Match Thread Salford City (Away) 21/11/2020

Make no mistake if they could have put 6 past us they would, We have 4 centre backs and just finding the combination that works best, Playing 4 at the back gives an extra defender which helps, The problem with 3 at the back is that if you draw the wing back forward and then play the ball in the space behind him then the centre back has to come until the wing back gets back, This leaves only 2 defenders to cover the whole back line which leaves you wide open to there forwards and runners from midfield, Unless it is played with absolute discipline it is flawed, Most seem to think you can just play full backs as wing backs, this is wrong it is a specialised role and needs a player who has pace and understands the role fully.

 

Are the players really going to accept a wage for that
the club ought to refuse them payment
If anyone performed this badly in their normal job am sure warnings would be issued
Stuart refused to "throw anyone under the bus" the whole team needed throwing under the bus
worse than Sunday morning pub level

 

You can understand why McCall is playing this formation? We have no wingers, so he's trying to get his wingbacks forward, something Hosannah was doing very well. Wood last year was technically our best crosser so i can see why he wants him higher up the pitch. Look, i know the pros and cons of playing 4 at the back. At this level with the limitations of the players it should be the line up i'd expect most teams to go with. Problem is our squad just doesn't suit it. I wish it did.

 

Absolutely awful. Why do we allow them so much space and time onto our back four. Saw someone blaming O’Donnell for the first goal I think that’s extremely harsh. Unopposed run and shot from the edge of the box and a free man it falls to at the back stick for a tap in?

 

It is a back 3 which means if the wing backs do not track back our defence is full of spaces to be taken advantage of,

 

Harsh to blame him for any of the goals. The third, the lad should never be allowed to get anywhere near the six yard box. O'Donnell is left completely unprotected. Could be third from bottom by Tuesday night.

 

That Samuels miss! If he tried for the rest of the season, he wouldn’t be able to do that again. Hitting the opposite post when directly in front of the other. Remarkable.

 

I think he is a weak keeper who doesn’t command his box enough but I agree about yesterday.There are 10 others who should be stopping it before it gets anywhere near him.Just look at BRE’s defending for the 3rd goal.Its quality.

 

Isn't football wonderful we fans having a different take on different situations, there is no doubt Andrade should have been closed down better but he had 3 City players around him possibly making his mind up for him to shoot was better option than trying to pick a Salford player out, but it was from 30 yards on target but not the top corner O'Donnell IMO has to do better.

 

I'm not sure if SMC can identify a quality player that's fit for a particular role. He badly needs assistance on that.

Salford should have had 5 or 6 there.

 

99% of the time though he pushes it away to safety. It wasn't an horrendous mistake as he did what keepers are taught to do and parried it wide and away from the goal.

Having said that, ROD gets slightly more leeway from me as there's more than half a team in front of him that desperately need replacing before we get anywhere near to thinking about replacing the keeper.

 

3 players around him but not one even close getting his head down or forcing him back. Not the most powerful shot but it’s not an error From O’Donnell as it was made out to be.
I’m more concerned with the free man who tapped it in, and the no closing down at all on Andrade

 

Connor Wood is the only person we should be blaming for the first two goals. Lazy and unacceptable defending. The second one he looks to be blaming Donaldson hahaha. The squad is a mess.

 

It’s alarming how Woods form has deteriorated the past couple of months. Confidence in the squad must be rock bottom.

 

Wood is a full back and a good one, It is unfair to judge him when we are playing him in a role that is not his position and is unfamiliar with, He is not a wing back

 

Agreed. I’m saying his form has dropped massively, for reasons you outlined. It’s sad to see. Can’t be doing him much good mentally. Look what happened to Vaughan who was played in a role not suited to him. Ended up losing it and falling out with the team. Seems to be doing fine at Tranmere.

 

You are right in saying hes more of a full back but that doesnt take away the fact a full back should be able to defend. Hes in the left full back postion for the first two goals on Saturday and left the Salford players completley unmarked.

 

He was playing as a wing back first half when the goals went in, Stuart changed to a flat back four at half time with Wood back in his natural full back position and no goals conceded

 

Go back and have a look at the goals.. Its poor defending from Wood, he leaves the Salford player completely unmarked on both occasions. Its his player to pick up. He doesnt.