Parky plots unlikely escape act after Saints win

News Shopper

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/4269473.Parky_plots_unlikely_escape_act_after_Saints_win/

DA9

Paul, either you or Parky have been on the bottle if you think we can get out of this.

One Swallow, does not a summer make.

Dazzler21

well it's more possible than it was being that we have a game in hand over Norwich and Forest ;oP

Dazzler21

on typing that maybe we will beat norwich last game of the season and stay up by that!!! Ahh OGGY ROSE TINTED GOGGLES IN MY BRAIN.

LargeAddick

doesn't he realise that if they had put in the same sort of effort twenty games ago we might not be in this position in the first place. After we drew at Swansea and Reading we returned to The Valley and proceeded to capitulate against Donny and Watford. The bloke loves a quote but, in my opinion, he should steer clear of the politics and finances of football and concentrate on putting a team out to get a result, which he doesn't seem able to manage very often.

Oggy Red

Strange statistics time:

Since we last won at home, v Argyle 14th Feb, we've played 3 home fixtures and gained a solitary point.
Doncaster 1-2
Watford 2-3
Preston 0-0

Since 14 Feb, we've played 5 away fixtures:
Barnsley: 0-0
Swansea: 1-1
Reading 2-2
Wolves 1-2
Southampton 3-2

In those 8 matches, we've been beaten 3 times:
v Doncaster, where we probably would have got a point if not for Bailey's rash penalty give away.
v Watford, where we capitulated fairly late on to surrender a 2-1 lead
v Wolves, where we conceded 2 deflected goals including a complete fluke, in a match we should in fairness have got a result.

In each ot the away draws, we had late chances to seal 3 points, not taken.


Conclusion 1: We're a relatively tough side to beat now.

Conclusion 2: Our away performances at some difficult venues, are proving the team is at last showing the character required. No doubt the return of Racon and ZZ from long term injury has had a huge impact.

Conclusion 3: The only prime missing factor has been lack of player self confidence.
And this is slowly making itself manifest.


This is beginning to look like the nucleus of a decent and effective team.
Unfortunately, as we know, we're now running out of games.

News Shopper

[quote][cite]Posted By: DA9[/cite]Paul, either you or Parky have been on the bottle if you think we can get out of this.

One Swallow, does not a summer make.[/quote]

Ha not me, he said it.

DA9

[cite]Posted By: News Shopper[/cite]

[cite]Posted By: DA9[/cite]Paul, either you or Parky have been on the bottle if you think we can get out of this.

One Swallow, does not a summer make.

Ha not me, he said it.

LOL...but I'm blaming you and your newspaper, for giving people false hope (and that the fact that your a northerener) ;-)

Dazzler21

Combination

Conclusion 2: Our away performances at some difficult venues, are proving the team is at last showing the character required. No doubt the return of Racon and ZZ from long term injury has had a huge impact.

Conclusion 3: The only prime missing factor has been lack of player self confidence.
And this is slowly making itself manifest.

LargeAddick

[cite]Posted By: Oggy Red[/cite]Strange statistics time:

Since we last won at home, v Argyle 14th Feb, we've played 3 home fixtures and gained a solitary point.
Doncaster 1-2
Watford 2-3
Preston 0-0

Since 14 Feb, we've played 5 away fixtures:
Barnsley: 0-0
Swansea: 1-1
Reading 2-2
Wolves 1-2
Southampton 3-2

In those 8 matches, we've been beaten 3 times:
v Doncaster, where we probably would have got a point if not for Bailey's rash penalty give away.
v Watford, where we capitulated fairly late on to surrender a 2-1 lead
v Wolves, where we conceded 2 deflected goals including a complete fluke, in a match we should in fairness have got a result.

In each ot the away draws, we had late chances to seal 3 points, not taken.


Conclusion 1:We're a relatively tough side to beat now.

Conclusion 2:Our away performances at some difficult venues, are proving the team is at last showing the character required. No doubt the return of Racon and ZZ from long term injury has had a huge impact.

Conclusion 3:The only prime missing factor has been lack of player self confidence.
And this is slowly making itself manifest.


This is beginning to look like the nucleus of a decent and effective team.
Unfortunately, as we know, we're now running out of games.

OR, we are know we are down, the players know it too, the pressure is off and so they are able to perform. They obviously don't have the necessary character to perform under pressure. IF we got back to say within 5 points of saftey they'd blow it because they don't have the bottle and are weak. Also funny that of those five away games we had a chance to win at Swansea but were too negative, played well at Reading but relied on the woodwork to keep us in the game on four occasions, were negative at Barnsley and perhaps unlucky at Wolves. The only team we could beat was the only one in the division who is in a worse shape than we are at moment. Jeez, a win at Southampton and we are suddendly a good team. Blox.

Oggy Red

Nobody said that because of win at Southampton, we are suddendly a good team, did they Large?

I was trying to point out there has been definite progress, and the team has gradually been becoming a much more effective unit.
Credit where it is due.

You've pointed out every conceivable negative without giving any credit to what progress has been achieved.
Your glass is truly half empty, Large.

;o)

JT

Brum will beat us and all will return to normal.

ShootersHillGuru

There is improvement without a doubt. However. The team we are looking at now will sadly bear no relationship with the one we will see next season. Therefore we start all over again and who can possibly tell what that will bring.

bingaddick

[cite]Posted By: Oggy Red[/cite]Strange statistics time:

Since we last won at home, v Argyle 14th Feb, we've played 3 home fixtures and gained a solitary point.
Doncaster 1-2
Watford 2-3
Preston 0-0

Since 14 Feb, we've played 5 away fixtures:
Barnsley: 0-0
Swansea: 1-1
Reading 2-2
Wolves 1-2
Southampton 3-2

In those 8 matches, we've been beaten 3 times:
v Doncaster, where we probably would have got a point if not for Bailey's rash penalty give away.
v Watford, where we capitulated fairly late on to surrender a 2-1 lead
v Wolves, where we conceded 2 deflected goals including a complete fluke, in a match we should in fairness have got a result.

In each ot the away draws, we had late chances to seal 3 points, not taken.


Conclusion 1:We're a relatively tough side to beat now.

Conclusion 2:Our away performances at some difficult venues, are proving the team is at last showing the character required. No doubt the return of Racon and ZZ from long term injury has had a huge impact.

Conclusion 3:The only prime missing factor has been lack of player self confidence.
And this is slowly making itself manifest.


This is beginning to look like the nucleus of a decent and effective team.
Unfortunately, as we know, we're now running out of games.

This is excellent analysis Oggy. It just shows you how important the Doncaster and Watford games were. Two home games back to back. If we'd won them we really would be in with a chance. I felt that Parky selection/tactics against both was suspect. I hope he's learnt from that.

Oggy Red

Thanks, Bing ....... not getting anything from those 2 matches was the point when realistically we appeared to have too much ground to make up in too little time. Re Parky's tactics - they did seem overly cautious, but then he probably sees his strength in midfield, rather than upfront.

I feel Parky's approach was quite similar to how imagine Curbs would have handled it - cautiously protecting what has been a threadbare and vulnerable defence, knowing that his strength was in a midfield that had proved well capable of scoring vital goals.

Unfortunately, it didn't work out, a couple of individual player errors saw to that - and there wasn't enough tactically to play an effective Plan B to change things round.

I'm still not sure that tactically we have an effective Plan B.
In fact, that was Curbs' achillies heel also.

golfaddick

Our main problem is still upfront. All 3 goals scored on Saturday were from midfield and our only striker missed the easiest chance of the lot.

I usually don't like 4-5-1 (or in this case 4-4-1-1) but at present it is the only way of fitting in our midfield 5, none of whom deserve to be dropped. Therefore greater pressure is put on the lone striker to perform. Kandol did well on saturday as was one of his better performances, but he still blew the best chance he had from 12 yards.Apart from that he didn't really test their 'keeper and just wondered should we be more potent up-front.

I would have liked to see dickson on for the final 15 mns when we came under pressure as his pace gives us a good outlet, but Parky did his usual trick of bringing on his favourite player (Burton) and this really could have cost us the game.

The saints were pretty poor at the back & don't see Brum or Coventry letting us walk through their defence and expect relegation to be confirmed at around 4.55 on Easter Monday.

Oggy Red

Golfie ....... leading 3-1 in that last 15 minutes, and having to substitute an already booked Kandol on his final warning - Parky no doubt chose to bring on Burton because, despite his lack of goal scoring powess, he's still a decent alround player and has the ability to hold the ball up.

As a lone forward, Dickson might have brought more goal threat on a breakaway - but the ball is less likely to 'stick', coming straight back to put a defence on the back foot under further pressure.



Kandol might have missed the 'easiest' chance on Saturday, the penalty - but that should take nothing away from his effective open-play contribution. As is evident, the team's strength is in midfield - and tactically set up to score goals from midfield.

Kandol is instructed to play the sacrificial workhorse role up front, to take the brunt of defenders challenges, provide lay offs and create space for attacking midfielders to exploit.

And if he can nick a goal or score from a set piece, then great .... but that's not his principle job.

wellie

As we've seen so many times this season, playing a lone striker invites pressure on our woefully vunerable defence. A lack of a quality Holding Midfielder to bring stability, nous, and leadership has made the 5 man midfield worthless at key moments.

Scoham

[cite]Posted By: wellie[/cite]As we've seen so many times this season, playing a lone striker invites pressure on our woefully vunerable defence. A lack of a quality Holding Midfielder to bring stability, nous, and leadership has made the 5 man midfield worthless at key moments.

Semedo when he's back in for Shelvey or Zheng? Spring's not the answer there, and I don't think Holland is either other than as a sub to help kill the game off.

wellie

The position should have been filled at the start of the season, it's something we've lacked for ages as not one of the current squad is capable of playing the role, especially that of leader.

Weegie Addick

Seven points from eight games is still relegation form, I'm afraid...

BlackForestReds

[cite]Posted By: Weegie Addick[/cite]Seven points from eight games is still relegation form, I'm afraid...

Yep.

Oggy Red

Just out of interest, David Marshall the Norwich keeper said, regarding Norwich's chances of survival:

"I can't see us staying up before the last day but we're still outside the bottom three with five games to go to stay there, we've just got to look to do that," he said. ............"

Who do Norwich play on the last day .... ?

;o)

bingaddick

I think that Racon could play the holding midfielder role if necessary. He played it last year against Bristol City away and did avery decent job.

The problem Saturday, and I'm afraid it has been the same all season is that when we are under the cosh, the defence holds a very deep line and the midfielders are virtually standing on their toes. I personally think that's what needs sorting out. Sure a holding type midfielder role may help but defending so deeply negates that and surrenders so much territory.

Oggy Red

Agreed Bing. When you dig a trench on your 18 yard line, not only is their no margin for error - but you invite opponents into shooting range.

That invariably costs you a goal from a speculative pot shot or deflection.

Far better to hold a line at least 10 yards further up the park.

Stu_of_Kunming

We've defended far too deeply for years, going right back to Curbs time, how many 'wonder goals' have we conceeded over the years, as Oggy says, it's because we almost invite players to take those sorts of shots, law of averages says some of em are gonna go in!