| Just back 01:13 - Aug 5 with 13181 views | rrrspricey |
Well, a couple of hours ago at least
Schteve said, and I quote “I like to play attractive, attacking football. The priority is to win matches - but we want to win them in a certain style."
Saw precious little evidence of that today. Highlight yet again was Eze (what a revelation he's been eh) but could've been a lot worse if PNE had been more clinical.
Great chance for r cilla to have nicked a point late on but we offered fook all and didn't deserve a point if truth be told.
I'm not a tactical genius by a long shot but Freeman out wide just doesn't work., he needs to be more central where his distribution can hurt teams. If that were the case I'd rather see Sylla up front using his pace to get in behind defences.
Another plus was BFG mk2, thought he looked solid and was vocal throughout organising and motivating. Following his 45 minute run out against Swindon last week, hopefully Hall will be back sooner rather than later, couple that with Furlong's return and we'll have a half decent back line.
Onwards and upwards
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| Just back on 03:41 - Aug 5 with 8624 views | PlanetHonneywood |
A balanced summary, without the hysteria or baying like a demented hound, of what is a work in progress. Not that we have too much time to work with.
Did you sense much in the way of cohesion/we’re all in this together? |  |
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| Just back on 04:59 - Aug 5 with 8571 views | funkyworm |
No sugarcoating. Preston dominated. They continuously snatched back possession whenever. We couldn’t put together 3 passes and look disorganized on both sides of the ball. 👎ðŸ»ðŸ’© |  | | |
| Just back on 09:30 - Aug 5 with 7876 views | TacticalR |
This all sounds very familiar. |  |
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| Just back on 09:58 - Aug 5 with 7746 views | Rs_Holy |
| Just back on 09:30 - Aug 5 by TacticalR |
This all sounds very familiar. |
Yes!... I can accept that due to financial restrictions were not going to improve much but it sounds like we set up for 0-0 which contradicts what Schteve said earlier. Maybe he’s taking the ‘sort the defence out first, then work on the midfield, then start to think about attractive footy’ approach???. Fits in with the structured thang I suppose! |  | | |
| Just back on 10:03 - Aug 5 with 7702 views | traininvain |
Or maybe we just played against a better team who made it difficult for us to play nice football.
Hardly surprising given our respective league positions last season. |  | | |
| Just back on 10:12 - Aug 5 with 7643 views | Antti_Heinola |
Thanks for the report pricey.
A difficult first game for McClaren and the team it was always going to be. But important not to read too much into one game, especially the first game of the season. We won our last two first games of the season pretty emphatically and then finished comfortably behind the teams we beat emphatically at the end of the season. Sheff U will be another really difficult one. |  |
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| Just back on 10:30 - Aug 5 with 7538 views | daveB |
Was difficult to work out on the radio but did Freeman play on the right and BOS on the left?
All sounded similar to away games last season in that we weren't terrible and always in the game but never really looking like we'd get something which I guess is to be expected as it's basically the same team. |  | | |
| Just back on 10:32 - Aug 5 with 7529 views | Snipper |
| Just back on 10:12 - Aug 5 by Antti_Heinola |
Thanks for the report pricey.
A difficult first game for McClaren and the team it was always going to be. But important not to read too much into one game, especially the first game of the season. We won our last two first games of the season pretty emphatically and then finished comfortably behind the teams we beat emphatically at the end of the season. Sheff U will be another really difficult one. |
Erm, Reading finished emphatically behind us last season. Tut tut tut |  | | |
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| Just back on 10:32 - Aug 5 with 7528 views | Burnleyhoop |
Defence was well marshalled with Lynch and BFG not really having that much to deal with in truth. The big issue for me was there was zero playing out from the back with the ball being hoofed by Ingram in the general direction of Bidwell and BS, who had very little impact on the game.
We were overrun in midfield in the first off with Preston using the width of the pitch very well. Our only outlet was the usual direct punt to Smith who won no more than 50% with zero pick up from knock ons. Completely pointless and clearly nothing learned from last season.
Looked significantly better with introduction of Sylla and Smyth who at least put the Preston back line under some pressure with their pace and more importantly, their aggression. We only showed any real intent in the last 10 minutes.
Eze showed a great touch and nice skills but no real impact.
There is potential....but need to show more fight and belief. | | | |
| Just back on 10:38 - Aug 5 with 7491 views | daveB |
| Just back on 10:12 - Aug 5 by Antti_Heinola |
Thanks for the report pricey.
A difficult first game for McClaren and the team it was always going to be. But important not to read too much into one game, especially the first game of the season. We won our last two first games of the season pretty emphatically and then finished comfortably behind the teams we beat emphatically at the end of the season. Sheff U will be another really difficult one. |
We finished above the first 3 teams we played last season didn't we? reading, sheff wed & hull | | | |
| Just back on 10:42 - Aug 5 with 7453 views | essextaxiboy |
You cant judge anything until we are at least 10 -15 games in . We always seem to struggle against teams that stretch gamesmanship to the limit . I used to think it was Grayson who coached it but they have carried it on, must be in their DNA . Millwall is another example .
I didnt go , but listened to it . The opinion was that we were very organised in the first half then less so second half . You often get freak results early on in the season, this was just a loss by the odd goal away from home . No big deal IMO .
Goals are a concern for me however. We go into the season with 3 strikers who all have different strengths , pace , finishing , aerial power but none have all 3 and when you play with just one its always a compromise and limits how you can play. |  | | |
| Just back on 10:42 - Aug 5 with 7446 views | Northernr |
Thought we were tremendously naive. They ran through all the same shithouse tricks they'd done at Loftus Road in April and we fell for them all over again. |  | | |
| Just back on 10:51 - Aug 5 with 7390 views | francisbowles |
| Just back on 10:42 - Aug 5 by Northernr |
Thought we were tremendously naive. They ran through all the same shithouse tricks they'd done at Loftus Road in April and we fell for them all over again. |
I didn't go, listened to it on player where the commentator and Andy were complaining about 'the dark acts' i.e. feigning injury and wasting time with even the manager kicking the ball away. I was at LR last year and do remember what that was like.
Looking forward to your report giving some detail on these 'tricks' and what we might have done to nullify their effect. | | | |
| Just back on 10:51 - Aug 5 with 7381 views | 1JD |
| Just back on 10:30 - Aug 5 by daveB |
Was difficult to work out on the radio but did Freeman play on the right and BOS on the left?
All sounded similar to away games last season in that we weren't terrible and always in the game but never really looking like we'd get something which I guess is to be expected as it's basically the same team. |
Correct was 4-2-3-1. Preston pitch was enormous and we struggled to get to grips with the sheer amount of space. We struggled to close the space and players down- at times the players - all of them- looked unfit. Scowen did not have one of his usual snappy games and lost countless 50:50 challenges. Both he and Loungo looked unfit on that massive pitch.
Warming up Ingram was pinging 70 yard balls to Lumley who did it back in return. Gavin ward was watching on. Seemed easy for Lumley but Ingram not so, and that was under no presssure. During the game he panicked with the ball at his feet and his distribution was awful - constantly turning them back possession. Big area of his game that needs improvement. He didn’t look confident in the game.
Smith up front as a lone 9 does not and will not work. He is a plan B not plan A. No mobility no hold up play it was infuriating. Sylla should of come on sooner than at 70 mins as not only was big Matt ineffective he was also blowing out of his ass. I like him but not as a single 9.
Compared with Union Berlin we couldn’t get in their faces to win the ball, and when we did, we were not good in possession. Changed when Manning came on, and started to dictate with quicker football. Pace in the side continues to be a worry. Freeman is too slow on the ball and off it. That coupled with Smith up top and 2 out of 4 attackers were slow as....with Preston quickly re-organizing the little times we broke.
Positives - Eze, Kakay and BFG. Kakay added a whole new dimension offering an attacking outlet 3 or 4 times in the game, where he either won a corner or crossed it well. Great engine. Eze = Taarabt. Higher praise I could not give. ezes too good for you.... and BFG is solid and dominates in the air.
McClaren will certainly have learnt a lot as the weaknesses in the side where obvious. Severe lack of pace, one dimensional, midfield balance not right to play passing possession football, badly need classic number 9 up top, Smith is only a plan B not A. | | | |
| Just back on 10:51 - Aug 5 with 7379 views | LythamR |
| Just back on 09:58 - Aug 5 by Rs_Holy |
Yes!... I can accept that due to financial restrictions were not going to improve much but it sounds like we set up for 0-0 which contradicts what Schteve said earlier. Maybe he’s taking the ‘sort the defence out first, then work on the midfield, then start to think about attractive footy’ approach???. Fits in with the structured thang I suppose! |
I dont think we set up for a 0-0 . I dont that you would play BOS in such a strategy.
We were just not able to cope with them in midfield, BOS was isolated and barely got a look in, likewise Freeman, Defensively we were pretty lucky, you could not really have complained if we have gone in at half time 3-0 down. not that this was down to the defence, Loungo was almost invisible when it counted. Mclaren pressumably decided it was pointless playing BOS if we could pass (or kick from goal) the ball to him so he was swapped for Manning, this meant Eze was a bit more advanced as was loungo at the start of the second half, after Prestons goal the game was more even both teams were equally poor.
we brought on Smythe for Loungo and finally Sylla for Smith and had a frantic final 5 minutes plus 5 extra Sylla and Smythe caused problems and their goalie made a great reflex save from Sylla which should have got us the equaliser. Just before the Sylla effort we had a corner and before it was kicked thier keeper suddenly went down like a sack of spuds on his line, i didnt see what had happened as i was watching Freemen prepare the kick but he must have either deliberately cheated or Smythe gave him a dig, the last10 minutes where a catalog of Preston players going down and needing tretament to burn up time which was very frustrating
As mentioned elsewhere BFG seems pretty good in terms of leading the defence but individually he worries me, seems to have a tendancy to hold rather than attack the ball in the air, hopefully that can be sorted out on the training ground, Gorkss had a similar trait when he first arrived but improved so there is hope
Freeman was ok but tried to do too much and lost possession, Eze was better in that respect and had some bright moments.
Ingrams distribution is way down on Smithies and that is going to be an issue, he just couldn't find BOS with kicks to the left side and i don't think they were much better to the right flank so we seemed to turn over possession easily and frequently.
unlike last week against Berlin we were up against a team that although missing some of their better players where well up for the game,
Its probably going to be a long struggle of a season with some highs and quite a few lows but i think most of us are realistic about that.
you couldn't fault the team overall for effort and the travelling 1064 R's mains applauded the team off at the end |  | | |
| Just back on 10:55 - Aug 5 with 7349 views | Northernr |
| Just back on 10:51 - Aug 5 by francisbowles |
I didn't go, listened to it on player where the commentator and Andy were complaining about 'the dark acts' i.e. feigning injury and wasting time with even the manager kicking the ball away. I was at LR last year and do remember what that was like.
Looking forward to your report giving some detail on these 'tricks' and what we might have done to nullify their effect. |
Well don't get sucked in for one. Late corner Smyth goes and stands with the keeper, gives him a tiny little dig, suddenly the goalkeeper is rolling round on the floor, and that's another minute and a half gone. The keeper's a dickhead, but don't bloody nudge him and give him the chance. | | | |
| Just back on 11:00 - Aug 5 with 7316 views | francisbowles |
| Just back on 10:55 - Aug 5 by Northernr |
Well don't get sucked in for one. Late corner Smyth goes and stands with the keeper, gives him a tiny little dig, suddenly the goalkeeper is rolling round on the floor, and that's another minute and a half gone. The keeper's a dickhead, but don't bloody nudge him and give him the chance. |
Good point.
They mentioned the keeper going down but that was it.
Do think refs should be stronger on this though. It is not just about adding on time. Get the card out quicker and be prepared to give it twice to the same player. It's the only way to stop it. | | | |
| Just back on 11:20 - Aug 5 with 7196 views | LongsufferingR |
| Just back on 11:00 - Aug 5 by francisbowles |
Good point.
They mentioned the keeper going down but that was it.
Do think refs should be stronger on this though. It is not just about adding on time. Get the card out quicker and be prepared to give it twice to the same player. It's the only way to stop it. |
Absolutely! If they knew they were going to be penalised, they wouldn't do it, but refs do nothing to punish it so it continues. Can't be bothered to look up the name of their number 4 but this guy takes cheating to a whole new level and I hope karma visits him some time this season.
All comes from the manager though and Alex Neil is rapidly overtaking Paul Lambert as the worst exponent of this sort of shyte. |  | | |
| Just back on 11:21 - Aug 5 with 7191 views | LongsufferingR |
On the plus side though, I was very impressed with Kakay. Looks assured at the back and a danger going forward. | | | |
| Just back on 11:22 - Aug 5 with 7181 views | PinnerPaul |
| Just back on 11:00 - Aug 5 by francisbowles |
Good point.
They mentioned the keeper going down but that was it.
Do think refs should be stronger on this though. It is not just about adding on time. Get the card out quicker and be prepared to give it twice to the same player. It's the only way to stop it. |
That means training refs to be doctors/physios.
More practical solution is an independent time keeper as in many sports.
Clock is stopped when ref signals - would end the fake injuries overnight.
As I posted earlier in the week about the Hockey World Cup I went to:-
1) EVERY penalty corner taken exactly 40 secs after award
2) EVERY restart after a goal taken exactly 40 seconds after the goal
3) Subs - Roll on/roll off - all done without referee getting involved and play being stopped
That and ball boys/girls placing ball where it goes out of play and hey presto you have a game that actually consists of proper play and no time wasting. | | | |
| Just back on 11:30 - Aug 5 with 7136 views | LongsufferingR |
| Just back on 11:22 - Aug 5 by PinnerPaul |
That means training refs to be doctors/physios.
More practical solution is an independent time keeper as in many sports.
Clock is stopped when ref signals - would end the fake injuries overnight.
As I posted earlier in the week about the Hockey World Cup I went to:-
1) EVERY penalty corner taken exactly 40 secs after award
2) EVERY restart after a goal taken exactly 40 seconds after the goal
3) Subs - Roll on/roll off - all done without referee getting involved and play being stopped
That and ball boys/girls placing ball where it goes out of play and hey presto you have a game that actually consists of proper play and no time wasting. |
Sorry, the first line is nonsense. As an example, the MK Dons game last season. Obvious time wasting goes on from the time they take the lead. Defender hauls Freeman down just outside the box (yellow card offence), but then not only spends nearly two minutes getting to his feet, but the referee actually waits for the player to tie his laces before showing the card and letting play go on, so he was actively allowing them to run the show.
What needed to happen was a yellow card for the foul and then another for time-wasting. Player goes off and they think twice about any more antics. | | | |
| Just back on 11:37 - Aug 5 with 7096 views | smegma |
| Just back on 10:42 - Aug 5 by Northernr |
Thought we were tremendously naive. They ran through all the same shithouse tricks they'd done at Loftus Road in April and we fell for them all over again. |
You mean the ref fell for them. I have no problems with the Manning and Scowen yellows but Scowen was on the end of the worse tackle in the game. No yellow but a reprimand for Freeman for having the temerity to complain about the lack of decision.
Preston Hospital was inundated with over a dozen fully fit professional footballers in A & E for injuries due to bodily contact . I've never seen so much acting, diving, time wasting, kicking the ball away in 90 minutes . How many cards?? Don't be stupid. | | | |
| Just back on 11:43 - Aug 5 with 7069 views | Dixie_CT |
| Just back on 11:22 - Aug 5 by PinnerPaul |
That means training refs to be doctors/physios.
More practical solution is an independent time keeper as in many sports.
Clock is stopped when ref signals - would end the fake injuries overnight.
As I posted earlier in the week about the Hockey World Cup I went to:-
1) EVERY penalty corner taken exactly 40 secs after award
2) EVERY restart after a goal taken exactly 40 seconds after the goal
3) Subs - Roll on/roll off - all done without referee getting involved and play being stopped
That and ball boys/girls placing ball where it goes out of play and hey presto you have a game that actually consists of proper play and no time wasting. |
The officiating of football needs a proper review and there is a lot to be learnt from other sports. I do think introducing a timekeeper would be the easiest and most impactful change.
However, the Laws are down to interpretation and some teams and players actively attempt to bend things in their favour. It’s not a new thing, been going on since the game was invented. Great when it’s your boys doing it, horrendous when it’s used against you. We have to be smarter but it’s not something you can really instill on the training ground, you’ve got to go bring it in.
Experience is crucial in these situations. Clint Hill used to be a menace at corners, a right nightmare, but clever with it. Push, pull, talk trash to your marker and then when the ref looks, act like the most wronged person in history.
Football is as much with the head as it is with the feet. Many players have made a career out of leading, organising and Non stop talking. We haven’t got anyone who fits that bill and as good as the BFG could be, big ask for him to be tasked with carrying a young team through away at Deepdale.
Alternatively you could do a Brentford and have no captain!
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11748/11459033/brentford-decide-against-n |  | | |
| Just back on 11:54 - Aug 5 with 7009 views | Northernr |
| Just back on 11:00 - Aug 5 by francisbowles |
Good point.
They mentioned the keeper going down but that was it.
Do think refs should be stronger on this though. It is not just about adding on time. Get the card out quicker and be prepared to give it twice to the same player. It's the only way to stop it. |
If the referee had just once let the play go on when one of them was rolling around it would have stopped.
Another easy rule change - goalkicks taken on the side the ball goes out - would stop some of it as well. | | | |
| Just back on 12:39 - Aug 5 with 6754 views | jonno |
| Just back on 10:51 - Aug 5 by 1JD |
Correct was 4-2-3-1. Preston pitch was enormous and we struggled to get to grips with the sheer amount of space. We struggled to close the space and players down- at times the players - all of them- looked unfit. Scowen did not have one of his usual snappy games and lost countless 50:50 challenges. Both he and Loungo looked unfit on that massive pitch.
Warming up Ingram was pinging 70 yard balls to Lumley who did it back in return. Gavin ward was watching on. Seemed easy for Lumley but Ingram not so, and that was under no presssure. During the game he panicked with the ball at his feet and his distribution was awful - constantly turning them back possession. Big area of his game that needs improvement. He didn’t look confident in the game.
Smith up front as a lone 9 does not and will not work. He is a plan B not plan A. No mobility no hold up play it was infuriating. Sylla should of come on sooner than at 70 mins as not only was big Matt ineffective he was also blowing out of his ass. I like him but not as a single 9.
Compared with Union Berlin we couldn’t get in their faces to win the ball, and when we did, we were not good in possession. Changed when Manning came on, and started to dictate with quicker football. Pace in the side continues to be a worry. Freeman is too slow on the ball and off it. That coupled with Smith up top and 2 out of 4 attackers were slow as....with Preston quickly re-organizing the little times we broke.
Positives - Eze, Kakay and BFG. Kakay added a whole new dimension offering an attacking outlet 3 or 4 times in the game, where he either won a corner or crossed it well. Great engine. Eze = Taarabt. Higher praise I could not give. ezes too good for you.... and BFG is solid and dominates in the air.
McClaren will certainly have learnt a lot as the weaknesses in the side where obvious. Severe lack of pace, one dimensional, midfield balance not right to play passing possession football, badly need classic number 9 up top, Smith is only a plan B not A. |
In other words pretty much the same issues we had last season! |  | | |
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