ForssAwakens
Well-known member
We struggle to break it down. Could be key in other fixtures
I thought we were bullied esp that lad in mf that just brushed/pushed us off the ball every time he came near and once the ref did nothing he just continued.One of the biggest problems to me last night was that the players receiving the ball weren’t sharp enough and were getting nipped in front of. Lenihan and Hackney were finding the passes but the players weren’t strong enough or sharp enough to get it under control.
I think that's it. We've done fine with it in the past, we were just a little off the pace and collectively the passing wasn't great.One of the biggest problems to me last night was that the players receiving the ball weren’t sharp enough and were getting nipped in front of. Lenihan and Hackney were finding the passes but the players weren’t strong enough or sharp enough to get it under control.
AbsolutelyOne of the biggest problems to me last night was that the players receiving the ball weren’t sharp enough and were getting nipped in front of. Lenihan and Hackney were finding the passes but the players weren’t strong enough or sharp enough to get it under control.
Finch is a great prospect, but if Crooks is not injured then not even naming him on the bench was a schoolboy error.It's either the clip into Akpom in the pocket or Archer in behind, you cant press high without leaving space between your defence and midfield or having a high line,
The usual tactic pf Akpom dropping into pockets and clipping it into him wasn't working last night as The stoke had giants all over the pitch who were outmuscling him so whenever it did get pinged into him, he didn't retain possession as often as he does usually.
Archer running in behind is also an option if they press high and play a high line, but he wasn't making those runs last night, and on the rare occasion he did our passing wasn't quite good enough to find him
The above is a good explanation of how you combat a high press, but there are more factors of course.One of the biggest problems to me last night was that the players receiving the ball weren’t sharp enough and were getting nipped in front of. Lenihan and Hackney were finding the passes but the players weren’t strong enough or sharp enough to get it under control.
I though that might have been intentional.. the pitch was absolutely flooded!The soggy pitch didn’t help us either, it kept Slowing the ball down.
I though that might have been intentional.. the pitch was absolutely flooded!
Yes there's no real tactical aspect to it. We were jaded, the passing was poor and we were half a yard too slow in closing down and competing for 2nd balls. Sure, if Stoke hadn't had a decent approach to it we probably would've won, but that wasn't the main factor for me.I think a lot of people are over thinking last night. We simply weren't at our best against a strong side in good form.
We had won 15 of our previous 19 league games and there have been plenty of teams that have tried the high press in that time. It was a bad night in the office, we lacked our normal composure and too many players seemed a yard off the pace. But we didn't lose and that is a big positive.
We go again on Saturday and then get a little rest. Hopefully we play better and get the 3 points against Preston, but the fact is we are not going to win every game and there doesn't need to be a full inquest anytime we fail to win.
dont over think last night....there were mitigating circumstances. Stoke were fresher than us having played on Friday night AT HOME versus us being in Swansea and got to bed at god knows what time on Sunday early hours...that's a lot of extra recovery time.We struggle to break it down. Could be key in other fixtures