15-09-2014, 22:53
I expected us to lose because everyone (except me) seemed to have really high expectations for the game. I said beforehand that I'd take a draw if offered. The game seemed to bear out my thinking. I'm remembering that when Powell took over at Charlton it took him ages to get things sorted out and start winning games - but once he did, they really motored up the table.
I do like Peltier as a defensive midfielder, unlike many of you on here, and I thought he had a reasonable game (apart from their first goal, obv.) However, Coady was also playing defensively and sticking Butterfield out on the right is just daft. I can kind of see why Powell did it, though - we've all been saying, the defence needs shoring up. We've conceded more goals than anyone in the division - in fact, anyone in any division except Scunny and Carlisle, both of whom have played a game more than we have. So for people to criticise him for "going defensive" seems a bit damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.
OK we still lost but, on the bright side, only to set pieces. They did have some other chances to score but nowhere near as many as the ones we have gifted other teams this season. If Smith hadn't had a rush of blood to the head, we'd have come away from that with a point. We wouldn't have deserved it but it was a close-run thing in the end.
My biggest concern was, same as it has been for ages, that when we lose the ball, we give their players far too much time and space, we don't get to them and close them down. When we did, we forced them into mistakes, so hopefully the players will realise that it's worth making the effort. As soon as we got the ball, every single one of their players was doing their utmost to mark, close down, and defend - every player turned into a defender (especially after they went 1-0 up.) When we lose the ball, a lot of the time we just let them run at us or pick their passes without even trying to do anything about it until they get to the 18-yard box.
So I reckon Powell is doing the right thing to get us more defensive-minded and if he gets that sorted, the rest will follow.
I do like Peltier as a defensive midfielder, unlike many of you on here, and I thought he had a reasonable game (apart from their first goal, obv.) However, Coady was also playing defensively and sticking Butterfield out on the right is just daft. I can kind of see why Powell did it, though - we've all been saying, the defence needs shoring up. We've conceded more goals than anyone in the division - in fact, anyone in any division except Scunny and Carlisle, both of whom have played a game more than we have. So for people to criticise him for "going defensive" seems a bit damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.
OK we still lost but, on the bright side, only to set pieces. They did have some other chances to score but nowhere near as many as the ones we have gifted other teams this season. If Smith hadn't had a rush of blood to the head, we'd have come away from that with a point. We wouldn't have deserved it but it was a close-run thing in the end.
My biggest concern was, same as it has been for ages, that when we lose the ball, we give their players far too much time and space, we don't get to them and close them down. When we did, we forced them into mistakes, so hopefully the players will realise that it's worth making the effort. As soon as we got the ball, every single one of their players was doing their utmost to mark, close down, and defend - every player turned into a defender (especially after they went 1-0 up.) When we lose the ball, a lot of the time we just let them run at us or pick their passes without even trying to do anything about it until they get to the 18-yard box.
So I reckon Powell is doing the right thing to get us more defensive-minded and if he gets that sorted, the rest will follow.