duncanjwitham

First half, they played a really narrow 352, and that left our fullbacks completely free to attack.  They were an easy out-ball for us when playing out from the back, and caused them all sorts of problems (the first goal being an obvious example, with major contributions from both of them).  As well as we played (and we did play very well), it was at least in part because they allowed us to.
Second half, they switched to a 343 and put their 2 wingers right on our fullbacks and completely stifled them.  At no stage did our bench react to that change and ultimately that’s what’s cost us today.  They pressed us into a mistake for the first goal, then our overall tiredness and fragile confidence started rearing it’s head.  We needed to change something very quickly in the second half, as it was obvious what was happening. It didn’t have to be a sub, it could have been a tweak to the team shape or style of play or something. But we did nothing until we made a couple of basically like-for-like subs after 70 odd minutes that didn’t really change anything anyway.  
I know some people don’t want to hear it, but to me that match epitomises Paul Warne’s management. He can get a group of players fit and working hard for each other, but sometimes that’s not enough on it’s own.  You can’t win every game just by running around more than the other team.  Sometimes you need to be smarter than they are.  And I worry that the higher you go up the leagues, the more of those games there are. 
 

First half, they played a really narrow 352, and that left our fullbacks completely free to attack.  They were an easy out-ball for us when playing out from the back, and caused them all sorts of problems (the first goal being an obvious example, with major contributions from both of them).  As well as we played (and we did play very well), it was at least in part because they allowed us to.
Second half, they switched to a 343 and put their 2 wingers right on our fullbacks and completely stifled them.  At no stage did our bench react to that change and ultimately that’s what’s cost us today.  They pressed us into a mistake for the first goal, then our overall tiredness and fragile confidence started rearing it’s head.  We needed to change something very quickly in the second half, as it was obvious what was happening. It didn’t have to be a sub, it could have been a tweak to the team shape or style of play or something. But we did nothing until we made a couple of basically like-for-like subs after 70 odd minutes that didn’t really change anything anyway.  
I know some people don’t want to hear it, but to me that match epitomises Paul Warne’s management. He can get a group of players fit and working hard for each other, but sometimes that’s not enough on it’s own.  You can’t win every game just by running around more than the other team.  Sometimes you need to be smarter than they are.  And I worry that the higher you go up the leagues, the more of those games there are. 
 

First half, they played a really narrow 352, and that left our fullbacks completely free to attack.  They were an easy out-ball for us when playing out from the back, and caused them all sorts of problems (the first goal being an obvious example, with major contributions from both of them).  As well as we played (and we did play very well), it was at least in part because they allowed us to.
Second half, they switched to a 343 and put their 2 wingers right on our fullbacks and completely stifled them.  At no stage did our bench react to that change and ultimately that’s what’s cost us today.  They pressed us into a mistake for the first goal, then our overall tiredness and fragile confidence started rearing it’s head.  We needed to change something very quickly in the second half, as it was obvious what was happening. It didn’t have to be a sub, it could have been a tweak to the team shape or style of play or something. But we did nothing until we made a couple of basically like-for-like subs after 70 odd minutes that didn’t really change anything anyway.  
I know some people don’t want to hear it, but to me that match epitomises Paul Warne’s management. He can get a group of players fit and working hard for each other, but sometimes that’s not enough on it’s own.  You can’t win every game just by running around more than the other team.  Sometimes you need to be smarter than they are.  And I worry that the higher you go up the leagues, the more of those games there are. 
 

First half, they played a really narrow 352, and that left our fullbacks completely free to attack.  They were an easy out-ball for us when playing out from the back, and caused them all sorts of problems (the first goal being an obvious example, with major contributions from both of them).  As well as we played (and we did play very well), it was at least in part because they allowed us to.
Second half, they switched to a 343 and put their 2 wingers right on our fullbacks and completely stifled them.  At no stage did our bench react to that change and ultimately that’s what’s cost us today.  They pressed us into a mistake for the first goal, then our overall tiredness and fragile confidence started rearing it’s head.  We needed to change something very quickly in the second half, as it was obvious what was happening. It didn’t have to be a sub, it could have been a tweak to the team shape or style of play or something. But we did nothing until we made a couple of basically like-for-like subs after 70 odd minutes that didn’t really change anything anyway.  
I know some people don’t want to hear it, but to me that match epitomises Paul Warne’s management. He can get a group of players fit and working hard for each other, but sometimes that’s not enough on it’s own.  You can’t win every game just by running around more than the other team.  Sometimes you need to be smarter than they are.  And I worry that the higher you go up the leagues, the more of those games there are. 
 

Best we’ve played for months, we look a lot more balanced with Smith in midfield. 

Best we’ve played for months, we look a lot more balanced with Smith in midfield. 

Good luck with that, if we can only still sign free transfers and loans.  Loans are going to be youngsters looking for first team experience, and the majority of free transfers are going to be older players who have been released by clubs.  Players in-between don't often leave on frees (or loans), since clubs either want to keep them and extend their contracts, or sell them on before their contract expires.  And those that do, we've going to be competing on wages with other clubs when we're still restricted on that too.  We can probably outbid most league One teams, but at Championship level we're up against teams with parachute payments.  Odds are, the squad is going to have a similar overall makeup next season as this one, no matter what division we are in.

We've tried playing Knight in the midfield 2 already, it doesn't work.  He doesn't have the composure or range of passing we need in that position, and you're also taking away all the good stuff that Knight does further forward.  You want knight chasing lost causes and running off the ball in the final third, not picking it up off the back 4 and trying to play through midfield. There's maybe an argument for it in tough away games, where we won't be expected to have as much of the ball, but in a home game against a bottom 6 team, we should be dominating the ball and want ball-players in there.
Crazy as it sounds, I wouldn't change the team from the weekend (barring injury/fitness etc).  I think there's a decent argument that we picked the wrong team for a tough away game, but the right team for a bottom-6 team at home.

We've tried playing Knight in the midfield 2 already, it doesn't work.  He doesn't have the composure or range of passing we need in that position, and you're also taking away all the good stuff that Knight does further forward.  You want knight chasing lost causes and running off the ball in the final third, not picking it up off the back 4 and trying to play through midfield. There's maybe an argument for it in tough away games, where we won't be expected to have as much of the ball, but in a home game against a bottom 6 team, we should be dominating the ball and want ball-players in there.
Crazy as it sounds, I wouldn't change the team from the weekend (barring injury/fitness etc).  I think there's a decent argument that we picked the wrong team for a tough away game, but the right team for a bottom-6 team at home.

We've tried playing Knight in the midfield 2 already, it doesn't work.  He doesn't have the composure or range of passing we need in that position, and you're also taking away all the good stuff that Knight does further forward.  You want knight chasing lost causes and running off the ball in the final third, not picking it up off the back 4 and trying to play through midfield. There's maybe an argument for it in tough away games, where we won't be expected to have as much of the ball, but in a home game against a bottom 6 team, we should be dominating the ball and want ball-players in there.
Crazy as it sounds, I wouldn't change the team from the weekend (barring injury/fitness etc).  I think there's a decent argument that we picked the wrong team for a tough away game, but the right team for a bottom-6 team at home.

We've tried playing Knight in the midfield 2 already, it doesn't work.  He doesn't have the composure or range of passing we need in that position, and you're also taking away all the good stuff that Knight does further forward.  You want knight chasing lost causes and running off the ball in the final third, not picking it up off the back 4 and trying to play through midfield. There's maybe an argument for it in tough away games, where we won't be expected to have as much of the ball, but in a home game against a bottom 6 team, we should be dominating the ball and want ball-players in there.
Crazy as it sounds, I wouldn't change the team from the weekend (barring injury/fitness etc).  I think there's a decent argument that we picked the wrong team for a tough away game, but the right team for a bottom-6 team at home.

We've tried playing Knight in the midfield 2 already, it doesn't work.  He doesn't have the composure or range of passing we need in that position, and you're also taking away all the good stuff that Knight does further forward.  You want knight chasing lost causes and running off the ball in the final third, not picking it up off the back 4 and trying to play through midfield. There's maybe an argument for it in tough away games, where we won't be expected to have as much of the ball, but in a home game against a bottom 6 team, we should be dominating the ball and want ball-players in there.
Crazy as it sounds, I wouldn't change the team from the weekend (barring injury/fitness etc).  I think there's a decent argument that we picked the wrong team for a tough away game, but the right team for a bottom-6 team at home.

We've tried playing Knight in the midfield 2 already, it doesn't work.  He doesn't have the composure or range of passing we need in that position, and you're also taking away all the good stuff that Knight does further forward.  You want knight chasing lost causes and running off the ball in the final third, not picking it up off the back 4 and trying to play through midfield. There's maybe an argument for it in tough away games, where we won't be expected to have as much of the ball, but in a home game against a bottom 6 team, we should be dominating the ball and want ball-players in there.
Crazy as it sounds, I wouldn't change the team from the weekend (barring injury/fitness etc).  I think there's a decent argument that we picked the wrong team for a tough away game, but the right team for a bottom-6 team at home.

You have to understand that the *only* thing the EFL (as a governing body) care about, is preserving their own cushy little existence.  They don't care about protecting football itself, or football clubs, or looking after fans interests, or doing the "right" thing.  They just want to carry on in their own little bubble, taking the path of least resistance through everything, where nobody else bothers them. 
It explains why they were happy to let Mel Morris do whatever he wanted, up until someone else moaned and they had to deal with it.  It explains why they are suddenly pretending they were onto Kirchner all along, rather than look bad for allowing an obviously dodgy guy to pass their little owners test.   It explains why they buried their heads over the 'Boro/Wycombe claims rather than make a decision that might come back to bite them down the line. And so on, and so on, and so on.

You have to understand that the *only* thing the EFL (as a governing body) care about, is preserving their own cushy little existence.  They don't care about protecting football itself, or football clubs, or looking after fans interests, or doing the "right" thing.  They just want to carry on in their own little bubble, taking the path of least resistance through everything, where nobody else bothers them. 
It explains why they were happy to let Mel Morris do whatever he wanted, up until someone else moaned and they had to deal with it.  It explains why they are suddenly pretending they were onto Kirchner all along, rather than look bad for allowing an obviously dodgy guy to pass their little owners test.   It explains why they buried their heads over the 'Boro/Wycombe claims rather than make a decision that might come back to bite them down the line. And so on, and so on, and so on.

You have to understand that the *only* thing the EFL (as a governing body) care about, is preserving their own cushy little existence.  They don't care about protecting football itself, or football clubs, or looking after fans interests, or doing the "right" thing.  They just want to carry on in their own little bubble, taking the path of least resistance through everything, where nobody else bothers them. 
It explains why they were happy to let Mel Morris do whatever he wanted, up until someone else moaned and they had to deal with it.  It explains why they are suddenly pretending they were onto Kirchner all along, rather than look bad for allowing an obviously dodgy guy to pass their little owners test.   It explains why they buried their heads over the 'Boro/Wycombe claims rather than make a decision that might come back to bite them down the line. And so on, and so on, and so on.

You have to understand that the *only* thing the EFL (as a governing body) care about, is preserving their own cushy little existence.  They don't care about protecting football itself, or football clubs, or looking after fans interests, or doing the "right" thing.  They just want to carry on in their own little bubble, taking the path of least resistance through everything, where nobody else bothers them. 
It explains why they were happy to let Mel Morris do whatever he wanted, up until someone else moaned and they had to deal with it.  It explains why they are suddenly pretending they were onto Kirchner all along, rather than look bad for allowing an obviously dodgy guy to pass their little owners test.   It explains why they buried their heads over the 'Boro/Wycombe claims rather than make a decision that might come back to bite them down the line. And so on, and so on, and so on.

You have to understand that the *only* thing the EFL (as a governing body) care about, is preserving their own cushy little existence.  They don't care about protecting football itself, or football clubs, or looking after fans interests, or doing the "right" thing.  They just want to carry on in their own little bubble, taking the path of least resistance through everything, where nobody else bothers them. 
It explains why they were happy to let Mel Morris do whatever he wanted, up until someone else moaned and they had to deal with it.  It explains why they are suddenly pretending they were onto Kirchner all along, rather than look bad for allowing an obviously dodgy guy to pass their little owners test.   It explains why they buried their heads over the 'Boro/Wycombe claims rather than make a decision that might come back to bite them down the line. And so on, and so on, and so on.

You have to understand that the *only* thing the EFL (as a governing body) care about, is preserving their own cushy little existence.  They don't care about protecting football itself, or football clubs, or looking after fans interests, or doing the "right" thing.  They just want to carry on in their own little bubble, taking the path of least resistance through everything, where nobody else bothers them. 
It explains why they were happy to let Mel Morris do whatever he wanted, up until someone else moaned and they had to deal with it.  It explains why they are suddenly pretending they were onto Kirchner all along, rather than look bad for allowing an obviously dodgy guy to pass their little owners test.   It explains why they buried their heads over the 'Boro/Wycombe claims rather than make a decision that might come back to bite them down the line. And so on, and so on, and so on.

You have to understand that the *only* thing the EFL (as a governing body) care about, is preserving their own cushy little existence.  They don't care about protecting football itself, or football clubs, or looking after fans interests, or doing the "right" thing.  They just want to carry on in their own little bubble, taking the path of least resistance through everything, where nobody else bothers them. 
It explains why they were happy to let Mel Morris do whatever he wanted, up until someone else moaned and they had to deal with it.  It explains why they are suddenly pretending they were onto Kirchner all along, rather than look bad for allowing an obviously dodgy guy to pass their little owners test.   It explains why they buried their heads over the 'Boro/Wycombe claims rather than make a decision that might come back to bite them down the line. And so on, and so on, and so on.

You have to understand that the *only* thing the EFL (as a governing body) care about, is preserving their own cushy little existence.  They don't care about protecting football itself, or football clubs, or looking after fans interests, or doing the "right" thing.  They just want to carry on in their own little bubble, taking the path of least resistance through everything, where nobody else bothers them. 
It explains why they were happy to let Mel Morris do whatever he wanted, up until someone else moaned and they had to deal with it.  It explains why they are suddenly pretending they were onto Kirchner all along, rather than look bad for allowing an obviously dodgy guy to pass their little owners test.   It explains why they buried their heads over the 'Boro/Wycombe claims rather than make a decision that might come back to bite them down the line. And so on, and so on, and so on.

Latest response from the EFL:-
"Thank you for your reply, we appreciate you getting back in touch.
While I note your comments, the EFL’s position has remained unchanged.
There are various requirements considered in the event of an ownership application process, as previously advised. One element of the process includes Owners’ and Directors’ Test (OADT) declarations and along with that is providing source and sufficiency of funding. It was after further investigation into related matters that required League approval, that Mr Kirchner’s application was withdrawn.
Again while I note your interest I’m afraid we are not able to provide any additional comments aside from those provided in this email.
Thank you for contacting the EFL."
Such a disingenuous bunch of s*** houses. 

Sky Sports article from back then: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12633357/chris-kirchner-withdraws-derby-county-bid
"Sky Sports News understands that Kirchner's withdrawal has come as a shock to the EFL and Quantuma - both of whom had been given reassurances as recently as Sunday that Kirchner was determined to complete the sale."
The EFL being shocked at Kirchner withdrawing is hardly the response you'd expect if they'd already told Kirchner they'd withdrawn his approval...

Sky Sports article from back then: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12633357/chris-kirchner-withdraws-derby-county-bid
"Sky Sports News understands that Kirchner's withdrawal has come as a shock to the EFL and Quantuma - both of whom had been given reassurances as recently as Sunday that Kirchner was determined to complete the sale."
The EFL being shocked at Kirchner withdrawing is hardly the response you'd expect if they'd already told Kirchner they'd withdrawn his approval...

Sky Sports article from back then: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12633357/chris-kirchner-withdraws-derby-county-bid
"Sky Sports News understands that Kirchner's withdrawal has come as a shock to the EFL and Quantuma - both of whom had been given reassurances as recently as Sunday that Kirchner was determined to complete the sale."
The EFL being shocked at Kirchner withdrawing is hardly the response you'd expect if they'd already told Kirchner they'd withdrawn his approval...