yesterday

Yesterday's shambles put several things into perspective. We aren't good enough as things stand.
I think things are not so bleak as they were this time last year though. Not least because the manager
Didn't create this mess. Ipswich look a reasonable team not good enough for the playoffs but too good
For a relegation battle and they wanted to win it.

We have intractable problems in every area of the pitch which were beautifully highlighted by yesterday's game.

Defence - individually all our players (even the doc!!) are good enough for this league. As a unit they suck.
Our only decent defence has dion dublin partnering shacks and this isn't a long term solution and anyway dublin
Doesn't want to play there. This has been the case since malky left and needs to be rectified a.s.a.p.
The number of times we had players given unchallenged headers when three of our defenders were all marking the
Same player 3 feet away was scary. The keystone cops form a better unit.

Midfield - excellent at times. When we have the ball we usually look great. Under pressure (any pressure at all)
They are non-existant. When piswich won the ball even in their own area they could run it at will to the edge of our box
Without so much as being slowed down let alone tackled. My feeling is worthy bought in players to try and get us to
Be a passing team but gave no thought to the "unit". Simon charlton was not our Makelele. Even with 5 in midfield we
Were hopeless defensively which just exposed our hopeless defence. Chadwick did more defensive work on his own
Than the other 4 put together and I worried that he might be lightweight.

Attack - earnie is great but is lightweight and not a team player. We have noone to play with him, give him no support and
God forbid if he gets injured there is NOONE to act as adequate cover.

We need 3 players min in jan probably 4. An organising defender, a battering ram striker and a new Gary Holt.
Probably a new left-back too as Drury is off form still and has no competition for his spot or cover for injury.

Individually yesterday I?d say
Gallagher - good enough for this league. Not as good as Green but not a priority area for reinforcement in my opinion.
Colin - looks good to me. Positionally suspect but so's the whole defence. I think that like Shacks he'd be good enough if the
Unit was.
Shackell - a great prospect alongside the right partner. A headless chicken alongside the doc.
Doherty - unfairly targeted for criticism due to his inability to organise. He gives away too many freekicks
But the real problem is he doesn't organise and as the senior pro he needs to. His individual performance
Yesterday was not bad and he made some good challenges but what had been a solid unit during his absence
Became a total shambles on his return. One of him or shacks have to make way and I think he'd
Be the easier half to replace.
Drury - really poor. I know how hard it is to maintain professional performance with a young family but he should be
Worried for his place. He's been off form for too long now and if I was grant I'd be looking to add competition here.
Chadwick - looked really good to me. The only member of the midfield I thought turned up.
Hughes - better than robinson or etuhu but woeful.
Etuhu - too many off days. Great on his day but awful off it. Yesterday was not his day.
Robinson - did he play ?? I think the guy is useful in a passing team doing well but with Etuhu, hughes and safri all
Prone to disappearing is too often a passenger in this team.
Huckerby - offered a threat at least but to be honest yesterday's performance was really bad and he needs to do much better.
The lack of a targetman means our midfield has to hold the ball and also has to keep pressure off the defence, this is making him
Look a liability.
Earnie - didn't get the ball.

Safri - really worried that a) his form is so bad he was dropped to the bench b) when he found out he got the flu. Could be genuine but I fear the worst. I expect to see him go in jan and as hes by far our best midfielder that?s not good.

The team can be turned around if we can just stay in touch until jan. The 2million that worthy was going to spend on Cotteriil (why !!)
Could easily buy 4 players to fill the holes. The defender doesn't have to be a world beater just an organiser. Dublin isn't the greatest defender nor was malky but the difference they made to the unit was crucial. Likewise holt wasn't exactly pele but having someone harry the opposition when they have the ball is essential and was so glaringly missing yesterday. I know we look a different team in training but we look great when we have the ball in matches we just don't have it enough.

Posted By: matgore, Nov 20, 11:24:02