A note of concern

[BillyStubbsTears]

And not about yesterday. You could have written the script once the baboon-faced retard signed for Cardiff.

What concerns me more is our goalscoring. In the last 25 league games, since the back end of January, we have scored just 31 goals. Almost 50% of those goals came from players that we no longer have available (JET, Mutch, Roberts and Hayter).

Most worrying of all is Sharp's goalscoring. In his last 20 league starts, going back to before last Xmas, he's managed just three non-penalty goals. I've seen only the Bristol City match so far this season, but in that one, we scarecely managed to fashion a chance for him, and the lad's own in-yer-face bustling style was easily handled by the centre backs. In fact, he looked pretty well isolated for most of the game.

Which raises the question: since we are clearly going to rely heavily on Sharp's goals this season, how do we structure a team and style to get the most out of him?

[BobG]

Dunno Billy. But we certainly don't need to repeat the system of yesterday. That didn't work at all. No shot at all in the second half until the 40th minute! Bizarre really considering we'd had two belting long range efforts in the first half and Copps was nailed on to get a penalty if he ever dared to take the ball into their penalty area. The lack of both in the second half prompted my suggestion last night that we lacked bottle. Neither brave enough nor bright enough. I almost failed to notice Billy all through except when I deliberately looked for him. We have to do much, much better in getting him the ball in sensible places.

BobG

[danny1]

if i was billy i wouldnt be happy with the service he was getting, stupid long balls over his head why???? wouldnt mind if he was 6.6 foot tall. we need a supporting striker to drop of just behind him to split their defenders up. i would also think sod would be getting a centre back or two very soon!!!!!!

[BobG]

I suspect SOD might be wanting to play Brooker with Billy feeding off him. That would suit the pair of them. But what that would do to the midfield is a whole other question. It makes sense from a cash point of view - but it also implies a major change in the way we play. The only other option I can think of is Brooker acts as full time reserve for Billy - coming on wither when he's injured or suspended, or, as a battering ram when things aren't working. That would keep the midfield intact but would mean Brooker could get fed up being a bit part player.

BobG

[Nudga]

BobG wrote:

I suspect SOD might be wanting to play Brooker with Billy feeding off him. That would suit the pair of them. But what that would do to the midfield is a whole other question. It makes sense from a cash point of view - but it also implies a major change in the way we play. The only other option I can think of is Brooker acts as full time reserve for Billy - coming on wither when he's injured or suspended, or, as a battering ram when things aren't working. That would keep the midfield intact but would mean Brooker could get fed up being a bit part player.

BobG

I reckon SOD sees Brooker and Sharp as his new Fletcher and Hayter partnership. Anyways, whoopdy woo, we got beat yesterday. It's early days.

[BillyStubbsTears]

BobG wrote:

No shot at all in the second half until the 40th minute!

Sounds strikingly like the Bristol City match, the week before.

[CusworthRovers]

BobG wrote:

I suspect SOD might be wanting to play Brooker with Billy feeding off him. That would suit the pair of them. But what that would do to the midfield is a whole other question. It makes sense from a cash point of view - but it also implies a major change in the way we play. BobG

I'm not sure he'll change from what has been successful for him Bob. If anything, I can see Brooker doing a Mgammon role on the left and assisting Friend to stop runners down that side (it's something Roberts had to deal with a great deal ie isolated, so linking back to the Friend debate, it's something he's now having to cope with). That said, Brooker is going to have to get some serious fitness back to do that role.

Other than that, it would be a pleasing surprise to see them two down the middle. I feel we now have the players (experience and class) in midfield to cope with 2 up front.

As for Billy up front alone. He's doing the same as he did last year, I just feel he's not getting the support, runners from midfield he's been used too. I also think he came deep a lot last season and got involved in the interplay before getting on the end of the move to finish (and absolute joy to behold), yet he seems rooted to the defenders thus far this season.

[epworth red]

we are doomed ,got a feeling sod might have a plan b,c and d    

[BobG]

Brooker doen the left... Hadn't thought of that. But your logic is spot on. SOD doesn't change his principles much does he? There's a precedent for it in McCammon as you say. But a bit of a waste of a guy like Brooker surely? Mind, understudy to Billy would be an even bigger waste!

Cheers

BobG

[VikingJames]

Whatever we did in October/November/December last year. We need to do that.

[epworth red]

B) think in december we will be ok  

[Viking Don]

Is that when Keogh is coming?

[CusworthRovers]

VikingJames wrote:

Whatever we did in October/November/December last year. We need to do that.

I think they/we need to start Xmas shopping in September, so we can all breathe easier.

[DMnumber4]

The first two posts summed it up brilliantly:

Sharp was isolated. The more isolated he gets, the more frustrated and disillusioned he becomes.

We do lack bottle and presence. A big lad in the centre of the field may not be O'Driscoll's style, but it may be required at times. Olifinjana acted as a barrier yesterday to allow Drinkwater and Whittingham to buzz about and do their thing. In the process, one lad practically stopped our entire midfield functioning.

Not since Doolan or Wellens left have we had someone who puts their foot on the ball and holds on to it.

It might not be pretty, but it's mightily effective!

[VikingJames]

Maybe it's the return of Oster we need?

Woods is trying to play that role at the minute, and lets face it, he hasn't got a clue when he gets the ball. I reckon we need Oster to come back into the middle of midfield and then we have somebody creative who can roam freely and see plenty of the ball while Stock and Gillett sit back and do their thing.

[Viking Don]

Without Oster and Copps we don't function. We need both of them playing so one of them can have an off day and we still function.

Basically we need another one like those two who can create chances, so hopefully two are fit and playing. Keogh will do.

[DMnumber4]

I cant wait to get Oster and Chambers back in the side and play Cardiff with a full strength team at the Keepmoat where I genuinely think we can give them a game.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Oster should make quite a big difference. I think he'll help us close the gap between Billy and the midfield. We've been ok for 45 mins or so supporting the front man but in the second half, we become stretched and disjointed.

We can tinker as much as we want in midfield and upfront but we need to get the defence sorted out first.

[Snods Shinpad 2]

Can't believe noone has mentioned Shiels.

He is by far the most mobile forward we have and is a much better option than Brooker at the moment.

Deano links midfield and attack, runs at defences and chips in with a few goals to boot.

Is it just coincidence that Sharp's scoring started to tail off, just as Shiels started to be omitted from the starting XI?

I'm not so sure.

[Dimples-D]

BillyStubbsTears wrote:

What concerns me more is our goalscoring.

I agree mate. I said the same thing before the Bristol game.

[CusworthRovers]

It's always a case of a few tweeks here and there, due to new players, and it will be sorted. We have still scored more than the last 2 seasons after 3 league games, if that helps.


It's been said before, it just takes one piece of the machinery to fail and it has a knock on effect to the rest of the cogs. In our case, the defence seems lacking, thus the midfield are more inclined to sit deep and protect, thus Billy gets no assistance or service

[Superspy]

CusworthRovers wrote:

It's been said before, it just takes one piece of the machinery to fail and it has a knock on effect to the rest of the cogs. In our case, the defence seems lacking, thus the midfield are more inclined to sit deep and protect, thus Billy gets no assistance or service

thats exactly what i've been thinking, i said after the bristol game that i thought martis' sideways balls were forcing stock to sit deeper than usual, causing our front play to be virtually non-existent in the second half.