I was too angry on Tuesday night to bother wasting my time writing about the shambolic performance. Having slept on it too, I can now calmly put my thoughts in to a more sensible review.
Firstly team selection...
5 defenders, why?
Moon a centre back at right wing back and looking uncomfortable out there. Offered a predictable nothing going forward. I like Jasper, but as a centre half.
Hamer at left wing back. You expect the wide player to be putting in a cross, I've never seen Tom's left foot. As Colston said, I wish others had displayed Seddon's aggression and desire.
Harper, for me actually looked quite a like a defensive midfielder we need. Broke up play, gave a few harsh/silly fouls away but was in the right place. Why he went off I could not fathom.
Deji, looks lost positionally and is one of the reasons we can't play through the midfield.
Helm, looks like a lost boy half the time. No aggression, easily brushed off the ball and can't shield and protect possession of the ball. Still looks like an academy footballer. Needs to toughen up or it'll be National league soon.
Powell, ineffective as never got on the ball, watched it smashed over his head aimed at Moon or Hugill.
Hugill, lost most of the duals but never looked for the ball in to the channel, or dropped off his man to get it to feet either. Needs a target man to play off.
Carayol, came on as a number 10! The only player we have who can make himself a yard and whip in a decent cross and we play him down the middle, launching the ball at his head. To make matters worse, Helm came out wide. I'd love to hear Pato's explanation for that. Indefensible.
They play 352. Every decent coach knows that playing 433 against it is ideal. It matches up the midfield, but either forces their wing backs back, or pulls the centre half out wide where they don't want to be. You also have a 2 on 1 overload from your full back and winger against the wing back. It's basics Martin.
When the ball was launched up towards Hugill whether a throw or whatever, neither Helm nor Powell were ever gambling on him winning a flick, so even the ones he won were wasted.
We used the subs up on 3 occasions which meant no chance to make changes in the last 30 mins. Why did he not put Carayol and Kamwa on at the same time instead of 5 mins apart? We also made the Kamwa change whilst Crocombe was getting treatment! Surely you hold fire in case he can't continue then or soon after. School boy error.
I can't hear a word out there on that pitch, despite being stood on against the barrier on the hallway line. No one is talking, organising or generally helping their teammate with simple instructions.
The players seem bereft of ideas and confidence. Simply put it appears to me that he's lost them. We're trying to defend and break at home against a poor side. Shackles should have been off and is have a right royal go. Had we lost after chucking the kitchen sink at them then at least the fans would accept that, but to lose as meekly as we did was just abhorrent.
He clearly knew what he was in for as he only got as far as the centre circle to clap your fans.
Pato, you've let yourself down. I truly believed this was going to be a great appointment and liked your rhetoric. But the proof is in the pudding and unfortunately we are back to a manager making ridiculous selections, playing people out of position and having no identity.
Were you given a rough deal in January, possibly, but the mistakes you are still making week in week out now have lost you any credit you had in the bank with the fans.
I implore you, go 442 or 433 on Saturday. Go for it, give us something to cheer. You'll be gone in the summer, we know that. Hopefully for you Duff gets a decent job. Because I'm sorry to say you have blown your chance as a number one, if you disagree I'd love to sit down and hear why.
Anyway, in a positive note...... Er, must be something I can think of. Oh yeah, there's 4 teams that are as bad as us. Maybe just maybe....
