[Albion] Lack of squad quality

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Not about quality today, it was all about disgusting, negative tactics. Start of the second half was ridiculous, there was absolutely no intent or aim to go forward and even try to win the game.

We got properly punished soon enough for that particularly gormless period of play. Maybe the players and management need to collectively sit down and analyse what that dozen-sideways-passes-in-our-own-half thing is actually trying to achieve. And having analysed it, then just stop doing it

 

[durrington gull]

I'm afraid our squad isnt good enough - too many dud signings are costing us big time

 

[GoingUp]

Looked more like a pre season friendly then a relation battle.

 

[portslade seagull]

Lack of PL quality ‘chickens coming home to roost’. CH has managed to chisel out enough results since August 17, sometimes on a wing and a prayer. But in 2019 we’re finally seeing this our lack of quality with clarity. We have no PL quality centre midfielders with pace and guile. We very rarely control games.

Guardiola, Pochettino etc have nowt to fear with our squad.

Just hoping now that Cardiff are even more shite than us.

It's the negative way CH sets up every game. Maybe push up 10 yards instead of the team all being within 30 yards of our own goal line

 

[portslade seagull]

Not about quality today, it was all about disgusting, negative tactics. Start of the second half was ridiculous, there was absolutely no intent or aim to go forward and even try to win the game. CH at blame today, tried to be negative and play for 0-0 and got what we deserved for such tactics at home against a team below us in the league.

You can understand what the Norwich fans were saying now. He is so negative its costing us now.

 

[DJ NOBO]

Propper’s arguably our best player.

I would argue that he definitely isn’t

 

[Weststander]

It's the negative way CH sets up every game. Maybe push up 10 yards instead of the team all being within 30 yards of our own goal line

But our centre midfield at PL level is often crap. You can’t make a silk purse out of slow paced players lacking instinctive creativity.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

You can understand what the Norwich fans were saying now. He is so negative its costing us now.

IMHO that's not entirely fair. There were plenty of periods of play when we were going hell for leather to try and get something out of the game. Unfortunately that first 10 minutes of the 2nd half wasn't one of those periods. In fact it was so much at odds with the style of play in the first half that you'd have to conclude that they were sent out for the second half with instructions to play that way.

 

[portslade seagull]

IMHO that's not entirely fair. There were plenty of periods of play when we were going hell for leather to try and get something out of the game. Unfortunately that first 10 minutes of the 2nd half wasn't one of those periods. In fact it was so much at odds with the style of play in the first half that you'd have to conclude that they were sent out for the second half with instructions to play that way.

Not just this game though is it. Negative defence until we concede then push up chasing the game

 

[Knocky's Nose]

Personal opinion today is that Southampton were better than us. They looked sharper, more together (although I have to say they were the least 'vocal' team I've seen in ages) and generally better quality.

Were the payers more focused on not making a mistake in order to get in the Managers good books to stand a better chance of playing at Wembley? Either way, our team looked elsewhere today - and even Mrs Nose asked why Murray was all alone up front, and she knows nothing about football!!

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Not just this game though is it. Negative defence until we concede then push up chasing the game

I thought the first half was pretty open and flowing with not a lot to choose between the two teams. Both seemed to me to give it a decent go

 

[Dorset Seagull]

Quote Martin Tyler

We were poor today to many players Not at the races
Personally as a team we are not proactive enough we have allowed teams to dictate to much. Even the 3 wins on the bounce we have not played well. Today no different. Murray isolated early. Movement non exsistant and we wait till they score to react to some extent.
Quality is something you build year on year but this year the players we spend the money on have not impacted as much as last years. Quote


But was it players following instructions ?

Yes. Once again Stephens started playing vertical through ball passes too late on in the game. He is obviously told to play sideways and back unless there is a 100% successful chance of a forward pass. Then when we go behind he is told to take more risks with his forward passes

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Yes. Once again Stephens started playing vertical through ball passes too late on in the game. He is obviously told to play sideways and back unless there is a 100% successful chance of a forward pass. Then when we go behind he is told to take more risks with his forward passes

I read an article in the Argus this past week where DS declared himself perfectly happy with his performances this season because his manager always marks him 6/10. Sorry, but just always looks to me to be a player very short on confidence who always looks first of all to play a sideways or backwards pass before he ever looks to play a forward pass. Horrible to watch.

 

[Dorset Seagull]

I read an article in the Argus this past week where DS declared himself perfectly happy with his performances this season because his manager always marks him 6/10. Sorry, but just always looks to me to be a player very short on confidence who always looks first of all to play a sideways or backwards pass before he ever looks to play a forward pass. Horrible to watch.

I agree but he is happy with his performances because he is doing what is being asked of him by his manager. Believe me I am no fan of his style of play but the more I see him the more I think he is playing to orders

 

[trueblue]

Yes. Once again Stephens started playing vertical through ball passes too late on in the game. He is obviously told to play sideways and back unless there is a 100% successful chance of a forward pass. Then when we go behind he is told to take more risks with his forward passes

Stephens generally does a good job of moving teams from side to side and making gaps and he's not at all averse to a forward pass. I thought one of the biggest problems today was his early yellow card as it was EXACTLY the type of game in which he's the most likely to decide he's had enough of watching the opposition and start stirring things up by getting stuck in and trying to increase the tempo. As he was treading a fine line throughout, he was reduced to basically shielding the back 4 unable to do much more. It's a shame Propper and Bissouma were unable to seize the initiative in his 'absence'.

 

[Weststander]

I thought the first half was pretty open and flowing with not a lot to choose between the two teams. Both seemed to me to give it a decent go

CH admitted in his Radio Sussex interview that we didn’t play until about 65 minutes. The Telegraph described it as we “woke from our slumber” at that point.

 

[Mike Small]

We had NO pace today and have little in the squad. This is the main problem. Centre midfield have no forward runners or pace themselves. Knockhart, AJ and March are not quick at this level and play too deep. The only pacey players are Izquierdo and Andone. We are much better with them in the team. Also, as much as we are indebted to him, Murray can't be our number one centr forward if we are in the PL next year. Great to bring on. He's isolated yes but has been woeful in five of the last six games.

 

[atomised]

Lack of PL quality ‘chickens coming home to roost’. CH has managed to chisel out enough results since August 17, sometimes on a wing and a prayer. But in 2019 we’re finally seeing this our lack of quality with clarity. We have no PL quality centre midfielders with pace and guile. We very rarely control games.

Guardiola, Pochettino etc have nowt to fear with our squad.

Just hoping now that Cardiff are even more shite than us.

Nothing to do with squad quality and everything to do with coaching

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Nothing to do with squad quality and everything to do with coaching

Bit of both tho shirley?

 

[papajaff]

Well I've been looking at Cardiff's results for a while and got shot down for saying so.

Today was fvcking awful against a poor side but we gave the game to them. One more relegation place up for grabs and thank fvck for Cardiff's run in.

Negative play never works. Tired of this shyt now.