The Blobster
Prediction Champ
My heart won't hold up if we keep giving it away with poor errors
Martin Era: Game 1 - Blackburn Rovers
- Thread starter Yankee_Jack
- Start date
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Totally grim with the odd ray of sunshine in the name of Benda.
we were shit even compared to Andy Pandy standards. Preseason was a joke - I can see why Andy Pandy was let go. We are not fit physically or mentally. We showed lame passing and zero movement.
martin has some serious work to do
we were shit even compared to Andy Pandy standards. Preseason was a joke - I can see why Andy Pandy was let go. We are not fit physically or mentally. We showed lame passing and zero movement.
martin has some serious work to do
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Not unimpressed by Paterson, but apart for the side foot curl into the center of the goal that only succeded because the keeper was out of position, didn’t see much worth more than a free transfer in value either.
Lati needs a rocket.
Dhanda didn’t do himself any favors when he came on.
Lati needs a rocket.
Dhanda didn’t do himself any favors when he came on.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
On the bright side, we’re only 3 points off first place
. A good start.
CroJack
Key Player
He joined two days ago. Let's wait and see.
Wasn't able to listen today or watch it. Been grim reading some of these posts in retrospect and it seems the damage Cooper did to our team has run deep. I always moaned about our fitness levels apart from other issues but at least we've got the right man in place to teach this lot how to play football. It won't be easy and will take some time but we must be patient because it will be worthwhile in the long run.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Martínez lost his first game in charge against Yeovil. We’re on track
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Let’s face it, we played like crap, lost 2-1 but on a stupid penalty and a gift by goof ball back pass, Other than that we owned 71% possession and discovered a top, top keeper
Behindthegoal
Key Player
Lesson 1 pass forward wherever possible. 8/10
Lesson 2 pass to team mate. At best this is work in progress.
So is
Make yourself available to receive passes.
Lesson 2 pass to team mate. At best this is work in progress.
So is
Make yourself available to receive passes.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Too often especially in the first 30 minutes we looked like it was our first time on the field ever. Makes you wonder what they ever worked on in the gap between Potter and Martin
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CroJack
Key Player
CroJack
Key Player
I don't know about you but for me this was a higly entertaining game. You never knew when we were going to make another sloppy pass and gift Blackburn another opportunity to counter-attack us. 
At least I didn't fall asleep like I did too many times during our games under Cooper.
1. Steven Benda
Apart from the penalty given away that was nearly a perfect performance. Finally we have an excellent goalkeeper. You all know how much I used to criticise Woodman for his positioning, reluctance to leave the goal line, hesitation, for not being able to collect crosses, for not comanding his box and for his distribution. It seems Benda doesn't have any weaknesses.
2. Possession
This was the first time in I don't know how many years that we had 70 % possession in an away game. And we managed to do that with a squad not ready to play possession football.
3. Paterson goal
I hope this is just the first of many goals from our attacking midfielder. Grimes should let Paterson shoot from free-kicks as well.
4. Some really good pass and move sequences
There were not many of them but these early baby steps are promising.
1. Our back line and midfield lack pace
This could potentially be a huge problem. When you play possession football it's inevitable some of your passes will be intercepted, which means your defensive midfielders and centre-backs will have to deal with counter-attacks led by some pacey opposition attackers. We saw that against Blackburn. Our back line simply couldn't cope with the pace of the Blackburn's attackers.
There are three solutions to this problem.
We simply have to stop doing this. If you have the ball and you don't have any passing options then hoof it. It's not your fault other players don't move into the empty spaces to receive the pass.
3. Lack of movement and wrong movement
These bad habits are inherited from Cooper. You all remember how much we struggled under Cooper against teams who used to press us high and man-mark us all over the pitch? Cooper 'solved' the problem by implementing hoofing football. But this is not the option now. So, what do we do? Simply, the players have to stop waiting for the pass. They have to move into the empty spaces to receive it. And when they move they shouldn't be moving towards our goal but to the sides so they face the opposition goal.
4. Too slow passing
Our passing has to be quicker in order to prevent the opposition to easily intercept the ball and put the receiver of the pass to an unnecessery pressure.
5. Still no synchronised high pressing
Whilst Lowe and Cullen tried to press Blackburn defenders our midfielders were mostly sleeping so the Blackburn defenders had plenty of options to pass the ball to their midfielders. Not good.
6. We dominated possession but we didn't dominate the game
It was fascinating to watch how a previously mis-managed squad kept passing the ball despite being uncomfortable with it.
At times our passing looked amateurish and even comical. Our sloppy passing together with the lack of movement and pressing made Blackburn look like world beaters. The most of the stats aren't a good read for us. Blackburn created more quality chances, they had more shots and shots on target.
At least I didn't fall asleep like I did too many times during our games under Cooper.Positives
1. Steven Benda
Apart from the penalty given away that was nearly a perfect performance. Finally we have an excellent goalkeeper. You all know how much I used to criticise Woodman for his positioning, reluctance to leave the goal line, hesitation, for not being able to collect crosses, for not comanding his box and for his distribution. It seems Benda doesn't have any weaknesses.
2. Possession
This was the first time in I don't know how many years that we had 70 % possession in an away game. And we managed to do that with a squad not ready to play possession football.
3. Paterson goal
I hope this is just the first of many goals from our attacking midfielder. Grimes should let Paterson shoot from free-kicks as well.
4. Some really good pass and move sequences
There were not many of them but these early baby steps are promising.
Negatives
1. Our back line and midfield lack pace
This could potentially be a huge problem. When you play possession football it's inevitable some of your passes will be intercepted, which means your defensive midfielders and centre-backs will have to deal with counter-attacks led by some pacey opposition attackers. We saw that against Blackburn. Our back line simply couldn't cope with the pace of the Blackburn's attackers.
There are three solutions to this problem.
- Much better passing accuracy. We have to eradicate sloppy passes and make sure when we lose possession we lose it in the opposition third
- The back three should not push so high and instead should stay in the middle of our half.
- We can sign defenders who have pace. This would be an ideal, but not a realistic solution now. In future our recruitment department shouldn't be signing players who lack pace.
We simply have to stop doing this. If you have the ball and you don't have any passing options then hoof it. It's not your fault other players don't move into the empty spaces to receive the pass.
3. Lack of movement and wrong movement
These bad habits are inherited from Cooper. You all remember how much we struggled under Cooper against teams who used to press us high and man-mark us all over the pitch? Cooper 'solved' the problem by implementing hoofing football. But this is not the option now. So, what do we do? Simply, the players have to stop waiting for the pass. They have to move into the empty spaces to receive it. And when they move they shouldn't be moving towards our goal but to the sides so they face the opposition goal.
4. Too slow passing
Our passing has to be quicker in order to prevent the opposition to easily intercept the ball and put the receiver of the pass to an unnecessery pressure.
5. Still no synchronised high pressing
Whilst Lowe and Cullen tried to press Blackburn defenders our midfielders were mostly sleeping so the Blackburn defenders had plenty of options to pass the ball to their midfielders. Not good.
6. We dominated possession but we didn't dominate the game
It was fascinating to watch how a previously mis-managed squad kept passing the ball despite being uncomfortable with it.
At times our passing looked amateurish and even comical. Our sloppy passing together with the lack of movement and pressing made Blackburn look like world beaters. The most of the stats aren't a good read for us. Blackburn created more quality chances, they had more shots and shots on target.
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Behindthegoal
Key Player
What he said 
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
I echo that too …. Great summary.
i once coached a youth team. It was so dominant in one match that at a water break I instructed the players to only pass with their off-foot, which they did and we still controlled. Yesterday, our passing was so awkward and too often lacking in authority that a stranger could surmise that the players had been instructed to pass only with their off-foot and were amateurs.
this is not a pub team and passing under any regime or pattern of play is not a skill that should be so weakly done. I can only imagine what BoBo would have them do in training.
On the bright side, ever optimistic, it can only get better.
i once coached a youth team. It was so dominant in one match that at a water break I instructed the players to only pass with their off-foot, which they did and we still controlled. Yesterday, our passing was so awkward and too often lacking in authority that a stranger could surmise that the players had been instructed to pass only with their off-foot and were amateurs.
this is not a pub team and passing under any regime or pattern of play is not a skill that should be so weakly done. I can only imagine what BoBo would have them do in training.
On the bright side, ever optimistic, it can only get better.
The players have to realise that they no longer have an Ayew to pull their chestnuts out of the fire for them with a spot of individual brilliance. It must now be a more collective team effort with everyone contributing. But the players should never forget, and I'm sure that Martin will be drilling this into them at every opportunity, the secret is pass and MOVE!!!!! I and others have been preaching this for what seems like an eternity, so let's hope that the message is finally received and put into practise.
I was a fan of the late actor Tony Curtis whom I felt was a much under-rated performer. He was the father of Jamie Lee Curtis and, in his early roles, he sounded as though he was born in the Bronx although it was in fact Manhattan. Initially he was considered by many critics to be a limited actor but he went on to play a whole range of parts from light comedy to serious drama with distinction and became one of Hollywood's most popular stars.
Bear with me because this is relevant to our team. In one production, it might have been The Black Shield of Falworth, Curtis was required to say the line, "Yonder lies the castle of my father,", which came out in heavy Bronx tones as, "Yander lies de castle of muh fadder." The director was horrified and promptly despatched Curtis for some heavy sessions with his dialogue coach.
Persistence paid off and Curtis eventually got the English accent right and, many years later, in the classic comedy Some like it Hot, his impression of Cary Grant in one scene with Marilyn Monroe was highly praised by the same critics who had previously mocked him.
So, what I'm saying, which is proved so often in so many aspects of life, is that practise makes perfect. And that is the lesson our team has to learn and one which I'm sure Russell Martin will be drumming into them on a daily basis. Thing is, it will take time. So, as fans, we mustn't become impatient and demand improvement and results overnight. It won't happen. But as long as the players respond to their coaches and make gradual progress in their efforts to play proper football, we will all deem the wait to have been worthwhile when finally Swanselona is once more gracing the grounds in the Championship and, hopefully, the Premier League soon after that. Come on, Russell Martin and COYS!!!
Bear with me because this is relevant to our team. In one production, it might have been The Black Shield of Falworth, Curtis was required to say the line, "Yonder lies the castle of my father,", which came out in heavy Bronx tones as, "Yander lies de castle of muh fadder." The director was horrified and promptly despatched Curtis for some heavy sessions with his dialogue coach.
Persistence paid off and Curtis eventually got the English accent right and, many years later, in the classic comedy Some like it Hot, his impression of Cary Grant in one scene with Marilyn Monroe was highly praised by the same critics who had previously mocked him.
So, what I'm saying, which is proved so often in so many aspects of life, is that practise makes perfect. And that is the lesson our team has to learn and one which I'm sure Russell Martin will be drumming into them on a daily basis. Thing is, it will take time. So, as fans, we mustn't become impatient and demand improvement and results overnight. It won't happen. But as long as the players respond to their coaches and make gradual progress in their efforts to play proper football, we will all deem the wait to have been worthwhile when finally Swanselona is once more gracing the grounds in the Championship and, hopefully, the Premier League soon after that. Come on, Russell Martin and COYS!!!
Behindthegoal
Key Player
Time to move the bushel,JF. We’re all ears.