20-04-2016, 19:13
Another Small Step
Another frustrating night with two points slipping away, ones that probably will make little difference in the outcome for our season but ones that may just fray the nerves of fans a bit more. Most of the problems were self induced. Again the first & biggest problem was CC playing 442 from the start, meaning that we wasted 45 minutes playing a system that doesn't suit our players. We had no height or pace up front which meant that MK could play a high line with little threat of us using pace to exploit them. Also we had no out ball except for FF or Hooper coming short which meant it took us 20+ passes to reach the final third.
The first half went exactly as I predicted once I heard our team.
Things changed in the second half with Nuhiu replacing Lopez. It wasn't that Lopez played badly or Nuhiu played well but the change to a 4321 formation that made the difference. CC is repeating the same mistake week after week with his starting line up, which is getting increasingly worrying. Nuhiu gave the ball away three times before he went on a mazy run, beating three players before hitting a great pass to get the fans chanting his name.
The situation called for cool heads. Unfortunately, a few individuals let us down badly. The referee (a late replacement so inexperienced at this level) had taken the "let a few tackles go" approach until Lees made a tackle from behind. It was a routine yellow card except for the fact that he had let several similar challenges go unpunished. It appeared that the referee had switched to more normal carding attitude when Hooper was carded for a late tackle.
What happened next was partly unfortunate & partly self induced. FF was wrongly yellow carded for simulation when he was taken out by a defender. Even Carl Robinson acknowledged this was the case. However, Ross Wallace's behaviour was inexcusable & the red card inevitable. He was lucky he wasn't seen doing the same thing against Ipswich.
It called for cool heads yet Nuhiu was waving his arms around & throwing his body around like a nutter and Bannan and Pudil were both lucky not to get red cards, Pudil for a wild challenge and Bannan for kicking an opponent off the ball. We need more players with a temperament like Lees or Loovens in the heat of battle.
In the game, we peppered the MK goal and hit the woodwork four times - Pudil twice, Nuhiu & Bannan. FF was close several times while Nuhiu & Bannan missed simple chances.
Westwood - 6 - little to do
Hunt - 5 - still a defensive liability, luckily MK didn't take advantage. Derby will.
Lees - 7 - solid job
Loovens - 7 - outstanding again
Pudil - 9 - solid defensively and great going forward
Wallace - 5 - bright in parts, stupid red card
Lopez - 6 - neat & tidy
Lee - 6 - neat but refuses to shoot
Bannan - 5 - lost on left, better after switch to 4321
Hooper - 5 - struggled in 442, better second half, lacks confidence
FF - 8 - nothing first half, unplayable second half
.......................................................................
Nuhiu - 6 - wasted several decent chances
Joao - only on a couple of minutes
Stat Attack:
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Touches: 78 - Bannan, 71 - Pudil, 62 - Loovens, 56 - Lee, 53 - Hunt, 52 - FF, 51 - Lees, 48 - Wallace, 42 - Westwood, 40 - Lopez, 28 - Hooper, 27 - Nuhiu, 2 - Joao
Tackles: 4 - Lee, 2 - Hunt, Pudil, Bannan, 1 - Lees, Lopez, FF
Interceptions: 3 - Bannan, 2 - Hunt, Loovens, Lees, Lee, FF, 1 - Pudil, Lopez, Nuhiu
Clearances: 10 - Lees, 4 - Loovens, 2 - Lee, 1 - Hunt, Pudil, Bannan, Joao
Attempts: 7 - Nuhiu, 4 - FF, 2 - Lees, Pudil, Wallace, 1 - Loovens, Lopez, Bannan
Attempts On Target: 2 - Wallace, 1 - Lees, FF
Key Passes: 5 - Lee, 3 - Pudil, Wallace, 1 - Loovens, Lopez, Bannan, FF
Dribbles: 2 - Hunt, FF, Nuhiu, 1 - Pudil, Lopez, Bannan
Dispossessed: 3 - Bannan, 2 - Loovens, Nuhiu, 1 - Hunt, Lee, Hooper
Bad Control: 2 - Wallace, FF, Hooper, 1 - Hunt, Lopez, Bannan
Crosses (Accurate in brackets): 15 - Wallace (5), 9 - Pudil (3), 4 - Hunt (1), Bannan (1), FF (2), 2 - Lee (0), 1 - Hooper (0)
Passing Accuracy (Total Passes in Brackets):
Lopez - 89% (35), Lee 86% (44), FF - 86% (36), Loovens - 85% (54), Bannan - 84% (62), Hooper - 81% (26), Pudil - 80% (55), Lees - 73% (30), Wallace - 70% (27), Westwood - 65% (20), Hunt - 64% (36), Nuhiu - 39% (13)
In the second halves, we have looked great recently and could easily start banging in the goals again soon but we start too slowly with a formation that doesn't work for us which means that we will struggle to get a decent first leg playoff lead against a team like Brighton or Burnley, meaning we might need to get a 0-0 away and pray we can win on penalties.
Another frustrating night with two points slipping away, ones that probably will make little difference in the outcome for our season but ones that may just fray the nerves of fans a bit more. Most of the problems were self induced. Again the first & biggest problem was CC playing 442 from the start, meaning that we wasted 45 minutes playing a system that doesn't suit our players. We had no height or pace up front which meant that MK could play a high line with little threat of us using pace to exploit them. Also we had no out ball except for FF or Hooper coming short which meant it took us 20+ passes to reach the final third.
The first half went exactly as I predicted once I heard our team.
Things changed in the second half with Nuhiu replacing Lopez. It wasn't that Lopez played badly or Nuhiu played well but the change to a 4321 formation that made the difference. CC is repeating the same mistake week after week with his starting line up, which is getting increasingly worrying. Nuhiu gave the ball away three times before he went on a mazy run, beating three players before hitting a great pass to get the fans chanting his name.
The situation called for cool heads. Unfortunately, a few individuals let us down badly. The referee (a late replacement so inexperienced at this level) had taken the "let a few tackles go" approach until Lees made a tackle from behind. It was a routine yellow card except for the fact that he had let several similar challenges go unpunished. It appeared that the referee had switched to more normal carding attitude when Hooper was carded for a late tackle.
What happened next was partly unfortunate & partly self induced. FF was wrongly yellow carded for simulation when he was taken out by a defender. Even Carl Robinson acknowledged this was the case. However, Ross Wallace's behaviour was inexcusable & the red card inevitable. He was lucky he wasn't seen doing the same thing against Ipswich.
It called for cool heads yet Nuhiu was waving his arms around & throwing his body around like a nutter and Bannan and Pudil were both lucky not to get red cards, Pudil for a wild challenge and Bannan for kicking an opponent off the ball. We need more players with a temperament like Lees or Loovens in the heat of battle.
In the game, we peppered the MK goal and hit the woodwork four times - Pudil twice, Nuhiu & Bannan. FF was close several times while Nuhiu & Bannan missed simple chances.
Westwood - 6 - little to do
Hunt - 5 - still a defensive liability, luckily MK didn't take advantage. Derby will.
Lees - 7 - solid job
Loovens - 7 - outstanding again
Pudil - 9 - solid defensively and great going forward
Wallace - 5 - bright in parts, stupid red card
Lopez - 6 - neat & tidy
Lee - 6 - neat but refuses to shoot
Bannan - 5 - lost on left, better after switch to 4321
Hooper - 5 - struggled in 442, better second half, lacks confidence
FF - 8 - nothing first half, unplayable second half
.......................................................................
Nuhiu - 6 - wasted several decent chances
Joao - only on a couple of minutes
Stat Attack:
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Touches: 78 - Bannan, 71 - Pudil, 62 - Loovens, 56 - Lee, 53 - Hunt, 52 - FF, 51 - Lees, 48 - Wallace, 42 - Westwood, 40 - Lopez, 28 - Hooper, 27 - Nuhiu, 2 - Joao
Tackles: 4 - Lee, 2 - Hunt, Pudil, Bannan, 1 - Lees, Lopez, FF
Interceptions: 3 - Bannan, 2 - Hunt, Loovens, Lees, Lee, FF, 1 - Pudil, Lopez, Nuhiu
Clearances: 10 - Lees, 4 - Loovens, 2 - Lee, 1 - Hunt, Pudil, Bannan, Joao
Attempts: 7 - Nuhiu, 4 - FF, 2 - Lees, Pudil, Wallace, 1 - Loovens, Lopez, Bannan
Attempts On Target: 2 - Wallace, 1 - Lees, FF
Key Passes: 5 - Lee, 3 - Pudil, Wallace, 1 - Loovens, Lopez, Bannan, FF
Dribbles: 2 - Hunt, FF, Nuhiu, 1 - Pudil, Lopez, Bannan
Dispossessed: 3 - Bannan, 2 - Loovens, Nuhiu, 1 - Hunt, Lee, Hooper
Bad Control: 2 - Wallace, FF, Hooper, 1 - Hunt, Lopez, Bannan
Crosses (Accurate in brackets): 15 - Wallace (5), 9 - Pudil (3), 4 - Hunt (1), Bannan (1), FF (2), 2 - Lee (0), 1 - Hooper (0)
Passing Accuracy (Total Passes in Brackets):
Lopez - 89% (35), Lee 86% (44), FF - 86% (36), Loovens - 85% (54), Bannan - 84% (62), Hooper - 81% (26), Pudil - 80% (55), Lees - 73% (30), Wallace - 70% (27), Westwood - 65% (20), Hunt - 64% (36), Nuhiu - 39% (13)
In the second halves, we have looked great recently and could easily start banging in the goals again soon but we start too slowly with a formation that doesn't work for us which means that we will struggle to get a decent first leg playoff lead against a team like Brighton or Burnley, meaning we might need to get a 0-0 away and pray we can win on penalties.
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.