Ghost of Clough

Bird's getting less and less of the ball. 54 touches in Warne's first game, then in the 40s for the next 2 games, and now into the 30s for the last 2. It's a worrying trend.

Bird's getting less and less of the ball. 54 touches in Warne's first game, then in the 40s for the next 2 games, and now into the 30s for the last 2. It's a worrying trend.

The problem Bird was having under Rosenior was the lack of passing options in front of him.  Last season he had Ravel Morrison as a number 9 demanding the ball, Plange and Kazim dropping off the front showing for the ball, Knight drifting in from out wide, and even Lawrence showing for it at times. This season, Collins stands in the 6 yard box, Hourihane is too static and everyone else (NML, Dobbin, Osula, Bakhuizen etc) is wanting to make runs in behind.  McGoldrick is the only forward player we have that shows for the ball and wants it into feet, and he's been injured a lot.  So Bird picks up the ball and can either thread a perfect through ball for the likes of Dobbin, or safely play it sideways.  And that's just got even worse under Warne, because we spend half the time lumping it over Birds head as well.
For all the people that said Will Hughes never does anything, the team (certainly under Rosenior anyway) is what a team without someone like Will Hughes doing his stuff looks like.  The stuff Hughes did was busting a gut to get into space at all times, then just get it and move it on quickly (rinse and repeat).  We have no one doing that - Bird should be picking the ball up, playing a ball 5/10 yards forward to that guy, and then Bird can advance and get it back again, but he's now 20 yards further up the pitch and those through balls to Dobbin etc are suddenly a lot more playable.  

I heard the "he's a high risk tackler" comment. I haven't heard him say "worst tackler he's ever seen"

2nd half last night Derby were better but a lot of that was due to going 4 at the back at half time and Smith did well at RB as did Roberts on the left .
All too late though by the manager 
Sibley can’t be singled out for the system that manager played 1st half .
I have been advocating 4 at the back since Ipswich.
PS We haven’t got the right players for 3 at the back due to no wing backs that can get up and down and injured players are a problem now  and also Odura for some reason isn’t trusted by the manager !
Osula looks nowhere near as good as Collins so hope he’s back Saturday 
 

Yet only Chester made more successful tackles than him today. Doesn't bode well when "the worst tackler he's ever seen" is winning the ball back more than most others on the pitch.
Maybe the problem is putting an AM at LWB. ? 

We've tried to pass the ball more in the past 2 games. Whether that's him adapting or finally getting his philosophy across is still to be decided. However, we've been slower at progressing up the pitch, which is why we've barely troubled to opposition keeper in both games.
Ipswich - we started brightly, but soon faded. Smith had only just returned from injury and was struggling with the intensity after 60 minutes. Davies just couldn't keep up and Chester had been poor for a couple of games. Mendez-Laing is proving every game he's only a 60 minute player (a result of his high intensity runs). All remaining intensity was lost when McGoldrick, Hourihane and Forsyth were brought on for Dobbin, Osula and Barkhuizen.
Exeter - It was a predictable start with Hourihane in the middle. Chester was also struggling, with Exeter looking to get beyond him and drag him out of position at every opportunity until he came off injured. The defence looked more solid as soon as that happened. A poor bench and substitutions meant we didn't have enough attacking minded players on the pitch at any point and later couldn't replace players who had clearly ran out of steam (Osula).
We've lost 4 of the 7 games under Warne in all competitions (we lost only 3 in 12 under Rosenior).
Whether we play 3 or 4 at the back, Warne quickly needs to learn which players can play a high intensity style and use others as impact subs late in the game.

Yet only Chester made more successful tackles than him today. Doesn't bode well when "the worst tackler he's ever seen" is winning the ball back more than most others on the pitch.
Maybe the problem is putting an AM at LWB. ? 

Yet only Chester made more successful tackles than him today. Doesn't bode well when "the worst tackler he's ever seen" is winning the ball back more than most others on the pitch.
Maybe the problem is putting an AM at LWB. ? 

I’m still not convinced he’s worked it out. I think he was forced into it because we ran out of centre halves to play.  He even moved Sibley to wingback just to try and keep playing a back 3, before realising what a catastrophically stupid decision that was.

Yet only Chester made more successful tackles than him today. Doesn't bode well when "the worst tackler he's ever seen" is winning the ball back more than most others on the pitch.
Maybe the problem is putting an AM at LWB. ? 

AM for Ireland

We can bring players in We should be able to spend on players if it's within the agreed budget. We had enough budget spare to pay compensation for Warne, and there may still be some left over to pay transfer fees

Yes

Williams would have been the perfect LB in Rosenior's system. I don't think he has to pace Warne is looking for in a wing back though.

Ah yes. Knight's was earlier in the season.
I agree with you, the Barkhuizen one was a dive.

He's very good.
His best position is clearly central midfield.
I'm pleased Warne has given him the full 90 minutes in the last 2 games when other midfielders have come and gone. Plus in my discussions with Warne, the manager also sees him as a midfielder, says he's training really well and has made a very positive impression on our new boss.

Knight - penalty
Bird - 50:50 collision, no penalty
Davies - outside of area, no penalty
Hourihane - penalty
McGoldrick - penalty

Could have been a red if we had VAR

Once met Jack Stretton. 

Ipswich are also quite slow at the back, with their wingbacks pushing high. This will be a very open game with lots of action.
Their CF, Ladapo is well known to Warne having spent the last 3 seasons at Rotherham. if anyone knows how to keep him quiet it'll be Warne.

No Knight, so Smith starts. Hourihane on the bench. Everyone else as expected.

He's played for Poland twice since 2019.
The first time, he came on as a sub for a CB. They were playing 523, but changed to 433 with Bielik at DM when he came on. I made the mistake of assuming it was a straight swap too, but had to watch the game back to check.
They then played 433 in the other game with Bielik DM

The world's best U21 side would be mid-table in the PL.
Generally speaking, England age groups are at the following level of ability:
England U21s - Upper Championship to lower PL
England U20s - Mid to Upper Championship
England U19s - Upper L1 to Mid Championship
Man City had a full international at CM, and 1x U21, 2x U20, 3x U19 and 3x U18.
Three or four of the U21 team have been in several Man City squads this season.
I'm willing to bet at least half of that team we just lost to will be playing Championship football next season.
Wigan, Ipswich, Wycombe, Hull, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Sunderland and Rotherham have all lost to U21 sides over the past 3 seasons. All have either won promotion during that period, or are in a very good position to do so this season.
All things considered, it's not a disaster for our second string 11 of players needing match fitness to lose to a very good U21 side.