The Voice - Match preview (a) v Crawley Town - Sat 5 August 2023 3pm

If you are to play a wing back system then you must have proper wingbacks to execute it. We don't and we didn't yesterday.

Halliday and Ridehalgh are just full backs. The amount of times yesterday I heard their names on the ball but no end product was ridiculous.

 

They both got themselves into some good areas but more often than not their final cross/pass was dreadful. Or in Ridehalgh's case, the ball ended up going backwards.

 

As soon as the team was announced
Square pegs in round holes springs to mind

 

Having square pegs in round holes towards the end of a transfer window is ridiculous.

This whole idea of signing players that can cover multiple positions doesn't work. At our level most players excel in one position, and might be able to cover another position as a last resort.

I've no problem adopting a 352 system, but if that's the approach then sign players for it. Not some players that suit that system, but other players that suit another system.

Because right now we don't have the central defenders or left wing back for 352. And we have only replaced Banks and Wright from last season's 4231 with Odour, who we don't know if is any good yet. So right now we're between systems and excel in neither.

Work to be done this window!!

 

At the game yesterday and couldn’t agree more. Neither Oyegokes first yellow or Kelly’s foul and yellow for the free kick were even fouls. Ref was abysmal. Clearly never played the game and took no account of the conditions underfoot in first half hour. He then proceeded to completely ignore all the grappling pulling and tugging - especially on Cook who could t get anywhere near the ball for all the grappling.
All that said we looked like a bunch of disjointed strangers after six weeks of “preparation” for this fixture.

 

I remember a post on here from someone after that game, it went along the lines of "I think we'l be alright this season"

if only we knew what was to come

 

So if we can all see it then honestly why can't he ?????
If you gonna use them.as winggbacks then surly both must at least be able to cross a ball and on the whole neither can .
Honestly none of it makes sense but will he learn from it ???? Judging on last season it's gonna be January time before he catches on

 

But there's the famous image of rahic raging at Collins. If you recall

 

Tac

Platt has his faults mainly due to how slow he is, but least you know what your going to get with him performance wise.

 

Agreed but once your on a yellow you can't make challenges like he did to get 2nd yellow. Only himself to blame for getting 2nd yellow.

 

It sounds like we did have two potential attacking wing backs on the pitch yesterday, Oduor & Oyegoke but we seemingly played one in midfield and one at RCB and went with two steady fullbacks their instead (Ridelagh and Halliday). I expected a move to a back 3 to get another forward on the pitch to support Cook but seems we went with Cook up front alone again. Its all very strange from Hughes. I really hope he's not just got bored of it now, wants out but wants a pay off to go. Wouldnt be the first manager to do so. Not like his reputation will be damaged by failing with us either.

 

Wingback is one of the most difficult positions to play as you are effectively combining two specialist roles. Usually mastered by ones who are better at attacking than defending. You don't necessarily have to be able to beat a man but you do need to be quick and neither Halliday or Ridehalgh are that. Ogeyeke is the perfect candidate but Hughes seems to trying to cover losing Crichlows pace by playing him at centre back. As it stands I'm not sure Hughes fully knows how to achieve whatever it is he's trying to remedy from last season. Him losing Stubbs was a massive blow as he holds the defence together, but even then the whole thing has a doom scenario to it, even after only one game.

 

Because hughes is stubborn and is never wrong. You can't question him because he's Mark Hughes. After yesterday's game his post match interview no question about his formation and tactics or if he got them wrong.

 

Bloody hell Dave
Cheer yourself up and watch the goings on at BELLEND ROAD
Big changes needed at the valley from the very top to the manager
Lack of "football men" in the higher echelons is the problem
God only knows the solution tho

 

He won't be here in January if he doesn't catch on much before then.

 

Fully agree idle write the 1st half of the season off
Hughes will never change his opinions/ways/tactics/selections etc etc
and has no one to challenge him
It was all the refs fault yesterday !!!!!
RS has some soul searching to do and quickly
Mid to bottom half of the table with most players capable of at least the play offs is poor to say the least

 

I wonder whether Sparks would have the bottle to challenge Hughes if we go out of the cup on Tuesday and struggle in the league this month?

 

No !!!!