fred sharpes nose Writing after the Preston game (dire) got me thinking...
19 games - Home table 4th Away table 22nd Postion 11th
Better than expected at pre-season, great start, wheels have recently started to wobble (significantly)
First 6 games - goals for 7/against 6 (inc 4 at Rotherham) points 12
Second 6 games - goals for 7/against 10 (inc 7 Sheff Ud Sunderland) points 10
Latest 7 games - goals for 7 / against 11 (inc 3 Swansea) points 4
Start of season - injury crisis limited squad to pick from, kids on the bench
Now - minimal injuries only significant one is Hutchinson. Sarr not significant as had only played 2 games. Ignore Dann and Moore
Too much choice - 4 senior strikers, Joao, Meite, Carroll, Long - none seem to work together as a pair. Challenge - one or two up front
Star player - TInce - best when can exploit his pace energy and eye for goal - number 10 or most forward midfield. Tonight way too deep impact reduced
Midfield - Hendrick improving (like him joins up things), Loum - temperant and decision making dubious potentially a dud, Fornah young with energy, Hoillet normally reliable in the right postion, Ejaria out of favour, lost his mojo, now peripheral. Hutchinson DM or centre back - good experienced. McIntrye DM or centre back / right back improving
Defence - Yiadom solid (not a wing back), Holmes - having a good season, NGW explosive pace and energy, Baba - whats the point, M Bengue periperal/cover? Sarr - doesn't seem a great signing at the moment
Keepers - Lumley and Bouzanis - solid - sorted
PInce now has 19/20 seniors players to work with - is he getting confused with how to deal with the options/choices he has now
Results should now be improving with the full squad back, or at least be consistent with the early start but things are getting worse
Team has demonstrated great potential with right pegs in right holes. So I would say we are now underperforming
Or maybe the team is knackered, other managers have sussed us out, PInce having less of an impact on the players?
I think the Preston fiasco is down to management choices/decisions/selection/shape etc
I now struggle to see how we are trying to play, identity etc.
Heard at Blackpool there was a good period followed by one of decline......... he has done very well to get us to mid table at the almost halfway point but cause for mild concern I fear
The point I have bolded was the interesting take out I saw from your post.
You have pinpointed four players who have been out injured, 3.5 of which are centre backs. (Hutchinson having played a decent role there this season).
In any squad, if you have that many injuries in one position you are going to have issues. Sarr in his 1.5 games looked like an absolute monster and exactly what we need, as has been the case with our luck however, we unable to get much football out of him. I can guarantee that once he is back our fortunes will improve. Hutchinson was a key part of the team that saw us start the season so well, and in Dann you have experience.
I, and I'm sure many others, have enjoyed this season much more than any of the last few, which is miraculous when the pre season consensus was that we'd be certs for relegation.
Ince is doing a good job at the moment, and whilst Friday was disappointing, we shouldn't be entertaining knee jerk reactions.