MATCHWATCH : Carlisle United (h)

[Sutekh]

We are making subs for fitness levels in November, which is not correct. There are some really strong performances without being collective as a team in there. People need help within that on the pitch. We need people to return to fitness and stay fit if we want to progress and move forward.

[windermereROYAL]

Well said Leam, but you know our fans will want instant success, you can`t click a switch and all of a sudden they`re all fit, a few more bad results and the usual suspects will be on his case.

[Hound]

Interesting comments when mixed the talk about Hunts training being more intense than elsewhere. Suggests some real issues with the training

[leon]

I think Richardson will have learnt a hell of a lot more from that collapse than he would have from an insipid 2-0 or 2-1 win. He clearly nailed a lot of our problems from 120 minutes of football.

I'll take that as a crumb of comfort rather than a positive.

Midfield is a problem for me. We need to be able control it but we always struggle. Unfashionable as it is but we need a defensive anchor. If that means dropping someone so be it.

[morganb]

At 2-1 why didn't the players take the ball to the corner (or waste time some other way)? Doyle and Kyerewaa did in the Virtu Cup v MK Dons so why not yesterday? If the players didn't think of it why didn't Leam suggest it from the sidelines?

[MR. CYNICAL]

At 2-1 why didn't the players take the ball to the corner (or waste time some other way)? Doyle and Kyerewaa did in the Virtu Cup v MK Dons so why not yesterday? If the players didn't think of it why didn't Leam suggest it from the sidelines?

Garcia did it once but it ended in a goal kick, hardly got in their half after that.
Talking about the midfield, when we lose possession, we struggle to win the ball back, remember when Craig came in a couple of years ago, he used to break the play up, get a foot in, now we just chase shadows so definitely an enforcer needed.

[West F]

We are making subs for fitness levels in November, which is not correct. There are some really strong performances without being collective as a team in there. People need help within that on the pitch. We need people to return to fitness and stay fit if we want to progress and move forward.

It is normally the case that players want to play in teams that are playing well, less so when they are struggling. You can get a chicken and egg situation as far as bad results go. You want your best players on the pitch, but there is less pressure on the treatment table. The little niggles that they could play through become issues.
The Tommy Burns team was constantly beset with injuries. The Pardew team much, much less so, yet Pardews team played with much more intensity.
The bare minimum you expect from professional footballers is fitness and work rate. If our players are unable to manage 90 minutes, then their general levels of fitness are not good enough and this is something Richardson can improve.

[Hound]

I think Richardson will have learnt a hell of a lot more from that collapse than he would have from an insipid 2-0 or 2-1 win. He clearly nailed a lot of our problems from 120 minutes of football.

I'll take that as a crumb of comfort rather than a positive.

Midfield is a problem for me. We need to be able control it but we always struggle. Unfashionable as it is but we need a defensive anchor. If that means dropping someone so be it.

Agreed. None of our midfielders are defensive midfielders- we play Savage and Wing there but they aren’t DMs. Neither is Fraser. Good as Wing is he can barely tackle and Savage is a box to box

[Snowflake Royal]

You win the ball back more often and effectively through forced and unforced passing errors than tackles though. Tackles often just break loose or go to the opposition, as much as turn over possession to you.

We seem to be really hit and miss with our shape so sometimes we close the passing lanes really well and win the ball back a fair bit, and sometimes we press really badly and get played through with ease.

We also seem so often to be stood so far off a player receiving the ball that they can get two touches in before we can put pressure on them.

[West F]

I think Richardson will have learnt a hell of a lot more from that collapse than he would have from an insipid 2-0 or 2-1 win. He clearly nailed a lot of our problems from 120 minutes of football.

I'll take that as a crumb of comfort rather than a positive.

Midfield is a problem for me. We need to be able control it but we always struggle. Unfashionable as it is but we need a defensive anchor. If that means dropping someone so be it.

We struggle when the opposition play a five man midfield. We look overrun with no time on the ball, because that is how you should play against a team who has all of their quality in the middle. Northampton played five at the back, meaning we were given time and space for the midfield to play more with control and into the wide areas.

Doncaster played a five in the middle, allowing no space. With the midfield marked out, we hoofed percentage balls long. What is the answer to this? Last season, our centre back would carry the ball into midfield. Someone has to close them down and this opens space that they were good enough to find. Burns tried this at the start of the season, but does not have the recovery pace to get back in if we lose it. This is why our current centre backs stay at home. They have no pace and know it.

[leon]

You win the ball back more often and effectively through forced and unforced passing errors than tackles though. Tackles often just break loose or go to the opposition, as much as turn over possession to you.

We seem to be really hit and miss with our shape so sometimes we close the passing lanes really well and win the ball back a fair bit, and sometimes we press really badly and get played through with ease.

We also seem so often to be stood so far off a player receiving the ball that they can get two touches in before we can put pressure on them.

Tackles? Not sure Hound or I mentioned tackles. Defensive midfield play is about the right positioning something for a more attacking midfielder wouldn’t necessarily come as naturally.

But yes ultimately you need to be able to stop them.

By tackling.

Something Wing in his “quarterback” position is wholly unsuited to.

And of course defence starts high up the pitch.

[leon]

I think Richardson will have learnt a hell of a lot more from that collapse than he would have from an insipid 2-0 or 2-1 win. He clearly nailed a lot of our problems from 120 minutes of football.

I'll take that as a crumb of comfort rather than a positive.

Midfield is a problem for me. We need to be able control it but we always struggle. Unfashionable as it is but we need a defensive anchor. If that means dropping someone so be it.

We struggle when the opposition play a five man midfield. We look overrun with no time on the ball, because that is how you should play against a team who has all of their quality in the middle. Northampton played five at the back, meaning we were given time and space for the midfield to play more with control and into the wide areas.

Doncaster played a five in the middle, allowing no space. With the midfield marked out, we hoofed percentage balls long. What is the answer to this? Last season, our centre back would carry the ball into midfield. Someone has to close them down and this opens space that they were good enough to find. Burns tried this at the start of the season, but does not have the recovery pace to get back in if we lose it. This is why our current centre backs stay at home. They have no pace and know it.

Yes our three man midfield is lightweight. And the Two on the flanks in front of them are even worse. So they’re literally no help.

[Hiram K Hackenbacker]

You win the ball back more often and effectively through forced and unforced passing errors than tackles though. Tackles often just break loose or go to the opposition, as much as turn over possession to you.

We seem to be really hit and miss with our shape so sometimes we close the passing lanes really well and win the ball back a fair bit, and sometimes we press really badly and get played through with ease.

We also seem so often to be stood so far off a player receiving the ball that they can get two touches in before we can put pressure on them.

Tackles? Not sure Hound or I mentioned tackles. Defensive midfield play is about the right positioning something for a more attacking midfielder wouldn’t necessarily come as naturally.

But yes ultimately you need to be able to stop them.

By tackling.

Something Wing in his “quarterback” position is wholly unsuited to.

And of course defence starts high up the pitch.

I agree

[SouthDownsRoyal]

To add insult to injury I went to the early Norwich game today, which they lost 0-2, with the fans attempting to storm the directors box after the game.

What on earth is going on at Norwich this season?

New American owner, tick, poor recruitment, tick, sold best players apart from Sargent, tick, new DoF Ben Knapper who is very unpopular, new manager Liam Manning failing to motivate, and to cap it all the pies ran out at half time.

Delilah won’t be amused

[Snowflake Royal]

You win the ball back more often and effectively through forced and unforced passing errors than tackles though. Tackles often just break loose or go to the opposition, as much as turn over possession to you.

We seem to be really hit and miss with our shape so sometimes we close the passing lanes really well and win the ball back a fair bit, and sometimes we press really badly and get played through with ease.

We also seem so often to be stood so far off a player receiving the ball that they can get two touches in before we can put pressure on them.

Tackles? Not sure Hound or I mentioned tackles. Defensive midfield play is about the right positioning something for a more attacking midfielder wouldn’t necessarily come as naturally.

But yes ultimately you need to be able to stop them.

By tackling.

Something Wing in his “quarterback” position is wholly unsuited to.

And of course defence starts high up the pitch.

Hound did.

[SouthDownsRoyal]

At 2-1 why didn't the players take the ball to the corner (or waste time some other way)? Doyle and Kyerewaa did in the Virtu Cup v MK Dons so why not yesterday? If the players didn't think of it why didn't Leam suggest it from the sidelines?

LEAM touched in this in his post match interview and how they need to focus on game management

Inexperience I guess

[leon]

You win the ball back more often and effectively through forced and unforced passing errors than tackles though. Tackles often just break loose or go to the opposition, as much as turn over possession to you.

We seem to be really hit and miss with our shape so sometimes we close the passing lanes really well and win the ball back a fair bit, and sometimes we press really badly and get played through with ease.

We also seem so often to be stood so far off a player receiving the ball that they can get two touches in before we can put pressure on them.

Tackles? Not sure Hound or I mentioned tackles. Defensive midfield play is about the right positioning something for a more attacking midfielder wouldn’t necessarily come as naturally.

But yes ultimately you need to be able to stop them.

By tackling.

Something Wing in his “quarterback” position is wholly unsuited to.

And of course defence starts high up the pitch.

Hound did.

good for him, we have an issue it needs to be fixed. It's not new we had it under Selles as well. Campbell was always too far away from Craig and there never seemed to be a link man in MF. Let's hope LR gets a workable solution.

[RoyalBlue]

What on earth is going on at Norwich this season?

New American owner, tick, poor recruitment, tick, sold best players apart from Sargent, tick, new DoF Ben Knapper who is very unpopular, new manager Liam Manning failing to motivate, and to cap it all the pies ran out at half time.

Delilah won’t be amused

Why, why, why?

[WestYorksRoyal]

All we missed out on is Blackpool away.

[SouthDownsRoyal]

New American owner, tick, poor recruitment, tick, sold best players apart from Sargent, tick, new DoF Ben Knapper who is very unpopular, new manager Liam Manning failing to motivate, and to cap it all the pies ran out at half time.

Delilah won’t be amused

Why, why, why?

Oops