at Derby.

Charlton should be fresh after not really playing on Saturday and Eustace will be looking at a response from Derby after a poor performance at home to Leicester on Saturday.

We should've been fresher than Wrexham and Ipswich who had 3 game weeks and somehow, we've lost both. I really don't understand that, at least the latter would've rotated the squad significantly.

 

[JSL]

I wonder whether that's something Lampard is considering. I'm just thinking about the comment he made about MVE "needing to learn to play inside" after Middlesbrough where he played on the right of the back 3 once KKH came on.

I often think MVE of late is already playing the right side of a back three as on several occasions when we come under attack the oppositions LW has acres of space with MVE in the penalty area and nowhere near. Perhaps Saka is tasked with tracking back to cover, but as hes been out injured for two games, that hasn't happened

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I'm not that worried about it all yet because the majority of the goals have been from set pieces which is an easier fix than getting carved open from open play. Ipswich's 2nd and 3rd goals game about because we had 10 players in their half chasing a goal, v much the reverse when beat Millwall 4-0, 2 counter attacks at 2-0 up when they were throwing the Kitching sink at us.

Generally, we've been good at defending our box from open play, WBA and Wrexham being the two outliers imo. Ipswich is one of those games where we would've lost 1-0 if we chose to be uber-conservative in attack.

I think we’d have beaten them playing to hit on the break but the game’s gone now. Any time this season we’ve played with a 5 we’ve looked in good control of the game and nullified some of the pressure.

I understand Torp’s late injury was a problem, but as we were missing wide players anyway I’m not sure why we didn’t go for that instead.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I wonder whether that's something Lampard is considering. I'm just thinking about the comment he made about MVE "needing to learn to play inside" after Middlesbrough where he played on the right of the back 3 once KKH came on.

Looking at the coming away games especially against Southampton and Birmingham, it looks very risky to play the way we are when we’re missing wide players and energy up front. I’d go 5-3-2, hit on the break and switch to the 4-3-3 if we’re chasing the game.

PNE I actually think a 4-3-3 would be the better option.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I wonder whether that's something Lampard is considering. I'm just thinking about the comment he made about MVE "needing to learn to play inside" after Middlesbrough where he played on the right of the back 3 once KKH came on.

I agree but if there was ever a game to try this, it was against Ipswich but instead we played 4-2-3-1 and KKH looked awkward as a RW. Sakamoto is fit for PNE so I can't see us playing anything other than 4-2-3-1 to start the match on Tuesday.

Been banging on about the need to sign wingers since the summer and its now a consensus on here despite people thinking we could get away with playing Brau or KKH playing LW/RW. If we don't sign at least 1 winger in Jan, it will potentially ruin the season.

I think we’d have beaten them playing to hit on the break but the game’s gone now. Any time this season we’ve played with a 5 we’ve looked in good control of the game and nullified some of the pressure.

I understand Torp’s late injury was a problem, but as we were missing wide players anyway I’m not sure why we didn’t go for that instead.

I disagree, in the first half we were marginally the better team. We hit the post and KKH has a clear header that really should've hit the target. The game was on a knife edge and conceding a soft goal just before HT was a real blow. We had to take risks, got caught out

Ipswich only had 1.45 xG for the game which is one of their lowest in recent games and most of that was from 2 counter attacks (0.92 xG).

Had we gone 1-0 up, the game was set up that we probably beat them by 2 or 3 which highlights just how important the first goal is.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I agree but if there was ever a game to try this, it was against Ipswich but instead we played 4-2-3-1 and KKH looked awkward as a RW. Sakamoto is fit for PNE so I can't see us playing anything other than 4-2-3-1 to start the match on Tuesday.

Been banging on about the need to sign wingers since the summer and its now a consensus on here despite people thinking we could get away with playing Brau or KKH playing LW/RW. If we don't sign at least 1 winger in Jan, it will potentially ruin the season.



I disagree, in the first half we were marginally the better team. We hit the post and KKH has a clear header that really should've hit the target. The game was on a knife edge and conceding a soft goal just before HT was a real blow. We had to take risks, got caught out

Ipswich only had 1.45 xG for the game which is one of their lowest in recent games and most of that was from 2 counter attacks (0.92 xG).

Had we gone 1-0 up, the game was set up that we probably beat them by 2 or 3 which highlights just how important the first goal is.

Fair, I just think from having watched a number of their games, they’re poor at handling teams who sit in and hit on the break.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Looking at the coming away games especially against Southampton and Birmingham, it looks very risky to play the way we are when we’re missing wide players and energy up front. I’d go 5-3-2, hit on the break and switch to the 4-3-3 if we’re chasing the game.

PNE I actually think a 4-3-3 would be the better option.

As things stand, we'll probably be back to 'full strength' tomorrow because Sakamoto and Torp will be back in the mix. The only missing player is BTA. Sakamoto was out through the concussion protocol, Torp was 'taken ill' the night before the game and Haji is back now.

Southampton is potentially a 5-3-2 game. Get Haji and Simms upfront with Torp, Grimes and Rudoni in midfield, then KKH and MVE on the right (RWB & RCB).

Fair, I just think from having watched a number of their games, they’re poor at handling teams who sit in and hit on the break.

The first half, possession was relatively even at 56-44% to us and both teams were trying to defend well and break out where they could. It's the second half where we dominated 68-32% because all Ipswich needed to do was defend a 1-0 lead. They did that well and hit us ruthlessly on the counter which you can do easily as 1 or 2-0 up.

It's a game of margins and on this occasion, Ipswich got that little bit of luck on the day. After all, they probably should've got a red and we did hit the post, if one of those events goes our way, the result looks different imo.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

As things stand, we'll probably be back to 'full strength' tomorrow because Sakamoto and Torp will be back in the mix. The only missing player is BTA. Sakamoto was out through the concussion protocol, Torp was 'taken ill' the night before the game and Haji is back now.

Southampton is potentially a 5-3-2 game. Get Haji and Simms upfront with Torp, Grimes and Rudoni in midfield, then KKH and MVE on the right (RWB & RCB).


The first half, possession was relatively even at 56-44% to us and both teams were trying to defend well and break out where they could. It's the second half where we dominated 68-32% because all Ipswich needed to do was defend a 1-0 lead. They did that well and hit us ruthlessly on the counter which you can do easily as 1 or 2-0 up.

It's a game of margins and on this occasion, Ipswich got that little bit of luck on the day. After all, they probably should've got a red and we did hit the post, if one of those events goes our way, the result looks different imo.

I agree as far as Southampton are concerned. They play more like us than anyone else in the league from the games I’ve seen.

 

[pusbccfc]

A quick glance on other forums seems to suggest our bubble is burst, we're struggling with injuries and have a horrible run ahead.

Everyone is desperate for us to stumble.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

A quick glance on other forums seems to suggest our bubble is burst, we're struggling with injuries and have a horrible run ahead.

Everyone is desperate for us to stumble.

People said that after Ipswich got battered by Leeds a few season ago, myself included.

It's easy to look at the score line and believe Ipswich battered us. They didn't and the game was closer than the score line suggested, much like us pummeling Millwall has done nothing to stop being in and around the Top 3.

 

[David O'Day]

A quick glance on other forums seems to suggest our bubble is burst, we're struggling with injuries and have a horrible run ahead.

Everyone is desperate for us to stumble.

who cares

 

[Captain_Slackbladder]

Should win, we are much better than them and it should only be BTA missing.

Put Rudi on the bench and let him get back to match fitness more gradually, he's looked better off the bench than he has starting since he came back.

Rushworth
MVE-Thomas-Kitching-JDS
Torp-Grimes
Saka-Eccles-EMC
Simms

You can then bring Rudi and Wright on in the 2nd half

Agree, Eccles deserves to keep his place

 

[jordan210]

I know we have not won at Deepdale possibly ever. But would be a big 3 points if we can get it.

 

[oneofourown]

One thing for me, we cannot play a back five, we don't have the personnel, we look distorted and players, including Rudoni, didn't know where to fit in. If you want to play KKH put he in Milan's or Saka's position not try to create a 'between' position for him, he overloaded midfield and took Rudoni's space. In fact when we are in possession Grimes falls back into a sweeper's position so works like a five anyway.
Do we need to win? We can still manage another loss and Boro have to win to incur progress, but I think a draw is on the cards.

 

[pusbccfc]

who cares

Great reply. Cheers.

 

[alexccfc99]

When the fixtures come out I writ this game off as not going, Tuesday night and we never win there

Naturally, the way the season has gone I have been sucked in and I have decided to go

Will be my thirteenth visit to Deepdale, not a single win amongst the previous 12, surely our luck has to turn there at some point

 

[Flying Fokker]

Probably something to do with insurance potentially?

What of Bamford and Paterson? Did they have cover?

 

[Skyblueweeman]

What of Bamford and Paterson? Did they have cover?

I don't really know, hence the question mark. Just a suggestion.

 

[David O'Day]

Great reply. Cheers.

it's true though, why would you care what people on another teams forum say?

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

When the fixtures come out I writ this game off as not going, Tuesday night and we never win there

Naturally, the way the season has gone I have been sucked in and I have decided to go

Will be my thirteenth visit to Deepdale, not a single win amongst the previous 12, surely our luck has to turn there at some point

It’s the first time I haven’t been in a similar number of attempts. Hopefully between your persistence and Sod’s Law, the hoodoo ends tomorrow.

 

[pusbccfc]

it's true though, why would you care what people on another teams forum say?

Don't know.

 

[quinn1971]

could Be 12 points clear of 3rd again after Tuesday,