The facts are that we played all our attacking football after switching formation to 4-4-2 but having waited for over an hour and having failed to score, the obvious conclusion was that he should have changed it earlier. Hindsight and all that, but the bloke has to work with what he's got and however you look at it, he isn't blessed with anything like the best striking options in the division. Fact is, I would probably swap ours for most of those I have seen so far. So he has to play to his strengths and to date those have been in midfield. Plan B may be to switch to 4-4-2 but that must be second choice only if we aren't making headway through midfield. We really do need to increase our striking options and a loan signing of a proven goal-scorer would be my absolute priority if I were Parkinson or Murray.
Our failure to score in three successive league games is also heightening the tensions and frustrating fans but we shouldn't forget that we got two draws in those games (one at Elland Road) and were a whisker away from beating the Latics. Now is the time to get behind the team as we did when we upped the ante on Saturday. I hope our fans show some patience on Saturday as I don't believe we should panic and start 4-4-2 and I don't think Parky will do that. We need to try and take the lead by playing to our strength in midfield and only switching to 4-4-2 in the second half if we haven't managed to score. The alternative of starting 4-4-2 is that we lose an effective midfielder for a less effective striker and the risk of that is that you invite pressure and increase the chances of having to fight to get back in the game rather than taking the lead. Remember, we have only gone behind in three league games (Orient, Southampton and Colchester) and we won one and drew one of those (which we were very unfortunate not to win).
We will take the maximum 2,354 visitors to Gillingham after selling out today and will have plenty more in the stadium courtesy of friends and neighbours. We need all the support we can get in order to urge the team on and try to maintain our early-season momentum before the long trip to Carlisle and the televised JPT tie against Southampton, in both of which the players will need to largely cheer themselves on.
Good grief, it's crazy to be going after the man already!
ReplyDeleteWe're second in the league, had an unbelievable start...a record breaking start, playing to our strengths, and have drawn the last two...one (as you say Dave) to Leeds, and the other to a team who played with a ten man defence, and even then we nearly scored. We had a disaster of a game against Colchester, but those things happen...it's called "football"...
I won't be able to listen to the matches over the next few weeks, nor read fans reports...but, when I come back...we better ALL be behind the team and Parky, the man deserves that.
Enjoy your matches Dave, and cheer along for all those who can't make it...
To me Dave, the problem is, we've been found out.
ReplyDeleteBurton (bless 'im) is asked to hold the ball up which is something he sometimes does o/k and sometimes not so o/k. Even when he does hold it there seems to be no one around for the lay off.
I do think it's time for change. Perhaps try Mackenzie in the lone striker role (based entirely on his cameo against Oldham) If we don't score in the first half then it's got to be 4.4.2 for the second.
We cannot afford to keep giving up points at home.
I agree Daggs. Certainly we need different striking options, a beefy target man is a good option in this division & we have not had one of those since Iwelumo. No need for wholesale changes but a few tweeks are required.
ReplyDeleteRe Oldham Dave, I agree we were close to winning it but we were also close to losing it. Richardson gave away a stonewall penalty in the first-half, how the ref could point at the ball, which didn't deviate in direction after the tackle, is beyond me. Grateful he saw it the way he did though.
Suze - thanks, enjoy the holiday?
ReplyDeleteDaggs - agree re trying another loan striker and McKenzie can't do any less in my opinion. We may have been found out but we still have to play to our strengths.
Ketts - if Oldham had been awarded the pen and scored it, I am confident we would have at least equalised in the second half. Parky may have been moved to make the hnages at the break?
Thanks Dave...I think this "holiday" will be busy!
ReplyDeleteMaybe a large striker would do us, but when Iwelumo played, he was more often or not being penalised, and we don't want to give away those kind of free kicks.
We need Semedo back, and to remember that Shelvey (as good as he is, and as much as he wants to play), is only seventeen and this is going to be a long season for him, also having Semedo back would release some pressure from Bailey. With Wagstaff chomping at Sam's heels, that's what we need...competition in key areas. We haven't got the money or depth of squad to bring that kind of focus to all positions, but as with Sodje and Basey in defence, let the first team know they're first choice all the time they show their mettle, and don't let other teams bully them.
I think the Gills game will be interesting...