Otis
Well-Known Member
Before I start can I say that this is not an anti Thorn thread as such.
I alluded to this in another post yesterday. The fact is that I think we are focusing on the wrong end of the pitch. It is all about defensive mistakes and I think we are missing the point.
Mistakes are going to happen at the back. It goes with the territory.
1. When you are at the bottom of the table players lose confidence and are nervous and are more likely to make mistakes.
2. The fact that we are still only scoring at an average of less than one goal a game means that even more emphasis is put on the defence to keep clean sheets and this in turn can then lead to more mistakes.
It's a Catch 22 situation. The more we try to cut out mistakes but don't score the more the likelihood we won't win and the more we don't win the more the pressure on the defence and the more the pressure on the defence, then the more chance of mistakes. Vicious circle.
If you are scoring goals a bit more freely then that takes the weight off the defence. I know we have squad and player limitations but I think we really need to have a bit more of a go and concentrate on the attack rather than trying to keep things tight all the time (the constant passing of the ball in our own half for instance).
What do we have to lose now? We are looking doomed anyway. Why not try and play 3 up front or go for a much more attacking formation? We are not creating enough chances in games and we are not scoring enough. Pretty much all our crosses come from the fullback positions and our fullbacks are not the best crossers of the ball. Hussey's reasonably good, but Christie more hit and miss and so too Wood, Clarke and Keogh.
McSheffey has got a good cross on him.
In conclusion, I suggest we try and push up a few yards, try and get the ball forwards more quickly and try and get the midfield to support the attack.
What do we have to lose? Could also make the football more exciting and a little less predictable.
I really do think that all our focus is on our defence and the stopping of us making mistakes, but that we are missing the bigger picture, which is one of us not scoring enough or creating enough at the other end, which in turn leads to more defensive errors.
As I say, I am well aware of our limitations, but we do keep leaving a goalscorer on the bench. Let's try and accommodate Cody McDonald somewhere in the team so we have a bit more firepower.
We look down and out anyway, so what do we have to lose? Let's start going for much more attacking formations for once. It's worth a try surely? We are far too cautious at present and the pressure of the bottom of the table positions we have held have induced more mistakes at the back.
We do have attacking players in our squad (Baker, McSheff, Juke, Platt, McDonald) so there is the opportunity to try out a more attacking line-up.
Just think the defensive mistakes are going to get worse the further adrift we get and with the defence knowing we don't score enough this is just compounded.
I alluded to this in another post yesterday. The fact is that I think we are focusing on the wrong end of the pitch. It is all about defensive mistakes and I think we are missing the point.
Mistakes are going to happen at the back. It goes with the territory.
1. When you are at the bottom of the table players lose confidence and are nervous and are more likely to make mistakes.
2. The fact that we are still only scoring at an average of less than one goal a game means that even more emphasis is put on the defence to keep clean sheets and this in turn can then lead to more mistakes.
It's a Catch 22 situation. The more we try to cut out mistakes but don't score the more the likelihood we won't win and the more we don't win the more the pressure on the defence and the more the pressure on the defence, then the more chance of mistakes. Vicious circle.
If you are scoring goals a bit more freely then that takes the weight off the defence. I know we have squad and player limitations but I think we really need to have a bit more of a go and concentrate on the attack rather than trying to keep things tight all the time (the constant passing of the ball in our own half for instance).
What do we have to lose now? We are looking doomed anyway. Why not try and play 3 up front or go for a much more attacking formation? We are not creating enough chances in games and we are not scoring enough. Pretty much all our crosses come from the fullback positions and our fullbacks are not the best crossers of the ball. Hussey's reasonably good, but Christie more hit and miss and so too Wood, Clarke and Keogh.
McSheffey has got a good cross on him.
In conclusion, I suggest we try and push up a few yards, try and get the ball forwards more quickly and try and get the midfield to support the attack.
What do we have to lose? Could also make the football more exciting and a little less predictable.
I really do think that all our focus is on our defence and the stopping of us making mistakes, but that we are missing the bigger picture, which is one of us not scoring enough or creating enough at the other end, which in turn leads to more defensive errors.
As I say, I am well aware of our limitations, but we do keep leaving a goalscorer on the bench. Let's try and accommodate Cody McDonald somewhere in the team so we have a bit more firepower.
We look down and out anyway, so what do we have to lose? Let's start going for much more attacking formations for once. It's worth a try surely? We are far too cautious at present and the pressure of the bottom of the table positions we have held have induced more mistakes at the back.
We do have attacking players in our squad (Baker, McSheff, Juke, Platt, McDonald) so there is the opportunity to try out a more attacking line-up.
Just think the defensive mistakes are going to get worse the further adrift we get and with the defence knowing we don't score enough this is just compounded.