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A big problem with our team


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As a defensive back four we are not too bad. They are well organised and are all sharp in the tackle.

But in my eyes one of the biggest shortfalls our team has is that none of our defenders are comfortable on the ball and their distribution is woeful.

On saturday Carlisle's forwards were pressing high up the pitch which resulted in our defenders hoofing it forward and bypassing midfield. It happened all last season as well. Without players at the back who can pick out a pass under pressure, we will never be able to settle into a rhythm or set up attacks on the break.

All opposing teams have to do is make sure they press high up the pitch and we go to poo poo.

It is no coincidence that our best runs of form in recent years came when we had the likes of Micheal Johnson and Madjid Bougherra in the team. Even Richard Wood used to take responsibility from the back and make a run into midfield to relieve pressure. Our back four just want to get rid of the ball as far away from them as possible to get out of the immediate difficulty.

Thoughts?

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In general if a team presses high and does it well then the best way to get them to drop off a bit is to hit a few long balls - not up to a forward but generally over the fullback - it's very basic training ground stuff - defenders detest running toward their own goal especially in a chase for the ball - this where having pace is a great asset. If this happens a couple of times and causes a scare/goal then it normally forces the defence to adopt slightly deeper starting positions which means the forwards/midfield also have to drop thus relieving the high pressing game

Things like this are usually a game of bluff tbh and it's what the training ground is for - just basic stuff

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I think you have to go a little further up the chain and look at the appointment of Alan Irvine. If we were going to sack Brian Laws and appoint Alan Irvine who was sacked by Preston, then the person who made that decision needs to also leave the club, unless they have aleady left the club. Laws had to go, but to replace him with Irvine was a bad mistake. Alan Irvine was sacked because Preston weren't winning and we appoint him.

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The problem with our team is that they are scared to run at defenders, or in Potters case pass it forwards. They also don't like shooting from outside box. We seem to pass it around before giving it to sedg or teale who take ages to cross. Defence are still slighty shaky but currently best area on pitch for us (other than weaver).

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Guest thetruthisoutthere

Alan Irvine was sacked because Preston weren't winning and we appoint him.

Peston chairman

Alex Ferguson

Racehorses

Darren Ferguson

"tapped up by bigger club" (quote from Peterborough Chairman Barry Fry)

Re-arange as required but the general feeling is that the sacking of Alan Irvine was more down to the above snippets than it was down to a bad run of results.

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Guest Sheff Owl

One MASSIVE problem is movement we don't have any, we have to many static players.

When we do make a pass instead of going for the throat we slow it all down wait for the defence to get back and then start passing sideways or backwards.

We are slow at everything, we have the multi ball system, yet we take 10 minutes to take a throwing...

Weaver get's the ball and most for the flipping player's turn their backs.

Edited by Sheff Owl
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The defence IMO isnt too bad, but the midfield is getting over run so we are under a constant barrage of pressure. The midfield isnt defensive enough and arent holding the ball up when we break. There is only so long that the defence and goal keeper can do, eventually we will concede.

We looked more solid with JOC and Miller in midfield. Potter and Coke are too similar. Time for a change.

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As a defensive back four we are not too bad. They are well organised and are all sharp in the tackle.

But in my eyes one of the biggest shortfalls our team has is that none of our defenders are comfortable on the ball and their distribution is woeful.

On saturday Carlisle's forwards were pressing high up the pitch which resulted in our defenders hoofing it forward and bypassing midfield. It happened all last season as well. Without players at the back who can pick out a pass under pressure, we will never be able to settle into a rhythm or set up attacks on the break.

All opposing teams have to do is make sure they press high up the pitch and we go to poo poo.

It is no coincidence that our best runs of form in recent years came when we had the likes of Micheal Johnson and Madjid Bougherra in the team. Even Richard Wood used to take responsibility from the back and make a run into midfield to relieve pressure. Our back four just want to get rid of the ball as far away from them as possible to get out of the immediate difficulty.

Thoughts?

I think there is a lot of truth in what you say, the only defender who looks to use the ball without hoofing it is Tommy Spurr and look at the poo he gets for it.

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In general if a team presses high and does it well then the best way to get them to drop off a bit is to hit a few long balls - not up to a forward but generally over the fullback - it's very basic training ground stuff - defenders detest running toward their own goal especially in a chase for the ball - this where having pace is a great asset. If this happens a couple of times and causes a scare/goal then it normally forces the defence to adopt slightly deeper starting positions which means the forwards/midfield also have to drop thus relieving the high pressing game

Things like this are usually a game of bluff tbh and it's what the training ground is for - just basic stuff

we haven't sufficient pace in our front line to turn a defence...

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As a defensive back four we are not too bad. They are well organised and are all sharp in the tackle.

But in my eyes one of the biggest shortfalls our team has is that none of our defenders are comfortable on the ball and their distribution is woeful.

On saturday Carlisle's forwards were pressing high up the pitch which resulted in our defenders hoofing it forward and bypassing midfield. It happened all last season as well. Without players at the back who can pick out a pass under pressure, we will never be able to settle into a rhythm or set up attacks on the break.

All opposing teams have to do is make sure they press high up the pitch and we go to poo poo.

It is no coincidence that our best runs of form in recent years came when we had the likes of Micheal Johnson and Madjid Bougherra in the team. Even Richard Wood used to take responsibility from the back and make a run into midfield to relieve pressure. Our back four just want to get rid of the ball as far away from them as possible to get out of the immediate difficulty.

Thoughts?

They're probably sick of passing it to midfield only for the midfield to pass it back to them two seconds later.

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I think the biggest issue with our game is that neither the Keeper or any of our back four hoof the bugger quite high enough or far enough up the field.

It is not aimless enough either...!

SORT IT OUT...!!!

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Biggest problem is POTTER, at this level he isn't going to be given time to pick a pass.

Time and again on saturday he was dumped on his arse, flapping his arms at the referee,they won't protect him at this level.

They know our game plan'give it Potter'.

He pushes it left ,pushes it right ,by which time their defense has marked up and then he either passes sideways or back.

When he does pass forward its straight to a man who already has a defender tight to him.

You can blame the lack of movement but time and again Tudgay would pull away from his marker just to see the ball go sideways.

I just don't believe Potter can think fast enough and we would do better with Coke and O'Conner in the middle,if we are going to use widemen.

Both of these will run forward with the ball,when have you seen Potter take on anybody(and win).

I predict after all his talk Irvin has decided on his best team and they will be picked week in and week out whatever the result.

This talk of a strong squad is all bluff,he won't use it and that will just demoralise those trying to get on the team sheet.

Let's just see what the team is on Saturday!

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we haven't sufficient pace in our front line to turn a defence...

We have - if we have a predetermined plan to put the ball in the space behind the left back (say) - then on a certain trigger whichever player is detailed to do it just gets ready to have a race with the defender - it's not necessarily about the striker reaching the ball first - it's about him being able to put pressure on the defender who will have the ball at his feet (if he gets there first) and facing his own goal with a striker on his back - a few of those and the defenders will drop deeper to deny space behind them - as soon as they drop then the rest opf the team has to drop to keep them compact - now the pressure is relieved off the defence when they have the ball

As stated - it's not an attacking plan but a strategy to get an opponent to drop deeper to relieve pressure

And it's not unknown for goals to be a happy coincidence

Edited by scram
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I personally see the problem in midfield.... didn't witness the Carlisle game but i've seen all the others.

All of the midfielders (apart from Coke).... Teale, Sedgwick, Potter and JOC... they're all guilty of doing the bare minimum with the ball.

Easy options everytime in posession, usually a sidewards pass. there's no fluidity, no creation.

How many times does Potter come running to the defenders asking for the ball, to the turn round and give it them back.... thats what drives me insane when i watch him.... own the midfield Potter, don't put the pressure on our defenders to move the ball forward... your the player 'with an eye for a pass',...

Same scenario with Teale and Sedgwick, theyre just as guilty, on a number of occasions when in clear space to cross they wait for Spurr/Buxton to bomb on and passes the responsibilty onto them.... they are natural wingers,... take responsibilty on the pitch and play to your strengths.

Not sure if its a confidence issue or what but for me this is the reason we look as flat as a witches *** at times....

Can't wait for JJ and Miller to be fully fit.

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