Tactically better but still massive room for improvement

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Except that midfield got the first goal and LuaLua laid on the second to Texeira on a plate. Then the midfield soaked up the pressure from Wigan in the second half. These are steps forward compared to watching the likes of Holla and Ince having no influence on proceedings whatsoever

Where were you? Go on please tell...there was noooooooooooooooooo way you were at the game tonight.

The midfield soaked up the pressure...f**k me you're deluded man or drunk.

Laughable, you kill me.

 

[Rambo]

Our Midfield (and most of the team) are weak. Weak on the ball and lose it too often and weak in the tackle.

They all need a can of 'man up juice' either that or we need to bring in a bulldog in midfield ala Horton/Oatway mould.

We have got to get stronger physically to compete in this division.

 

[British Bulldog]

Better formation (has jones had a word/got his way?) and the defence looked far more solid with full backs in the proper positions.

I'd be interested to know what brought about the change of tactics last night, Has somebody put pressure on Hyypia? Has he finally realised his wingback system doesn't work? Or did he do it to protect a young keeper making his league debut?

 

[J2 DOG]

Constant failure to win the '2nd ball' is a big concern for me! A big clue on where our weaknesses lie.Midfield is too flimsy! We need to compete better defensively in middle of pitch,Wigan got into the final third far too easily!They would have beaten us if they had a decent striker.

 

[stss30]

Except that midfield got the first goal and LuaLua laid on the second to Texeira on a plate. Then the midfield soaked up the pressure from Wigan in the second half. These are steps forward compared to watching the likes of Holla and Ince having no influence on proceedings whatsoever

The midfield soaked up the pressure? Sorry can't agree at all they barely made a tackle/won the ball in the second half. The defence won us the game, and contrary to some other people I thought we restricted Wigan to few clear cut opportunities, but as I said in the OP, give better sides that much time and space on the ball and they will break us down much more frequently.

 

[APACHE]

Last night reminded me of the 1st season at the Amex when we could all see we were being out-muscled in certain positions. Wigan at times in the 2nd half had complete control of the m/field and were let down by their finishing (now where have I seen that this season) and some of our marking was very poor and at times numerous players were ballwatching. Repeat this, this sat. and a proven goalscorer will sink us but maybe this will bring the needed change.

 

[Rookie]

I'd be interested to know what brought about the change of tactics last night, Has somebody put pressure on Hyypia? Has he finally realised his wingback system doesn't work? Or did he do it to protect a young keeper making his league debut?

In the program he said something along the lines of 'I believe in the system and the way we play' and then comes the change.
Someone, whether on the training ground or maybe up higher, must have had a word. Maybe Bennett said something!!

 

[Bold Seagull]

Positives tonight- 1) Playing two wingers in their correct positions gave us many more options going forward
2) Defence seemed to push forward/get caught out of position less and were never seriously troubled

Negatives- 1) We couldn't keep hold of the ball for large parts of the game and Wigan dominated position, this is down to our weak midfield. Gardner, JFC, Texiera are too lightweight to all play together, we need Ince/Holla playing at a minimum
2) Baldock seemed largely isolated and some of our long balls in his direction were pointless and aimless.

Good to see us take one of our few chances for once but we'll need to play much better in upcoming matches against better teams.

I think you're spot on. Tactically we were much better, and set up pretty much as we would have been in previous seasons. The poor performance came down to individuals I thought.

Had we set up tactically as we have done in previous games this season - then I think we'd have lost. So as far as I'm concerned, it's a step forward, even if it didn't look like one to some. If Sami sticks with these tactics (which he should) then he just needs to get his personnel right. As you've said, Gardner/Tex/FJC are too light for a midfield 3. Ince has to come in and Sami has to find a way to get out of him the kind of performances Oscar was.

So while the performance was poor, I feel much happier we can get better with these tactics rather than what we've done in previous matches.

 

[BensGrandad]

Positives tonight- 1) Playing two wingers in their correct positions gave us many more options going forward
2) Defence seemed to push forward/get caught out of position less and were never seriously troubled

Negatives- 1) We couldn't keep hold of the ball for large parts of the game and Wigan dominated position, this is down to our weak midfield. Gardner, JFC, Texiera are too lightweight to all play together, we need Ince/Holla playing at a minimum
2) Baldock seemed largely isolated and some of our long balls in his direction were pointless and aimless.

Good to see us take one of our few chances for once but we'll need to play much better in upcoming matches against better teams.

The only difference in our formation tonight was having Elliott Bennett and Lua Lua doing the mdfielders job properly and tucking in as soon as Calderon and Joe Bennett went forward , we didnt play either as an out and out winger. They got forward when the full backs couldnt and on the occassions that Joe lost possession Kaz covered.

 

[Marshy]

Tex should not be used centrally at present, I would play him on the left of the front 3

Until Stephens is fit, Ince in my opinion needs to come in centrally alongside JFC and Gardner.

 

[stss30]

I think you're spot on. Tactically we were much better, and set up pretty much as we would have been in previous seasons. The poor performance came down to individuals I thought.

Had we set up tactically as we have done in previous games this season - then I think we'd have lost. So as far as I'm concerned, it's a step forward, even if it didn't look like one to some. If Sami sticks with these tactics (which he should) then he just needs to get his personnel right. As you've said, Gardner/Tex/FJC are too light for a midfield 3. Ince has to come in and Sami has to find a way to get out of him the kind of performances Oscar was.

So while the performance was poor, I feel much happier we can get better with these tactics rather than what we've done in previous matches.

I completely agree, we may have had more chances under the previous system but I'm confident we'd have conceded at least once last night. The change in tactics enabled us to grind out a win (despite there being few stand out performers) which was a big plus for me. Now Sami just needs to find the right team to play that system and have a settled starting 11 (something which we seem to have struggled with so far this season) and I'll be feeling a bit more positive.

 

[BensGrandad]

As I have said the formation wasnt changed it was the manner in which certain players carried out their duties better that brought about the change in our fortunes

 

[mac04]

I don't think that the tactics changed much. Wigan were pressing really well so high up the pitch that our full backs didn't have the chance to get out of position very often. Unfortunately for Wigan that was all that they were good at, and it sort of did us a favour.

 

[London Irish]

As I have said the formation wasnt changed it was the manner in which certain players carried out their duties better that brought about the change in our fortunes

Jeezus of course the formation was changed. Gardner explicity said so in his post match interview

 

[Rookie]

As I have said the formation wasnt changed it was the manner in which certain players carried out their duties better that brought about the change in our fortunes

It clearly changed.
If you want go check out the heat map from yesterday and compare it with a previous game

 

[Munkfish]

As I have said the formation wasnt changed it was the manner in which certain players carried out their duties better that brought about the change in our fortunes

The Formation was clearly changed.

I assume you mean, it wasnt the change of the formation that got us the result, it was the performance of certain players carrying out their duties better than previous games.

In Both cases I can't agree.

 

[BensGrandad]

As I have said the formation wasnt changed it was the manner in which certain players carried out their duties better egBoth cases I can't agree.

ion.
I would suggest that you all listen to Gardners interview as he said "they tweaked the system to get him in the box more" not changed the basic shape and formation. That was obvious as was Elliott Bennett filling in behind Calderon