sacreblueits442

...this one was 2 years ago, I seem to have difficulty finding showreels that are long enough!!!

...having watched the game against Antwerp, we looked more improved and hope we can take that into our next game!!! Anderlecht are a good team and we managed to hold them to a 1 -0 scoreline, where we created one or two chances with good movement and understanding. We will be climbing this league soon, as soon as the players become comfortable with the playing style.

...if you are on the bench, you can do 45 minutes!!!

...we do not have to be under the kosh to play that style!!! You set traps and strike after certain triggers,

...doesn't that sound like a confidence issue!!! That is why as a lone striker the option does not work for him. The fact that you can be so self conscious within a game only highlights how crippling it is to be front and centre, a focal part, of the team. Any balls played up to him, means his thoughts are that he has to make this stick, and what do I do with it once I have it. This will be before the ball has actually got to his feet. Too much worrying about your game makes the thing that you fear come true. None of this excuses a player for not trying, or appearing to not working to support the team, but this system that we play is not going to be a fit for him, we do not use a #10. I have said for a few years that he should go and find a team that suits him, I would not be surprised if he signs an extension to stay here, it is the enigma of the man.

...I definitely think that the coaching of the systems now over rides his instincts!!! He sees opportunity and goes for it, he does "the right thing" now and lays it off. We want to see him back himself, as it adds a different dimension to what the opposition will have to face

...I am surprised that there are no murmurs of clubs looking to pick him up!!! 2.5 seasons to go on his contract, TM has him down for 15m Euros, surely some team would be looking to pick up a bargain, so long as they understand he would fit their system.

...jut took a look!!! ...looks busy, cannot beat a man, and picks the wrong moment to shoot, not even at Fatawu's level, got to be a no!!!

...yes it makes sense, I do find the way we play can be construed as negative but we do noticeably drop our application a few per cent when we score!!! I have noticed it before, scoring should give the team a lift, but it appears we now have something to lose, and become extra mindful to protect it. The #8s are not making the runs and we try to hit the wingers from deep, so as not to overcommit going forward. That is the feeling that I get when we do score, I have noticed that it has happened in other games.

...watching the game v Antwerp, we are causing ourselves so many problems as we struggle to do the basics well!!! Antwerp are such a good technical team, every pass sticks and they have flare players who are not prima donnas. Antwerps #10 is tricky, he can beat a man at will, with no need for stepovers, drops his shoulders, takes the ball to the byline and cuts it back, someone who understands his role. We have had half chances but the percentage of play is way in Antwerp's favour. One hour is gone and OHL are a goal down, I wonder if we can steal a point at the back end of this game, Antwerp is not going for the kill, but moving OHL around a bit though.

...I always felt that these situations would lend themselves to the way we are presently being coached!!! Someone getting the ball down and transitioning the play, having repelled an attack, with support bursting to get up the pitch, it really should happen more often. We do lack composure in those instances and just look to put the ball anywhere away from our goal. It is strange how our training evaporates when put under pressure, when that is the time for situations such as today to manifest itself.

...screaming for the ball in space today, but we were not finding him!!! Everything seems to go to the left, even when Fatawu starts. Mavididi's second move is a step over and his next one is another step over, if the ball was on the goal line, his first thought would be to do a step over, he is so predictable.

...I always wondered why we do drills every session with breakouts such as 4 on 3 or a combination where the forwards outweigh the defence and are so poor in the last third!!! We butcher so many chances on breakaways, this explains why it happens. What we need is drills on breakout play, selecting the right pass in the last third, and having players in a certain position even if he is a decoy, but an option going forward. I would have believed that this would be part of the training program as a basic requirement, we need to put something in place where the players would have done the drills so much that it is second nature to them. No more wrong choices in the final third, we would have won games a lot more comfortably if we knew what we were doing.

...true, but it is as if we are pre-programmed, to "reset"!!!

...strange, but I feel Fatawu would be someone who would be good at this, whipped balls going into the box!!!

...that would have led to us turning over the ball a lot more!!! Our need to play out at the back, even when the pass is not on, is a worry, rather the ball was in their half and we can then reset our defence.

...you do not have to press for 90 minutes!!! You hold your position and wait to trigger the press when a certain situation arises. Then you rest, defend as we struggle to break them down, stay organised, and then go again when the time is right.

...I have said that previously, I noticed it in the preseason v Northampton!!! He does not know how to play or where he fits in this system. This setup should have made him comfortable, being asked to play a false 9, but he is all over the place. The Maddison position in a 4-2-3-1 would have been ideal, he naturally gravitates to the #10 position on the pitch. Playing him as a lone striker will not work, he needs players going ahead of him and because our build-up is so involved he comes to look for the ball far too deep to get a touch. I do not think it is someone who does not care, out there on the pitch, he is just at a loss for what he needs to do.

...surprised the Baggies came at us this way, not a full press, just waited to press at the right time, deeper on the pitch!!! A big opportunity missed by them it seems, as when they pressed us higher up the pitch our composure went out the window. With all the games that teams have come at us with and the success that they have had, WBA stuck to their preferred style and missed a big chance. Nice 3 points, but I can't help feeling there is more pain to come.

...I do not think there is!!! The style of play is an issue for some and supporters are not up for it and the lack of flexibility from the manager has been questioned.

...there was a drop-off when we scored the first, you feel that suddenly we have something to lose!!! We became a bit too defensive and looking to counter without over-committing. I could feel the equaliser coming and there was time for them to score a second, we started hacking balls all over the place. Great breakaway and composure from KDH at the end, but there is this mentality change when we go a goal up, and we drop a few percentages. Just so hard to be ruthless.

...there will be a precedent, and there will be an agreement added to confirm the punishment to be dished out by overstepping the rules!!!

...I think right at the end where they went against the grain and scored proves doing the same thing over and over makes you predictable!!! Interesting to listen to him talk about the transition of thought that is now in the game, we see the change with the passing game in Europen leagues now becoming the norm.

...yeah sorry it was you!!! What people can see is that we need to change things up sometimes. What that would look like they probably have no idea, but we just cannot continue to do what we are doing and have no plan to surprise the opposition now and again.

...I think our stats are worse than that, a corner for us doesn't tend to bear much fruit!!! Manchester City have Haaland upfront 6'4" pretty much a lamp-post good in the air with ground skills as well. It is a move from Aguero and a tweak to their approach to the game. What @The Year Of The Fox is asking for is just to mix things up a bit, last 10 minutes do something different, contrary to what you have been doing all game. He is not asking for it to be how we choose to approach games, just adjustment in our approach where we need to unsettle a sitting defence and the defenders have set up shop because they already know what we will be doing.