Post by rickyqpr on Oct 6, 2019 9:46:06 GMT
International break is a good time to take stock of where we are – most of us said to give it 10 games.
The first thing to say is that this league is ridiculously tight. A few wins and you are top of the league, a few defeats and it is squeaky bum time. But this season it is unusually tight and we are benefitting from that as our strong position builds individual & collective confidence.
Hats off to the coaching team. It is an order of magnitude better than what I expected. Better in what we are watching as a football offering but so much better as a whole experience watching our team. I think I had forgotten how enjoyable going to football could be. With it has come a really great atmosphere at home and a loud support away. The expectation is growing and the noise and appreciation when moves work is great, although the groans of disappointment when things don’t is sad but only natural, I guess.
The scale of change in personnel has been extraordinary and has no right to succeed, but to date it has in no short measure.
Keepers
A tricky area for us. When a keeper makes an error, it is obvious and usually costly. I think Lumley adapted quite well to the new style of play but maybe it is a concentration issue, but he has made glaring errors and paid the price. Really hard when a keeper is dropped to get back but I hope he does. But we have Kelly and Dieng (January) to step up and hopefully one of the 3 will fulfill their potential.
Defence
Only Hall and Leinster survived from last season and Hall hardly played last season. Manning has been outstanding, Hall performed ok before injury and the BFG has shown that he can distribute after all. Barbet seems to be jinxed, Rangel and Kane battle for the right, but defence remains a concern. It may be that because we are so positive in attack that we are leaving ourselves exposed to the counter, but I think that some of our defenders lack concentration at times. Hard to teach concentration! But it is not right at the back and it is not a quick fix. Some, looking for a scapegoat turn to Barbet, but I am not so sure that it is a case of it being about one player.
Midfield
Some great options going forward. Eze has improved a great deal on 2nd half of last season – I hope he can keep it going. He is so comfortable on the ball. I love watching Chair and if BOS can get his decision making better, he too would be a delight with his pace. But we have quite a few midfielders where we are still working out where and if they should play in this team. Smith, Cameron, Amos and Scowen are all battling for the defensive cover role(s). Scowen has been one of my favourites and I love his ratting, but at times he looks lost to this system. Cameron protects well but his distribution can be poor, Smith and Amos look classy, but are yet to become regulars. Shadipo gives us wing options but his injury record is not great. Not sure about Pugh, seems solid enough but just a squad player for me. So, we have plenty of cover and options in the middle – and I love it when we go forward and pass sweetly.
Strikers
Wells & Hugill have been great for us. Wells is a confidence player (more than most) and finished on a low last season. Usually played as a second striker this term, he has really delivered. I love his work rate. Hugill is an odd one. He succeeds with the unlikely and fluffs the obvious. As soon has he leans back, you know what is going to happen next. But really pleased with these two. Mlakar needs a goal. He looks like he could be handy but has had limited chances – I also think Chair needs a goal to cement his place.
In Summary
Really delighted and optimistic about the direction and progress of our club. It is very early days and not time to go overboard as by Christmas it could look very different, especially if we get some key injuries. Had we lost yesterday, 3 defeats on the spin may have produced reactions of 'the bubble has burst' 'we have been found out', so progress is naturally fragile. But credit where credit is due, well done the back room management, coaching staff, players and supporters and maybe even the owners for hanging in there.
Is my view shared by others on this message board?
Keep the Faith! RTID!
The first thing to say is that this league is ridiculously tight. A few wins and you are top of the league, a few defeats and it is squeaky bum time. But this season it is unusually tight and we are benefitting from that as our strong position builds individual & collective confidence.
Hats off to the coaching team. It is an order of magnitude better than what I expected. Better in what we are watching as a football offering but so much better as a whole experience watching our team. I think I had forgotten how enjoyable going to football could be. With it has come a really great atmosphere at home and a loud support away. The expectation is growing and the noise and appreciation when moves work is great, although the groans of disappointment when things don’t is sad but only natural, I guess.
The scale of change in personnel has been extraordinary and has no right to succeed, but to date it has in no short measure.
Keepers
A tricky area for us. When a keeper makes an error, it is obvious and usually costly. I think Lumley adapted quite well to the new style of play but maybe it is a concentration issue, but he has made glaring errors and paid the price. Really hard when a keeper is dropped to get back but I hope he does. But we have Kelly and Dieng (January) to step up and hopefully one of the 3 will fulfill their potential.
Defence
Only Hall and Leinster survived from last season and Hall hardly played last season. Manning has been outstanding, Hall performed ok before injury and the BFG has shown that he can distribute after all. Barbet seems to be jinxed, Rangel and Kane battle for the right, but defence remains a concern. It may be that because we are so positive in attack that we are leaving ourselves exposed to the counter, but I think that some of our defenders lack concentration at times. Hard to teach concentration! But it is not right at the back and it is not a quick fix. Some, looking for a scapegoat turn to Barbet, but I am not so sure that it is a case of it being about one player.
Midfield
Some great options going forward. Eze has improved a great deal on 2nd half of last season – I hope he can keep it going. He is so comfortable on the ball. I love watching Chair and if BOS can get his decision making better, he too would be a delight with his pace. But we have quite a few midfielders where we are still working out where and if they should play in this team. Smith, Cameron, Amos and Scowen are all battling for the defensive cover role(s). Scowen has been one of my favourites and I love his ratting, but at times he looks lost to this system. Cameron protects well but his distribution can be poor, Smith and Amos look classy, but are yet to become regulars. Shadipo gives us wing options but his injury record is not great. Not sure about Pugh, seems solid enough but just a squad player for me. So, we have plenty of cover and options in the middle – and I love it when we go forward and pass sweetly.
Strikers
Wells & Hugill have been great for us. Wells is a confidence player (more than most) and finished on a low last season. Usually played as a second striker this term, he has really delivered. I love his work rate. Hugill is an odd one. He succeeds with the unlikely and fluffs the obvious. As soon has he leans back, you know what is going to happen next. But really pleased with these two. Mlakar needs a goal. He looks like he could be handy but has had limited chances – I also think Chair needs a goal to cement his place.
In Summary
Really delighted and optimistic about the direction and progress of our club. It is very early days and not time to go overboard as by Christmas it could look very different, especially if we get some key injuries. Had we lost yesterday, 3 defeats on the spin may have produced reactions of 'the bubble has burst' 'we have been found out', so progress is naturally fragile. But credit where credit is due, well done the back room management, coaching staff, players and supporters and maybe even the owners for hanging in there.
Is my view shared by others on this message board?
Keep the Faith! RTID!