Season Over?

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Shoobedoo
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Season Over?

Post by Shoobedoo »

Well it's not mathematically impossible, but I'd say it's highly unlikely that we're going to win enough games to sneak into a playoff berth now - particularly as our form over the past 13 games has been every bit as bad as that of our first 13.

Our biggest failing this season has been insufficient strength in depth in defence or defensive midfield. I said at the start of the summer window to anyone who would listen that we were probably a couple of full backs short of a good squad - unfortunately neither Clare or Grayson have proven to be adequate in these positions (although I see the potential for Clare as an attacking right-side midfielder), and the one player who was good enough - Obita - never played at left back and was sold to the detriment of the squad. Long has massively stepped up this season, much to his credit. Much as I like Josh Ruffels, I can't see him as more than a solid L1 defender and if we're to progress I fear we need to upgrade. But to not have adequate specialist cover for these two has really cost us. I really do object to managers playing players out of position, and annoyingly this has happened far too often this season, particularly with the fullback positions.

We've never been able to play our strongest midfield, which would probably have been Gorrin, Brannagan and McGuane, and I don't think Robinson has ever been certain of who to play instead and so we've had a revolving door of players leading to no consistency and no chance for an understanding to be built up between them.

Because the link between the midfield has been so sporadic, Matty's been starved of opportunities. That he's still bagged as many goals, despite his lean spell, is to his credit. Shodipo had a great start to the season and really shone during our winning streak but has been a shadow of that since moving to the right.

I am concerned about the treatment of Agyei this season. He offers something different to Taylor and Winnall and could have been a real weapon had he been used correctly, but Robinson's unwillingness to trust him in the central role has undoubtedly damaged his confidence.

I don't think we're far off. With the likes of Stevens, Long, Moore, Atkinson, Brannagan and Taylor there are foundations to be built on. But I want to see far more balance in next season's squad. The pressure's on Karl, this season hasn't been good enough (Slumdon (h) and Northampton (a) particular low points).

Must. Do. Better.
Kairdiff Exile
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Re: Season Over?

Post by Kairdiff Exile »

I agree with you. That’s our season done now. Mid-table mediocrity. I’m okay with that, I think - to make the playoffs two years running and not be able to go would have been a real killer. I just hope the ownership stuff all gets sorted swiftly so we go into next season with some certainty.

Where I might differ from you is that I think there will be a big clear out this summer. The best players (Brannagan, Moore) will be creamed off and there’s also some dross that needs jettisoning (I’m not naming names, but one of them rhymes with Hamie Janson). Of those who remain, some may find their role in the squad reduced somewhat - the likes of Taylor and Henry, who both have a role to play in a full squad with strength in depth but aren't going to play every game.

The next 12 months really does need to be about making progress on the "stadiumsituation".
Dr Bob
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Re: Season Over?

Post by Dr Bob »

For some time now, as matches have come and gone and a clearer sense of just how good we are has emerged, I have been wondering what our par league position is. I reckon it is between 8 and 10, give or take. And (hand on heart) I felt that before we went on that great run - a run, as we know, based on beating teams in the bottom half, but not the top quarter. So long as minds are not already on the beach (possibly less likely this year...) I expect to see us finish slightly higher than where we are today, but a little way off the points needed for 6th.

Reading these other contributions and reflecting on what they mean for the squad, I find it interesting that Long, previously, was seen as a very useful squad player who could fill in a variety of roles. But what has he done this season? Turn himself into a very good right back, with enhanced attacking qualities - which is seen increasingly across football as an essential quality for a full back. And regardless of just how good Ruffels is as a left back, it was only one he committed himself as a left back that he cemented himself in the team. It was interesting listening to Stevie Ks comments about the positional sense needed to be an effective full-back - and how those filling in just do not have that.

Which begs the question - what does this say about having players in the squad who can play a number of positions, but who appear to be inferior to the specialists in those positions? I guess it means being a mid-table side, once injuries and suspensions kick in as the season progresses. In the post-match chat yesterday, at one point the discussion moved on to having fewer short-term loans and having more of our own players. I guess this is where having owners with more money should go - building a squad of our own with better quality in each position. Inevitably there has to be some ability to put square pegs in round holes on a needs-must basis, but currently we have too many of those.

And whilst Shoobedoo identifies a strong spine to our squad, as KE suggests - how many of those will be around next year? I reckon this summer will see a major squad overhaul, for one reason or another.
ty cobb
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Re: Season Over?

Post by ty cobb »

Really disappointing last few games which Robbo has to take a lot of responsibility for. Our squad is simply unbalanced, we have too many midfield creative types and not enough cover in defensive positions. So when one of our first choice defenders/Gorrin is out (especially Gorrin) we struggle. It is no coincidence that Gorrin being out was at the same time as out awful run at the start of the season and again in the last few games. An injury early on to Atkinson meant we shuffled the pack and put square pegs in round holes as we have when either or both of our full backs were out. We then got rid of two back up full backs in Jan - I think Obita has been a bigger miss than anyone expected actually, cover at left back and solid left wing, so when Long and Ruffles were injured we have had to play midfielders who have tried their best but get caught out leading to goals.

Teams have had so much space to play through us recently. Our wingers don't really provide cover and neither do most of our midfield. CamBran has been trying his best but no-one backs him up. I also think Taylor has been really poor of late, this system does not suit him, he, or Winnall, spend most their time losing headers or giving away free kicks. They also don't attack balls into the box anymore and spend all their time at the back post hoping 3 defenders miss the cross - utterly ineffective.

Robbo clearly had a problem with Agyei. He is the best lone striker we have at the club yet he barely plays him there unless he really must, he plays well and then is dropped or shifted back out to the wing where he is wasted. He played up top against Pompy and we were much improved and he won the pen for our goal. Then didn't start there again till Plymouth away (which we won), 7 league games later. Then barely played at all, and not up top, until he came on against mk, changed the game and got us a point. Started against Charlton up top, sub against the scum where he came on as the front man, scored the winner, started against the league leaders and not again since with Winnall somehow getting in front of him in the pecking order again despite offering very little. This is a lad who scored 35 goals for AFCs under 21 team earning himself a move to a Premier league team. He scores goals out of nothing, holds the ball up and has fantastic pace. Why he can't get a look in when we look so poor is quite frankly baffling.

Robbo has been backed this season, we splashed the cash in Jan but have actually looked worse. I like Robbo but he needs a plan B and needs to drop his favourites when they are not performing. Big season for him next year, 2 mid tables finishes out of 3 seasons is not the return the owners will be looking for, let's hope he can keep the good spine we have but add a bit of nous and steel.
Last edited by ty cobb on Wed Apr 07, 2021 7:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Isaac
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Re: Season Over?

Post by Isaac »

I thought Grayson was supposed to be left back cover, although he has looked substandard too, he might have done better than a right footed mediocre midfielder attempting to be a left back. I liked Obita, but he's only played 8 games for Wycombe due to injury, so he may not have been a solution either. The challenge for us, as others have mentioned, is keeping enough of the squad together to give us a decent chance of a solid start to next season. Our strategy of signing young players who we can sell on is a good one, but it does mean you have to expect to lose key players each season. If you combine that with season long loans (who also are by nature of being young and inexperienced, slow starters) then it can explain part of our poor starts.

Robinson keeps saying he wants to keep the squad together but that is not possible - we're unlikely to get Barker, Shodipo and Lee next season and I doubt the club want Kelly. Plus any of Stevens, Moore, Atkinson and possibly Brannagan (who I think has gone backwards a little this season for understandable reasons) might move. I'd prefer the club would think about how to mitigate these squad turnover problems, or they need to change the model - i.e. sign more lower value, experienced players and fewer loanees. I don't see how you can say Robinson has splashed the cash, given the club made a profit off the back of selling players?

As for Agyei, I'm not sure his record for AFCW under 21s, 7 years ago or whatever is hugely relevant to professional league 1 football. He's not the best lone striker at the club, Taylor is - given our formation, would you really pick Agyei instead of Taylor? I agree Agyei is a better option than Winnall though, who looks unfit and immobile. I also think Agyei would be better focusing on being a wide forward, there's more scope for him to play to his strengths there - running at defenders and causing mayhem, he's not like Taylor (for instance the goal against Accrington, I can't see Agyei helping create an assist like Taylor did there) and Agyei is not a penalty box striker in the same way either. I hope they get more out of him next season.
Kernow Yellow
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Re: Season Over?

Post by Kernow Yellow »

Let's face it, there have only been a handful of games this season where we've looked properly good for a whole match. If we manage to get our noses ahead against a poor team we can go on and dominate them. But we seem to lack belief at the start of games, and our play is too laboured and predictable - this happens so consistently that I think questions have to be asked of the manager who chooses the system, rather than the individuals. We don't move the ball quickly, we haven't got players finding space. They look too reluctant to take a risk, too fearful of making a mistake. We play from the back, but have no plan of how to do it. The RadOx commentators laughed at MK's risky play from goal kicks, but they knew what they were doing and often had the ball near our penalty area quickly by pulling Us out of shape with pre-planned moves. We just knock it aimlessly between our defenders and goalkeeper (and often back to them from deep in opposition territory). We rely on individual brilliance, increasingly from Brandon Barker, rather than crisp passing moves to create opportunities.

One thing we've been blessed with recently, and credit has to go to the scouts and management, is quality centre halves. Wright, Dunkley, Nelson and Dickie have all moved on to better things, and Moore and Atkinson will be next off that conveyor belt unless we can work out a way of progressing with them. I was worried about them at the start of the season, but they've been a big success story.

We've done alright with midfielders recently too, with Lundstram, Ledson and Rothwell all featuring regularly in higher leagues. But this is where we've really lost games this season. You can't blame Brannagan for struggling after his frightening lay-off, but the fact is that he isn't back to the level he was playing at before. And I would say the same about Gorrin - I'm don't know what his health problem is that KR alluded to recently, but his head doesn't seem right. His passing is so negative, and some of the free-kicks and bookings he gives away so brainless. When I think of how these two players bossed Premier League midfields in cup games last season it makes this season's performances all the more frustrating. We've been unlucky with McGuane's injury, but I can't help thinking he becomes better in fans' eyes the longer he's been out of the team. (The same seems to be happening with Obita, who didn't do anything of note in a yellow shirt.)

Further forward we're too reliant on loan players - all easy on the eye, very little muck and nettles. Even some of our own players fit this description (Henry, Kelly). And KR seems determined to prove that Sam Winnall is 'as good as it gets at this level', despite all evidence to the contrary. My heart sinks every time he takes the field, especially when we're chasing a game.

Anyway, we'll finish where we deserve to. Which is no disaster, as long as it doesn't lead to losing our best players in the summer and having to rebuild again. Whether I continue shelling out a tenner twice a week from here on in is debatable, especially with the woeful ifollow camera work on Monday. Almost as frustrating as the football itself.

The 'takeover' and stadium chatter has all gone very quiet too...
slappy
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Re: Season Over?

Post by slappy »

Yes, sadly 6th place looks too far away with most teams above us having one or two games in hand, and I don't see us winning all of our remaining games and relying on six or seven other teams to all drop six points.
So instead I am having a look to see who might be promoted to / relegated to L1 next year (or relegated from L1).

Also seeing Southend 2nd from the bottom of L2 is quite satisfying.
ty cobb
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Re: Season Over?

Post by ty cobb »

Yes I would play Agyei over Taylor at the moment given our formation. I think Taylor is the better goalscorer and striker, but the way we are currently playing I think Agyei holds the ball up better and has the pace to stretch teams.

The ball is often lost when played up to Taylor, he rarely wins anything at the moment and he doesn't get behind teams so is not much of an outlet. Agyei is stronger and often wins the ball, gets it down and either goes on a run or brings someone else into play. Can also stick it down the line and there is a good chance he will get on the end of it.

Agyei may not have given the assist in the game you mentioned but I don't think Taylor would have got the goal that Agyei scored against the Scum or got the assist against mk.
OtmoorYellow
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Re: Season Over?

Post by OtmoorYellow »

I’m amazed Easty signed a new 3 year deal, I thought he would be off to pastures new, but I wonder if he knows something about Stevens future progression that we don’t. Jack Stevens has been a revelation, but is still not the finished article.

As ever, we have struggled without back up in both full back positions. These are specialised positions, where positioning and athleticism are essential, and you can’t just chuck surplus midfielders in there and expect it to work.

What we need is 2 good players in every position, rather than top loading the squad at the expense of defensive positions.

I like Agyei, but he is under development as a player. At present he can be very naive, but I think his power and pace can be turned into a wide forward.

Taylor is a true number 9. For years we’ve wanted a regular goal scorer. The mythical 20 goal striker. Well he’s got 14 (?) in 3/4 of a season. Some will never be satisfied.

Winnall has been a waste of good squad money. Started the season unfit, then got injured and has been in and out of the squad since, rarely looking like scoring. Experience counts for nothing without fitness. I would have preferred to retain Mackie for another season.

Gorrin has been great for most of the season, and we don’t have another sweeping midfielder. The question mark over his passing is valid though.

CamBran is not Gorrin and never will be. He is much more effective as a forward midfielder, and is a class act in a more forward role.

We’ve had too many players this season who have been drawing a wage based on past ratings. The only ratings that matter in football are the here and now. For me Liam Kelly, Elliot Lee, Joe Grayson, Joel Cooper, Jamie Hanson, Olamide Shodipo, Dylan Asonganyi, Derek Osei Yaw and to a lesser extent Mark Sykes and Anthony Forde have all been failures. No squad can cope with that many poor signings. On top of this Rob Hall seems to be well past his prime, although I think his deal is pay to play, so less of an issue.

We are fortunate to have had Moore and Atkinson as constants at the back, or our season might well have had a different outcome.

However, after the end of last season, and the start of this season, with the effects of COVID, like many others, I would have been happy with mid table obscurity for this (hopefully) one off weird season and still having a club to support. It’s just that long winning run dangled a gift that was never really within reach.
Dr Bob
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Re: Season Over?

Post by Dr Bob »

Just one thought on Gorrin and Brannagan - and how people criticise his passing (BTW I agree with everything else here). Gorrin cannot really play the spray passes like Brannagan - but his game has mostly been about breaking up attacks then passing to someone who can. Brannagan is not the disrupter that Gorrin is, but it has been clear at times in recent games, especially towards the end of games where we have been trailing, that once he has the ball he can and does play those passes. So either we need someone who can break up play AND play hail mary passes, or we accept that neither Gorrin and Brannagan can do everything. Phew - got that off my chest.
Ancient Colin
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Re: Season Over?

Post by Ancient Colin »

Why won't people call Rodríguez 'Rodríguez'? I don't understand, no-one talks about the Man City manager Pep Sala or the tennis player Rafa Parera, do they?
Kairdiff Exile
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Re: Season Over?

Post by Kairdiff Exile »

OtmoorYellow wrote: Fri Apr 09, 2021 11:16 pm Taylor is a true number 9. For years we’ve wanted a regular goal scorer. The mythical 20 goal striker. Well he’s got 14 (?) in 3/4 of a season. Some will never be satisfied.
The current Fence End pod episode makes the very good point that Taylor is a great player at this level, but we need to supplement our front line with another player of equal quality to win promotion. I agree entirely. As I said above, Taylor isn’t going to play every week (we’ve seen how KR likes to rotate his front line even in a non-compressed season), so we need at least two reliable, regular goalscorers. The consensus is that Agyei is good but not quite there yet.
OtmoorYellow
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Re: Season Over?

Post by OtmoorYellow »

Dr Bob wrote: Sat Apr 10, 2021 8:49 am Just one thought on Gorrin and Brannagan - and how people criticise his passing (BTW I agree with everything else here). Gorrin cannot really play the spray passes like Brannagan - but his game has mostly been about breaking up attacks then passing to someone who can. Brannagan is not the disrupter that Gorrin is, but it has been clear at times in recent games, especially towards the end of games where we have been trailing, that once he has the ball he can and does play those passes. So either we need someone who can break up play AND play hail mary passes, or we accept that neither Gorrin and Brannagan can do everything. Phew - got that off my chest.
I agree, Gorrin is a disruptor and CamBran a play maker. I’ve got no problem with that and we are a much better side when both are on the field. In fact I think most sides are better with this set up. It provides a defensive shield and an outlet. Both are excellent at this level in their respective positions. It is the inter changing of CamBran into Gorrin’s position that bothers me. If we had 2 decent players in each position, it wouldn’t be necessary.

I asl don’t buy the argument that yellow cards are a fault in Gorrin’s game. They are an inevitability given his role. A couple of occasions have been silly challenges, but everyone learns from their mistakes.
OtmoorYellow
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Re: Season Over?

Post by OtmoorYellow »

Kairdiff Exile wrote: Sat Apr 10, 2021 1:32 pm
OtmoorYellow wrote: Fri Apr 09, 2021 11:16 pm Taylor is a true number 9. For years we’ve wanted a regular goal scorer. The mythical 20 goal striker. Well he’s got 14 (?) in 3/4 of a season. Some will never be satisfied.
The current Fence End pod episode makes the very good point that Taylor is a great player at this level, but we need to supplement our front line with another player of equal quality to win promotion. I agree entirely. As I said above, Taylor isn’t going to play every week (we’ve seen how KR likes to rotate his front line even in a non-compressed season), so we need at least two reliable, regular goalscorers. The consensus is that Agyei is good but not quite there yet.
Again I agree with this. The striker position is one of chasing many lost causes and defending from the front. Playing any striker for 90 minutes in every match is asking for trouble. As I said earlier, we need 2 good players in each position.

I think DanAg will be very good, but his pace and strength and ability to go past players suggests to me he is a wide forward more than a lone striker.
Kernow Yellow
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Re: Season Over?

Post by Kernow Yellow »

Well the fat lady is clearing her throat now. Still not completely impossible, but too many teams are more handily placed than Us I think. But what might have been! When Ruffels scored I really started to believe. And then it all went wrong. I can't say I blame James Henry - his handball looked point blank and instinctive. In fact, if you look at the replays his head drops as soon as he does it, before the ref makes the decision even. I'm more annoyed the way we let them score again straight afterwards though. Even a point would have been useful. And Ruffels had a free header to snatch a draw at the end.

One observation - I don't think I've seen us have so many shots from (a massive) distance before. The commentators said that Brannagan was overhitting passes in the first half, but I'm sure he was shooting (badly) from his own half, twice at least early in the match. When Long did the same from 40 yards, and then Brannagan got one almost perfectly on target from a deep free kick in the second half, this seemed to confirm my suspicions. I reckon it was a ploy against a keeper that likes to stay off his line, and it very nearly worked.
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