wrong tactics ?,´.. wrong players...?

[forever a red and white]

For me it, it has always been the case at some point, our lack of squad strength in certain areas would catch up with us, the biggest suprise is that it has taken this long. I can't believe how well the season has gone so far and it has completely surpassed all my expctations.

 

The difference was that last season when clubs suffered injuries and suspensions we were in a fantastic position to deal with it, quite simply there are many teams in the league below us who have stronger squads. Not to say our starting evleven plus a few haven't been excellent.

 

However, I'm yet to be convinced that there will be huge sums of money available. Firtsly we spent an enourmous amount of money in League 1 on players who would not only cut it in that league but also the NPC. Secondly, there have been, admittly, unconfirmed rumours that the current owners want out. I think we need to take the opportunity to invst sensibly in the new players without killing ourselves. On the other hand, it is quite clear that the club must recoup some of the money spent in the previous year or two on transfer fees and new contracts handed out.

 

Adkins errors will be exposed more in this division with a weaker squad at his disposal and agaisnt better sides. Howver, I don't think he makes many and have 100% confidence in him to get us promoted and continue to take the club forward. Hopefully more signings will give us a more effective Plan B, C, D etc.

 

We're still in a fantastic position and as NA has said lets stay positive!

[david in sweden]

I genuinely have to ask if you watch us play often?

Under Pardew what you describe is right, but it fundamentally isn't the case now.

Lambert scores goals because he is a superb footballer. But that's like saying our defence relies on Kelvin being a good goalkeeper.

If you had another Rickie Lambert he wouldn't get in the side unless Rickie#1 was injured. We need striking options because of injury not because we are reliant on one player.

 

At the start of last season when Adkins arrived and it was clear his game was pass and move, there were many (me included) who questioned whether Lambert could adapt to this style. Because in the previous season he had been a Grade A Premium Target Man. Rickie had adapated brilliantly because he is a class player with a great brain.

 

So you have an issue. Are you asking for a direct replacement so we can play the same way (you think) which is designed to suit Lambert? Or are you asking for options to play another way??

 

I agree 100% with you we need more depth. But you simply do not go out and buy Rooney#2, Messi#2 or Lambert#2. I would love for Silva and Aguero to be injured at Man Citeh so people could understand how important a team's best players are and that there will be an inevitable dip in the team's form if the best players are either injured or off their game.

 

to Le god third coming.

Try to answer those q. in order.Don't get to the UK as often as I'd like, but have seen around 10 games this season via cable TV and various computer streams, and goal highlights of every game (though that doesn't count really if discussing tactics)...and of course get a lot of feedback from the more sensible posters on this site ...and others that "fills in the blanks".

 

Lambert - I agree is a very gifted footballer, and scores a lot of goals. I grew up with Ron Davies as hero figure, and he did likewise (once scoring 50% of the sides total goals ). Problem for RL (as was Davies) is that everyone's sussed him out he becomes the man-to-mark, yet still manages to score.

As far as I can see..THIS season RL has no "foil" to play off. Barnard got injured in April, and hasn't played a full game since, and as soon as Connolly was given only a one year contract, I felt I could see the problem a mile off. IMO Connolly is class, and had a great start, but at 34 ..35 ?.

NA used him sparingly, and nursed him along for 60 mins. apps. but his injuries take longer to heal now and he needs it on a plate if he's going to score.

 

We're back to Ricky as the only real striker, and the tactics dictate we play to him. Lallana (who can score goals) has fitted well into playing in the hole, but at the cost of his own goal tally. Guly has adapted better than many will admit, but still wavers between being a clever Brazilian footballer (with skills) and playing the Invisible Man...Sure, he's learn to stay onside and track back to defend but it doesn't help if he's meant to be an extra striker..so it's back to the Lambert scenario

 

I agree with most who post that we can't get a Ricky (mark 2), and I don't expect us to find one but we have to have an alternative strategy so that other strikers can play to, without being totally reliant on the Ricky formula. (i.e. play to a versatile, tall man with skill who moves around a lot)

 

Having failed to sign Billy Sharp in the summer, NA was lucky that things started well (better than most people expected). Connolly was great, Ricky got in the goals (although five of them have been pens). and Chaplow was suddenly a revelation, and no major injuries - upto then.

So the " apparant size and depth " of our squad looked impressive, but without Chaplow (and even Davis and Lambert for one game), we look distinctly vulnerable, and still no real strike partner for Lambert to play off.

We tried for Sharp (and I understand why he didn't come) but the intention was there to buy him, but in the end.. no-one came.

 

I was truly amazed that we didn't LOAN someone before November, and the resulting games after the (first) Bristol defeat was clear, but still no loan.

I really felt (hard to criticise NA) that he should have struck a loan deal with Coventry to borrow Luka Jut. for 6 weeks and take a look at him, and we'd know what he was capable of in our set-up. There must have been some talk, (when interviewed the Coventry manager had resigned himself to losing LJ) and Coventry are strapped for cash...but NO deal. (!).

Then we lost at Bristol and now ..we've won only 2 games of the last 8.. scored a measly 7 goals and even failed to score in 4 of those matches. I really thought they all looked "winnable " on paper. Lambert (missed one game) but still only scored in only 2 of the other 7... (as did Guly)...

 

Changing the tactics sometimes worked, but only if you have people in the box who can score goals. We did try - but didn't have anyone to finish the job.

Our midfield passes the ball fantastically but (aside from Lallana - mentioned above) have only managed 2 goals between the other 3 regulars.

I don't expect to find another Ricky, but we must have other strikers (loan or permanent) with some sort of track record in scoring, and I don't mean Forte.

 

Now we are about to sign T. Lee... I just hope people don't expect miracles from him whilst we are without RL for 3 games. Connolly is the only other fit striker worthy of a place, but we can't play the " give it to Ricky " strategy because he won't be there. So waht the alterantive strategy Nigel? ..the Plan B.

 

If you want me to be really controversial - I'll, say this . We need 4 proven strikers on the bus - by the summer.

If Lambert is one - fine by me. Connolly is 34 and is OOC in June, and Barnards future doesn't depend on our treatment table, but the treatment he gets from the judge in March.

3 matches without RL might not be a catastrophe, but what if it were a 3 month lay-off through injury ? We'd be sunk without trace.

 

If we have pretentions to Premiership, look hard at Harry with Spurs who has four strikers AND has sold Crouch, and can't find a combination he likes.

If we go up, defence won't be the most important issue, as most teams will score against us anyway- it'll be how many goals we can score in order to survive.

Edited 4 January, 2012 by david in sweden

[Graffito]

Chaplow has been a big miss because he gets forward from midfield into dangerous positions. We need him back or get someone else playing the same way. I'd like to see Lallana released from the left where it's easier for the opposition to blunt the danger he poses. Move him inside where he can damage the opposition and get him on the ball as much as possible.

[Minty]

I think we've missed Chaplow's intensity more than any lack of depth upfront recently, but I do agree that there is a lack of depth in our attack.

 

I tend to look at it as an opportunity however. Few of us would argue that, on paper, a strikeforce of Lambert, Connelly, Barnard, Guly is a poor selection, but injuries have ruled out that choice for most of the season. Form has been intermittent for some players, only Lambert has performed consistently well and Guly has chipped in with a lot of goals too.

 

So, the way I see it, we should simply be looking to sign better players. We should NEVER be looking for an understudy or back-up for any player, we should always be looking for better. If we find someone then initially they'll probably play alongside Lambert, but in due course, the competition for places, and perhaps injuries or as we find now, with suspension, may mean that this new player can replace Lambert in his hold up/link up role, alongside a second striker.

 

It may be that we end up changing our style or patterns of play a bit too, and I have no problem with that. Indeed I would welcome it. Lambert has been first choice for some time and so naturally we play to his strengths, but if this enforced change means we develop more depth to our tactics, as well as hopefully to our squad through some signings of better players, then it's a win/win situation.

 

Above all else however, I fully trust in Adkins to do the job. He has earnt that.

[Pancake]

Wrong punctuation?

[david in sweden]

I think we've missed Chaplow's intensity more than any lack of depth upfront recently, but I do agree that there is a lack of depth in our attack.

 

I tend to look at it as an opportunity however. Few of us would argue that, on paper, a strikeforce of Lambert, Connelly, Barnard, Guly is a poor selection, but injuries have ruled out that choice for most of the season. Form has been intermittent for some players, only Lambert has performed consistently well and Guly has chipped in with a lot of goals too.

 

So, the way I see it, we should simply be looking to sign better players. We should NEVER be looking for an understudy or back-up for any player, we should always be looking for better. If we find someone then initially they'll probably play alongside Lambert, but in due course, the competition for places, and perhaps injuries or as we find now, with suspension, may mean that this new player can replace Lambert in his hold up/link up role, alongside a second striker.

 

It may be that we end up changing our style or patterns of play a bit too, and I have no problem with that. Indeed I would welcome it. Lambert has been first choice for some time and so naturally we play to his strengths, but if this enforced change means we develop more depth to our tactics, as well as hopefully to our squad through some signings of better players, then it's a win/win situation.

 

Above all else however, I fully trust in Adkins to do the job. He has earnt that.

 

Nice post Minty..wish I'd said it in so few words.

[Legod Third Coming]

I think we've missed Chaplow's intensity more than any lack of depth upfront recently, but I do agree that there is a lack of depth in our attack.

 

I tend to look at it as an opportunity however. Few of us would argue that, on paper, a strikeforce of Lambert, Connelly, Barnard, Guly is a poor selection, but injuries have ruled out that choice for most of the season. Form has been intermittent for some players, only Lambert has performed consistently well and Guly has chipped in with a lot of goals too.

 

So, the way I see it, we should simply be looking to sign better players. We should NEVER be looking for an understudy or back-up for any player, we should always be looking for better. If we find someone then initially they'll probably play alongside Lambert, but in due course, the competition for places, and perhaps injuries or as we find now, with suspension, may mean that this new player can replace Lambert in his hold up/link up role, alongside a second striker.

 

It may be that we end up changing our style or patterns of play a bit too, and I have no problem with that. Indeed I would welcome it. Lambert has been first choice for some time and so naturally we play to his strengths, but if this enforced change means we develop more depth to our tactics, as well as hopefully to our squad through some signings of better players, then it's a win/win situation.

 

Above all else however, I fully trust in Adkins to do the job. He has earnt that.

 

Amen to that brother!