I didn't think we were good first half, I just thought they were truly awful

And to be frank, they only stepped it up from truly awful to awful in the second half. They didn't even make it anywhere near to being decent. Unfortunately, that proved too much for us, as we had slipped down to their level.

Although we have been inconsistent this season, as you rightly say, there have been some themes that have cut across everything we've done:

1. Giving away so many chances

2. Not creating enough chances of our own

In Wagner's first couple of league games, we disguised deficiency number 1 by being aggressive in attack and creating more, however, as we've moved back towards Wagner's preferred approach of controlling games, both deficiencies have become apparent again.

Our defenders have been poor, but I think the real issue is midfield. We're playing so many players out of position, Kenny is not Pirlo. He's ever been comfortable in that deep holding role. Sarge is not a winger, nor is Idah, nor is Pukki. Sara is looking good now, but Nunez hasn't added much. Sorensen is ok, but again, he's not comfortable enough on the ball to do the "Skipp" role.

If we only have enough cash to deal with one problem area this summer, it's got to be midfield. Without that being sorted, we'll keep giving away soft chances trying to play it out (as the defenders don't have good options and drop deeper and deeper) and we still won't create anything. No point having Mbappe upfront and Varane in defence if we still have the same midfield imbalance.

Posted By: SimonOTBC on March 16th 2023 at 09:11:21

Message Thread

has there been a more perfect match to describe this season (NCFC) - big member, Mar 16, 08:30:48
- Consistently inconsistent (NCFC) - usacanary, Mar 16, 17:59:26
- I didn't think we were good first half, I just thought they were truly awful (NCFC) - SimonOTBC, Mar 16, 09:11:21
  - But it was only a couple of weeks ago when (NCFC) - jamesward, Mar 16, 09:24:30
    - Not sure we've played that midfield much since have we? (NCFC) - Jim, Mar 16, 12:08:08
    - It is much better! (n/m) (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Mar 16, 09:27:17
    - Better, mostly because of sara... (NCFC) - SimonOTBC, Mar 16, 09:27:15
  - Think you're right and this is why I'd be fine not going up. (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Mar 16, 09:18:24
- I thought Huddersfield were the better team from the goal so not even 45 mins ok (n/m) (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Mar 16, 08:50:27
  - And we were worse for 45 minutes (n/m) (NCFC) - Jim, Mar 16, 09:04:03
    - Yes, sorry that's what I mean. We were the worse team for about 65mins (n/m) (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Mar 16, 09:05:27
      - Sorry I posted that in the wrong place, I was replying to myself (NCFC) - Jim, Mar 16, 09:06:41
        
        Agreed (n/m) (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Mar 16, 09:20:15
  - Huddersfield were the worst championship side I’ve ever seen (n/m) (NCFC) - Jim, Mar 16, 09:03:43
    - Worse than the Hudds side we beat 7-0? (n/m) (NCFC) - loz, Mar 16, 09:10:31
      - Yes (NCFC) - SimonOTBC, Mar 16, 09:14:24
        
        Yes. That Cantwell, Emi and Dowell trio was humming and would have shredded anyone (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Mar 16, 09:25:46
        
        And spanked the crossbar with a freekick! (n/m) (NCFC) - SimonOTBC, Mar 16, 10:29:02
- Listened to the Huddersfield comms. They immediately started laughing when they saw and (NCFC) - The Gaffer, Mar 16, 08:45:44
  - No I think it IS how we should play, but when the time calls, get the fucking ball out of (NCFC) - Augustus Pablo, Mar 16, 08:48:01
    - That's also how I'd like to see us play however I don't believe we currently have the (NCFC) - The Gaffer, Mar 16, 08:52:56
    - Think that's because going mid or long hadn't stuck at any point in the game (n/m) (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Mar 16, 08:52:33
      - Mind you the build up to our goal I’d say was a mid range pass out to Idah initially (n/m) (NCFC) - Augustus Pablo, Mar 16, 09:00:39
        
        I've just watched it again, it starts from their attacking throw in on the wing! (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Mar 16, 11:28:37
        
        Might be the exception that proves the rule (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Mar 16, 09:09:25
- Oh and 6 minutes injury time and we still flick Fanny fart about from a goal kick. (n/m) (NCFC) - Augustus Pablo, Mar 16, 08:34:35
  - Loz is correct further down, think of the Millwall goal under Farke (n/m) (NCFC) - trafford_canary, Mar 16, 09:10:20
  - That was fucking ridiculous (n/m) (NCFC) - DH Yellow, Mar 16, 09:04:54
  - 100% this. It really pissed me off. (n/m) (NCFC) - The Gaffer, Mar 16, 08:40:22
    - Don’t get me wrong, I think its the way to play for the majority of the game but not then! (n/m) (NCFC) - Augustus Pablo, Mar 16, 08:45:04
      - Agreed. To me it was clear there was no one on the pitch taking the initiative or (NCFC) - The Gaffer, Mar 16, 08:48:41
        
        There never is. Hanley doesn’t lead. Kenny tries at least. But there is nobody (NCFC) - Jim, Mar 16, 09:05:29
        
        This^^ (n/m) (NCFC) - Augustus Pablo, Mar 16, 08:49:51
        
        That's because after losing Wes and Buendia we haven't got a player (NCFC) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Mar 16, 09:49:33
        
        Yep, Madders did that too (NCFC) - jamesward, Mar 16, 09:53:49
        
        Yep,plus 8n retrospect teams had to double up on those 3 (n/m) (NCFC) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Mar 16, 09:58:37
        
        Which obviously created space for others (n/m) (NCFC) - protheroe fitzgibbon, Mar 16, 09:59:01
        
        Sticking to a philosophy works though when you are good at it … (NCFC) - loz, Mar 16, 09:02:52
        
        The important caveat being 'when you are good at it' (n/m) (NCFC) - The Gaffer, Mar 16, 09:21:49
        
        Trouble is you get good at it by doing it … (NCFC) - loz, Mar 16, 09:22:58
        
        Not if you're limited by the technical ability of the players you're using. (n/m) (NCFC) - The Gaffer, Mar 16, 09:27:57
        
        Many of the players are the same that managed to play this way under Farke (n/m) (NCFC) - loz, Mar 16, 09:31:20
        
        No they're not. We had Emi, Skipp, Godfrey, and a host of Germans who were technically (NCFC) - The Gaffer, Mar 16, 09:42:37
        
        Unless you’re bad at it. Ie “I’ve been driving for 50 years” , yeah, badly for 50 years (n/m) (NCFC) - Augustus Pablo, Mar 16, 09:26:32

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