Has Bailey upset someone?

buckshee

Did anyone else notice tonight that all through the first half and for about 25 minutes of the second the ball went nowhere near the left hand side of the pitch?

It was so noticeable it was weird , then we start playing it down the left and look so much better , this was also when Racon got into the game as well.

ShootersHillGuru

I noticed that in the 1st 45 Bailey was tucked in quite tight and the whole team played too deep imho. Only when Bailey was more adventurous did he get into the game.

Mortimerician

[cite]Posted By: ShootersHillGuru[/cite]I noticed that in the 1st 45 Bailey was tucked in quite tight and the whole team played too deep imho. Only when Bailey was more adventurous did he get into the game.

I'd agree with that. Basically he keeps drifting back to a central role.

suzisausage

Sam also struggled to get the ball as their number 13 had obviously been told to get in front of him to prevent runs forward which worked - for a while.

Kap10

1st half they did a great job of isolating players, which meant we did not play and found it difficult to get the ball to players. 2nd half we looked composed and they tired.

I thought Llera was brilliant and Sam was poor last night, which totally contradicts views previously expressed, which just shows how we can see games differently,or maybe from different angles.

ShootersHillGuru

[cite]Posted By: Kap10[/cite]1st half they did a great job of isolating players, which meant we did not play and found it difficult to get the ball to players. 2nd half we looked composed and they tired.

I thought Llera was brilliant and Sam was poor last night, which totally contradicts views previously expressed, which just shows how we can see games differently,or maybe from different angles.

Agreed. I thought Llera was very dominant and agree Sam huffed and puffed but again delivered very little. Thought Richardson was not really getting forward last night either.

oohaahmortimer

I thought it was a smallish pitch last night with not a lot of width and there wasn't a lot of room out there... would be interesting(boring if you're not a statto/saddo like me) to compare the size of the o's pitch compared to the valley

ShootersHillGuru

[cite]Posted By: oohaahmortimer[/cite]I thought it was a smallish pitch last night with not a lot of width and there wasn't a lot of room out there... would be interesting(boring if you're not a statto/saddo like me) to compare the size of the o's pitch compared to the valley

I said to my mate that it was a small pitch. Be interested to know now.

TEL

Yes I too said to kay the pitch looked a bit tight...agree about Sam, but dont want to criticise as it was such a good night

CatAddick

I agree Bailey looked out of sorts for the first hour - got a lot better when Youga moved up a little to support him. I thought Sam was OK but when he received the ball he kept on turning inside which did make the defenders job a bit easier - I think he should be able to skin a few LBs in this division.

golfaddick

I see from this thread that my earlier observations are just starting to dawn on some people.

Playing the system with the players we currently have means that we have no width on the left (Bailey is not left footed and certainly not a winger) and so all our play is channelled down the right (notice how any diagional long balls Llera plays out to Sam). That may be ok if sam was Ronaldo or Beckham, or even Jonny Robinson.........but he isn't. He hardly ever takes on the defender and in most cases either cuts inside or passes back to Richarson / semedo etc. It was laughable last night hearing shouts of " go on sam, skin 'im" as he recieved the ball, only to find 20 seconds later the ball back with Elliott having down the rounds with the back 4.

Until we either get proper left midfielder/winger (Wade Small ?) or teach Sam to get down the line and cross a ball in from at least level with the box then we will continue to struggle to beat teams. Yes, this may seem pedantic seing as we have won all 3 games and sitting pretty in 2nd, but having seen all 3 I can say the only time we have actually looked any good was the first 30 mins against Wycombe - Hartlepool we sat back for the last 30ins and if they had scored aythig could have happened and last night could easily have been lost 2-0.

WSS

Golfy, what the point in crossing into the box if Burton is the only one ever in there.

It works better when we have people running through the middle from midfield in my opinion. 7 goals in 3 games is a decent return.

Scoham

The frustrating thing is Sam is capable of it, he is a pretty good dribbler and has enough pace, but he doesn't seem to to want to take the risk and lose the ball.

LargeAddick

hoorah, the old Golfie is back, you have been much too positive recently for my liking !! Dead right about Sam though. Never any end product, never beats a man, poor crossing when he does. Him and Youga are the weak links.

Chunes

I honestly don't think the team has been set up for Sam to run down the right and cross all day long. We've hardly got any height up front. Maybe in a 4-4-2 that would be the done thing, but with the kind of 4-5-1 we're playing, with Shelvey drifitng around Burton, getting loads of crosses in is never going to be the plan.

Scoham

[cite]Posted By: Chunes[/cite]I honestly don't think the team has been set up for Sam to run down the right and cross all day long. We've hardly got any height up front. Maybe in a 4-4-2 that would be the done thing, but with the kind of 4-5-1 we're playing, with Shelvey drifitng around Burton, getting loads of crosses in is never going to be the plan.

It's a good point and makes even more sense when Sam's crossing is average at best, Shelvey isn't good in the air, leaving Burton and then Bailey getting into the box as the only targets.

I've seen a few comments from fans of the teams we've been playing, often see them saying Sam had a decent game or was dangerous, while we're a lot more harsh on him. If he doesn't come away with an assist and/or a goal, it's seen as him having no end product. He's offering us width, works well with Richardson and helps to defend (maybe not as much as Bailey, but then he hasn't got Youga behind him!). He can beat players, he can play at Championship level, and hopefully will get a bit more confidence if we keep playing well as a team.

He should be able to get the odd goal, set up a few and win penalties & free kicks. To me, it looks like a lack of confidence and belief more than lack of ability.

McLovin

Spot on, Golf

BBClaus

i hardly remember the fullbacks overlapping first half. the front players were getting too isolated, but some credit to orient for focing that situation.

Oggy Red

It seems to me that we expect our team to be world beaters, and get frustrated too easily.

We rarely take into consideration that opponents want those 3 points just as badly, and not in the match just to make up the numbers.

Orient obviously had had us watched, did their homework - and knew if they were going to get a result they had to nullify our passing game. So they worked terrifically hard, closed us down quickly, denied us space and wouldn't let us settle on the ball.

Sure our passing game shone through in the end but we knew we'd been in a game.

Carter

At an away game, no matter what support we bring, we will play slightly different to when we are at home. It's unusual to see an away side pressing high up the pitch and it's definitley not unusual for an away side to keep a tight, narrow midfield.

razil

Golfy I think most people are aware of your well observed points about Sam, I think Parky probably is too, although Newcastle don't seem to be aware (or was that his agent..)



The problem may that Bailey needs to feel he can get forward more, he certainly is a danger at present but perhaps if he was less concerned with defensive duties he and Sam could stretch the oppo even tho the former may not have the width/pace of a typical winger - a la Graham Stuart?

Carter

Also if I was Nicky Bailey I would have a mind on who I had playing behind me. Kelly Youga is not one to inspire confidence to bomb forward!

Scoham

[cite]Posted By: Carter[/cite]Also if I was Nicky Bailey I would have a mind on who I had playing behind me. Kelly Youga is not one to inspire confidence to bomb forward!

I think left back is a position we'll improve eventually, but maybe not until January or next summer.

ShootersHillGuru

[cite]Posted By: Scoham[/cite]

[cite]Posted By: Carter[/cite]Also if I was Nicky Bailey I would have a mind on who I had playing behind me. Kelly Youga is not one to inspire confidence to bomb forward!

I think left back is a position we'll improve eventually, but maybe not until January or next summer.

or season after or after that ! Sorry Sco but thats an odd comment isn`t it ?

razil

put semedo there and go 442

Scoham

Well I just mean it's clear to us Youga is the weakest link and I'll think he'll be one of the first players to be replaced, if we keep this team together. If the takeover falls through, the midfield leave, maybe not, but after getting cover in at centre back now, and hopefully a striker, I hope we'll go for a left back not long after.

Salad

[cite]Posted By: floydandharvey[/cite]Football Ground Guide says:

Orient's pitch is 115 yds x 80 yds
Charlton's pitch is 112 yds x 73 yds

So their pitch is 2.7% longer and 9.6% wider than ours.

So much for it being small.

surely shorter pitch than the Valley?

Wikipedia says its 110yds long (76 wide) whilst it says The Valley is 112yds long (by 73 wide)

Paddy7

Orient did press us really well in the first half, and Bailey & Racon were quite subdued. Nice to see both grow into the game and by the end they were both a threat again. OK, Sam doesn't often beat three men and deliver the perfect cross, but how many wingers do, even in the Prem? (have a look at Nani's crossing). He helps defend from the front by pressing his full back, and his energy helps keep opposing left backs deep. Parky's already asked him for a few more goals, but I'm not sure how much more we can realistically expect from a winger we can afford and who clearly gives his all.

Scoham

[cite]Posted By: Paddy7[/cite]OK, Sam doesn't often beat three men and deliver the perfect cross, but how many wingers do, even in the Prem? (have a look at Nani's crossing)

I think Chunes made the best point earlier about Sam, he has no one to cross to. Burton will be marked, Bailey and Shelvey might get in the box, but neither are particularly good in the air.

If we had an Iwelumo (or Kandol...) we'd probably try and get more crosses in.

In fact it's benefiting Youga and Bailey as well, Youga's crossing makes Sam's look Beckham like, and Bailey is right footed so can't get many crosses in.

Better for us to work it into the box, and passing it to players, just like Bailey's goal against Wycombe, set up by Sam and Richardson.

LenGlover

[cite]Posted By: Paddy7[/cite]Orient did press us really well in the first half, and Bailey & Racon were quite subdued. Nice to see both grow into the game and by the end they were both a threat again. OK, Sam doesn't often beat three men and deliver the perfect cross, but how many wingers do, even in the Prem? (have a look at Nani's crossing). He helps defend from the front by pressing his full back, and his energy helps keep opposing left backs deep. Parky's already asked him for a few more goals, but I'm not sure how much more we can realistically expect from a winger we can afford and who clearly gives his all.

If Sam could score goals he wouldn't be playing for us!

Addick Addict

[cite]Posted By: LenGlover[/cite]

[cite]Posted By: Paddy7[/cite]Orient did press us really well in the first half, and Bailey & Racon were quite subdued. Nice to see both grow into the game and by the end they were both a threat again. OK, Sam doesn't often beat three men and deliver the perfect cross, but how many wingers do, even in the Prem? (have a look at Nani's crossing). He helps defend from the front by pressing his full back, and his energy helps keep opposing left backs deep. Parky's already asked him for a few more goals, but I'm not sure how much more we can realistically expect from a winger we can afford and who clearly gives his all.

If Sam could score goals he wouldn't be playing for us!

Sam hasn't actually scored in his last 50 appearances for the Club. Do think he should be able to chip in with half a dozen or so in a season at this level.