Match Thread Vertu Trophy - Bolton Wanderers (A)

I think we also need Power (and whoever) to play 20 yards further up. Too often the pair are far too deep and it leaves a 20/30 yard hole between them and the attacking two for the opposition to play in.

 

It's legs but it's having the freedom to move. Feels like whoever plays CM stick to the centre circle like velcro when we go forward. We keep CBs and CMs back far too much. I cant see us going for a CM if I'm honest, he'll stick with what they have but if we do that will be one area maybe where we see another Khela type. A young CM from the CH who had the idea of sticking around the first team to get some experience but it's not quiet happening and they'll want to farm them out for 4 or 5 months.

Someone like Cameron Humphreys at Ipswich might fit the bill. He was at Wycombe on loan all last season, started 40 games in L1 handful off the bench and got 7 goals & 6 assists in a midfield 3. Ipswich have kept him around but he's barely played. Karoy Anderson too is a name that might fit that loan bill, 21 year old CM from Charlton. Came through their academy, was in the first team the last few seasons in L1 learning his trade but they've recruited over him in the CH. Or we go down the Middlesborough route again, they signed a young french CM called Kante in the summer after playing in French Ligue 2 and impressing. They gave him a 5 year deal and outside a few apps off the bench he hasn't been used. Recently had hernia surgery but if they want gametime for him he might be one shipped out.

Although the last time I checked over players was last summer when GA said he wanted one more CB on loan and about a week before he signed, I said on the transfer thread at the time that Chieck Diabate from Exeter seems like he ticks the boxes we needed....... and he was absolute gash.

 

Epitomised perfectly in the Burton game.

Both Power and Leigh wanted to be just in front of the CH’s.
This just allowed the Burton midfield to sit back and wait for them to move forward knowing there was very little threat from either.

 

I'm not really sure I agree with this general consensus that Power is out of form. Our attacking and pressing was far better up until recently and I think that is where the issue is. Power was always an upgrade on Smallwood with the ball, that hasn't changed. But at the same time he isn't as good off the ball and the defence have been far more exposed this season, our defensive stats aren't great and could be worse but for poor finishing. What Smallwood brought to the table has never been replaced for me, now our attacking light is dimming it is becoming obvious. And no I don't think Smallwood was up to it, I just don't see Power as really like for like he reminds me of a better Elliot Watt.

For me with the midfielders we have we should play 3 in there, I know 343 has gotten us far, but no club keeps the same formation forever and I'm not sure that is our strength this season.

 

Agree but it's a catch 22 scenario. Push further up to be nearer the front line but that leaves our last line of defence fully exposed through lack of pace. One for GA to sort hopefully!

 

The worst but about it is that even when he is deep, Power doesn't help too give the defence any sort of solidity anyway so I honestly don't feel we'd been any worse off.

Of course we could help ourselves by not picking conference standard defenders but that's another story.

 

Don’t leave us in suspense about who you mean.

Name names.

 

Who don't I mean at the moment. Touray looks OK in a 3 and Pennington has been steady but apart from that I'm not sure any of them are good enough.

 

Yep but that Bolton side failed to beat us when it mattered

 

J Wright has shown glimpses of a very decent defender. Consistency the key though. Tilt was doing fine before the injury.

 

Stockport look to be playing their top 11 ( ish) and losing at Crewe.

 

I think we have some decent individuals defensively, but I’m not sure they make a good unit. Their skills don’t really complement each other. For me you need pace around Wright, something we don’t really have.

 

Yeah, Tilt was a good performer. Joe Wright for me still has ground to make up. He's been dominated in the air on separate occasions by much smaller men, that can't be repeated if we're going to class him as very decent because he's certainly not your "quick across the ground" type defender.

 

I think the press being off, has now become a tactical thing as opposed to the players struggling for fitness or being passed around.

I think given the uncertainty with regards our defenders, it's become a necessity that the midfield two have dropped deeper to protect them and that in itself means our forwards aren't really sure whether they need to be in the defenders faces or filling the gap the midfield two have just left

 

In the last few matches our midfield has been ripped apart in two or three passes. It's understandable that they retreat towards their own goal to create a lower block and as you say the gap then becomes wider between the midfield and attack. I think the defence should push up another 10 yards like earlier in the season, but you could see the confidence empty like a tap on Tuesday and that's worrying. My concern is getting off to a poor start on Saturday and we could really be in trouble. Typically just when you hope for a settled starting 11, we pick up a potential injury to Wright meaning the slowest defender we have (Bryne) will most likely start.

 

In truth Neufville has been off the pace in the last few matches, no coincidence Bryne has been back in the side.

 

Tilt is great dogs of war character... a mistake in him but he gives is all and very rarely misses a challenge. A good defender. We have missed him.

 

Exactly. You don’t have to change much before better players are covering for lesser players. I am sorry to be so blunt, but consistency matters. It is ok having a large squad but only if they all have similar qualities in their play. I think they are all giving it 100%, but there is only so much you can coach into them.

 

I think Humphrys puts more effort into choosing his tattoos than playing for City.