Midfield Lack Of Creativity

[Tampa Blue]

Luggy is an experienced and relatively successful Manager, but why oh why does he think that Grant, Ferdinand and Kalala can all play together in the same Team - for what it's worth I think that all 3 are good players in their own right, but the balance that they provide is just WRONG.

We need creativity to win games in this god awful Division - if Luggy does not believe that Sawyer is the answer then go out and get someone else in who can run and pass the ball.

Harris must be having second thoughts about joining us as he must have neck ache, yet I have some idiot behind me who thinks Harris is the problem!! We could have Michael Owen up front and he would struggle to score with the lack of any decent passes!!:angry:

 

[Smiffy]

I think we all share the same opinion mate. Question is, does sturrock? And if so is he going to change the style or persevere with a brand of football, that is alien to most of our talented squad?

 

[Rayleigh Blue]

well fed up with that rubbish today

 

[applelover]

Couldn't agree more. The forwards are fighting for scraps at the moment and haven't had a sniff at a shot in the box in the last two games. Midfield needs sorting urgently. Gilbert does like to hoof it up the line but there wasn't ever anyone to play a short ball to today.

Regardless of shape and team selection a couple of our midfield need to hold their hands up and make sure their performance in the next game is far better than it has been in the last two games.

Sawyer must get a start next time out but I think that his reintroduction to the starting line up would have been much easier at roots hall than away at port vale.

 

[Magnum PI]

first half today was as bad as I can remember Southend

which is scandalous when you see the talent we have at our disposal


we are playing it all wrong in my humble opinion.. get Sawyer in and quick!!

 

[Richard_Cadette]

To be fair, we were pretty successful last season when Ferdinand, Grant and Easton were all playing, and the same applies - they were all predominantly defensive minded players - except, Grant isn't really is he? As we all saw last season, he is far more effective as an offensive midfielder.

FWIW, I thought the biggest issue today was width, or rather lack of it. Burton packed the centre of the park, and we really didn't have enough natural width to get around them and deliver crosses. JJ has had a slow start, but for me, he would have been on at half time today for me, and one of the midfield trio - probably Ferdinand - replaced.

If you look at the pace we would have then had on both flanks, that would have caused them far more problems - especially when you look at our options in the box with Harris and Dickinson.

PS got the tactics wrong - it happens. He got them spot on against Hereford and Accrington and for the most part, against Crawley too. It's a blip, we have far too much talent in our squad for it to be any more, and I fancy us to get a result at Vale next week.

 

[Somerset Ex-TTB]

Its so annoying. We have a squad of decent footballers, probably in the top 3 or 4 on paper for this division, yet we play a style similar to a poor Ryman League team.

The fact that if we were to utilise the players properly and pass the ball on the floor, we would beat teams like Burton all day long, and to me that is almost as obvious as the fact that Arsene Wenger needs to sign a centre back.

I watched out league one title winning season on DVD last week, and almost every single goal was scored by passing football, light years away from what we witnessed in the first half today.

Sturrock got it wrong yet again, and unless the style of football changes sharpish, the crowds will continue to fall rapidly.

 

[Dorsetshrimper]

Made the trip up from Dorset today and was disappointed with what I saw.

I thought Grant typified our overall performance, passed backwards too many times and did nothing creative. Why did he stay on for 90 minutes. Kalala did more defensively and Ferdinand was looking like he was getting going when he was subbed.

Harris tried hard and had many neat touches, but it was so hard for him with such more service.

Dickinson tried hard but does not seem to get off the ground and nobody can read the little flicks he does get. Sorry to say reminded me of Roy McDonut - the ball would hit his head and even he had no idea where it would go!

Johnson and Sawyer both need to start for us to see what they can do. As subs they were brought on too late to make a difference.

 

[Shrimper]

I was quite annoyed with the way we lined up today purely because of the fact that we shouldn't be playing so defensive at home. Especially against a team like Burton who can shut up shop if they so wish once they've taken the lead. If I was PS I'd push Grant forward so that the central three are in a triangle in the center of the pitch, potentially with Sawyer replacing one of them, although, I'd rather he started from the bench as he can't last a whole game but if we need something late on then he should be the one we bring on to open it up.

 

[Chris Powell's mate]

For what it's worth Dickinson didn't look as if he could trap a bag of cement.
Surely, if you're going to bomb the ball down the centre and channels, you need at least one forward who can hold it up before the cavalry arrive.
Far too often, the ball got a hoof and came straight back because a) no-one got hold of it or b) because either LD or Harris were fighting a lone battle.
Oh, and the midfield were pants....

 

[Murkey_Mouse]

Its was wrong 100% I never want to see that tactics again, I want to see more attacking formation at home - if we played the same midfield 3 again in our next home game, I would go nut and I won't be the only one!

 

[BrettieAngell]

Yesterday was my first game of the season adn only second game this year for various reasons. I'm wondering what has happened to Anthony Grant? He hardly seemed to be involved today. Was it just a case of being stiffled by the formation or has influence diminished that much generally?

 

[silentshrimper]

That formation and line up is acceptable for some away games, but if I see that at home again I will be tempted to not bother with some games.

We could see low 4000s high 3000s in attendance if this continues.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Yesterday was my first game of the season adn only second game this year for various reasons. I'm wondering what has happened to Anthony Grant? He hardly seemed to be involved today. Was it just a case of being stiffled by the formation or has influence diminished that much generally?

Grant has always been Mr inconsistent. When he plays like that and still doesn't get taken off or dropped is a complete mystery to me. He is the meant to be one of our best players, but I wouldn't care if he was sold. I think we could get a more attacking and consistent player to take his place.