05-11-2014, 11:11
The Slide Continues
This game went pretty much as everyone expected except perhaps we didn't suffer an embarrassing score line. Bournemouth were at least a decent team although man for man, no better than ours. They are just better organised, have better tactics and knew how to handle us. Little surprise as Bournemouth employ six full time data analysts so they know every detail about every Wednesday player from every match over the last two seasons. Wednesday don't use data analysts.
The atmosphere was flat with only 16000 bothering to see if we could finally score. In fairness, we did reasonably well in the first half. Drenthe & Maghoma each had two good efforts on goal and had someone followed in Maghoma's shot, there was a tap in from the keeper's fumble. At the back, Westwood also fumbled a shot but they failed to capitalise also.
We started with Drenthe alongside Nuhui up front but eventually moved Maguire forward & Drenthe back to the wing.
We need to use our energy better. Nuhui makes 50 yard lung busting runs chasing defenders then has no energy left to get in the box when we need him.
Defensively, Palmer looked off his game & Lees was unusually sub par. Lee & Coke were ineffectual in midfield and it was only the odd spark from Drenthe that threatened a goal.
We were already well on the back foot when the red card sealed our defeat. Although the decision was incredibly harsh as Drenthe got the ball, it would be misleading to say it cost us the match because it was just a question of when Bournemouth scored.
They tactically outwitted us from minute one. They used their full backs as wing backs then tucked their wide players inside which left our defenders unsure of who to mark. It also meant that our forwards wasted energy chasing the ball until they slipped it wide each time they built from the back. Eddie Howe has turned average players into a promotion chasing team by clever use of tactics - a bit like Wilkinson did for us in the 80s.
All spirit drained out of us with the red card & the goal that swiftly followed. We didn't have an attempt of note in the second half except when Lees missed from a free header six yards out with the score still at 0-0 from a brilliant Drenthe corner. After that, it was depressing.
May came on at 0-1 but rarely got the ball in dangerous positions. Dielna replace Lee & Helan was pushed forward which actually made him less effective.
Westwood - 6 - one brilliant save, one bad fumble
Palmer - 4 - terrible control, struggled
Lees - 5 - worst game for us so far
Loovens - 6 - baled us out more than once
Helan - 7 - our best player
Maguire - 5 - worked hard, but poor choices
Lee - 4 - little influence
Coke - 4 - hardly noticed him
Maghoma - 5 - two good shots but little else
Drenthe - 6 - main attacking threat
Nuhui - 5 - ran like a headless chicken
....................................................................
May - 5
Dielna - 5
I fear that SG has run out of ideas. Players that were playing well a year ago are now far worse. Tactically, teams are getting the better of us & we don't know how to respond. I fear that SG could be sacked soon or that we slide into the bottom six.
Fulham, Bolton & Birmingham have all picked up after changing their manager & we stand five points above the relegation line. We don't look like we can score, let alone win.
Rotherham could be ideal or terrible opponents to have next. On one hand, they are a poor side that we should beat but on the other hand, they will be fired up and we are incredibly fragile so if we go behind, there is little way back.
Going to matches has become increasingly depressing this season and I really couldn't be bothered last night so I can understand why crowds are falling. This will hit our bottom line & make new signings less likely and sales more likely.
We need a kick start & it won't be long before the cries for SG's head increase from the current small minority unless things change quickly & dramatically.
This game went pretty much as everyone expected except perhaps we didn't suffer an embarrassing score line. Bournemouth were at least a decent team although man for man, no better than ours. They are just better organised, have better tactics and knew how to handle us. Little surprise as Bournemouth employ six full time data analysts so they know every detail about every Wednesday player from every match over the last two seasons. Wednesday don't use data analysts.
The atmosphere was flat with only 16000 bothering to see if we could finally score. In fairness, we did reasonably well in the first half. Drenthe & Maghoma each had two good efforts on goal and had someone followed in Maghoma's shot, there was a tap in from the keeper's fumble. At the back, Westwood also fumbled a shot but they failed to capitalise also.
We started with Drenthe alongside Nuhui up front but eventually moved Maguire forward & Drenthe back to the wing.
We need to use our energy better. Nuhui makes 50 yard lung busting runs chasing defenders then has no energy left to get in the box when we need him.
Defensively, Palmer looked off his game & Lees was unusually sub par. Lee & Coke were ineffectual in midfield and it was only the odd spark from Drenthe that threatened a goal.
We were already well on the back foot when the red card sealed our defeat. Although the decision was incredibly harsh as Drenthe got the ball, it would be misleading to say it cost us the match because it was just a question of when Bournemouth scored.
They tactically outwitted us from minute one. They used their full backs as wing backs then tucked their wide players inside which left our defenders unsure of who to mark. It also meant that our forwards wasted energy chasing the ball until they slipped it wide each time they built from the back. Eddie Howe has turned average players into a promotion chasing team by clever use of tactics - a bit like Wilkinson did for us in the 80s.
All spirit drained out of us with the red card & the goal that swiftly followed. We didn't have an attempt of note in the second half except when Lees missed from a free header six yards out with the score still at 0-0 from a brilliant Drenthe corner. After that, it was depressing.
May came on at 0-1 but rarely got the ball in dangerous positions. Dielna replace Lee & Helan was pushed forward which actually made him less effective.
Westwood - 6 - one brilliant save, one bad fumble
Palmer - 4 - terrible control, struggled
Lees - 5 - worst game for us so far
Loovens - 6 - baled us out more than once
Helan - 7 - our best player
Maguire - 5 - worked hard, but poor choices
Lee - 4 - little influence
Coke - 4 - hardly noticed him
Maghoma - 5 - two good shots but little else
Drenthe - 6 - main attacking threat
Nuhui - 5 - ran like a headless chicken
....................................................................
May - 5
Dielna - 5
I fear that SG has run out of ideas. Players that were playing well a year ago are now far worse. Tactically, teams are getting the better of us & we don't know how to respond. I fear that SG could be sacked soon or that we slide into the bottom six.
Fulham, Bolton & Birmingham have all picked up after changing their manager & we stand five points above the relegation line. We don't look like we can score, let alone win.
Rotherham could be ideal or terrible opponents to have next. On one hand, they are a poor side that we should beat but on the other hand, they will be fired up and we are incredibly fragile so if we go behind, there is little way back.
Going to matches has become increasingly depressing this season and I really couldn't be bothered last night so I can understand why crowds are falling. This will hit our bottom line & make new signings less likely and sales more likely.
We need a kick start & it won't be long before the cries for SG's head increase from the current small minority unless things change quickly & dramatically.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.